This California Home Is Packed With Playful Patterns

From the first decision to the last, a mom infuses joy into every part of her family’s San Francisco home.

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July 08, 2022

From: HGTV Magazine

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Photo By: David Tsay

The Story

When Kara Cronk set out to make a new home for her kids after separating from her husband, she got lucky with an airy 1,300-square-foot house in the San Francisco neighborhood where they already lived. “The stuff I bought faced two tests,” says Kara. “Do I love it, and would it make me and the kids happy?”

The answers were “yes” and “yes” when she saw a Thos. Moser trestle dining table. She pictured it as a place for post-soccer pizzas, birthday celebrations and weekend breakfasts with waffles made from scratch. “I knew it would be the cornerstone of our home,” says Kara. Next, with help from designer Emilie Munroe, she tackled some smallish reno projects, including removing a fireplace in the living room to create more hangout space and turning an unfinished attic into a playroom. They blended colors, patterns and art, embracing a fresh start and any shade of pink Kara wanted.

From: HGTV Magazine

The Entry

Whether Kara’s coming or going, the house is a powerful reminder that her place reflects her taste. She chose a blush paint (Pale Petal by Benjamin Moore) for the door and gave herself flowers in the carved blue cabinet, from Anthropologie. The petite pink lamp by Mitzi plays off the door's rosy hue. The runner is Erin Gates by Momeni.

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The Dining Room

A family gathering place was homeowner Kara Cronk’s top priority, so she ordered this Thos. Moser cherry wood table before anything else. It's extendable to 120 inches thanks to two self-storing leaves. The trio of prints hanging on the Pierre Frey wallpaper are by Allyson Brown.

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The Kitchen

The blue backsplash and floral window shade were already in place when Kara moved in and jibed with her colorful aesthetic. She just added a complementary runner (by Joanna Gaines for Anthropologie). “Cooking has always been meditative for me,” she says, “especially in this space because it has doors that close it off.”

From: HGTV Magazine

The Living Room

“I’m not a big TV person, but I wanted the coziest place for family movie nights,” says Kara. She and Emilie created it with a plush sofa and velvet ottoman by Cisco Home and layered rugs (the geometric one on top is by Serena & Lily). The high-hung drapes made of watercolor-pattern fabric are by Rebecca Atwood.

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Kinsley's Bedroom

Detailed wallpaper, called Too Much Stuff by Flat Vernacular, plays off Kinsley’s fondness for collecting. “Even as a small child, she’d drag a bag filled with random things everywhere,” says Kara. The teeny-tiny pattern contrasts with big chunks of color in the Anthropologie rug.

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The Playroom

A formerly uninsulated attic morphed into an awesome hideout for the kids, topped off with dot decals from Urbanwalls, a cute camp flag from Oxford Pennant and a disco ball. “When friends are over, all the kids head here, and the adults have quiet time,” says Kara. The hot spots: plump bean bag chairs from Crate & Barrel.

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Atlas' Bedroom

Kara had the Pottery Barn Kids bunk bed in mind for houseguests, but Kinsley has become a regular. After sleepovers, she and her bro get into early-a.m. car races on the rug from Serena & Lily. For a change of scenery, the kids head up the ladder to the playroom. “They like to build pulley systems to send their stuffies up and down,” Kara says.

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The Main Bedroom

“I love my room because it’s quieter than the rest of the house, but not monotone,” says Kara. An indigo window shade (made with fabric by Christopher Farr Cloth) and a cobalt bench from Wayfair offset softer blues in the wallpaper by Rebecca Atwood and shag rug by Lulu and Georgia. A warm, honey-colored rattan bedframe by Serena & Lily grounds the space.

This California Home Is Packed With Playful Patterns

Related To:

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The Story

The Entry

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The Dining Room

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The Kitchen

The Living Room

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Kinsley's Bedroom

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The Playroom

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Atlas' Bedroom

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The Main Bedroom

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