It all started with the TABLE

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

- CATHERINE DASH

A family gathering place was homeowner Kara Cronk's top priority, so she ordered this Thos. Moser cherry wood table before anything else. The wallpaper is by Pierre Frey.

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, CA, 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, extendable to 120 inches. 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.