Readyami, thank you! We have some "mixed metaphors" going on with the Texas star decorations and the un-tiki gazebo, but I've always been kind of eclectic anyway, LOL! :-) Tim, thanks! When I was putting the skull up I was thinking "This belongs on Tim's pirate ship", haha! The ball is a Japanese glass fishing float (this one is actually a modern replica), a long time favorite decoration in tiki bars and restaurants the world round. It's as required a staple as the traditional hanging puffer fish lamp (I have one of those too) :-) Mostly they were hung indoors in arrangements of different colors and different heights and sometimes were lighted from within. I can't direct-link the photos, but if you look at the thread linked below (photos of vintage tiki bars) you'll see what I mean. They were also popular as A-frame decorations. My A-frame is actually a little teeny version of the real thing, the traditional A-frames built on restaurants and bars were enormous and had gigantic glass fishing float replicas, period light fixtures or even outrigger canoes hanging under them. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=29982&forum=5&13

Oh, how I wanted my natural bluestone patio...well, it now looks anything but "natural." It's a hot mess! Original landscaper installed and used polymeric sand because that was "best." He recommended not sealing it. Or, as he said, "Let it sit a year and then seal it if you want to." Very shortly after installation, stones started turning orange or had deep orange/rusty spots developing like a rash. The polymeric sand grout started popping up like worms after a rainstorm by year two. Hired a new hardscaping/landscaping company who--at year three of the patio--power washed it, swapped a few stones and tried to remove some stains, installed a new type of polymeric sand (which is supposedly better for the larger gaps the earlier landscaper used), and sealed it. First, the power washing did leave what looked like swirls of gray "graffiti" on some areas, but that seemed to go away with sealing. Until it rained, I wasn't sure they had yet sealed it, but it was evident when water beaded up and remained on the surface. After it dried, white patches appeared all over the stones. Reading how this can also occur with sealing concrete pavers, I'm now wondering if that composite deck idea was better! All I wanted was a beautiful, natural bluestone patio. I've stepped on countless university and college walkways that do not have these issues, and that is the look I was going for. How do they achieve such beautiful patios and walkways without the issues we homeowners face? I know they don't use polymeric sand and their "deep pockets" must be able to afford the best stone and best installers.

I had a cool deck placed over concrete on my previous pool build in central Texas. It definitely was cooler than the concrete and was not slippery but I was not crazy about the aesthetics. The patio was ceramic tile, a very bad choice--it was horribly slippery. My current house in North Texas came with a stamped concrete patio, this was hot and I thought was ugly and looked like stamped concrete. I cannot remember if it was slippery or not. When I had the pool built this time I went with Travertine tile--love, love the look, it is cool in the summer heat and feels so good on bare feet. It is a bit more slippery when wet compared to the cool deck. I had the patio covered with the Travertine as well. My daughter had cool deck placed over their concrete pool surround and loves it. I do not have any experience with Belgrade pavers. I think your decision should be guided by your budget first then aesthetics vs practicality. Only you know which one trumps the other two. Previous pool with cool deck and ceramic tile patio Travertine over the old stamped concrete Current pool with travertine on pool deck and patio

You don’t have to re-paint the walls. Beige is fine. And since it seems from your post outline that you will be bringing in new furnishings, you can easily work with the beige. It’s a neutral. White walls can be nice and are popular these days, but it depends on the space and style and beige is certainly a nice option, and popular these days as well. And beiges add a bit more warmth than many whites would - depending on the white. Thank goodness all the walls are not grey! That would be another matter. I have not read through the comments, but I will be back with a few ideas for you anyway.