Interior design dates back to prehistoric times, when cave people discovered that wallpaper provided a soothing backdrop for whacking punching bags with baseball bats. Take part in a modern version of a Neanderthalic tradition with today's Groupon: for $99, you get two hours of extensive interior-design consultation at your home from Debbie Wiener of Designing Solutions, a Silver Spring–based interior-design company (a $500 value). See the fine print for a list of towns serviced.

Designing Solutions (DS) specializes in providing interior-design solutions that work for the lives of people with living lives. The two-hour designing solution hammers out an aesthetically pleasing home decorating plan, honing in on the major elements of home design, including lighting, window and floor coverings, furniture arrangement, art, and décor. During the consultation, Debbie recommends ways to make better use of what your home already has in order to save time and money, while helping you find the things you do need at a price tag that fits your budget, instead of a pure ivory couch and liquid-mercury-flowing indoor waterfalls.

Have your Internet geared up to go at the time of your appointment, and Debbie will shop with you and bookmark all the best sources and furnishings the World Wide Webosphere has to offer. Benefit from professional connections via DS's list of skilled installers and tradespeople. Watch as a step-by-step brochure is completed before your eyes, a compilation of the colors, furnishings, and sources selected over the course of the visit. Finally, all paint samples you select will be sent to you by mail for future plan implementation.

Reviews

The press and the bloggers like Designing Solutions and its Slobproof line. Check out what the New York Times, Shelterpop, Materialicious, and the Los Angeles Times have to say:

• The result is a new line of slob-friendly upholstered furniture. Ms. Wiener experimented with fabrics used in boating, but found them too stiff. Then she discovered Crypton, a nearly impenetrable material made from fibers encapsulated in a moistureproof barrier, which is popular in hotels and other institutional settings. – Joyce Cohen, New York Times
• Attention all klutzes, slobs, pet owners and -- yes -- parents: You can now own furniture that is sure to withstand food drops, beverage spills and that everyday wear-and-tear that has ruined your furniture in the past. – Allison Lind, Shelterpop
• Debbie Wiener, the designer behind the new line, is a strong advocate for the cleaning-impaired and the decorating-challenged and is the owner of Designing Solutions, a full-service interior design firm specializing in durable, cleanable, family-friendly interiors with personality, comfort and value. – Materialicious
• I could imagine inviting interior designer Debbie Wiener inside my home without feeling ashamed. And not just because she makes me laugh every time I interview her...Wiener is dedicated to interiors for real living -- people with messy kids and spouses. – Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times