In my opinion, it is impossible to beat tarvertine or shellstone for a modern look in coping. We went back and forth between the two but went with Shellstone in the end.

Decking was a difficult choice as we disliked all the traditional pool decking materials. We went with stamped concrete and a Grand Ashlar pattern and love the way it looks. It was also look very modern in just big 20" squares like tile.

Here are some pictures of our pool. It is about 95% finished and should be completed this week.

Milo,
My Father has a place in Palm Springs. I have been on many home tours there. It is an interesting town as far as architecture goes.
Many of pools have stained, or light concrete. Many have precast concrete coping, lots of grass, and brick pavers.

Here are a couple of pics I had.
Are any of these like what you had in mind?

Milo, I sent "just a pb" an idea on his "pretty pictures" thread, I love the geometric look. Try very large, 24" white travertine pavers with a cantilevered edge, larger if you have the budget. Cool enough to walk on (we're in Vegas), maybe do the edge as an ogee or waterfall look as well, for the pool coping. Heck, as long as I am spending your money, add some glass with a waterfall effect into the pool. I've seen one from the second story all the way to the waterline that spilled into the pool.The water trickles across the glass. If anyone can do it, looks like "just" can. Send pictures when you proceed, Barb

I was thinking white marble but airborne101 got there first. White travertine almost the same thing.

try this also http://www.olympicstone.com/pictures/prl1.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful:

Just a pb,
On the pics you posted, that is exactly the look that I am going for!! I only wish that my house looked like those houses. My house does not look like those, I wish it did. I love Palm Springs architecture!!

How can I contact you? What is the name of your pool company?

Thanks....

I found this pic on the net when I was searching for clean, modern decking. I don't know what it is, but when the time comes, I'm going to ask my pb to do it in almost white.

Milo,
Catalanapools2@msn.com

Just-a-pb,
Thanks for your info, you will be hearing from me in about a month or two once I figure out the type of pool and materials that I want. I am still doing my research....

hi--i was going for the same look i think you are trying to achieve, but within a reasonable budget. i didn't want anything fancy, just simple, and east coast looking. mine's not entirely modern, because the architecture of my home and carriage house is more cottagey, but it is also clean lines. i did a rectangular fiberglass pool from viking in their darkest available color. i did concrete decking stained a dark grey slate color, and saw cut into 18x18" squares. i am really happy with it and will try and post pics soon. good luck!

Milo,
Sounds good.
You probably have not heard of us, we do no advertising. We work strickly word of mouth, and stay plenty busy.

Truly one of the best looks for you that will be cooler then Kool deck is travertine pavers in almost white. You can get them in large sizes 18, 24, or even 18 x 24. The cost is not as much as you would think.

Eco, sound nice but could probably cook burgers pool side in our climant, if you know what I mean.

Eco,
I also love the look of polished concrete and I really like the 18x18 squares too, that is look that I like am going for. But, everyone, and their mother, tells me that I should not do concrete in AZ for many reasons....

it is too hot on the feet
it is slippery
it will crack
etc. etc. etc.

So I have to listen to them and not do concrete even though I would like to.