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From Builder-Grade to Artful + Personal Family Home
Located in San Jose’s Almaden Valley, The Moongate Residence began as a builder-grade flip with good bones but very little personality. For Pankhuti Sharma of Sundry Atelier, the project was also deeply personal. As both designer and homeowner, she saw the house as an opportunity to explore the balance between structure and softness, technical precision and creative instinct.
Built in 1969, the suburban contemporary home had been stripped of much of its original character. Rather than starting from scratch, Sundry Atelier leaned into contrast, layering traditional wall mouldings, limewash finishes, vintage finds, custom artisan pieces, and a few unexpected moments throughout. The result is a collected, highly personal home that feels polished without being too perfect.
The project also marked the beginning of Sundry Atelier itself. Partnering with co-founder Autumn Williams, Sharma used the home as a kind of creative testing ground, one that ultimately helped launch the firm and define its point of view.
Design: Sundry Atelier | Photography: Jessica Brydson
A Living Room With New Architectural Bones
In the formal living room, the goal was to give the space a stronger sense of architecture. Sundry Atelier added classic wall mouldings to create a more traditional foundation, then balanced that structure with art, vintage pieces, and contemporary accents.
A vintage black console table brings in a sharper note, while abstract artwork adds a little tension against the more formal backdrop. That mix became a through line for the home: never too traditional, never too modern, and always a little unexpected.
The room is painted in Sherwin Williams’ Swiss Coffee, keeping the palette warm and quiet while allowing the furniture, art, and sculptural details to stand out. A black bust sculpture on a white pedestal adds a museum-like moment without making the room feel overly formal.
A Kitchen and Dining Area Built for Gathering
The kitchen and dining area required a more practical intervention. An awkward footprint was reworked with a custom built-in banquette, transforming an underused corner into one of the home’s most social spaces.
Rather than forcing a traditional dining layout, Sundry Atelier designed the banquette to maximize seating and improve the flow of the room. A West Elm dining table anchors the space with substantial wood legs, bringing warmth and structure to the breakfast nook.
The team also incorporated a dedicated bar area with a stylist-sourced sideboard, giving the homeowners an easy place to host and gather. It’s a small but thoughtful shift that makes the space feel more intentional and much more usable for everyday life.
A Primary Suite Focused on Texture
In the primary bedroom, the design leans into tactile minimalism. Instead of relying on heavy pattern or layers of decor, Sundry Atelier used hand-applied limewash in Portola Paints’ Dune Shack to create a color-drenched, textured effect.
The movement of the limewash gives the room depth in a quiet way, changing slightly as the light shifts throughout the day. At the center of the room is a bespoke bed frame designed in collaboration with a local artisan. Paired with vintage nightstands, it creates a new-meets-old dialogue that feels personal and considered.
The primary bathroom received a full-gut remodel, replacing the builder-grade layout with more enduring materials. A fluted vanity, Carrara marble surfaces, unlacquered brass faucets, and brass sconces bring in a more layered, timeless feel. The use of living finishes was intentional, allowing the space to develop a natural patina over time rather than feeling frozen in place.
A Moody Family Room With a Clever Solution
The family room takes on a different mood entirely. Painted in Sherwin Williams’ Granite Peak, the space is color-drenched from walls to ceiling in a deep blue that feels cozy and immersive.
One of the most unique details in the home is also one of the most practical. To solve an acoustic issue in a tech-heavy household, Sundry Atelier created a custom large-scale artwork that doubles as a hidden sound-absorption panel. The piece was hand-crafted with a textured fabric facade, proving that a highly functional solution doesn’t have to feel technical or out of place.
It’s one of the clearest examples of the home’s overall approach: thoughtful, clever, and layered without calling too much attention to itself.
Scroll on to see more from this home tour and shop the look below.
BY: Jasmyne Muir
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