Villa Cali

When Dallas architect and designer Eddie Maestri felt his family had outgrown their home built in 2011, an exhausting search ensued for a new home that would tick all their boxes. He was close to settling for another property when he stumbled upon this 1971 lakefront home in its mostly original condition. It was love at first sight. As an avid conservationist, he desired to honor the original architect’s design intent carefully as well as the home's story. He sought out the building’s earliest architectural blueprints and studied photographs of the home to understand how it was decorated and functioned in its early years.

Drawing inspiration from some of his family’s favorite destinations like Palm Springs, New Orleans, and Japan, Maestri crafted a home full of patterns, textures, and big impact statements. The SoCal-inspired robins-egg front door and black and white patterns on the porch are merely a sampling of the bold personality that lies within. Inside, it reveals multiple playful hues, from a bright yellow kitchen island to vivid powder rooms and rich furnishings. Wallpaper adorns unexpected places, adding touches of whimsy to the home.

Despite the updates, the historical charm of the home still shines through. The living room’s white terrazzo floors, as well as the stone wall and the walnut paneling, are original to the home. When initially stripping the home due to structural issues, a fern wallpaper was discovered in the primary bathroom, inspiring the bold Cole & Son wallpaper that graces its walls today. Maestri also injects the family’s own history into the spaces, pairing vintage mid-century pieces and artwork the couple has been collecting over the years with family heirlooms and contemporary pieces from their previous home.

Old and new come together for a vibrant, inviting home that feels like a getaway without ever leaving home.