# Michael Magers’ Austin Home: Kyoto Meets Texas

> A photographer’s Austin home blends Japanese craftsmanship with Texas grit.
- Title: Michael Magers’ Austin Home: Kyoto Meets Texas · domino
- Summary: A photographer’s Austin home blends Japanese craftsmanship with Texas grit. Photographer Michael Magers created a home in Austin, Texas that merges Japanese…
- Keywords: michael magers, austin texas, japanese design, craftsmanship, photographer, home design, texas home, kyoto, crafts, interior design, japanese inspired bathroom, shou sugi ban
- Source: domino — https://domino.com/design-inspiration/modern-austin-home-michael-magers
- Author: Lydia Geisel, Leonid Furmansky
- Published: 2026-11-06T19:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: michael magers, austin texas, japanese design, craftsmanship, photographer, home design, texas home, kyoto, crafts, interior design, japanese inspired bathroom, shou sugi ban
## Austin Home Design
Michael Magers’ Austin home features intersecting concrete walls and a courtyard with Japanese influences.
## Craftsmanship Theme
Magers’ work focuses on global crafts, from tattooing to swordsmithing and winemaking.
## Obi Shop-And-Gallery
Obi, a hybrid shop-and-gallery space co-founded by Magers and Sergio Alcocer, opened this month.
## Japanese Katana Hilt
A one-hundred-year-old Japanese katana hilt with dragon and cherry blossom motifs is welded into the front door handle.
## Mudroom Experiment
Magers designed a mudroom using glass blocks to mimic traditional Japanese entryways.
## Indigo Blue Ceiling
Magers stained the living room ceiling with indigo blue-stained plywood for warmth and texture.
## Kitchen Craftsmanship
Magers’ kitchen features ceramics by Japanese artists and custom wood shelves.
## Shou Sugiban Technique
Magers used the shou sugi ban (charred wood) technique on the bathroom vanity.
## Japanese-Inspired Bathroom
The bathroom combines Texan and Japanese elements with a shoji screen effect.
## Custom Storage Unit
A custom storage unit holds vinyl, books, and a restored Garrard 401 turntable.
## Saul Leiter Photos
Magers hung Saul Leiter photos from a Kyoto print house specializing in collotype printing.
## Nighttime Experience
At night, lanterns light the path between Japanese maple trees, creating a serene atmosphere.

> it feels like you’re in a different world
## Key takeaway

Photographer Michael Magers created a home in Austin, Texas that merges Japanese design with local crafts.