Raj - What you say is true that a lot of interior design's margin is in furniture. I will not sugar coat it. And many designers may seem to be more interested in that when you bring them in. But I have had several clients call me over the years saying they are building a new home and would like to consult primarily on layout. When you speak to someone is tell them you are not ready to order furnishings or window treatments, but that you would like a contract that focuses on layout, planning, and interior detailing (i.e. doors, trims, floors) - i.e. the bones of the house. What I would suggest is when you call for a designer, you be prepared to pay a good consultation fee. A good rule of thumb is that you can expect to pay between $3-$10 per square foot of your home depending on the area of your country and the expertise/experience of the designer. If you are not averse to paying this type of fee, and communicate to the designer that your interest is in getting the best solutions, not in purchasing furniture at this time, I'm sure you will be able to get the level of service you desire. If someone you talk to doesn't seem thrilled to provide this kind of service, move on to the next person. Don't rely on "fame" or how well known someone is. They may be well known for doing show houses or just because they've been in the field the longest in your area. Not because they're the right fit for you. You could also check the Houzz directory for good designers in your area. The difficulty is that there are often decorators whose expertise and focus is really just on furnishings not so much on construction - and they serve a purpose for their clients. But there are other designers who provide more of a wholistic approach and have more familiarity with building a new home. These are the people you should seek out. Houzz is a fantastic community - and as I said you may get good advice here but there's really no replacement for someone to work with you in person. Sorry for the super long post but I feel passionately about this and I think this advice will best suit your needs.

There is contrast between the traditional furniture and the focal point of the floor which pops, draws attention. I would recover the sofas in cream colored soft fabric - suede. I would leave the curtains grey, and put down a large neutral area rug. The edges of the room would show the pattern of the floor. I would color the wall and add texture to it, but not too dark as the room will appear smaller. Add a picture and put a nice plant holder, large vase in the left corner of the room - an oriental-style vase. Or, a cream-stripe fabric on the sofas. You could go soft or bold in this room - depending on your taste.

What would you like the houz.com pros to do? How would you ask them to approach helping you? Please let us know what you would like from us......... You could consider commissioning a Houz Pro to help you design your house..... Your architect doesn't necessarily need to be in your part of the world. However, there does need to be someone locally to help with the building and zoning codes and coordinating with the permitting agencies. . Also, it would be best to have local engineers to help with the project...... For example: You will need a soils report by a geological engineer to understand what the foundation needs to be based on the existing soils conditions. A civil engineer to help design the grading so that the property drains properly. A structural engineer to design the structure for the local codes. A good contractor to build the project who will coordinate and be a good team player... Let us know what you would like from us........

There are a number of factors that will dictate the design of your house. The first step is to visit the local building department to find out the restrictions for your lot. Do you need to set back the house from the property lines? Is there a maximum site coverage that the jurisdiction allows? For example, in San Clemente, California you can only cover 50% of your lot with your house. Do you need to include parking on your site? Most cities in the USA require 2 parking spaces on the site. The shape of the lot and the access to the lot as well as any potential views, and even the location of the sun and the prevailing winds will impact your design. Find out the information that I listed above and post it with a dimensioned site plan and you may get some great design suggestions. Another option is to look for a local architect using houzz.com.......... Good luck and have fun........