Morgan Thorne was living in a modest New York City apartment with her family of four when she came up with a vision of her dream home: “Minimalist and concrete, with big glass windows.” Then, a few years ago, the family relocated to San Francisco. Guided by her contemporary leanings, Thorne worked with San Francisco designer Emilie Munroe (studiomunroe.com) to transform the century-old, 3,300-square-foot home. Munroe stripped back certain traditional elements to reveal more streamlined architecture. “The rooms seemed instantly larger,” says Thorne. “It’s like they all took a big exhale.”
Within those newly airy spaces, Munroe made some bold design moves. For example, Thorne skipped window treatments in several rooms to maximize natural light in the famously foggy city. In the playroom, a turquoise ceiling adds extra cheer.