Moon Residence

SANTA CRUZ GREEN BUILDERS / RESIDENTIAL

Preserving History While Creating a Home for the Future

Projects like this one only come around once in a while. An unexpected blend of history, craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and forward-thinking vision came together to transform a quirky, aging Santa Cruz Harbor-area building into a one-of-a-kind home with legacy and soul.

Originally built in the early 1900s, the two-story structure began life as a symmetrical duplex, split cleanly down the middle with a mirrored floor plan. Over the decades, it morphed into a multi-tenant rental property, gaining a maze of ad-hoc walls, doorways, and modifications along the way. Until finally transforming into a single-family residence by its previous owners.

A New Layout for a New Life

When the most recent homeowner purchased the building, they saw past the fractured layout and imagined a cohesive, comfortable forever home — a place to age in place, celebrate their community, and showcase a lifetime collection of art and artifacts from their travels around the globe. The space was totally re-imagined and reconfigured to accommodate more central gather spaces, better access to natural light in every room, and expertly engineered home systems lilke radiant-heat floors, two fireplaces, a magnificent central skylight, and a home elevator.

Going Up!

The two-story home features a flowing central staircase that was redesigned and shifted in its new incarnation. Mostly to accommomdate an in-home elevator that allows the aging couple to live out their lives in the Santa Cruz neighborhood they have known and loved for generations.

A hand crafted iron railing follows the gentle curve of the stairway with thin lines that reveal the custom hardwood stair treads.

Jewelbox Wine Closet

Tucked beside the elevator on the ground floor is a small, striking wine closet — a clever use of the leftover space that adds both functionality and flair. Painted deep black for drama, the closet features a salvaged leaded-glass door that was rescued during demolition. The contrast of old and new adds a touch of magic and a quiet reminder of the home’s layered history.

Light from Above: A Dramatic Skylight Feature

At the top of the central stair, natural and artificial light converge in a dramatic architectural moment. Two oversized solar tubes bring in daylight from the roof, directing it down through a diffused glass ceiling that glows softly overhead. To extend the effect into the evening hours, a ring of integrated LED lights was added around the tubes, mimicking the warmth of natural light and maintaining the ambiance after sunset.

The entire ceiling panel acts as a glowing skylight — flush with the upper-level ceiling and framed in clean, minimalist trim. The effect is both ethereal and grounded, casting an even wash of light over the stairwell and upper hallway. It's a modern interpretation of a classic design principle: bring light to the center of the home.

Legacy Through Design

At its core, this remodel was about honoring the past while making space for the future. The result is a home that celebrates craftsmanship, tells a story, and supports the everyday rhythms of a modern family. It’s a place built not just to live in — but to live with, for generations to come.

photos by Scott