City Showpiece

Detroit native Young Huh is an expert at balancing many interests. She majored in English in college and followed that up with a law degree before finding her true passion in interior design and finally founding her eponymous firm, Young Huh Design, in 2007. Today, the designer is based in New York City, but works all over the country, infusing each project with a unique application of classic and modern design principles. She’s known for her careful attention to architectural detail and for a playful approach to color, pattern, and material—and you can see all these influences in the design of this luxurious apartment in Philadelphia recently featured in Cambria Style.

“The apartment has a tremendous view,” says the designer. “All that sky outside the windows can make a space feel very cold and colorless. So we wanted to bring a lot of color and interest to the rooms inside.” The clients wanted a jewel-toned palette, so the design team worked around that preference, bringing in rich shades of blue, cranberry, and red to enliven the spaces.

They also love to cook, so Huh took special care in the kitchen to create a beautiful workspace that they could enjoy—without worrying about upkeep. She chose sleek Poggenpohl cabinets in a vibrant blue for the island base and upper cabinets, with complementary areas in walnut. “It’s all mechanical—the cabinets have no hardware, you just push them to open, so the look is very clean,” she notes.

The deep blue tone of Cambria’s Hadley design covers the island, while Rose Bay creates drama on the perimeter counters and backsplash. The choice of material was entirely deliberate, made not just for the looks but for the durability: the couple had had other types of stone before and really wanted something that would last.

In terms of the style, Huh thought long and hard about the choices. She explains her process: “You want to make sure colors coordinate, but you also want to create a little tension with contrast. You have to think about how you’re color blocking. In this case, the question was, ‘How do I apply the blue so that it really stands out—but coordinates and still feels peaceful and purposeful?’ In the end, we had the walnut ground everything while the navy provided the focal point, along with the backsplash and countertops.”

Huh extended that intentional approach throughout the rest of the home, which includes an adjoining dining area, family gathering areas, a library, several bedrooms, and even a wine room and bar. Each room has a harmonious balance, with areas of white or natural wood as well as bold colors and punch patterns. “It’s important to have some negative space and places to rest the eye—and for patterns to play really nicely together, or you’ll have too much going on,” she says. “In this project, I think we were able to create a really warm, fun effect, perfect for the family that lives in it.”

How has your approach to design evolved over time?
I always say that design is a trade. As with all trades you get better the more you work—practice, practice, practice! At this point, I feel really practiced and comfortable with designing with color, balance, materiality, and pattern and I think I tend to really push those boundaries. Sometimes clients don’t like color and then we’ll explore textures and shapes. There are many ways to create balance and interest.

What classic design elements do you believe will always have a place in modern interiors?
Wallpaper has really evolved to not be just floral patterns but also textures—they can just be about color and add all sorts of different feelings in rooms.

You’ve designed for high-profile spaces and they are so beautiful. If you could redesign any famous space or location, what would it be?
The Empire State Building. I’d love to make it as glamorous as it once was—to turn it into a real destination again.

If you could only use three colors in all your designs from now on, what would they be?
Navy blue, pink, and oxblood.

What main factors influence your choice of quartz surfaces over other material options in a project?
Usability is number one. Quartz is very much requested by clients for durability. Also, consistency is really important and the range of colors and textures. You can’t find a pure navy blue in other stones, for example.

In this project, what made Cambria the perfect material for that design?
We wanted something navy and durable. And also something that looked unique: The Rose Bay coordinated with the Hadley so well. 

How do you approach selecting the color and pattern of quartz surfaces to suit different design aesthetics?
In this kitchen, for example, I was looking for drama because the cabinets are plain and clean. We needed a dramatic element to create interest. In a more classic kitchen, you could use something quieter. A very common request is for light countertops, and it’s really hard to do that with natural stone and have it be durable. So there, I might go with one of Cambria’s more traditional, less dynamic patterns.