Maestri Studio Transforms This Fixer-Upper Into A Midcentury Modern Paradise

By Erin Kain By Erin Kain | February 16, 2023 | Home & Real Estate, Feature,

Maestri Studio elevates a single-family Lakewood home with a second story and midcentury modern influences galore.

Double islands ensure plenty of counterspace for the growing family, while Nuevo Living (nuevoliving.com) Kink counter stools with mix-and-match Perennials (perennialsfabrics.com) upholstery add a bit of playfulness.

When their third child was born, the parents of a growing family quickly realized they needed more space. “We had always wanted to build, or better yet renovate, one of the old Lakewood homes,” they explain. After purchasing a modern single-story fixer-upper in June 2016, the couple tapped Eddie Maestri of Maestri Studio (maestristudio.com) to lead the redesign. “I’ve always had a love for midcentury modern homes,” he says. “When I first interviewed with the client and saw [their] enthusiasm, I knew that we could make something special.”

The powder bath stuns with an Ann Sacks (annsacks.com) backsplash and floor tile and an Arteriors (arteriorshome.com) statement mirror. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JENIFER MCNEIL BAKER

The powder bath stuns with an Ann Sacks (annsacks.com) backsplash and floor tile and an Arteriors (arteriorshome.com) statement mirror.

The goal? To create large spaces for entertaining while keeping the original feeling and scale of the home. To accomplish this, Maestri and his team reconfigured the home’s layout to add a second story, garage, large back porch and a central front courtyard. “The reconstructed home is modern and filled with midcentury influences, pops of color and patterns throughout to keep the native essence of the space,” he notes. Exquisite details from wood slat ceilings and steel columns to custom millwork and vintage-inspired lighting and tile dot the interior, alongside high-end finishes and commissioned artwork.

The stair hall features Blueprint Lighting (blueprintlighting.com) sconces for a pop of color.

Keeping entertaining top of mind, Maestri concocted a whimsical “adult game room” in the formal living room, plus designated areas for dining and cocktails. A Blatt Billiards (blattbilliards.com) shuffleboard offers endless fun, while the Gabby Home (gabbyhome.com) drink tables and a Worlds Away (worlds-away.com) chandelier are seriously chic. At first underwhelmed with the oversize space, it is now the designer’s favorite room in the house.

A luxe soaking tub in the primary bathroom is expertly paired with Holland & Sherry (interiors. hollandandsherry.com) Grenfell Prospector wallpaper and a statement art piece by Melissa Ellis (@melissaellis_fineart) PHOTOGRAPHED BY JENIFER MCNEIL BAKER
A luxe soaking tub in the primary bathroom is expertly paired with Holland & Sherry interiors (hollandandsherry.com). Grenfell Prospector wallpaper and a statement art piece by Melissa Ellis (@melissaellis_fineart).

The clients’ pick? “I honestly like them all, but we definitely spend the most time in the family room,” notes one of the homeowners. “It has a large sliding door that opens into the wall to fully open it up into the backyard and views of the front courtyard.” Adds Maestri, “We wanted this space to be relaxing, inviting and full of color.”

Julian Chichester (us.julianchichester.com) Royere lounge chairs and a Global Views (globalviews.com) Crimp bar pendant stun in the formal living room.

In the backyard, a captivating cabana stuns, surrounded by Brown Jordan (brownjordan.com) lounge chairs, a fire pit, TV, outdoor kitchen and high-top bar with Bend Goods (bendgoods.com] bar stools. “This is a structure we added a few years after the completion of the original house,” Maestri explains. “We designed this space to complement the architecture of the home and to also be a focal point looking out of the expanse of glass in the home.”

Lounge chairs from Interlude Home (interludehome.com) and custom round pillows create a cozy vibe in the family room.

With the project finally finished in 2021, the family is thrilled with their new home. “The house lives just like we intended,” says Maestri. “Our clients seem to really love the house, and it is very much them.” The homeowners wholeheartedly agree, adding, “I tell my husband at least once a week, ‘I really do love our house,’ and the fact that I say that so often means the whole project was a huge success.”

Jonathan Adler (jonathanadler.com) accessories make for a resortworthy backyard cabana.