It's been many years since experiencing DD, but yes they are (were) "marked up".
But good quality, they brought all samples to the house (something I really hate is checking out, hauling around samples). IMO it's a real plus to have someone bring it all and offer opinions that are not store or product-line specific. It might be well worth it to you if you want to focus on your FR. Other home dec stores offer similar services and might be less expensive, but they will focus on their own products. It's worth a call to see if they'll still come to your home for a free consultation prior to your making a decision. If I could afford it, I would give them a chance.

Gosh DD is still around? I was going to buy a francise when I was in my mid twenty's but didn't, darn. It only cost $10,000 including the van.

That's funny, I wanted to buy one when I was in my 30's - the cost was about $40,000 then.
I don't really know much about DD, but I would imagine that experiences would be very different depending on the designer.

I had an experience with DD. I as trying to find window treatments for my living room and dining room. The decorator brought pictures of what was supposed to be samples of her work. I recognized one from an Ethan Allen catalogue! There was another picture with flowers and stripes and I mentioned that I recoggized it and she said "We all do this". So I agree with the above poster.
Try to collect as many inspiration pictures as you can. Then the "decorators" in the furniture store can try to match up yur vision but you would get their color sense and additional ideas.
Just aside, I don't think I have ever been happy with anything that was suggested by a decorator. My biggest mistake was to trust an unknown. If I were to use a decorator again, it would only be if I saw examples of her work in the home of a neighbor or friend, and I wanted a similar style.

Decorators in a furniture store usually have your rooms looking like a department store, no thanks.

I'll use my own skills or my friends that are decorator's or the gals and guys on here.

.....Jane

I used DD when I first moved into our new home because, like you, I wanted direction and one stop conveinence AND I didn't know about Garden Web yet! Yes, she had samples of carpet and wallpaper and a paint deck from SW. Yes, I could see it all in my own home with my things in my light. However, I ended up with some purchases I wouldn't do again. I wasn't crazy about them, my own fault for going through with it. Really, I should have stuck with my own vision. I would've been happier in the long run and I probably would've saved money.

Well, I did have 2 store decorators come out. Neither of them were giving me a WOW factor for my FR.
The latest man that I was/am working w/brought a beautiful Sherrill fabric for 2 chairs. He said they discount 25 + additional 5. Well, the chairs were still costing around $1,600 EACH...When I went on-line and made up the chairs w/the fabric I really didn't like it.
Yes, his suggested fabric blended w/my new couch and gave me a more modern print, but if I would have ordered them I would have HATE THEM....
I question how he could have recommended such an ugly chair?? I think he should have gone on line and mocked it up.
I don't know what I am going to do for local help. The lady that helped w/my last house made a lot of mistakes that cost me $$$$$ she didn't absorb any of the mistake costs.

Terriks, the price was $10,000 but that was when I was in my mid twenty's, which was 34 years ago, yikes.

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