DILEMMA
How do you make a house flow colorwise?
SOLUTION
“Start by using an 80 percent/20 percent color scheme in one room. Then vary that color palette throughout the home, but in different proportions. You still see the continuity as you go through the home, but you don’t see the same thing in every room, which is boring.”
MORE ABOUT NORBERT YOUNG
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Background: Studied architecture at the University of Cincinnati and then earned a bachelor of arts degree in interior design from the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. Worked as project manager for interior designer Calvin Ashford and then launched Inner Dimensions Inc. in January 1997. Works and teaches in Chicago and California.
Pet projects: Redoes a lot of condos and townhouses in neighborhoods such as Dearborn Park, but also works in suburbs from South Holland to Hoffman Estates. As project manager for Ashford, worked on the homes of actress Whitney Houston, the late lawyer and civil-rights crusader Jewel Lafontant and art collectors Lester and Nancy McKeever.
Style: “Eclectic. My design tendencies are more toward the traditional, with contemporary accents. When everything is traditional, you stop looking.”
Signature detail: “I like to create interest at a ceiling level with wallpaper borders or friezes and architecture elements. As you look up, you are captivated.”
Essential ingredient: Lighting. It should “actually awe you when you walk into a space. Illuminate key elements within the space-which could be furnishings, artwork or architectural details.”
Billing: “If it is a small project, then it is a flat fee. If it’s a large one and I’m dealing with construction, I might charge a small fee (5 to 7 percent) of what the project is going to run.” In any case, he adds, “I always want to create a design that is affordable to the client. Interior design is for everyone, it is not just for the elite.”