You might want to go with a design build firm for your addition so that you can get the help you want as you draw up your plans and do the build.

check out house alchemist...

www.housealchemist.com

they are super reasoanble - do decorating and whole house staging as well so she can do a great job figuring out an overall look....

OP, you should start with a really good architect. Some of them even specializing with the new/old spaces. You can look up some of his work, but I like Merle Thorpe. I think he's in Bethesda.

Then, I would get recommendations from the architect based on your style.

Also, I would head over to the DC Design Showhouse going on right now. You can see samples of several designers' work. See who you like and then go from there.

I am planning a three story addition on a house I've lived in for 10+ years. It'll include a new bathroom and powder room, but no kitchen reno. I really, really want somebody to help me pull everything together but have no idea how to figure out if a designer/decorator is right for me. The things I'd like a designer/decorator to do are:

- Figure out how to integrate the new and old spaces, in terms of flooring
- Define a whole house color scheme, as some of the older rooms will (eventually) be repainted
- Identify how we can reuse some existing furniture in new spaces
- Recommend new furniture, rugs, fixtures needed to round out what we have
- Recommendations for window treatments
- Decorating/design recommendations for new bathroom(s)

Does this sound reasonable? If anybody has ideas for questions to ask designers/decorators, I'd appreciate them. I'm not stuffy/formal, but I *do* want something that looks nice and is practical. How can I make sure that the designer is a good fit for me?

Thanks!