Do you want a friend who will go shopping with you? Perhaps you could take a class in art or design and get some ideas there or become friends with someone in the class who could help you.

What kind of city do you live in? Are you in the suburbs, inner city, country, small town, resort, or what? This can affect what your options are. You could try going to art galleries and ask people there.

It seems like you haven't met the right designer/decorator yet, I would keep looking. Be clear with what you want from them but be open to their suggestions, the right person might surprise you.

keep us posted and good luck !

You might consider checking with a local college that offers a design degree. A senior student of design might be just the extra little bit of help you need to get your project plan in place. They may not have the same resources as an established designer, but they might be more open to your ideas.

You need some inspiration pictures. Look at Houzz on line and go to the library and look at decorating magazines and books.
Do you have a friend or relative that has furniture that you like? How about colors?
I hate to say it, but the few times I have used a decorator I have been disappointed. I am not sure how you can find one that will be able to interpret your needs.

Ellen, I think houzz is great. I have found so many things that I LOVE. My issue is scale and putting it together and FINDING it. That said, I would be so PROUD to say that I decorated it myself. I really think an online decorator would be a great help in finding items and placement.

I will find a discussion about online help that I recently saw here. Fisdy, is that what you are leaning toward?

A decorator should be able to easily and thoughtfully provide answers to basic questions.

Try this at your next meeting:

Here are pics of rooms I like. This is what I like about them. This is why I want my room to look like this. Can this be accomplished in my room?

If yes

a) What needs to be researched/purchased/constructed/installed
to accomplish this look?
b) Who will research/purchase/construct/install these things
to accomplish this look?
c) What will it cost?
d) How long will it take?

If no

a) Why not?
b) Show me what will work for my room. Tell me why that's better for my room.

If you are continually shuttled aside you may want to do some 'design soul searching'. Are you asking for a look that can't be accomplished due to limitations in your space or budget?

I have looked on line and on the houzz website for over a year and have very many pictures saved and do have many ideas of what I want. I have shared this with all of the decorators that I have tried to work with to no avail. I have started each meeting laying out clearly that I have specific ideas and tastes and each time get told that they will do what I want . They then seem to have heard nothing I have said and come back with very different plans, colors or furniture choices. When I try to show them pictures of what I like they are totally uninterested and quickly go back to push their ideas. The last decorator basically signed off of working with me because I didn't agree with all of her suggestions and apparently tried to make too many of my own choices! I have had 5 different people actually come to the house and start planning but each time it has been the same result. I don't need someone to come up with their design for my house. I need someone to help me design the house I want. Does any one know where you can find such a service as so far all I have found are decorators who will come up with a plan to sell me stuff. I want a house I love and enjoy not a picture in a magazine.

How about posting a picture of your room and a few of your top favorite rooms from Houzz and then maybe we call all chip in and find items to put in your room. This way you'll get lots of feedback.

Yes! Great idea yaya

I don't think that would work because I have a 2 story, 6 bedroom house and need to decorate or furnish the whole house with almost no existing items to use as a starting point. The house is a new construction and much larger than our previous house. Most of what we do have is cheap/worn out/tacky and needs replacing. I need tables, beds, couches, chairs, bookshelves rugs, artwork, barstools, window coverings, etc. The main floor is fairly open from the entry to the great room to the sunroom to the kitchen to the family room and therefore the colors and furniture need to coordinate. I have neutral colors in the main area and prefer to stay more neutral other than a small amount of subdued color here or there. I know I am fussy and obsess even on finding the right shade of taupe. For instance, one thing I tried was to start with getting a sectional for the great room. I can easily find a basic sectional but then cannot find the right fabric. I thought that this is where the decorator would help me to pull together fabrics and colors but I was wrong. They can pull together fabrics but then they are what appeals to them or they look good but who would ever want to sit on them because of the texture or they are not practical for daily living. I know that whatever I purchase will probably never be replaced unless something wears out as this will be the one and only time that I will do anything this major so it has to be done right. I also can't afford to have everything top quality as there is so much I need. I also am at an age that I can't spend years finishing this off slowly.
When I built the house I had a designer who worked with me to make decisions , help me lfind what I needed from multiple sources and pull it together step by step. That is what I need for the furniture and decorating. Where do you find some one that offers that service? Interior designers want to sell you a design plan and sell their products the same as a furniture store and therefore are basically salesmen where I need a guide or coach who I can pay for their expertise and service but with me basically coming up with the ideas and someone who can tell me how to get it done. Sort of like a personal shopper who has the expertise and design sense and working knowledge of sources for items but not an underlying agenda to make a sale or sell me an idea.