I also live in an area where the selection of in-person designers seemed pretty bleak. Depending on what level of assistance you want, you can find designers / bloggers who are willing to consult for pay online - looking at pictures of your rooms and offering advice that way. With that kind of design advice you are able to find a designer with a portfolio you really love that might otherwise be unobtainable geographically. Of course they can't stand in your room and see your lighting and offer an exact paint choice, but not everyone is looking for that level of design advice.

Check on the ASID website for designers in your area. Then check the yellow pages. Those things will give you a start on finding one on your own. Then, they may have a website or you may be able to see their portfolio.

It doesn't matter how highly recommended a designer comes, if you don't respond to their work, they may not be a good fit.

Jenny, I'm kind of the opposite of you in that I'm in the NY metro area where there are zillions of designers. The choices are overwhelming, yet I don't know anything about these people. And while my budget would not be classified as low end, it's not in the stratosphere either, so I don't want to be calling a bunch of people who are likely to turn up their noses at a project they deem too small. Many of the designers whose portfolios I have looked at online have an aesthetic that is way too traditional for me. And a few with more contemporary leanings seem to be billing themselves as "designers to the stars." A star I am not. So the whole process has been a bit confusing to me.

Thank you for the tip on the ASID website,palimpsest. I will make a fresh start there.

Do you have a local design center where the "to the trade" showrooms are located? Often those centers offer referrals or special programs allowing you to engage a designer on a limited (and more budget-friendly) basis.

Yes, we do, Marcolo, and I had no idea until I looked on their websites now that these services were available. Thanks for that!