INTERIOR DESIGNER

Marybeth Norton

“ It’s so important to marry the architecture and the interior. The architecture is the beginning of the story ”

The most iconic houses in Palm Springs are notable for their seamless integration of architecture and interior design, and the area has been fortunate to serve as home to some extraordinarily creative interior designers.

Marybeth Norton is one of the few to have worked for both Arthur Elrod and Steve Chase, the latter which made her a partner in his firm.

Starting humbly as a receptionist, she began building relationships with the firm’s clients, and eventually became project manager for several Chase projects, including the Annette Lerner house. By mounting mood boards and providing textile samples, Norton became popular with clients at a time when women rarely occupied such central positions in prestigious firms; construction was considered a man’s world.

As most clients were wealthy couples with the man in the role of breadwinner, women interior designers like Norton had the added duty of negotiating with the wife, who very often spearheaded these pet projects.