[FlaMermaid]

It is simply unnecessary to berate this profession so harshly. Just suppose you had a small business and your income was dependent on it, would you like someone to do that to you? Unfortunately there are a few unscrupulous decorators, just as in any business, but they are far and few between. Most try very hard to give a client just what they want. And regarding the difference, the State of Florida only requires licensing for commercial projects. You are behind the times. Many of the most famous and talented designers & decorators may have no formal education at all. Just check out Architectural Digest or Elle Décor and look them up. You can have all the education and examination in the world and have no real talent. The exams are skewed to commercial projects so they are not truly necessary for a residential designer. Plus every state has different laws regarding nomenclature. The terms Designer and Decorator are used inter-changeably even though yes, there is a difference. The formal education that we receive is extremely helpful. That plus on the job training can make a wonderfully talented decorator/designer. I hope everyone reading this post will look at the world and various professions in a more gentle manner.