I'm new, and am doing a big backyard project

Hello folks,

My husband and I had an inground pool installed last year. We have the pool edge rough concrete so that we can lay interlock on it. I like the look of a sunken pool. We are DIY'ers and don't mind hard work. Because of budget, we plan to spread our work out over the next few years.

I am hoping that I might be able to get some help from this forum to figure out a few things. First thing is, I am seriously thinking about hiring a landscape architect to do up a plan for me so that I will know what our project will look like in the end, but if someone can suggest a website/book/DVD that I can refer to so that I can design my own plan that would be very helpful. Also, we want to install an outdoor shower.
Any suggestions on designs?

Thank you.