McClatchy Newspapers

FORT WORTH, Texas - Every house needs a connection to the outside," says David Lewis.

One of Fort Worth's premier luxury home builders, Lewis follows this important motto in his professional career, and he and wife Toni live it in their day-to-day life.

Their 4,000-square-foot Crestwood, Texas, home feels as if it's perched within the trees of the heavily wooded lot, as room after room offers a vista of native oaks and elms, Japanese elms and other majestic species through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Toni, a nurse anesthetist who runs her own medical staffing business, bought the house in 1994 for her and her son. The small California-style home was quirky with its bomb-shelter basement, '70s-style low ceilings and rock walls, but Toni fondly recalls the days when her large Midwestern family all piled into the tiny kitchen at holidays.

David grew up on Fort Worth's east side and cut his teeth early on in the construction business. He worked for various companies before taking over his father's business, having absorbed everything he could about what he felt was good - and bad - about home building and renovation.

"I learned a lot from people who are craftsmen, who really care about their work," says David, who counts among his inspirations architects such as Dallas-based Weldon Turner, known for his expansive summer homes gracing some of the most beautiful pieces of property in Colorado, Wyoming and other parts of the West.

They married in 1997, and lived in the house for several years before beginning renovations about four years ago.

"We wanted to spread out and open it up," says David, who takes his inspiration from homes in Mexico, Italy and other parts of Europe that they've seen on their travels together. But what started out as an upgrade project, turned out to be so much more.

"David was working with his crew and kept running numbers through his head," says Toni. "For what we were spending to renovate was enough to give us basically a new house. He brought in the bulldozers and called me at work to tell me he had taken the whole thing down." Luckily they had moved into temporary quarters during the construction phase.

The entryway sets the tone for the rest of the home with iron gates framing the massive knotty alder door.

Inset into thick wood is a jewel-tone square of blue Blenko glass (also used with great effect in the dining room), a wonderful little Arts & Crafts touch.

The game room and bar feature the original fireplace from the home, redone and stuccoed to mimic a style David saw in a San Antonio home. A slim mantel of Oklahoma flagstone was added for functionality and texture.

"The firebox is original, and the damper is one of the old door handles from the original house," says David, who also uncovered the Douglas fir beams that he reused as exposed structural supports in other parts of the house.

The entire home is filled with art pieces that showcase the couple's eclectic taste and love of travel.

A massive Italian armoire in the living room, the inspiration for the 12-foot ceilings, features its original Spanish-made hardware, which still functional, and Fortuny fabric lining. "I always loved this piece," says Toni, who haunts local import stores and antique shops, as well as favorite haunts in New Mexico, New York and California. "I bought it as soon as I knew it would fit into the room." Today, it houses the television and other electronics, concealing the modern intrusions with Old World style.

With the scale of the rooms, proportion of the furniture and accessories is critical.

"We kept the original sofas," says Toni of the slip-covered pieces beloved by the couple's two Dobermans, Ebony and Bellagio, "but we had to live here for a while to get a sense of the space."

A dark-stained hutch found in Graham depicting the life of Don Quixote also earned a place in the living room, holding some of Toni's large collection of tableware used when the Lewises entertain.

In fact, the kitchen was designed to her specifications to help deal with the typical crowd that gathers there, be it to help or just hang out.

Intimate in size, the light-filled space is well designed, with every drawer and cabinet serving a function. Toni collects hotel silverware, and her massive collection is easily accessed from the shallow drawers. And instead of the usual slab of granite, a warm expanse of mesquite crafted in Burnet holds court in the middle of the kitchen.

While there's a small space for casual eating in the kitchen, the not-so-formal dining room sits stage-right off the living room.

Featuring a coved ceiling covered in tile reminiscent of those in Italy and Mexico, the rectangular room features a hickory-topped trestle-style table built by David. "I knew what I wanted," says Toni, "but couldn't find it." Two rows of multi-colored Blenko glass panes diffuse the incoming light, much like stainedglass windows. A row of vintage lights with Fortuny shades spotlights the table.

Both living and dining room look out onto the L-shaped stone-covered patio, which is considered an entertaining hot spot by those who've had a chance to wine and dine under the stars. An outdoor kitchen, several small ponds and multiple seating areas are spread throughout the space.

Two guest bedrooms and an almost startling ornate powder room flank the hallway leading to the master suite. Both are intimate and cozy and feature private bathrooms

The master suite makes up the home's biggest addition.

"It's a lot of space for a bedroom, but this is where we relax and where the dogs have their beds," says David. "Toni originally wanted a fireplace, but that would have meant sacrificing a window or two." The cathedral ceiling is finished out in a stained knotty cypress.

The master bath features some of David's trademark touches, such as windows in the walk-in shower. A jetted tub surrounded by windows creates the illusion of an outdoor tub.

But nothing's precious or pretentious. The dogs have the run of the house - and the furniture - and you'll find their chew toys scattered about the flagstone patio.