Maistro Homes Makes Its Debut With a Modern Mediterranean Stunner
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“When you come home from a holiday, you should feel like you are still on vacation,” Rafael Collazo said about his new company’s debut property in Forest Hills.
He has followed through on that sentiment beautifully.
Collazo and his wife spend as much time traveling internationally as possible, and those travels spark creativity. Tulum, Mexico, was, in fact, the inspiration for his new Forest Hills Modern Mediterranean. Collazo has been around luxury residential construction for a long time. He owns a landscaping company, and he has worked on some of the most significant properties in Dallas, finishing out luxury homes.
“They are all great homes, but very traditional. When we go to other countries, I am blown away by what they are building and the materials being used,” he said.
That sparked Collazo’s interest in launching Maistro Homes.
“It can be challenging,” he said. “A lot of people build because they know what sells, what buyers want, and what they are used to. So when you take a different approach, it’s a risk, but I took it. I saw a huge gap in building and not a lot of innovation. I wanted to provide something different, and I want to be known for this organic Modern Mediterranean style home.”
His style certainly caught my attention. This is one of the most innovative homes I’ve seen this year, and I’ve seen a lot! Of course, what captures your eye instantly is the striking facade built of Austin white stone and microcement, and it’s beautifully landscaped, of course.
It’s a good bet you have not heard of microcement before. Although it’s popular throughout Mexico and Europe, it has just not been in common use here. Having seen it in his travels, Collazo started researching and found ATRIA USA in Carrollton, which provides Italian microcement finishes. So, what is it about this product that is so appealing to Collazo? It offers a seamless high-end concrete look (almost like Venetian plaster), bonds directly over existing tile, drywall, or floors, and best of all, creates a durable waterproof surface without grout lines.
“It lasts for decades, is environmentally friendly, and can be tinted,” Collazo said. “The color options are endless.”
Collazo’s creativity is boundless, with a dramatic curvy staircase finished in microcement providing a focal point for the open-plan living space and a fireplace opening to the living and bar areas. There are 24-foot-high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling sliders on one side, and massive arched windows and French doors on the other allow light to wash through the living area and provide a true outdoor-indoor living experience.
And that loungy bar with the backlit organic curves is simply gorgeous.
“I knew I wanted a bar,” Collazo said. “I wanted something to tie in with the architecture of the staircase, so I was staring at it thinking about how I could create a showpiece. I just started sketching it on the drywall, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the house now.”
The kitchen has another favorite feature. Collazo wrapped the island in Travertine that comes in a 6 x 12 mesh, allowing for flexibility. “I knew I wanted a curved end of the island and this product was perfect,” he said.
He also chiseled the edges of the island, so it has a natural stone look. The unique vent hood is Venetian plaster with another great product Collazo discovered that you just spray on to create a metallic look.
The primary suite opens to the backyard and has one of the most magnificent bathrooms I’ve seen in ages. More microcement covers the walls, and I can see it totally replacing tile in all of our luxury homes in the future. That seamless look is incredibly appealing. Collazo knew he wanted a standout tub and happened upon one in an amber-colored acrylic.
Of course, as a landscaping professional, Collazo designed the 5,020-square-foot Forest Hills Modern Mediterranean for year-round entertaining with an oversized covered patio, an outdoor kitchen, a heated pool and spa, a sports and pickleball court, and low-maintenance landscaping.
There is no doubt that Maistro Homes is setting a new level in luxury home building, and we cannot wait to see what they do next!
