the click is what you should be looking for..:) makes all the sense in the world to me

you'll spend hours with that person..sometimes you'll be worried, tired, anxious, not sure..yes you'd rather have a click

even more important than style if you ask me. styles can be worked out. ideas can be met. the best ones will get you as Rita says..they'll bring their own stamp to the matter maybe but still will be your house, yours only, uniquely yours

click is like a magic..either there or not

and you know one should have fun in the process too. much more chance for it when you've got a click

it's like a short-term marriage

(no, I never had a designer)) but I know when reading books etc. who I'd choose..in theory. a bit like Holden Caulfield. He had those writers he'd call on the phone just to talk maybe, and others, he wouldn't even though he liked their books. So. It should be somebody you'd rather call on the phone..)

You should have the "click" but she should still be very business-like and quickly establish her fees, your budget etc.

Aside from the "click", which I agree with, I would also want a "spark" when looking at rooms they've done.

Besides speaking with the designers, Beth, were you able to call any of their references to see what the homeowners had to say about how each ID worked/worked with the homeowner?

I was struggling for the right word for 'business-like' and that really isn't right.

The one I felt more comfortable with told me how she works, the initial consultation fee, the fees for continuing work, and how she bills. She talked about producing the spec list for builder bids. She explained how she would be available for whatever areas and at whatever level we wanted her assistance in selections and if there were rooms we didn't want assistance with, that was fine, too. So, definitely professional--but also engaging.

The other felt more, perhaps impersonal is the word? She didn't seem that interested in my project. She said they do a lot of new constructions, but talked about establishing a project cost, rather than an hourly fee. It didn't seem as if she approached it as a collaboration. Perhaps she does, but that was the impression I got.

I haven't yet called references--although I've read her reviews on Houzz.

I just remembered -- there were a couple of very good conversations last fall about working with decorators/interior designers, with some very good professional insights from Ango. Might be some helpful advice in there, Beth --

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4164440/working-with-a-designer?n=53

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4191749/process-method-inspiration?n=8

The click is so important when working with someone, feel free to check this company out, they were great to me.

https://johnmcclaindesign.com/work-with-us#construction-package.0