The difference is the level of control that you have over it. Most of the posts above point out various elements that you have to accept. Interior or architectural design almost always has the option of changing the condition to suit your needs. Landscape design is much more about adapting to the conditions presented to you. The Architect or Interior Designer's hardest to deal with variable is the client. The client is just another one of those many variables to an LD. Would anyone agree with me that a typical trait of an architect is to have a very controlling personality? Those of you who have done landscape design on a project where the homeowner had an architect may have found that the architect expects you to do what (s)he wants despite what you or even the homeowner has in mind? If you think about it, it makes sense. The furniture does not fit in the plan - make the room bigger. Not enough light - add a window. Three person hot tub - bump out the wall three feet (and see a psychologist). In other words, (s)he can make anything work by manipulating the condition in which it has to fit. Contrast that to dealing with climate, soil, the building that the architect left you with (kidding, sort of), site specific micro climates or weather related conditions (ie, ocean winds), neighbor's play area at the property line 12'from the spa deck (if you are into three person hot tubs this is probably not a problem), a 60' shade tree just over the property line near your proposed pool, view of a coal plant, being surrounded by properties that all pitch into yours, ... I could go on forever. All of these conditions can be mitigated, but none of them can actually be changed. It takes a lot more understanding of variables in order to identify them and then to adapt to them. I'm not saying it is harder or takes more talent. I'm only saying that it is a very different way of thinking. Its not just an art media.

Store designers are nothing but furniture sales people.The are not required to have amazing portfolios, or licenses. They do not have the knowledge, or experience of independents, and are only allowed to sell from manufacturer's approved by the store owners. They are also on a minimum commission sales base, so they will push you as fast and hard as they can to make the sale to keep their jobs and make their quotas. Therefore, your choices will be very limited AND not done by qualified, independent designers. Many comments on here I suspect are from people whose homes are, er, how do I say this, NOT well appointed. If you are looking for a real upgrade, especially with children, it's an easy task for a pro. Also, we will not push inapproriate choices on you because we work for the furniture stores. We can specify anything on the market and make sure you get the choices for your project. Also, all designers are NOT created equal. Do you want a talentless hack doing the work or a real visionary designer? You get what you do (or don't) pay for like everything else in life. Two places I can tell you are a joke are Havenly and Wayfair, whose "decorators" will sell you super awful, cheap furniture and tacky accessories that will fall apart in 1 year and soak your children's home in toxic chemicals. There are no safety standards or design standards, again their goal is to load you up with as much junk as possible for the furiture companies. I work by the hour like an architect. This promotes a serious and professional partnership between clients and designers. Some stores do offer designers discounts on furniture, and I pass those on to my clients, but many stores do not offer discounting. My main goal is to create the best design possible within a given budget. It also frees me to reuse or repurpose existing items as I am not making money off the furniture and do things that "decorators" like Havenly and Wayfair can't do like making architectural or finish changes to your walls or windows. So there's some free honest advice. If your designer is the style you like, negotiate and go with them. They are pros just like a good doctor.

Thanks for sharing book recommendations! I've just put library holds on the books by Lynette Jennings, Elsie de Wolfe and Jane Schwab & Cindy Smith. Going to give myself some downtime and enjoy the books post-Xmas. Remarkably, one of my very useful decor manuals was published in the 70's: Introduction to Interior Design by Dorothy Stepat-DeVan The book is focused on the timeless basics like historical furniture styles, interior proportions and scale, window styles, lighting setups, furniture construction, types of materials, etc. Most of the illustrations are B/W sketches and schemes. The color interior photos definitely reflect the popular decor of the time, although some of the designs would be just fine today with a few minor modifications. It is not a coffee-table eye candy but a book for someone who wants to understand the basics. It is also geared to mass-built housing, not period Colonials or fancy French chateaus. I bought it in a thrift store

Might I suggest you start with some of these threads: Virgil's Thread on Building and Designing a Custom Home We fit an architect into our budget Designing a custom home Book suggestions What makes a house have good design Did you hire an architect? Hiring an architect House plan using bubbles Questions on changing around a floor plan How to Design Your Own Home 5 Rules of Thumb for Better Home Design House Plans Using Bubbles I Just Read This On Sarah Susanka's Blog [Did You Hire an Architect?[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/did-you-hire-an-architect-dsvw-vd~4464124) [Aging In Place[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/what-to-look-for-in-a-house-if-you-plan-to-age-in-place-stsetivw-vs~82644128) [Bath Aging in Place[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-ways-to-age-proof-your-bathroom-stsetivw-vs~60576589) [Kitchen Aging In Place[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-confidential-10-ways-to-promote-aging-in-place-stsetivw-vs~56039514)