House Beautiful February 15, 2025
Seller
Emilie Munroe’s clients weren’t immediately sold on the idea of painting the ceiling in their piano room and dining room green—emerald and sage, respectively. “I was a huge advocate and think it makes the room,” she says of the emerald. “Ultimately, it came down to [saying], ‘It’s just paint. We can always paint over it.’ And they absolutely loved it once it was installed.” From there, greens became a through line in the design, from the front door to the living room lamps. Together with the family of five’s modern art, it’s unexpected and fun in a grand 1905 Queen Anne home given new life by Munroe, Armour Architecture, and Peter Downey Construction.
Asked what inspired the color palette, Munroe credits her design process: “We don’t present [the client] a board with a layout. We source furnishings and lay out fabrics, wallpapers, finishes, wood samples, and metal [finishes], and together we create piles of our favorites. It’s a very primal response that people have to color and pattern, so I let them be driven to certain elements. Then we take those and build the house. It gives it a very nimble feeling, and it’s a truly collaborative experience.”
A colorful palette refreshed the historical details.
The big question in here was whether or not to paint the natural wood wainscoting and built-in cabinet. “Ultimately I think it’s just a breath of fresh air,” Munroe says. “Painting the wood really opened up the room. It brought a fresh, more contemporary, energized feeling to a room that was a little bit more dark and serious before.” The upper third of the walls is covered in a “salmon-toned” Holland & Sherry wallpaper.
A cork board wall and “mega” island are the stars.
The open floor plan kitchen slash breakfast nook slash family room centers around a gigantic island. At almost six feet wide, it has plenty of work space (“lit by nice big lights” to ensure it’s functional, Munroe adds) and room to sit down and eat together. The beverage fridge built into the side facing the breakfast nook and backyard is key for a smart flow. “It’s completely opposite the main fridge, so you’re not crossing paths and bumping each other,” she says. “The kids can grab something on their way out the door.”
The cork wall serves as an imperfect, ongoing art gallery for the family that adds color and a natural texture. “I had a vision for this breakfast nook with the cork wall,” Munroe says. I absolutely love a cork wall. Like wood, it brings a natural element into the vertical space. It grows with age. Teenagers love them—they can drape twinkly lights from it. It’s just a genuine, joyful, uber-functional moment.”
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