You need to first read more materials on how to buy good deals that positively cash flow.Don't make any further moves until you do that!!

What a 3 year thread bump - good topic nonetheless The thing that makes it difficult, if you're not working directly in the Real Estate field is this:- 750 hours needed on real estate activities (fairly easy to accomplish or skirt around)- material participation (this again is easy to accomplish or skirt around if you must)- 51% of time spent being active in real estate.

My question is, being my first investment home, should I bother with hiring some kind of designer to help with the material choices/colors/styles/etc or keep with the contractor and work toward a plan and scope of work that way?

I haven't driven through in a few years, but last time I did, it wasn't a pretty sight. 

Typically, repair work with 'like' materials does not require a permit. 

I have driven through recently and does not look like much has changed since when houses were 1/3 price.

This may involve hiring contractors, buying materials, and obtaining any necessary permits.As you renovate the property, it's important to focus on upgrades that will add value to the property and appeal to potential buyers.

Thats the appeal of butcher block countertops (and the cheap material costs, an 8ft long piece of countertop is only $269 at homedepot). 

This is true some times, but in some scenarios, brand new properties end up producing significantly MORE maintenance/repair headaches than older properties.The reasons are:1) Some building techniques/materials are far superior to those used in the past, but some are not, and some are unproven.

Every marketing material.