you could try posting some pics and asking here?

I wouldn't hire one because of the reasons you mentioned above but i know a lot of people do and are happy with the results.

You can always ask us for help. Post some photo's of the specifics, take one thing at a time, and see if we can help. I shouldn't say we because I don't offer that much advice. However, there are others on this forum with lots more talent and experience than I. Anyway, with an interior designer you won't have as much fun as you will here.

I think it depends a lot on who you are and the designer you try to hire. I prefer to do my own decorating, but love to have knowledgeable people to bounce ideas off of. And trust me, I understand stalled. Have you seen any of the threads where I've posted pics of my fugly fireplace? It's been like that since January.

You should post your pics and problems here before you hire someone. You may find that you get enough good ideas to get you over your slump. OTOH, if you find yourself getting overwhelmed by too many conflicting ideas, that might be the sign that it's time to call a professional to help.

I agree. Load your photos on to a free site like picturetrail or photobucket, then link here so we can see what you are working with. Give us an idea of what you think you want, whether you want budget ideas or just ideas, and what paint shades *by name if possible* you've used in adjoining rooms. We'll frustrate and drive you crazy for free, then, you can use your decorating money for therapy!

Red

"Anyway, with an interior designer you won't have as much fun as you will here."
And neither will we! hee hee
I have seen many people benefit from the suggestions and experiences offered here. This forum is a great resource.

Well, red, that's not exactly the professional I had in mind, but that'll work, too. ;)

I have a picture of the kitchen in "My Pictures" on the computer but don't know how to put it here. Is there a way to do it without retaking the picture and putting it on photobucket?

I agree with everyone else about posting some pics here first, and letting some of the GW talent see if they can help you. It's free advice!! Just in the couple weeks that I've been following this forum, I've seen some tremendously talented and savvy advice, in many cases far more helpful than a decorator could be! Give the GW folks a try first!!

Between all of us together, we make one hell of a decorator!

iwannakitchen: I've seen you over on the kitchen forum before. I still remember all the detailed, particular questions you asked and from that alone, I think you would be happier asking for assistance here on this forum before turing it over to a designer.

Initially, I spent a lot of time designing my kitchen as well as the rest of my home remodel. The kitchen forum was a great help for that. I felt more comfortable with that as there were a set of "rules" to follow--like from the NKBA. When it came time to decorate, I was also stumped. It was easier to tell what I did not like than what I did and then I would like specific items, but didn't know how to put them together. I did try working with a designer over at Ethan Allan for awhile, but she suggested things outside my budget and it was more her vision, not mine. So I came over on this forum, bounced lots of ideas off these creative folks here and have gained a lot of confidence and done a reasonalbly good job at the decorating part. I realize now I am just too anal and particular to let someone else do it, even though it may look more put together than my attempts. The end result, though is more a reflection of who I am and what it important to me. Along the way, I've discovered a love for antiques and the confidence to make reasonably informed decisions about purchasing them. I think if you want to make a house a home, the decorating forum is a wonderful place to get advice, yet still remain in control of the end result and have it be a reflection of you and your family. HTH

Iwanta-- you don't need to retake the picture. All you need to do is set up an account with photobucket (it's free), then upload the picture from your MyPictures folder. Then you can post it here (but you should start a new thread).

Open an account on photobucket and then upload your existing photo from where it is on your computer. (Click Browse then go to "My Pictures" on your computer)

This is the long version of instructions. You create an account with photobucket. Then you "Upload" To the right of the screen will be slots for you to load. Hit the button next to the slot. It is labeled Browse. When you do it should take you to your photo's or to the program that will bring you to your pictures. Once you arrive at your picture you should be able to click twice on it and it will load over to photobucket. Then you hit "Upload"and it will upload and your photo should be in. To get the photo into this forum, get to the thread, put your cursor in the message section, hide this screen, go back to PB, go under photo to HTML code line, highlight to copy, then go to "page", hit copy, click over back to the thread, click "page" then paste. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you all for wanting to see pictures and give some suggestions. I have started a new link as suggested above with pictures. Just in case you don't find that one here are the pictures here also.

iwantakitchen, I am completely confused. Didn't Squirrel do many mock ups and everyone gave lots of good ideas already??? If I have you confused with another poster, I apologise. BUT, if that's been done already...did you not care for any of the solutions everyone came up with or just too many ideas to narrow it down. Like I said, I'm confused and it's early here so forgive me if I've got this all wrong.

I am sorry for the confusion but my post started out like this:

I have been redoing my kitchen but stopped several months ago as I can't seem to finish the decorating part of it. I still have to pick backsplash, paint and cushions. Everything else is done. This is where I am stuck. I do not know how to make things come together. Should I just go for it and hope for the best or should I use an interior decorator? I have not hired one yet because of price. Also a couple people have told me it is a waste of money because you may not like what they come up with. BUT I am also not moving forward. Any suggestions?

So I was asking if maybe I am to the point of needing to hire an interior decorator as I am not moving forward. Fright? Maybe

I had not posted pictures this time around until asked to do so by some people who may not have seen the kitchen before and were eager to give more suggestions.

Help has been wonderful all along the way, but was pointing out that I have not moved forward.

More ideas don't hurt?

Oh I totally agree...more ideas are always wonderful. It's just that from your post, you didn't mention anything about all the posts, ideas and mockups that had already been done. Rather than reinvent the wheel, a link to the old posts would be good OR to say we've already tried "x", "y" and "z" that people have already suggested but it's still not quite capturing what I want. :c) I didn't mean to sound rude, just wanted to clarify for those that had no idea about your other postings. Here's one that has a few mock ups and ideas so others can see what you've tried so far. THEN, people could give you an opinion of whether it's time to hire a professional.

Here is a link that might be useful: iwantakitchen's thread

I don't know if you are ready for a designer. You need to be able to communicate what you like and what you don't want in that space or you'll make their job really hard and you'll waste your money by nixing their ideas until they manage to figure out what you do like and don't which could take some time.

I'd suggest if you go that route that you need to look at lots of pictures and put together a group of "really like", "like", and "don't like". Along with your requirements of wanting light color, minimze the countertop color, sleek or traditional, simple or fuzzier etc. Maybe even go through the "really like" and "like" stack and figure out exactly what you like about each one of them. Lets say one you come up with like the contrast to the dark counter - well it wouldn't work in your kitchen so remove it from the collection.

Maybe after going through that exercise you'll have a better idea of what you want and may or may not decide whether you feel you need to hire a designer.

Lyfia has given you the best advise yet. No one can really help you until they know what you like.

I use a designer sucessfully, for that reason. He knows the look I am going for and knows what I like and dislike. We work great together. He just does the shopping and helps me with colors for the walls, etc. once the rug and fabrics are chosen which is what most people angst about. He saves me $$ in time, in paint samples, and mistakes.

I might be in the minority here, but I think a good decorator that you communicate well with is exactly what you need to finish your project. I have found that I have actually saved money (and certainly mental stress) when I have used my decorator. She always comes up with ideas that never would have occurred to me but when I see it I think "thats it!".

However, I also have a bad habit of second guessing myself, so the rooms I have decorated myself I find that I criticize each decision, driving myself crazy. Why don't you just meet with a few decorators that come recommended to you, and if does not feel right you have not lost anything.

I agree with the 2 last posters, a designer/decorator could give you the confidence you need to finish your project. At least, ask around and make a few calls, be candid with whomever you talk to ; decorators get a bad rap on this board usually but honestly, as much as you'll get helpful advice here for free, you'll still have to track down sources and workrooms, it often is well spent money to have someone steer you towards a complete and finished project, instead of mulling it over for months and not having the satisfaction of having the room finished.
good luck and let us know what happens.

iwantakitchen, have you tried posting this on the Kitchen Forum? They are so helpful and have wonderful ideas. It might reach a greater number of kitchen designers who post frequently.....no cost for that info.

I used the services of an interior designer and paid her by the hour. Best 2 hours I ever spent. She knew before hand from a conversation just what I wanted out of our visit and we sat in my livingroom while she just threw out the ideas until I hit on one and we proceeded from there. Great if you are do-it-yourself- people like we are. Good luck.

If I hire help for picking out backslash, fabrics and paint would you hire a certified interior decorator or a kitchen designer?

The kitchen designer is probably not needed at this point since your kitchen is already all set up and put together. What you're wanting now is help in putting the elements together through texture, materials and colour, so what you want is an interior decorator.