Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/367813
A ustin native Ben Lamm does things energetically, quickly (though not hastily), and with conviction. The cofounder and CEO of Chaotic Moon Studios knows what he likes. He's emblazoned the offices and website of his software design and development company with simple yet bold mantras like "We're the Best" and "We are Smarter than You." His atypical attitude has helped to build Chaotic Moon's national reputation for innovative solutions as well as attracted clients like Marvel Entertainment, Taco Bell, and Whole Foods. "We talk a big game, but we back it up with support. It's a nice element of surprise the entire time someone works with us," Lamm says. The 32-year-old bachelor extends the same appetite for the unexpected to every decision he's made for his new domicile in the Zilker neighbor- hood. From furniture to fixtures and artwork, the majority of his two-story, 3,100 -square-foot home was custom-designed in conjunction with Spaller Glover Design Build (housetaught.com) and interior designer Beth Taylor of Wheelhouse Design (wheelhouseaustin.com). Lamm loves nothing more than to hear the reactions of people when they first see his house, with its arid front yard, geometrical windows, and a 250 -lb. front door made from the only naturally occurring purple wood in the world, Brazilian Peltogyne. "I've heard everything from, 'Your house looks like a chateau or a hidden castle' to 'I feel like I'm about to step inside a church,'" he says. But once guests enter and step onto the reclaimed white oak f loors, the house unfolds into a kaleidoscope of rich, royal colors. "The big purple door on the front is the only hint about what you're about to see," he notes. "The interior is so full of light that almost everyone is surprised by it." Lamm bought the house when it was only half-finished, knowing he would be able to success- fully inject his distinct point of view into the remainder of the project. Working closely with Ivan Spaller, the architect lauded for unusual projects like the Bouldin Castle on Mary Street, Lamm set out to create a retreat just minutes from downtown that would not only delight his guests but energize him and leave no space underutilized. Together, Spaller and Lamm formed an opinionated team in which they collectively and spiritedly fought for the best design decisions. "Ben and I worked together like no one I have ever worked with before—period," says Spaller. "Mentally, we challenged each other to frequent standoffs. At times I felt he was a sort of Manchurian candidate, at others a prophet. We would frequently tangle like serpent warriors... and I guess that's why we made such a good match, like Romulus and Remus." Guests are ushered into, not to a formal foyer, but an entertainment room, complete with a bar and pool table. The space is predominately purple (Lamm's favorite color) and peppered with an array of art, including retro prints from Disney artist Eric Tan. Much like the Chaotic Moon offices, the entryway makes an immediate, vibrant statement; it sets the tone for the journey through the rest of the house. "One of the things I kept in mind with every design decision I made was how it would affect the f low of the house as you walked from room to room. Every time you're in this house, I want you to see something new," Lamm says. "There's a really fun feel to the whole place with the custom pieces and color combina- tions—I'd have to call it 'eclectic chic.'" Mini art galleries pop up across the home and run the gamut from a Star Wars print next to an Andy Warhol adjacent to a $3 Peruvian painting "There's a really fun feel to the whole place with the custom pieces and color combinations—I' d have to call it 'eclectic chic.'" —ben lamm 132 AUSTINWAY.com