This creekside paradise parades its owners’ personalities

This custom-made iron front door was designed and installed with the help of Jenny Sandlin and her northeast Dallas based company, Elegante Iron. The doors were constructed in Monterrey and each side weighs 600 pounds. The homeowners say the iron design appealed to them because its swirls complement their home’s curves. Photos by Can Türkyilmaz

The corner lot catches the eye of passersby.

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A sprawling backyard replete with tropical plants, Zen monuments and goldfish swimming in a sparkling pond flanks the forest and creek that runs through a tucked-away north Lake Highlands neighborhood. The home’s 1,000-square-foot outdoor deck, or the spacious kitchen and living area just inside, frequently is populated with party guests.

Mark Williamson and Bob Smith love to entertain. They treasure travel, art and music, too, so they built a house most conducive to a life filled with these things.

Their Mediterranean-style abode is airy and bursting with natural light in all the right places. Gracious curves and high, individually decorated ceilings lend the home a luxurious feel, while playful art, warm colors and wafting pop music puts visitors promptly at ease.

About 15 years ago, the two looked at several Dallas homes but never quite found one that excited them. While shopping, they noticed this empty creekside lot for sale. The owner happened to live right in the neighborhood, so they met quickly and struck a deal after which Williamson and Smith hit the home design section of a nearby bookstore.

“We really got our initial ideas for the house through looking at hundreds of architecture, design and decorating books,” Williamson says.

Observations from their travels also drove much of the design. Art accumulated from near and far now occupies the walls, tables and ceilings.

PHOTOS: Click on each thumbnail below to view a larger version, or click here to view them and even more pictures of the home in a slideshow.