California Roots, Japanese Influences, and a Map of Ohio Complete This Creative Couple’s Texas Craftsman

When two artists create a home together, a marriage of aesthetics ensues. Dom Haury, a woodworker, sculptor, and painter, and Kelsey Saikami, a floral designer, moved to Austin from San Francisco in 2021 and were intent on immersing themselves in the creative community. After landing in the Rosedale neighborhood by chance, the couple decided it’s where they belonged. “When we saw this house, it reminded me of Dom’s dad’s place in Indiana,” Saikami says. “It felt familiar,” Haury adds. The Craftsman-style bungalow was originally built in the 1940s and withstood several haphazard additions and renovations before Haury and Saikami got their hands on it.

Through the local art scene, the pair first connected socially with Benjamin Stelly and Tanya Selway of the interior design studio Stelly Selway. Early on, Stelly commissioned several wooden stools from Haury and was later thrilled when the opportunity arose to work together on a larger scale. Upon entering the house, it became apparent that the bones were good, but the flow was disjointed and cramped, while windows were minimal and light was hard to come by.

West Elm Laurent Wedge Chaise Sectional

Joon Loloi Rilka Handwoven Jute Rug

“I’m from California,” Saikami says. “I need to feel openness and natural light.” With that, Stelly Selway worked to loft the first-floor ceilings, remove walls to open up main living areas, reconfigure the kitchen layout, and add skylights throughout. Plus, they aimed to pare back the material overwhelm and refocus on tactile surfaces, creating a feeling of encompassment and absorption. The brief was an exercise in streamlining existing elements with restraint, while adding in Haury’s and Saikami’s unique visions.