We are proud to share that Maestri Studio has been named HGTV’s Designer of the Year, Editors’ Pick Winner in the Dramatic Before & Afters category. This recognition celebrates our Swiss Ave project — a 1920s home in Dallas’ Swiss Avenue Historic District that was reborn with fresh life while honoring its storied past.
A Home with History
Swiss Avenue is one of Dallas’ oldest designated historic neighborhoods, and for our clients, the area carried deep personal meaning. The wife grew up touring these historic homes each Mother’s Day with her mother and sister — and when this 1920s residence came on the market, the family knew it was time to move.
The home itself had endured decades of unfortunate remodels that stripped away many original details. Rather than viewing that as a setback, both the homeowners and our team saw opportunity: to restore its spirit, layer back architectural integrity, and reimagine it for modern living.
Reintroducing Character
Eddie, working closely with Maestri Studio’s Director of Interiors, Katie Paulsen, and builder Adam Larson, approached the home as a balance of preservation and reinvention.
- Entry & Dining Room: A new herringbone marble floor, enlarged arched doorway, and brass thresholds reestablished a sense of formality and history. The dining room’s crown molding and bold floral wallpaper added freshness while honoring the past.
- Kitchen & Pantry: Within the original footprint, we reconfigured the kitchen to improve flow for entertaining. A statement range wall, romantic ceiling medallions, and a sage-green pantry clad in Farrow & Ball’s Card Room Green became defining moments of character.
- Living Spaces: Back-to-back sofas created a hotel-lobby energy, anchored by statement art curated with Jennifer Klos of Collector House. A fluted mantel from our own collection provided another focal point, framed by works from artists James Brooks and Billy Hassell.
- Private Spaces: The second floor was reimagined to include a primary suite, office, and playful children’s rooms — complete with arched windows, sunset hues, and whimsical jungle wallpaper.
A Philosophy of Layered Restoration
For Eddie Maestri, growing up in New Orleans instilled a lifelong love of historic homes. That perspective shaped the Swiss project:
“There’s a lot of guesswork when you’re adding back history,” Eddie reflects. “A house built in the 1920s also lived through the 1950s, ’60s, and so on. By acknowledging those layers, the restoration feels natural — not staged or frozen in time.”
This philosophy guided every decision. The result is a home that doesn’t deny its journey but celebrates it, weaving together a century of influences into something both timeless and current.
An Award-Winning Transformation
The HGTV award underscores what we value most: design that restores as much as it transforms. By giving this home its architectural integrity back — and layering in new ideas, art, and personality — we created a “before and after” that is as much about history as it is about modern life
We are grateful to our clients for entrusting us with their vision, to our collaborators for their artistry, and to HGTV for recognizing the beauty of a project where past and present coexist in harmony.