How did you find your wife? That's not flippant. It's close to the same thing. You went on lots of casual dates first with a wide variety of folks. Maybe you had one or two more serious relationships.

But, by the time you met her and settled down, you had clarified what type of person that you were looking for, and what our goals were for that relationship. You knew that you wanted an active person who wanted a small family, or someone who felt volunteering was important and who wanted a large family. You knew what type of person would be more compatible and sympathetic with your weekend disappearances during duck season.

Hiring a designer is the same. Start with one smaller project and interview some family and friends recommended folks. Ask your electrician, or your plumber, or your dentist. Good professionals know other good people. Happy customers love their designers!

If you ask good questions, and they have a good portfolio of projects you like, hire them for s smaller job. Like a guest bedroom. If that goes well, and you get along, you will have many successful future projects ahead of you.

If it doesn't go well, then it is a smaller project without major consequences. And you can move on to learn more about what you need from the designer the next go around that would make it work better for you then.

Describe your goals. Describe what changes that you think will help you to achieve those goals. Describe your budget to make your changes. You are more than halfway there if you can articulate any of that, and it is realistic.

I think Live Oak has a really good idea about starting small or at least starting with just a limited scope. Don't give them a whole house at the beginning. We started with one main room with our last designer to set the "thesis" for our house. I was really happy with the result, but I learned a lot about what I did and didn't want out of a designer in the future. (For me, I learned that I only want someone for consultation b/c I have such an interest in it myself. I also learned what questions to ask about billing upfront).