Designers usually "highly encourage" clients to spend a considerable amount more than initially budgeted. Not a fan of interior designers.

I would call a few designers and ask if they are amenable to working with you on an hourly basis. That way you just hire them as a consultant without any other obligations. The big name designers most likely won't do this but there are plenty of interior designers who work on their own and do smaller projects who would be happy with this arrangement. Look at the ASID website for designers in your area.

What about Home Polish? https://www.homepolish.com/how
Basically you hire an interior designer on an hourly basis with flat rates. They'll do whatever you want without having to purchase things from them. I haven't used it but I've been reading about them and they have a DC office.
ps- I swear I don't work for them! My sister in law is a corporate interior designer and told me about the Home Polish Instagram, which I've started following for design ideas

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

No, you don't have to buy their furniture. I used their services and bought a couch and a chair, although I was under no obligation too. I then completed her design with less expensive products.

You are a real peach. What a jerk move.

Not at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

No, you don't have to buy their furniture. I used their services and bought a couch and a chair, although I was under no obligation too. I then completed her design with less expensive products.

You are a real peach. What a jerk move.

No, a jerk move is Ethan Allen telling you to buy $6000 in pillows for your 15,000 couch. I bought the couch and found fantastic pillows for $600

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

No, you don't have to buy their furniture. I used their services and bought a couch and a chair, although I was under no obligation too. I then completed her design with less expensive products.

You are a real peach. What a jerk move.

How? I spent at least $2500.

come to think of it, it was about $4000.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

No, you don't have to buy their furniture. I used their services and bought a couch and a chair, although I was under no obligation too. I then completed her design with less expensive products.

You are a real peach. What a jerk move.

How? I spent at least $2500.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

No, you don't have to buy their furniture. I used their services and bought a couch and a chair, although I was under no obligation too. I then completed her design with less expensive products.

You are a real peach. What a jerk move.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

No, you don't have to buy their furniture. I used their services and bought a couch and a chair, although I was under no obligation too. I then completed her design with less expensive products.

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

But they'll design it with Ethan Allen furniture/finishes, and those have gone way downhill quality-wise.

Hire someone on an hourly basis and tell him/her to check in with you before going over ___ hours. I did this and it was incredibly helpful. I think I only used 10 hours total. I'm not in the area anymore or I'd recommend my designer; I did find her on Houzz.

Anonymous wrote:You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

Don't you have to buy their expensive furniture to use their free designers?

You can go somewhere like Ethan Allen and use their free designers.

You might consider a home stager. Most offer redesign services as well - usually but not always using the homeowners existing furnishings. A good stager will have an understanding of current trends, will know the best places to buy stylish but inexpensive furnishings and accessories, and will have contacts with different trades. Look at their websites, especially for vacant homes that they've staged. That should give you a good idea of their personal style.

I'd like to hire someone to help us decorate our new house, but don't want to spend lots of money having them do the whole design, source it all, and put it all together. I have lots of ideas for the house, and am looking to have a professional sanity check them more than anything, offer some suggestions for things that will really tie the room together and finish it, and help me make a major decision here and there (e.g., having a hard time figuring out what kind of tile backsplash to do on a kitchen accent wall that will really become the focal point of the room. Anyone use a decorator this way and have some tips about how to get the most out of the experience?