Stay bold

This once-opulent home came to us in a state of total disrepair.

Our client had acquired the property from the family of the original owner (and founder of the legendary Austin restaurant El Gallo) with the promise to give it new life as a guest house. Many of the original furnishings were transferred with the home, and alongside these, we populated the space with collected artifacts and custom furnishings from Mexico. We shored up the space, gutted the kitchen, and replaced flooring. We wanted the space to feel textured, vibrant, transformative.

Interior staircase with blue carpeted steps, ornate white painted metal railing, a wall covered in blue and white floral wallpaper, and a classical sculpture of a woman holding a basket on a tiled platform.
Backyard with a swimming pool, green lawn, two white lounge chairs, outdoor dining table with benches, brick patio, fountain on the wall, and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

A bright-pink niche leading out to the pool provides the perfect spot for composing postcards to home and abroad. 

A small pink room with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a wooden chair with a floral cushion, and a small built-in desk with decorative objects and a framed picture. There are large windows on the right letting in natural light.

A stunning 20-foot mural in the living room by Curiot Tlalpazotl sets the tone for the space. Curiot spent an evening here to catch the vibe, and then he just went to town.  

A living room with a large blue and pink mural on the wall featuring intricate designs and animals, a white chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a beige sofa with patterned pillows, a wooden coffee table with a plant, a wooden armchair, a leather lounge chair, and a window revealing a pink-colored room with a balcony.
A white wall with four black curved horns mounted, a straw hat hanging from a round woven hat rim, and a set of four walking canes with wooden handles leaning against the wall near a black metal door with decorative wrought iron design.
Decorative bathroom with patterned tiles, a wooden countertop, a round vessel sink, a large ornate mirror, a hanging light fixture, framed artwork, a towel ring with a towel, and a vase with white flowers.
An ornate wooden chair with intricate carvings, placed against a vibrant blue wall. Above the chair, there is a vintage poster featuring a bullfighter and a bull, with Spanish text.
A bedroom featuring a wooden four-poster bed with ornate carvings, a pink accent wall behind the bed, a small rustic nightstand with a lamp, decorative striped pillows on white bedding, framed vintage posters on the adjacent wall, and a partly open white closet door.

Each bedroom in the 6-bedroom home is unique, so that guests can have a different experience each time they visit. 

A corner of a room with a white wall, a dark wooden cabinet topped with a teal cloth and an orange bowl, a framed painting of a knight on horse back, a wooden rocking chair with a green cushion, and a patterned blue carpet.
Bathroom vanity with rustic wooden cabinet, black vessel sink, decorative vases with white flowers, patterned counter runner, large mirror, hanging light fixtures, framed artwork, and wall sconce lighting.
A bedroom with a white bed, dark blue wall, ornate nightstand with a statue of a boy, and decorative lamps hanging from the ceiling.
Vintage armchair with yellow striped upholstery, ornate wooden frame, beside an antique cream-colored dresser with black hardware, a gold and glass table lamp, and a framed photograph of a man and woman on the white wall.

Travels in Mexico yielded both furnishings and artifacts, including vintage glassware, pottery, and books. 

A dark wooden hutch with shelves against a blue wall, decorated with green glass bottles, framed photographs, and various decorative items.
A bedroom with a red accent wall, a black bed frame, white bedding, and a colorful, patterned blanket. There are three striped pillows on the bed. Two hanging pendant lights are on either side of a large framed portrait of a woman in historical clothing. Another framed religious artwork is on the adjacent white wall. A wicker chair and a small woven ottoman are in the room, with a window with white curtains allowing natural light.
A cozy, vintage living room corner with an ornate antique armchair with cream upholstery, a small round wooden side table with a decorative pheasant sculpture and two books, a leather armchair, blue curtains, a dark textured wall, and a hanging lantern-style light fixture.

The lower level of the home has a dark, smoky speakeasy vibe. It features a bar, a poker table, and a confessional, so you can act out your vices and your virtues in the same space. 

Decorative wooden cabinet with carved panels, a wall mirror with a carved wooden frame, candle on a tall candle holder, and small items on the cabinet in a dimly lit room.