Well, you got the "old" part right, anyway :-) David, this is a second career for me. I have a corporate background and actually financed small to very large businesses so have a pretty good understanding of the business world. And when that world started to implode due to the economy and with some family issues to attend to, I made a decision to switch careers. There wasn't any question as to what field I'd pursue - I had gardened all my life, was a plant collector, redesigned my own garden (more than once!) and already had a strong design background (BArch degree) so I went back to school and got degrees in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. Most of the designers I know (the successful ones, anyway) have followed a similar career path - some early work experience in whatever field then returning to college as 'mature' students to pursue formalized training in landscape design. I attended an excellent hort school in my area and in addition to the theoretical and technical aspects of the profession, they put a lot of emphasis on the practical aspects as well - business courses, costing and estimating, presentation skills, etc. These were very popular classes and attended by the full scope of hort students - turf management, landscape construction, nursery/greenhouse management and design. I think it would be a very hard row to hoe to enter this profession with no formalized training at all, whether it be in a college or trade school setting or as an apprentice to an experienced business owner. I know it can be done - the contractor I work with closely established his extremely successful business without specific training - but it requires incredibly long and hard work for little financial return before it starts paying off with more and higher end clients and better, more challenging projects. Nothing replaces practical, hands-on experience but you can take a big short cut by smoothing the way with a formalized, full service, training/educational program.

On my iPad I use Room Planner by Chief Architect. I have the full program on my laptop which is a bit more intense but still pretty easy to get going on. Example of Room Planner layout

It depends how much you like to spend, this is a good start-up packagefor about $500 it comes with tons of pre-loaded catalogs of tiles, furniture, etc. Look around there see what would work for you best, I think they have a trial version. Good luck

Have you tried Google Sketchup? It is available for download free online and there is a "3d warehouse" with hundreds of thousands of pre-modeled pieces of furniture which should provide enough options to at least get you close.