I don't mean to scare you. When I read your original post, it sounds like you had a vision near the bottom where you itemized 1-4. One and two sound like you had a comfortable direction. The post seemed like you worked together with the landscaper to form a "vision" and then started implementing it. It now sounds like it was much looser than that, so there is a difference and with that difference there is reason to believe that you can have better results. You asked if I am a design professional. I am a registered landscape architect. "However, you scare me a little bit, Laag....as a novice gardener I wouldn't expect that the execution would be immensely difficult. Depressing to think that a lovely plan on paper could be spoiled in the brown-thumb hands of the wrong person." Implementation of landscape plans is actually highly variable. A layout plan of plant placement may not be that way so much, but you have a lot more in the mix than plant placement. You have topographic changes which brings a third dimension that spurs off a number of other issues. Sticking to just the aesthetic parts of those issues, you have the steps, terracing, retaining walls, and how the elevations affect how the plants visually interact (which is very different than if they are in a flat plan). A very good design can be drawn that takes all of this into account. But having that good design does not get you out of the woods just yet. The execution is very dependent on the ability of the person to layout the plan. It is much more difficult to do on varying terrain. That is not really easy for people who do it all of the time and is quite difficult for someone who has never done it. That is an area where a good plan can be horribly compromised in the implementation. Let's say that both the design is good and the layout is done accurately. Now we have the sculpting of the terrain to deal with. This is not easily drawn on a small scale plan with contour lines and very difficult for inexperienced people to convert from lines on a piece of paper to the actual contour of the ground, so a lot may be left up to the person doing the work to try and make it work. Let's say that is done well. Now you have the actual construction of the steps. You may have some well drawn construction details that show you what needs to be done, but a lot of garden designer's are not experienced in drawing up construction details and the added ability, time, and liability would drive the design cost up. But let's say the designer has provided good construction details. You still need the skill set to build them. Some things are fairly simple to do such as forming and pouring concrete. But putting together a stone wall takes more than being able to read a construction detail. It takes real skill. It is true that a not all walls have to be masonry masterpieces, but there is a point where rustic crosses the line to crude. Crude will detract from the intent of the plan. Let's say that the skill set to build the walls and steps are good. Now we can move toward planting. A #5 Nikko Blue Hydrangea might be called for on the plan. If you call three nurseries and have them each ship you one, will they all be the same? I can tell you that it is unlikely that they will be based on my own experience. This means that selection of a nursery can impact the implementation. Let's say you have found a good nursery. Now, plants are living things and they are handled at nurseries. This means there are variations from one plant to another. Someone has to know which plants are the healthiest, the right shape, and otherwise the best choice for this particular job. This does not mean that any other #5 Nikko Blue is not going to work, but it does mean that it adds a quality variation in implementing the plan. Let's say that we are able to do this very well. Our land form is shaped, steps and walls are well laid out and well crafted, and our beautiful plants are on site. Now there is the digging of the holes. Some will make them bigger and some will make them smaller. Some will amend and some won't. Some will amend with xyz and some with abc. Some will bury them 2/3 and then water them in and finish burying them after the water subsides. Others won't water them in at all. So, yes, implementation of a plan can take a great plan and turn it into a lousy landscape. ... or not.

What wonderful advice in this thread!! I will agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment that you should decorate in a way that is true to who you are. If you're not quite sure who you are, you should take some time to find that out first. My approach is to look at decorating in parallel to fashion. My wardrobe is not the least bit trendy, I tend to buy clothes that may be colorful but are neutral, in that they don't represent any specific time period, I struggle with fashion a bit so I have some outfits that are matchy-matchy but can easily be broken up by adding or subtracting one thing. These elements are completely reflected in my decor. When I look at outfits in fashion magazines, I stop and think about WHY I like the ones that I like. Is it because of the colors? Is it the shape of the garment or the shape of the model? Is it the material? And then I think about whether those things would transfer to me and my figure. Some things I will always love but never buy. Again, these are the things I think about when I'm looking at pictures of rooms that I love. Will that look still be dreamy in a room with just one window, no lake view and 9' ceilings instead of 14'? I do not have an open concept home and all of my rooms are different colors and are styled for their function but they all rhyme with each other. You don't feel like you're in a different house just because you're in a different room. I think of it like a professional family photo. You wouldn't have a photo done with one person in a jogging suit, one in a ball gown, one in a business suit and another in a Halloween costume. Lastly, I'm not one of those people who gravitates toward dark clothing so none of my rooms/furniture is dark. I am not one of those people who flips out if I get a ketchup stain on my blouse and it doesn't come completely clean. My sunny yellow sofas with the ghost soda stain will attest that I am the same with my furniture. I love sparkly jewelry so every room in my house has some accessory that sparkles! Instead of fighting the fact that I'm short and curvy, I buy clothes that compliment that frame and avoid tube tops and other trendy items that won't make me look my best. My home is over 125 years old and while it's far from being Grandma's museum house, there is a definite nod to the age of the home in every single room. Take your time. You've been given a lot of really good advice in this thread and it can take a minute to digest it all. One GWer used the phrase "visual emptiness" for living with a blank space until you find the right piece and I am completely on board with that concept. I am so in love with my home because I feel like it really reflects who I am and I think that speaks to my guests, making them feel at ease. Now, if I could just get some of this construction done, I will also be at ease!!

Agree wholeheartedly with StudioBlu. No project or relationship between an interior designer and a client should commence without a written contract for the protection of both parties. Contracts are made to be negotiated and I am flexible with my clients within reason. But there are professional standards and practices that should be maintained by all your professionals (Architect, Interior Designer, Professional Consultants and Engineers, General Contractor) and a solid contract insures that in the rare instance that something goes so wrong that the contract needs to be referenced, there are clear paths to resolution. That is just better for everyone. In regards to which contract to use, the ASID contract is a solid contract. I would equate it to a standard real estate contract that you would use in purchasing property. It is based on best demonstrated practices for the industry and factors in a broad variety of situations following standard industry protocol. I use a modified version of it and have never had problems because the very act of discussing the contract is a great starting point to set expectations for a project. Clients often don't realize the extensive role the Interior Designer plays in bringing a project to completion. By reviewing the contract with my clients, I can give examples from both the client's perspective and mine of how and why that clause exists and the value of the services my firm will be providing. I recommend all relationships between professionals and their clients begin with a open discussion around the contract.

romy718, I am certainly not committed to Wood Mode cabinets. I am also considering Dura Supreme. Personally I feel both of these lines are in the same range from quality point of view. I am definitely getting all drawers for lower cabinets. Yes, there are other Wood Mode dealers in my area. Some of them are just distributors of cabinets and then you are own your own. Some are quite far away. They will be expensive because of transportation costs. So I am not even contacting them. I prefer to hire a KD who comes from design-build firm. That way I won't have to hire a GC and it will save me headache of managing all those trade people. This is my first house and this will be my first and last kitchen renovation. It is quite a stressful process and I am certainly not enjoying it. I am just waiting for the final outcome so that I can have a New Year party in Dec:-) If this process gets delayed, that party may not happen. That will really suck. I may consider different switch for pendants, but it is an issue which is quite far away. First I need to find a designer :-). nightowl, When I was composing my message, I certainly did not think or realize that some Houzzers will interpret that she is THE designer for me. She is certainly a designer, not the designer. Anyhow, I am also considering hiring a general contractor. But I still need to hire a KD in order to get the final design so that the GC can turn that design into a reality. I can't save bunches on anything if a KD won't let me buy anything on my own. I hope the next KD I am meeting this coming Saturday, lets me do that. Mindy