Austin Bungalow Transformed into a Vibrant European-Inspired Artistic Haven

Six years ago, interior designer Benjamin Stelly was captivated during a visit to his friends, artist RF. Alvarez and medical resident Chase Calvert, in Austin. Having moved from Austin to New York in 2010, Stelly had doubted his hometown’s ability to offer a vibrant, creative community for a young gay man seeking diverse, worldly connections. Yet, at the couple’s quaint white clapboard bungalow in the Cherrywood neighborhood, he experienced a lively queer gathering filled with political discussions and humor reminiscent of the Brooklyn scene he admired. However, he also candidly pointed out to his hosts that the home's layout was not meeting their needs effectively.

Alvarez and Calvert, both 36, relocated from Los Angeles to Austin in 2016 when Calvert began medical school and now continues his fellowship at the same teaching hospital. They discovered their Cherrywood residence, a 1940s-built bungalow with a charming pitched tin roof and a spacious backyard ideal for socializing during the pandemic, a year later. Despite the home's appealing structure, its plain interior failed to express the couple’s personalities or their passion for hosting. Alvarez, who transitioned from running a graphic design studio to working full-time as an artist, often incorporates the house’s spaces into his paintings — which blend historical themes with queer narratives — yet the actual home lacked the vibrancy and intrigue present in his artwork.

Fortunately, Stelly was perfectly positioned to reinvent the house’s interior. Having grown up with Calvert, he co-founded the interiors firm Stelly Selway, operating in the U.K. and Texas with his partner Tanya Selway since 2020. Beginning three years ago, the friends embarked on a renovation that transformed the previously awkward layout into a harmonious, horseshoe-shaped flow of rooms enriched with bold colors and layered textures, creating an inviting and dynamic environment.