My background is in graphic design. I truly believe that once you understand the principles of design, you can design just about anything. The more diverse experience the better. If one has a solid foundation of design fundamentals and core knowledge, then it's just another design challenge with research to do, criteria and specifications to meet, and clients to please. Different scenarios will have unique challenges and that's where experience designing in specific capacities is a huge advantage. If the task aligns with a personal aesthetic then it's serendipity. If it doesn't, no big deal. A good designer will still have a well-rounded arsenal of knowledge and skills to draw from in order to meet criteria, specifications and please the client. I often wonder about ego and interior design. So much emphasis is put on a flair, an eye, a knack, an intuition for designing that a solid foundation, core knowledge base is totally dismissed or glossed over. Either because it does not exist at all or because ego steps in and that "signature style" business is awarded more importance than actual knowledge and skill set. And then there's marketing. I'm sure it's easier to sell a "package". It's easier to make money if you define and package a "signature style" and focus on selling just that one thing. As opposed to trying to market design as a craft, trade, skill set. For example, you're not buying design services from Candice Olson. Rather you're buying her pre-packaged signature style. One size fits most kinda thing.

I am also a member of your and dixieman's club. I think since most times the decorator/designer does not get a commission on the paint color/labor they end up focusing on what does give them a commission. I have finally taken a stand and will not order anything until I get a confident paint color decision from a decorator. If that's my main focus - then I have to stay focused - if they don't do it - move on. All you can say when they want paid is - I initially hired you for a paint color - you did not do the job that I hired you for! I will find someone else. It's very frustrating - it's that what most of them went to school to learn - color, design, flow?????

let me say this... I designed and sold kitchens by emails and if I sold it. (with my english :-) I'm pretty sure that it can be done !! my english suck! but looks like people trust me. design a basic kitchen to give a price can take 1 day... price it another day max!! so if they don't give you a price and they want go in the showroom is because they are good sales and after ours of discussion they got the sales. (I use to work in a place like that) people was living the showroom with almost don't know that they bought.!!! Find the showroom that you like the product at least the finish if you go for an italian I can help you out to tell you the different technical between one and another, btw in italy are more then 500 kitchen cabinetry companies I don't know all of them! :-) I will try in my spare time soon to make a list with pictures for GW people to understand different cabinetry.. I just have an idea... so each one can compare apple to apple. this is an example how I sold a kitchen in NY: the person contact me thru a friend (I learn that word of mough work better than ads). 1)He send me a sketch with dimensions with description of the place, of his living habit, how many people in the condo and what he was looking for it.. and I ask what he didn't like of the present kitchen. 2) I did a quick design and I send the link of 2 kitchen companies 3) he review the drawings, scan and send to me and told me which line he like it from the website. 4) 2 review and after his approval I priced 5) he like the price and the design. 6) I flu to NY double check the dimension, review the drawing according with the new dimension. 7) Sign contract and place the order!! it's easy!! :-) here the sample of the kitchen: here some 3D of what will look like:

Here's a link to an article that describes 6 online decorating services: https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a26950509/best-online-interior-design-services/ If you're "terrible at decorating," as you said, then trying to do a room or a house by crowd-sourcing here on Houzz is going to frustrate you. You'll get so many conflicting opinions by people with no vested interest in your project that you'll really want to pull out your hair. Believe me I've been on these boards for years, and it's best for making one or two decisions, but not efficient for doing a whole room. You can use Houzz to contact a designer who does online decorating, or maybe contact one of the pros/nonpros who regularly post here and work with him/her privately.