The image features a black background with a white crest or emblem that includes a stylized plant or flame above a book and a bowl or basin. Symbols are enclosed within a circular border.
Text on a black background reading "behind the DESIGN MESA HOUSE" in white stylized font.

Sculpting the Soul of Mesa House

Mesa House is an East Austin sanctuary that celebrates the "human and the handmade." Heavily influenced by the design language of Guadalajara and Mexico City, the project explores the juxtaposition between rugged desert textures and a soft, feminine glow.

The home is a showcase of artisanal conviction. The Organic Desert Contemporary style features a site-specific plaster installation hand-sculpted by a local artisan Same Dutter and a curated collection of ancient vessels that bring a primitive rawness to the modern kitchen. Notable architectural pivots include a James Turrell-inspired vanity room and a reclaimed vintage cinema in the attic, designed to restore intentionality to the art of storytelling.

Mesa House is more than a residence, it is a tactile experience of hospitality, rooted in the belief that the most beautiful spaces are those touched by the human hand.

Photos by Jeremy Doddridge

  • Three men standing in an agave field, engaging in conversation, with rolling hills and mountains in the background.
  • Interior of a dimly lit restaurant with a high ceiling and a mural on the wall. People are seated at tables, some are eating and talking. A man in the foreground is holding a drink, and a woman nearby is drinking. There are decorative plants and candles creating a cozy atmosphere.
  • A green marbled wall with cracks and chipped paint, featuring the words 'Salon Palmill' in copper-colored letters, with 'Salon' positioned above 'Palmill'.
  • People sitting in a restaurant with tropical decor, including a large palm tree painting, and a DJ playing music in the background.
  • Looking up through a circular opening in a green thatched roof, revealing a partly cloudy sky with some clouds and sunlight.
  • Two men standing in front of a large gate with the name 'Lazaro Cardenas 26'. They are outdoors, under sunlight, with trees visible through the gate opening.
  • Photo of an entrance gate to a property called Familia Partida with a sign that reads Lazo Cardenas 26 and Puerta 1. The gate is made of metal and painted brown, with a textured pattern. The surrounding wall is pinkish-orange stucco with decorative edges. There is a small sign or plaque to the side providing additional information about the property, which appears to be a family estate or commemorative site. The background shows a bright blue sky and some trees.
  • Two men standing in front of a textured wall with woven patterns. One is wearing a white sleeveless shirt, beige pants, and a black hat with a New York Yankees logo, holding a red jacket over his shoulder. The other is wearing a black T-shirt and black pants. The floor is wood, and there is a black and yellow striped line at the bottom edge of the image.
  • Interior of a modern café with wooden accents, tables, chairs, a brick wall, and display shelves with decorative items.

The Human Blueprint

Devin Dang | Head of Hospitality: Every time we’re in Mexico City, we end up at Tierra Garat. We’re usually strung out… up early scouting the markets and out late listening to music, but that shop always resets me. It’s not just the caffeine, it’s the hospitality. The way they use those terracotta bricks and that warm, sleek lighting... it makes you feel held. When we started Mesa House, I kept telling you, I want guests to feel that same physical "kick" of comfort the moment they walk in.

Charles Vesley | Head of Design: It’s funny you say that, because subconsciously, Tierra Garat was actually a major reference for me when I was sketching the logo and the lockup for Mesa House. I wanted that same organic, grounded branding. But the real soul of this project came from my encounter with Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara. The first time I went I was instantly obsessed with this idea of "handmade and human"...  everything I saw was hand carved, hand stitched or hand painted. A huge departure from the norm in the states.

Design board featuring color palette, materials, and furnishings for a rustic interior. The color palette includes beige, brown, and green shades named Porcelain, Syrup, Rose Petals, Green Tea, Caramel, and Expresso. Materials shown are wood, stone, plaster, and fabric. The furnishings display a cozy living room with a patterned wall, wooden furniture, and neutral tones.
Design principles for a modern, luxurious home, featuring minimalist decor, natural materials like wood and stone, spacious interiors with large windows, indoor pool, fitness area, and cozy seating with earthy tones.
Side-by-side comparison of a residential room under construction on the left and a finished room on the right, featuring white walls, large windows, and modern lighting.
East Austin living room with beige limewash framed artwork of a woman with a black head covering and striped attire, two windows with bamboo shades, a potted plant, a white table lamp, a low wooden coffee table, patterned pouf, and a beige rug.
A kitchen and dining area with a black and white marbled table in the foreground. Behind it, a kitchen with white cabinets and a microwave oven. An orange wall extends to a corner with decorative vases on a shelf. A green chair and an orange pillow a
A wooden sculpture on a black and white marble countertop inside a house, with windows in the background showing an outdoor patio.
A dining area with a black marble table and wooden chairs, pillows on the window seat, large windows showing trees outside, and a hanging dried branch chandelier.
A cozy living room with natural light, featuring a wooden coffee table, a large abstract artwork of a woman with an elongated face and neck hanging on the wall, a tall potted plant, a table lamp, and earthy tones in the furniture and decor.
Interior view of a room with a large marble table, a carved wooden sculpture on the table, and cushions lined against the wall. There is a large window with a view of a backyard with a wooden fence, a potted plant, and an outdoor patio area.
A living room with a large, tan paper lantern hanging from the ceiling, a painting of a woman with a red face and black hair, striped white shirt, and a wide-brimmed black hat, two bamboo-rolled windows with blinds, a small table with a bowl and cand

DD: And then we found Sam. That felt like a total God-moment. Here is this self-taught sculptor, painter and artisan who had been operating in the shadows of the digital world but was itching to get his hands dirty. I remember Tim showed him that plastering inspiration, and within three days he had drawn, floated, chiseled, skimmed and sanded the entire installation. It’s the heartbeat of the house now. You can literally see the thumbprints and the effort in the texture.

CV: And then there’s the surrounding paint we applied that is a direct nod to the desert landscapes in Tequila, Jalisco. I wanted to reflect that ruggedness of the agave fields directly onto the walls. But there’s this beautiful juxtaposition at Mesa House… it’s rugged, but it’s also the most feminine, warm space we’ve ever built. That pink terracotta limewash on the first floor, matched with the sofa... it exudes this glow, like being inside a pink Himalayan salt lamp.

Before photos of a staircase; the left shows the stairs under construction with unfinished walls and construction materials, the right shows the finished staircase with wood steps, black railings, and wall paneling, inside a home under renovation.

“It’s the heartbeat of the house now. You can literally see the thumbprints and the effort in the texture.”

- Devin Dang | Head of Hospitality

A wall with textured, embossed artwork and a view into a room with a wooden console table, circular mirror, plants, candles, and a window.
Interior view of a home showing wooden stairs, a decorative wall with primitive art, and a kitchen with white cabinetry and potted vases on top.

An Artifact Aesthetic

DD: It’s a mood, for sure. And the kitchen, I love that you remixed those ancient relics with the modern cabinets.

CV: You know my obsession with those ancient vessels and oil jars. Using the space above the cabinets to display a collection of different shapes and sizes... it’s like showing off a vintage car collection from 2,000 years ago. It brings this raw, primitive weight to a brand-new build.

Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, antique vases on top, terracotta pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.

“It’s like showing off a vintage car collection from 2,000 years ago.”

- Charles Vesley | Head of Design

Before photo of empty walk-in closet with white walls, wooden floor, and hanging rods on both sides.
A cozy designed speakeasy with limewash walls and soft lighting, featuring a custom wooden built-in countertop with velvet cushions, decorative wooden sculptures, and a closed red door at the center in East Austin

DD: It’s about those unexpected pivots, too. Like the "Speakeasy" vanity. We were honestly on the fence about gutting a perfectly good closet, but we went for it.

CV: Between the custom wood counters, the color-drenching, and those backlit organic mirrors, it turned into this accidental James Turrell exhibit. The way the light bounces off the glass simultaneously... it’s an optical illusion we couldn't have even planned.

"It’s an optical illusion we couldn’t have even planned."

- Charles Vesley | Head of Design

A dimly lit interior with a textured orange wall, a wooden shelf, a mirror, a lamp, and an ottoman.
A cozy, dimly lit nook with curved, pinkish-orange walls and built-in wooden seating cushions with matching pillows. A small wooden table is in the center, flanked by three seating cushions on each side. A wooden sculpture of a human figure is on the
Cozy corner with red cushioned seating, a small wooden decorative branch, a curved mirror, and subtle warm lighting.

DD: I think the primary bedroom might be the most "Reclamation" space we’ve ever designed. That Earthy Agave paint color you chose is so moody and grounded. But the real star of the room is that French tapestry of the desert landscape we scored at Round Top. And I’m obsessed with how the ram’s skull looks popping off the wall. There’s this incredible, jarring rawness to that bone-white skull against the muted tone of the walls. It’s stunning, and honestly, it brings me so much joy to give a piece like that a second life.

CV: It’s that high-contrast tension that makes the room vibrate. You have the soft, intricate storytelling of the desert in the tapestry, but the skull cuts through it with this primal, architectural clarity. And for me, that piece hits on a deeper frequency. In our faith, the ram’s horn, the shofar, is the piercing blast that calls us to wake up, to seek spiritual renewal. Having that symbol fixed to the wall isn't just an aesthetic choice, it’s a constant, quiet reminder of the call to repent and be made new. It’s a beautiful way to anchor the most intimate room in the house in something that actually matters.

Interior bedroom with dark green walls, a large bed with beige bedding and multiple pillows, two white bedside lamps, framed landscape art above the bed, and tall windows with sheer curtains and bamboo blinds.
A cow skull with large, curved horns on a dark textured background.
A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand, a lamp, and framed artwork on the wall. The bed has cushions, and there is a window with wooden blinds.

Reclaimed & Rewound

DD: But if we’re talking about "intentional" space, the Cinema is the crown jewel for me. We live in this era where people are distracted, scrolling on a phone with a laptop open while the TV is on in the background. You aren't actually consuming the story. Converting that tiny attic space into a dedicated movie room was our way of making cinema sacred again. You go up there to be present.

CV: And you can’t talk about the cinema without talking about the infamous "Waco Run." You, Tim and Nelson renting that Home Depot truck, driving two hours north to track down those vintage theater seats... that’s the definition of Reclamation. We brought a piece of Texas history back to East Austin and gave it a second life.

A dimly lit movie theater with plush brown seats arranged in rows, a large projection screen, and overhead lighting along the wall.

Felt into Existence

DD: That’s what makes the experience. No one else has those seats. No one else has that sculpture. It’s a home that wasn't just built… it was conjured from conviction and is space that moves you the moment you walk through the door.

CV: There’s a profound difference between a house that follows a blueprint and one that follows a soul. That kind of intentionality is rare, it makes the home less of a property and more of a legacy.

Wooden carved art piece of the Last Supper, depicting Jesus and his disciples seated around a table.

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