Fort Worth Magazine - October 2020

Dream Street

Discover why more North Texans trust us with their whole heart.

Choose advanced, personalized heart and vascular care from Texas Health.

Every bit of care matters now, whether it’s for your family or the community as a whole. But you can’t care for others without looking out for yourself. That’s why it’s so important to have your heart health in the right place. Heart and vascular specialists on the medical staff at a Texas Health hospital can help you manage your heart and vascular care, from general heart health wellness to advanced diagnostics and procedures. In fact, no one cares for more hearts in North Texas. And, as always, we have protocols in place designed around your safety. To learn more, visit TexasHealth.org/WithYou.

Texas Health is right there with you. Whatever comes.

Find a heart and vascular specialist or take our heart health assessment at TexasHealth.org/Heart.

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Dream Street 2020

It’s our biggest, most ambitious homebuilding project to date — three luxury homes on a cul-de-sac in Southlake’s Oxford Place, each showcasing the latest in homebuilding, design, and technology. Come on; let’s take a look around.

AND

119

Beyond the Blurbs: a Guide to Southlake Tour the eats, sights, and sounds of the city our Dream Street calls home. BY MARY

BY SCOTT NISHIMURA, BRIAN KENDALL,

SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN

MURPHY

14 Buzz

The Foundry District’s newest businesses find their footing amid the pandemic, plus 10 things you need to know this month.

18 Fort Worthian

How South Barbershop owner Laleh Rezaie got the nickname “Cruella.”

20 From Mighty Mite to Manhattan Project

Inside the life of Dr. Harrison Miller Moseley — the local football star who grew up to become one of the scientists behind the atomic bomb.

28 Pay for Play

The unsung heroes behind some of music’s biggest hits are finally getting paid their due.

32 Facing the Strange

Change is hard, but these tips can help make it easier.

34 Kid Lit

Meet the authors behind four new children’s books to add to your littles’ library.

38 Pandemic Nuptials

How to have a wedding in the time of COVID-19.

44 Beauty Masks

Stay safe and look fab

48 The Flavors of Guatemala

One of a kind in Fort Worth, El Mason Chapin serves up traditional fare from Mexico’s neighbor.

52 Restaurant News

The taco trend taking over Cowtown, Colleyville’s newest American eatery, and more food news.

CLOSE

208 Lost among the flowers.

Showing your support never tasted so good.

2020 gave us lemons, so we’re making lemonade – and a whole lot more. In lieu of our yearly festival, we’re hosting a weeklong celebration of our culinary community. From curbside specials to perfect pairings, your local food and beverage faves will be giving you the most delicious ways to help keep Fort Worth strong.

OCT. 19-25

Participants include Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, BREWED, Brix Barbecue, Ellerbe Fine Foods, GRACE, JOY Macarons, Proper, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Reata Restaurant and many, many more. Get all the details at:

FWFWF.COM

Dreamweavers

I’m sure most of our readers have heard — and abide by — the grammatically suspect adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In 2000, Fort Worth Magazine helped produce its first Dream Home; something that was so wildly successful that we’ve decided to do one — sometimes even multiple ones — every year since. Those who are regular readers of our periodical have no doubt become accustomed to seeing updates on construction, advertisements for touring, and plugs for the charity that the project benefits: a Wish with Wings. All of this culminates in a single issue devoted to the home, its architecture, design, and nifty new technology that would make any real estate snob drool.

Tired of delivering the same eye-popping abode on an annual basis — and perhaps even slightly masochistic considering the massive undertaking — for the Dream Home’s 21st birthday, we decided to build not one, not two, but three mammoth-sized houses at the end of a cul-de-sac in the highly coveted Southlake area. As you thumb through the pages of this magazine, you will see the result of tireless work by hundreds of people, including builders, designers, electricians, carpenters, landscapers, pool builders, roofers, tilers, (a couple writers and editors), and so many more.

It wasn’t broke, it didn’t need fixin’, but we shrugged our shoulders and asked, “Why the hell not?”

Enjoy reading, my friends.

Brian Kendall EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ON THE COVER: A narrow hallway at the entrance of the Dream Street’s far-left house built by WillowTree Custom Homes opens up to the home’s luxurious living space with massive windows that overlook the showcase pool. Read more about this house on page 62. Photographed by Olaf Growald.

Corrections? Comments? Concerns? Send to executive editor Brian Kendall at bkendall@fwtexas.com.

NEXT ISSUE

owner/publisher hal a. brown

president mike waldum

EDITORIAL

executive editor brian kendall

managing editor samantha calimbahin

contributing editor scott nishimura

contributing writers stella brooks, jenny b. davis, malcolm mayhew, mary murphy, jessica strange, lauren wessinger

copy editor sharon casseday

editorial interns isabella delgado, miranda vilchis

ART

creative director craig sylva

senior art director spray gleaves

advertising art director ed woolf

contributing photographers olaf growald, truitt rogers, crystal wise

ADVERTISING

advertising account supervisors

gina burns-wigginton x150, marion c. knight x135

account executive tammy denapoli x141

customer support susan peterson x131 sales interns emily canales, avery kenney, rosa ramirez

MARKETING

director of events & marketing robyn lacasse

digital marketing & development director robby kyser

marketing strategist sarah benkendorfer

CORPORATE

chief financial officer charles newton

founding publisher mark hulme

CONTACT

Fast. Friendly. Fair.

Here's the deal.

AUTO GROUP

Let’s Chat

A few words from our readers

A public art space would be nice! Somewhere the people can paint freely! @downyonderrr

See the Dream Street

There’s nothing like seeing this project in person, but don’t just take our word for it. Tour all three homes of the Dream Street from Oct. 3 – 25. Ticket proceeds benefit a Wish with Wings. dream.fwtx.com/touring-dreamstreet

Best Of

Program in school that teaches young people what to do/how to react when getting pulled over or ticketed. @barnitup

I really appreciate the solutions-oriented approach here. We can all play a part in improving our community, and I appreciate this thoughtful list of steps for everyone to contribute.

One thing that I think is important to consider is how deeply fractured the relationship of residents and FWPD is. The stain that the shooting of Atatiana Jefferson left on the city will not be easily wiped away.

While not being a stranger to the police is ideally great, as an act of self-preservation, I limit my proximity to police at all cost. Police presence doesn’t make me feel safe. It makes me anxious.

I personally have a hard time seeing that gap being closed until the department proactively, aggressively, and publicly roots out any and every officer that exhibits any proclivity towards racism/prejudices/bigotry.

I see that uprooting happening when cops who are doing exactly what they’re called to do (protecting and serving all of us) start pointing out the next Aaron Dean. We need the police to police the police. I desperately wish I could say I see that happening soon. I don’t.

We’ve got lots of work to do to make our city equitable for all. But I’m optimistic about the future of Fort Worth. In the meantime, I intend on building small businesses that reflect the Fort Worth that I want to live in. @JonathanDFW

DIGITAL EDITION: The virtual editions of both current and previous issues are available on our website. Flip through the pages to read more about the great city of Fort Worth by visiting fwtx.com.

Oct. 17 is the new date for our Best of Fort Worth party. Yes, we’re still planning a Jimmy Buffett-themed escape to Magaritaville to celebrate the city’s best in food, culture, and more. Keep an eye on our website and social pages for updates. fwtx.com/best-of-2020

TRENDING ONLINE

Visit fwtx.com for the full story.

» Dough Boy Donuts Leaving Fort Worth, Heading to Burleson

The doughnut shop is saying goodbye to Camp Bowie as it pursues a new opportunity in an upand-coming Burleson development.

» Lone Star Film Festival to Go Virtual This Year

The show will go on this year for the Lone Star Film Festival despite the current circumstances.

Could ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Contend for an Oscar?

has tagged the film as a possible Oscar contender, praising Fort Worth native Channing Godfrey Peoples for her work as director.

The Foundry in the Time of COVID

Both wins and frustrations mark a crazy year for new businesses in The Foundry

District.

BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN

The Foundry District is arguably one of Fort Worth’s most burgeoning areas, teeming with new businesses from The Grand Berry Theater to New Orleans-inspired cocktail bar Tulane’s, many of which opened within the past two years.

But when COVID-19 hit, many of The Foundry’s tenants found themselves facing not just the challenge of being a new business — but now, the closures and reduced capacities that ensued from the pandemic. Everyone had to pivot, whether it be offering curbside or creating new products and services to offer while doors remained shut.

Blackland Distillery, for example, began producing hand sanitizer, which owner Markus Kypreos says helped mitigate some of the losses from the temporary closure of Blackland’s tasting room. Cars lined up bumper to bumper — as far back as 12 blocks from the distillery — to pick up a bottle.

“You just roll with the punches, you do what you can, and you try and survive,” Kypreos says.

But the pandemic still remains frustrating, especially for wine bar Thirty Eight & Vine. Like other bars around the state, Thirty Eight & Vine had to shut down twice — once in March, during the start of the pandemic, and a second time on June 26 when Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order shutting down all businesses that make more than 51% of their gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Business has taken about a 95% hit due to the shutdowns, says Thirty Eight & Vine owner Jennifer Demel. “We do in a month about what we would do, say, on a Friday.”

Even so, the wine bar has found other ways to stay afloat, thanks to alternative sales through online, curbside pickup, and party packages created in partnership with other local businesses like Loot Rentals, My Sweet Roots, and The Greenhouse 817.

The Foundry District also hosted blood drives with Carter BloodCare.

Cars lined up as far back as 12 blocks to pick up a bottle of hand sanitizer from Blackland Distillery.

Still, Demel says, there’s nothing compared to being open.

“This second shutdown is a little bit different because restaurants are open, a lot of people are living their normal lives now, and you can go out to restaurants, have your drinks and food and all of that — whereas the bars are shut down,” she says. “This time, it’s hurting … We’re all understanding that COVID-19 is a concern, and we all know we have to take safety precautions, but these small businesses need to be able to open with guidelines just like everybody else has been able to.”

Until that happens, Demel encourages Fort Worthians to continue supporting local.

“Fort Worth is a really strong community; we definitely all support each other, and we all want each other to succeed,” she says. “Being able to work with other businesses throughout Fort Worth and within The Foundry itself ... it’s been a great sense of community and moral support.”

FOUNDRY DISTRICT STATS:

17

BUSINESSES IN THE FOUNDRY DISTRICT

3

EXECUTED LEASES DURING COVID-19

100% OF SPACES LEASED

10Things

to Know This Month

1

In honor of Domestic Violence Month, Fort Worthmade film “No Ordinary Love” will screen Oct. 24 – 25 at Coyote Drive-In, with ticket proceeds benefiting SafeHaven of Tarrant County. Info at nol-movie.web.app.

2

After a nearly eight-hour meeting in September, the FWISD Board of Education decided not to extend virtual learning for the semester, voting 5-4 to resume in-person learning on Oct. 5.

3

Following the retirement of previous chief Will Johnson, the City of Arlington has narrowed its police chief search to 10 candidates, four of which are internal. Arlington expects to make a decision by the end of October or early November.

4

Arlington’s Globe Life Field just snagged two big sporting events: the World Series, whose first game is scheduled for Oct. 20, and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, set for Dec. 3 – 12.

5

Cook Children’s recently released statistics on children testing positive for COVID-19. As of Sept. 9, Cook Children’s had tested 19,533 children, with 1,202 testing positive and four patients in the hospital. Cook Children’s percent positivity rate is 6.15%.

6

BNSF Railway has a new president and CEO. Kathryn M. Farmer, former executive vice president of operations, will assume the role after current president/CEO, Carl R. Ice, retires at the end of 2020.

7

Two of the biggest shows set to play at Bass Hall — “The Lion King” and “Dear Evan Hansen” — will no longer be coming to Fort Worth in 2021, due to the pandemic. The most updated schedule is available at basshall.com.

8

A new boutique hotel, Bowie House, is coming to Camp Bowie, located at the northeast corner of Camp Bowie Boulevard and Dorothy Lane, the former site of The Ginger Man pub. The Fort Worth City Council approved a zoning change for the property in September.

9

Grapevine will celebrate Texas Wine Month through October, hosting events like a socially distanced supper at Nash Farm and a wine trail through historic downtown. More info at grapevinetexasusa.com/texaswinemonth.

10

The City of Fort Worth will host a citywide volunteer litter cleanup effort — the Neighborhood Litter Stomp — on Oct. 17. Register at fortworthtexas.gov/litterstomp.

A FEW WAYS THEY’VE PIVOTED

Thirty Eight & Vine Added curbside/delivery, online ordering, Wine Thru for wine and charcuterie board pickup, in-home wine tastings, party packages

Blackland Distilling Launched production of hand sanitizer

M&O Station Grill Added curbside, online ordering, family-style menu, neighborhood deliveries

Cowtown Marathon Opened its warehouse for Tarrant Area Food Bank and Air National Guard’s emergency food boxes, offered virtual runs via Cowtown app

Thrive Apothecary Created CBD Your Way program for in-person, online, autoship, and curbside shopping

Tulane’s Bar expanded food offerings and increased sales by 20%

Grand Berry Theater Launched virtual movie streaming, opened space for private events

Gifted Gift shop transitioned to 100% online sales with curbside option, created masks

NEWEST NEIGHBORS

Double Oak Tack: Saddle maker opened during pandemic

Maple Branch Craft Brewery: Under construction

Worth Engineering: New lease signed during pandemic

Fort Design Studio: New lease signed during pandemic

700 N. Carroll Ave. Ste 100 Southlake, TX (817) 251-9393 www.jboltondesignstudio.com

SHAPING DREAMS ~ DESIGNING FUTURES

Laleh Rezaie

Owner/operator at South Barbershop

BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN

BY OLAF

PHOTO

GROWALD

Laleh’s Go-Tos for Good Hair

The origin of barber Laleh Rezaie’s twotoned hairdo harkens back to a nickname she garnered during her cosmetology school days.

“They called me Cruella,” Rezaie says with a laugh. “I was one of the oldest girls in the school [she was in her late 20s at the time]. They called me Cruella because I’d always be like, ‘Shut up, I’m trying to learn stuff.’ They’re on their phones — 18-year-old stuff. And I’d always yell at them, and they’re like, ‘Okay, Cruella.’ Then one day, I show up to school with this [hairstyle], like, all right, I’ll lean in.”

Rezaie was never one to be apologetic — that goes for both her style and her work ethic, a trait she gets from her immigrant parents who left Iran just before the revolution in the 1970s. She remembers her dad waking up at 3 a.m., traveling to Dallas to work at Ben E. Keith, coming home around 3 p.m., and never complaining about it.

“I always hear his voice in my head: ‘Don’t be lazy,’” she says. “You get what you earn. Work your butt off for what you want;

nobody’s going to hand it to you.”

That mantra would stick with her as she pursued her barber career. After graduating from Paul Mitchell The School (where she earned the “Cruella” moniker), she worked at Floyd’s 99 before setting up a chair inside the most unlikely of places — HopFusion Ale Works, where customers could come in, grab a beer, and get a free haircut while they’re at it.

1

Treat your hair like silk, especially when wet.

2

Try not to fight your natural texture — unless you love styling your hair. 3

It was a client, Tucker Henderson, who’d help lead Rezaie to a space of her own. Tucker’s wife, South Main developer Lori Henderson, owns the building at East Daggett Avenue where Rezaie’s South Barbershop currently resides. Today, the single-chair salon is a funky little space, decked out with plants and local artwork. The benefits of being the lone barber — full commission, and “I get to listen to whatever music I want,” Rezaie says.

Find your celebrity hair doppelganger. They usually have a ton of different hairstyles, so you can see what your hair is capable of.

But she eventually sees her business expanding and is currently working on adding another chair.

“Five-year plan, I would love to open a bigger shop with more people,” she says. “I guess it’s on paper now, so I have to do it.”

1. Laleh, styled by George Crittenden and shot by Elisabeth Lee for the Near Southside Shindig. 2. A tintype photo of Laleh by Sheena Dorton with Ruby Bellows Tintype. 3. Lurch, her 8-year-old Great Dane/golden retriever mix who, according to Laleh, is a “perpetually nervous boy.” 4. A favorite mug, featuring Tina from “Bob’s Burgers.” 5. The Rezaie family. 6. Ellie, Laleh’s 1987 Toyota Supra — “the first possession I’ve ever completely owned. I did some work on it myself, but she and I are not currently on speaking terms.”

LALEH’S HAIR TIPS

Shampoo

Ghost Conditioner

Ghost Shampoo

Water

From Mighty Mite to Manhattan Project

Few Fort Worth stories are as unbelievable and inspiring as that of Dr. Harrison Miller Moseley, who rose from orphan to high school football star to atomic bomb scientist.

BY STELLA BROOKS AND BRIAN KENDALL

He never forgot. He chose not to discuss it. For decades he withheld the secrets of his past.

Those who shared a backyard fence didn’t know. Those who sat in his classroom didn’t know. His wife and stepdaughters didn’t know.

That deafening silence ended in 2012 when Dr. Harrison Miller Moseley revealed his explosive past.

After helping the famed Mighty Mites to high school football glory in 1938, the 126-pound Moseley had little choice but to pursue academics over athletics. As brilliant a scientist

as he was a tenacious football player, Moseley — who was the Masonic Home and School’s valedictorian in 1939 — would receive a full-ride scholarship to attend TCU. This would eventually lead to his becoming one of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, which would result in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

MOSELEY HAD AN UNUSUAL PERCEPTION OF TIME. He never looked at a watch or a clock. No one walked in and sounded the alarm, “time’s up.” And yet, every interview, regardless of the time of day, lasted exactly two hours. I could look at my watch and know when to expect our visit to end. At precisely two hours, he would stand up — that was my cue. He never said, “That’s all for today.” He simply stood up.

Harrison Miller Moseley (far right) first rose to fame as a high school football star, playing for the Mighty Mites.

That keen perspective of time was echoed by a former student of Moseley’s who remembered sitting in class — Moseley would become a physics professor at his alma mater — in awe as Moseley started every lesson at the upper, left-hand corner of the chalkboard and end in the lower, righthand corner when the bell rang.

For years, acquaintances, students, and colleagues had sized him up and judged him for his odd reserve.

Little did they know that Moseley never had a normal childhood. For that matter, nothing in his life was normal.

Moseley was born on a small farm in Dundee, Texas, with the Great Depression looming.

When his father, John Moseley, died, he left an insurance policy of sorts. He was a Mason, and that entitled his children to be dropped off at The Masonic Home and School to live. Though his mother was still living, one day Moseley found himself at the school and home that was made up of orphaned children.

On his first day, the superintendent began filling Moseley’s small arms with necessities that included three pairs of coveralls, two towels, a comb, and two pairs of shoes — the low-quarter shoes is what they wore on Sunday when the students

attended church in the home’s gym as neighboring pastors held services. They prayed in unison before and after every meal, and the teachings of the Bible were weaved in all subjects.

Anchored by his faith and propelled by his determination, the tiny-framed Moseley became an important contributor on the unexpectedly successful Masonic Home and School’s football team.

Regularly outweighed by their opponents by 30 to 50 pounds in a sport where the winner is often determined by who’s the most difficult to tackle, the Mighty Mites, as they were nicknamed, didn’t just put up fights worthy of moral victories. They won on the sport’s biggest stages.

Coached by Rusty Russell, who nearly lost his eyesight during World War I, the Mighty Mites had been upgraded to Class A in 1932. So, the team was now competing against schools 10 times its size. That 1932 team would go undefeated and make it to the state championship game — a game that would end in a 0 – 0 tie.

Sports writing in that era had a knack for the dramatic, and seeing a good David and Goliath trope, several sports writers made the small Fort Worth school a nationwide, feel-good, underdog story.

With the nation’s eyes on the team, the 1938 iteration was the smallest in weight Russell would ever coach. Despite the weight discrepancies,

A young Moseley during his Navy years

the team would go toe-to-toe with their competition, and Moseley, at 126 pounds (132 on a good day), would achieve All District honors.

An article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote of Moseley: “Although comparatively light, these wingmen have been outstanding for Masonic Home this year. They are due to sparkle against the Patriots tonight. Left is Norman Strange, lanky 137-pounder. Right is Miller Moseley, 132.”

That year, the Mighty Mites would miraculously reach the state semifinals for the third time under Coach Russell. The team would also play one of the most memorable high school football games in the state’s history — a 12 – 12 tie against Highland Park. Masonic Home would tally the win due to an edge in penetrations, and as the team went deeper into the playoffs, Highland Park fans started a collection and donated new black and orange uniforms to the Mighty Mites. Despite this success on the gridiron, it would be the second team Moseley played on that would leave the greatest impact.

MOSELEY’S FIRST JOB AT TCU was answering the telephone for the university’s switchboard. He soon moved to a job in the physics department, where he was a star pupil under Dr. Newton Gaines. His studies would eventually take him to Chapel Hill to study under Nathan Rosen, a friend and collaborator of Albert Einstein’s.

Rosen, the man who first spotted Moseley’s genius, had collaborated with Einstein and Boris Podolsky on the EPR paradox, one of the most famous theoretical articles ever written on quantum mechanics and the most important paper Einstein wrote after fleeing Germany.

When Einstein invited Rosen to join the Manhattan Project, Rosen told Einstein that he wanted to bring along his brightest student, Moseley. The young orphaned boy from Dundee found himself working with and recognized by the upper echelon of the Manhattan Project. He was now considered in the same class as Einstein, Rosen, Philip Abelson, Ross Gunn, and others.

Moseley worked directly under Gunn, the technical adviser of the United States Naval Research Laboratory and member of the federal government’s S-1 Uranium Committee.

In a secret memorandum dated July 13, 1944, from Vice Admiral Edward L. Cochrane to Rear Admiral W.R. Purnell, it was stated that the thermal diffusion process for isotopic separation, which would soon be in operation at the Naval Boiler and Turbine Laboratory at Philadelphia, be given the name Abelson-Gunn Process. This was in recognition of the two scientists, Abelson and Gunn, who had developed it.

Moseley was, once again, a significant player.

He knew that he was working with the most dangerous material in the world, and the smallest mistake could have cost him his life and all of those standing with him.

The tall columns in the laboratory, the hot steam, and platform were something out of a scientific horror story. But it was the horror outside those walls that made his job so significant.

Moseley’s intense effort on the gridiron, playing against boys twice his size, was just the prelude for his new circle of scientists fighting to end the war.

Moseley had no idea when the bomb would drop, but he wasn’t surprised when he heard the news that an atomic bomb had been detonated over Hiroshima. He was, however, surprised when it did not deter Japan, resulting in a second bomb being detonated over Nagasaki three days later. The combined bombings resulted in an estimated 200,000 civilians being killed.

“I was just doing my job,” Moseley said in a 2008 interview with TCU Magazine.

After the war, Moseley returned to school, and Rosen would sign his dissertation. After graduating from UNC at Chapel Hill, Moseley returned to Fort Worth, where he became a professor at TCU, becoming a mainstay at the university until his retirement in 1990.

Moseley died at the age of 92 in September of 2014, two years after granting author Stella Brooks numerous interviews that would lead to her book, Unbelievable: The Unmasking of Dr. Harrison Miller Moseley, which told the story of his cinematic life. A private man, these were the only lengthy interviews he ever granted.

Jose guadalupe garcia & Jose de Jesus limon

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Pay for Play

Session musicians are finally getting paid their due, thanks to the work of two local attorneys.

BY JESSICA STRANGE

Behind every great song is a group of invisible artists whose talents often go unnoticed. These industry pros, called session musicians, are seen as hired guns brought in to lay down a few tracks, get paid a one-time studio fee, and then split. Should the songs they help record become hits, they don’t typically receive the same fame and fortune as the big-name performers they back. But a recent class-action lawsuit with North Texas roots sought to help these behind-thescenes artists recover their just dues.

On April 16, a New York federal court gave preliminary approval to a settlement allocating over $46 million in undistributed royalties to over 60,000 session musicians.

The class-action lawsuit — filed by five Texas session musicians acting as core plaintiffs represented by Eric Zukoski, of Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett, & Moser, as intellectual property counsel and Roger Mandel, of Jeeves Mandel Law Group, as class action counsel — serves as the single largest recovery ever to benefit session musicians.

Copyright laws can be perplexing, especially with the ever-changing landscape of digital platforms. For recording artists, U.S. law exempts terrestrial radio and television from copyright royalties, but these exemptions do not apply to recordings played on digital, noninteractive platforms like the internet, satellite radio, and audioonly cable TV stations.

Unbeknownst to most session

Eric Zukoski

Brazos Crossing | 76484 |

musicians and backup singers, provisions of the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995 and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act state that 5% of the royalty revenue earned from digital plays is owed to “nonfeatured performers” like themselves. Their portion may not seem like much, but for hit songs, the royalties add up.

Zukoski had a unique, firsthand perspective on the matter. As a lawyer and seasoned bass player with over 5,000 professional performances under his belt, he knew that fellow session musicians in his circle were often unaware of the royalties due.

It was a conversation in 2016 with Dallas harmonica player Paul Harrington (featured on Pitbull and Ke$ha’s “Timber”) that spearheaded

the case. Harrington said he heard the popular single played everywhere, even at a Cowboy’s game but only received a small, onetime payment for his work. Zukoski offered to look into it for him and found that the harmonica player was owed a sizable check.

“When he told me the amount, I fell on the floor, literally,” Zukoski says. “It was well into five figures.” Harrington and the remaining four plaintiffs, Clay Pritchard, Chaz Marie, Kessie Lowe, and Jon Blondell, filed the case in 2017 against the union-led AFM & SAGAFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund. The fund, in charge of distributing collected royalties, previously left residuals unclaimed by nonunion artists.

Stipulations of the settlement also require the fund to increase awareness of owed royalties through marketing and streamlining the process of locating artists for distribution. Artists can check if they have any unclaimed royalties at afmsagaftrafund.org.

The settlement, finalized this month, comes at a time when session musicians are feeling the financial squeeze of the COVID-19 pandemic. As recording slows and live gigs come to a halt, getting an unexpected check in the mail could help artists make ends meet during a difficult time. Harrington credits Zukoski as a champion for session musicians.

“The law had been in effect for quite a while, but nobody had dug it up,” Harrington says. “Nobody had the moxie to look into it — but Eric figured it out.”

Chaz Marie

Clay Pritchard

Facing the Strange

Changes can be hard, but knowing how to deal with them can make a difference in our mental well-being.

BY LAUREN WESSINGER

Nobody is immune to it — it’s the only thing one can count on happening in life and the only way to ensure evolution and growth. So why is change so hard?

The human mind receives comfort and a feeling of stability from knowing the plan. And not just the overall plan, but the details of who will be there, what the agenda is, how much it will cost, and what the next steps are. It’s normal to organize life to be surrounded by comfort in the form of ease of social connections, instant access to favorite food, toiletries and services, a nice home, a car, heating, and cooling. But the 2020 pandemic has uprooted these comforts for so many people. It’s been uncomfortable and has changed everyone’s sense of stability in some way.

Beyond a sense of stability, change is challenging neurologically. The existing and complex framework of someone’s brain has developed over many decades. It’s full of learned patterns, habits, and responses to years of experiences.

The brain needs habit to get through the day. Habits are all the things that happen automatically: getting dressed,

driving, making meals, tying shoes. Habits are also responses to external stressors. It’s a habit to get angry at a child. It’s a habit to remain addicted to hitting refresh on news websites or social media. Morning coffee is a habit, and so is smiling when you see your best friend. Most of the day is spent in habitual response. Habits — even the bad ones — are deeply held and bring a sense of comfort. When something comes along that threatens a longheld habit, whether it is an intentional change or a forced change, it can feel nearly impossible to let go and uncomfortable at best.

But there are ways to deal with it.

Make intentional changes. Just as habits are learned, so is resilience during change. Stay aware of when life feels like one big habitual response. Nothing new happening? Work the wiring in the brain by inviting in change: Read a book outside the usual genre; take a couples’ dance class; take a different path with new scenery on the morning walk; or instead of nightly Netflix, make one night game night. Remember, the human brain is plastic and malleable as long as it’s given the chance to continue to improve.

Go against the grain as often as possible. Along the lines of intentional change is to actively go against the grain in body and mind by doing the opposite of normal. If HIIT workouts are a daily occurrence, consider also practicing a really slow and quiet version of yoga called restorative yoga. If slow, quiet walks are a daily occurrence, add in something more physically challenging like weight training. Type-A, nonstop personalities can go against the grain by practicing meditation, and type-B people can go against the grain by inviting in more structure. Freedom is just at the edge of growth and discomfort.

Reframe your perspective. Consider how the last big life change, challenging as it may have been, actually presents as a gift today. The mind is like Velcro for negative experiences and like Teflon for positive experiences. Biologically, positive experience is easier to forget because it’s not needed for human survival. Take the pandemic, for example. It’s easy to name all that is awful about it, but what are some of the gifts of staying home for three months?

Tackle change with grace. Understanding that major change is going to bring challenging feelings and discomfort, aim to remain in the “we’re all in this together” mindset. Remembering that other people are out there going through the same thing can help mitigate feelings of loneliness. Lowering personal expectations and taking it day by day during big change can help it feel less overwhelming.

Lauren Wessinger is a yoga and meditation instructor and the owner of The Mindful Project. You can follow her on Instagram @laurenwessinger.

Kid Lit

Three children’s books by local authors make for perfect reads with the little ones.

BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN AND BRIAN KENDALL

FW: So, a story about going to summer camp is a very specific adventure for Sunny the Bunny. Was any of this autobiographical?

JH: So, we both have gone to summer camps in the past. I went to Sky Ranch.

PB: And I went to Camp Olympia. It was loosely based off both of our experiences.

JH: And honestly, too, we had a family friend of ours, a little girl, who’s ... I think she’s in sixth grade now. We made the book about her; we had named the rabbit Charlotte, actually, instead of Sunny. And then we ended up going back and changing the name to Sunny in the lieu of Charlotte’s Web and because the whole book rhymes, and so we thought it’d be fitting — on top of the fact that I also had a rabbit named Sunny.

FW: It is a rhyming book, but Sunny has a very distinct voice. What was your process in writing from her perspective?

JH: Well, we wrote the book mainly at my house, and I have two rabbits of my own. Just for fun as we were kind of sitting there, laying around on the floor, drawing and writing, we had the rabbits out running round; it was just sort of for moral support, I guess. I’d say that was a fun idea.

1Jace Higgins and Paige Beckis

Sunny the Bunny Goes to Camp by

A bunny named Sunny faces her fears and goes to summer camp, only to discover her new experiences were never worth worrying over.

FW: You’re obviously both still in school, so how did you juggle writing this book with all of your high school work?

PB: So, we did it in the summer; that’s when we started. And we worked on it for a whole summer, and we got to school, and honestly, the book got put on pause for a minute because we didn’t know how to continue to work on it and do our schoolwork.

As the year went on, we realized that we needed to get it done, and we needed to finish our project, so we started working on it on the weekends. I would go to my brother’s baseball games and take the iPad with me to draw and to work on the illustrations for the book. And in the evenings, we would pass around words, and we’d text each other when we thought of the right rhyme schemes, but it very much became a different challenge because we were no longer together 24/7.

FW: What lessons can children get from this book?

PB: When you read the book for the first time, the one that will, like, stop you in your face is facing your fears. So, the whole book is centered around this idea that Sunny is scared to go to camp. All the fears of not being with your parents; making new friends; challenges, such as zip lining; and going to fun, little theme parties, where you might feel uncomfortable and making the most out of it; and finding that it is actually fun to step out of your comfort zone.

JH: And we also have some little things in

there as well, like some personal hygiene and healthy eating. We have a few pages where we sort of are also trying to slip in little good habits.

*8,000 copies of Sunny the Bunny Goes to Camp have been donated to various children’s hospitals and public libraries across the country. A portion of the net proceeds also benefits the Hope for Kids organization.

Gameday in Dallas by Marnie Schneider

A young girl named Freddie and her dog, Fumble, explore the DFW area before heading to Arlington to watch the Dallas Cowboys. The book is part of a series that will highlight every professional football team and the cities they call home.

FW: How did you discover your knack for writing?

MS: I’ve always loved writing and reading. My mom, Susan Tose Spencer, was a

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Arlington, Bedford and Keller, TX

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teacher (I love teachers) before becoming the first and only female general manager, legal counsel, and VP of [the Philadelphia Eagles in 1984]. While traveling with my mom to games, I’d be reading books and writing. Then, people started liking my stories and encouraged me to turn them into books. It’s true — when you love what you do, it’s not work.

FW: Gameday in Dallas is about a girl named Freddie who explores the DFW area with her dog before heading to a Dallas Cowboys game. Tell us about the inspiration behind your book.

MS: First, I love Fort Worth and Dallas. While growing up and attending professional football games, I had the opportunity to visit at least once a year. It really imprinted my love for the area. The people are lovely, charming, warm, and friendly. I started writing my Football Freddie and Fumble the Dog: Gameday book series, and I couldn’t wait to share my love of Fort Worth and Dallas and the incredible history, sights, and spirit here.

FW: In your story, the main character is a young girl. When a sport like football is generally associated with boys/men, why choose a young girl to be the star of your book?

MS: Football Freddie and Fumble the Dog are me. It’s based on my life growing up with a grandfather who owned an NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, and a mom who ran the team. Speaking sports and, in particular football, really has helped me connect with so many others. I also think it’s healthy for men to read to their kids, nephews, nieces, etc., so a book whose backdrop is football is a great way to share the fun passion of being a fan. Football Freddie and Fumble the Dog: Gameday in Dallas is a book for all ages.

FW: With more women working in the NFL, some even coaching, what impact do you see women making in professional football in the years to come?

MS: As I’ve mentioned, my mom is the only female to have ever been a GM, legal counsel, and VP of a professional sports team. I see my books as a first step in getting women interested in football, encouraging young girls to play flag football, learn the game, and then pick up the ball and run with it.

FW: What inspired you to start A Series of Hard-to-Pronounce Letters?

MM: Honestly, I really did not know I had a knack for writing. But while at TCU [studying speech language pathology], my professor, Lynn Flahive, made a statement to me while observing my clinical therapy that she liked the way I taught children to pronounce certain sounds. “You should write books” were her exact words to me. After graduate school, I did just that. I wrote S Is the Most Delicious Sound [the first book in the series].

As I was working in my private practice as a licensed speech language pathologist, I forgot all about my books. It was not until 2013, when I was president of the Junior League of Fort Worth, when my computer died, and my husband came to the rescue. As he is moving all my files from the dead computer to my new Mac, he came across a file named “My Book Series.” He printed, read, and indicated that it was “really good,” and I should consider publishing. I contacted one of my dear friends, Megan Skeels, who is crazy artistic and asked if she would be willing to illustrate for me. Without any hesitations, S Is the Most Delicious Sound was created.

3L is for Lemonade by Cynthia and Michelle Marlow

A young boy named Luke looks to raise money for the local children’s hospital by selling lemonade and, in the process, learns a few secrets to pronouncing the letter L.

FW: Did you personally have any difficulty pronouncing certain letters growing up?

MM: I did not personally have any problems pronouncing my sounds; however, my mother, who I adore, was a speech language pathologist. I wanted to be just like her.

FW: What sounds/letters do you plan on highlighting next?

MM: This spring, we will have our next set of books out: Ch Is the Most Challenging Sound and Sh Is for Shiner, about my sweet hometown and father. This past summer while vacationing in Telluride (you never know when an idea will come to life), I wrote I Can with Van. It’s about a little boy who has dysfluent speech, also known as stuttering. I teach a child with dysfluent speech to speak on a note — my little trick. Van Cliburn was my inspiration for this book.

Pandemic Nuptials

The need for face masks should not keep you and your better half from having the best day of your lives.

WBY MALCOLM MAYHEW | PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL WISE

hen Krystal Methenitis started mapping out her wedding in early 2020, the North Texas bride-to-be hadn’t planned on contending with an uninvited guest: a pandemic.

But by applying a few nips and tucks to their special day, the bride and her husband, Christian, were able to have their wedding this past summer on a warm, beautiful day, family and friends by their sides, almost as if everything was right with the world.

“I’m happy it turned out the way it did,” she says. “It was so much easier to enjoy it. Some brides say they didn’t enjoy or even remember their weddings because there were 8 billion things going on. Me, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

The pandemic has caused us to pause, rearrange, postpone, or completely axe many of our life plans. But those associated with weddings — from planners and caterers to the brides and grooms themselves — have figured out ways to move forward with them, safely and smartly, they say.

In other words, wedding experts say, you don’t have to reschedule your special day.

“During the early stages of the pandemic, many venues and vendors did everything they could to support their brides and reschedule wedding

dates due to closures,” says Shari Clarkson, owner and lead planner at Nobleman + Grace, a local wedding planning company. “Today, with venues opening back up, we’re encouraging our brides to keep the dates. Ultimately, they have to do what they’re comfortable with.”

Not wanting to reschedule their wedding dates but also hoping to be as safe and conscientious as possible, many brides have turned to the “micro-wedding,” a wedding with all the traditional bells and whistles but on a smaller scale. For example, mammoth guest lists are out.

“That turned out to be a plus,” Methenitis says. “When you can only invite a few people, you’re side by side with the ones who mean the most to you. You’re not wondering, ‘Who’s that guy?’”

A “Diamond” in the rough Because of the ease with which social distancing can be practiced, outdoor venues have become popular destinations for micro-weddings. At one such venue, the picturesque

Diamond H3 Ranch in Weatherford, couples stroll down the aisle of an open-air chapel — wildlife, Texas skies, and rolling hills in the background. They say “I do” while facing a 7-foot tall cross, handmade from oak wood.

Open for five years, Diamond H3 added the chapel in February, right when the pandemic hit.

“Originally, we built the chapel to use for outdoor weddings if the weather got bad,” says Spencer Hodge, who owns the venue with her father, Jeff Hodge. “We never dreamed it would be used for something like a socially distanced wedding.”

Part of the venue’s 100-acre footprint, the chapel has become one of the most in-demand wedding spaces in the area. With good reason. Guests rest comfortably — and at a distance from one another — on pine pews, each slat made by hand. Breezes drift through the chapel, keeping guests cool. And picturesque views translate to guests snapping Instas from every angle.

While receptions at the ranch can

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be held inside the venue’s stunning main building, an attractively rustic barn made out of cedar, tighter capacity restrictions mean many postwedding activities are held outdoors.

This would include a churro bar, where the freshly made Mexican pastries, coated in sugar and dipped in chocolate, are handed out to guests in cups. Another popular wedding vendor at Diamond provides roaming mules, carrying everything from flowers to beer.

“COVID makes you think outside the box, which leads to a lot of creativity,” says Madison Bowling, a North Texan who recently married. “But at the same time, having a mule deliver a beer to you is a smart way to self-serve. And smart is what you have to be these days.”

But in the end, Bowling says, it’s about you and the one you love.

“It doesn’t matter if you can only invite so many people,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if your wedding is fancy or simple. What matters is that the two of you are there, sharing this moment together.”

THE RIGHT VENUES FOR A DISTANCED WEDDING

Hoping to keep their wedding guests as safe as possible during the pandemic, many brides have turned to outdoor venues to host their special days. Here are some outdoor options for a stellar, stylish wedding:

Diamond H3 Ranch: Beautiful Weatherford ranch sits on 100 acres of picturesque rolling hills. A new open-air chapel offers ample seating and built-in breezes to keep guests cool. 5400 Old Brock Road, Weatherford, diamondh3ranch.com

Fort Worth Botanic Garden: Fort Worth’s endlessly scenic botanic garden offers several spaces for outdoor weddings and receptions. 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., fwbg.org

Lost Oak Winery: Wineries have become a popular destination for outdoor weddings, not only for their picturesque settings but also, hello, wine. This Burleson winery offers several wedding spots, situated among its skyscraping oak trees, handmade barn doors and Insta-worthy vineyards. 8101 County Road 802, Burleson, lostoakwinery.com

The Sanford House: Historic bed and breakfast in Arlington is a popular destination for intimate weddings, held in a Victorian-style gazebo, surrounded by lush flower beds and beautiful water fountains. 506 North Center St., Arlington, thesanfordhouse.com

Stoney Ridge Villa: Nestled in a secluded area of Azle, this 18th century-inspired Mediterranean Hacienda villa overlooks downtown Fort Worth and the surrounding countryside. A beautiful, majestic venue. 451 Stoney Ridge, Azle, stoneyridgevilla.com

When planning weddings, one of the first things professional wedding planner Shari Clarkson does is create a color palette and inspiration board for her brides. “I listen to the bride and groom’s love story,” she says. “I consider the things they love to do together, their cultures, and their ideas for their dreamy wedding. ”To zero in on the perfect color, she also considers the venue and wedding season. “Each venue has a style of its own, unique features and colors that can either work with the wedding décor or battle against it,” Clarkson says. “Adding a strong, seasonal signature color is a good base for the final color palette. ”For this photo shoot, staged at Diamond H3 Ranch, Clarkson went with a warm, rich palette of rust, burnt orange, mustard yellow, and deep cobalt blue. “I knew I wanted to go with a bold, colorful palette,” she says. “I loved the earthy tones of the fence, barn, and brook in contrast to the white chapel. The barn was strongly masculine, and the white chapel, softy feminine, much like a bride and groom reflecting each other. ”The color palette and theme became the driving force of the wedding’s design as a whole. “Each flower, piece of décor, and even the attire reflected our inspiration,” Clarkson says. “The signature color, rust, was highlighted in the linens, terra cotta flowerpots, wine coolers, and the groom’s tuxedo jacket, anchoring our design perfectly. When it all comes together, the couple has a design that is uniquely theirs. Something different. Something special.”

Planning Tips

Planning a wedding can be an exciting time for any bride. At the same time, it can be stressful to plan an elaborate ceremony and reception. Toss in a pandemic, the stress can become overwhelming.

That’s why we asked Shari Clarkson, owner and lead planner at Nobleman + Grace, a local boutique wedding planning company, to share tips on how to have a perfect wedding during COVID-19.

Stay calm and don’t overreact. Expect that some things will be beyond your control as everyone tries to follow safety guidelines. It is important to remember that the most treasured detail of the day is marrying the one you love.

Know your local regulations. Knowing what to expect will eliminate surprises. In some counties, venues are open to 75% occupancy, while others are still at 50% occupancy. Understanding the governor’s executive orders and the minimum recommended health protocols for Texas is a must.

Be confident in your wedding date. With many wedding venues opening back up, wedding planners are advising brides to not reschedule their dates. Rescheduling often results in additional, unwanted fees that can bust a wedding budget, and it delays the bride’s main objective — to get married.

Trim the guest list. Your guests may feel more comfortable with a smaller group of loved ones and dearest friends versus a larger, crowded group.

Vendors

Planner: Nobleman + Grace, @noblemanandgrace

Photos by Crystal Clear Photography, @crystalclearphotographytx Venue: Diamond H3 Ranch @diamondh3ranch

Dress provided by Bow and Arrow Bridal, @bowandarrowbridal

Suit provided by Al’s Formal Wear, @alsformalwear

Flowers provided by Remembrance Flowers Shop, @remembranceflowers

Hair and makeup by Delaney Valenzuela, @delaney.valenzuela

Mules provided by Sweet Ass Servers, @sweet_ass_servers

Churro bar provided by Haulin’ Nostalgia, @nostalgia_cotton_candy

Cake provided by Back Home Bakery, @backhomebakery

Linens provided by AM Linen Rental, @amlinenrental

Bowties by Brackish, @brackishbowties

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Chic Chiffon

Burnett New York is known for its signature blend of femininity and strength, and its new line of masks continues the trend. Hand sewn in New York City, the lining of each mask is made from 100% maskcertified cotton and includes a sewn-in filter along with a light wire at the bridge of the nose. Then, it’s all expertly covered with an outer layer of uber-chic sheer chiffon. Opt for a discrete elastic ear loop or generous strips of chiffon that fit around the head and fold across the neck like a diaphanous scarf. $55 – $85, burnettnewyork.com

Beauty Masks

From floral chiffon to eco-friendly fabric, these facial coverings combine style with safety.

BY JENNY B. DAVIS

Let’s face it: Masks are going to be with us for a while. But that doesn’t mean you have to set aside your personal style and settle for standard, mass-produced masks.

Instead, treat face masks as you would any other accessory like a handbag or a headband and seek out designs that elevate the ordinary, adding aesthetic appeal to the existing public health benefit. These five nonmedical-grade mask styles do just that. And they all come with an additional incentive — each sale benefits an independent fashion designer or a local store.

Whether your vibe is feminine, Western, minimal or maximal, be sure to stock up on your favorite so you can have every social situation covered in style.

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A Dash of Designer

If designer logos are part of your fashion statement, it stands to reason that your mask game should keep up with the rest of your luxe look. Thankfully, that’s not a problem, thanks to an exclusive collection of masks available at Monkee’s of Fort Worth, a vibrant women’s boutique in Clearfork that’s locally owned. These masks are crafted from repurposed new and vintage designer silk scarves. Current designs feature scarf fabric from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel. $55, Monkee’s of Fort Worth, 5234 Marathon Ave., Fort Worth, 682.703.8337, monkeesoffortworth.com

Sealed with a Kiss

Los Angeles-based Clare V. infuses its Bisous masks with the same Paris-inspired charm that makes the line so popular. Each mask is made from 100% cotton remnant and deadstock fabric — meaning its eco-friendly — that’s been expertly mixed and matched for “maskimum” appeal. Prints and patterns will vary, but each mask boasts adjustable ties, a chambray lining, and the brand’s own seal of approval: a pair of ruby red lips. $35, clarev.com

Best of the West

Whether your Western style reflects your love of Jackson Hole, Santa Fe, Aspen, or good ol’ Fort Worth, Ariat has a face mask fabric that captures the vibe. Its 100% cotton masks are available in a variety of colorful and festive prints including bandana, serape, and cheetah. Each mask is made with an aluminum strip for custom nose fitting, elastic ear loops, and an interior pocket to add in a disposable filter. $24.95. Cavender’s Stock Yards, 2601 Main St., Fort Worth, 817.625.2391, cavenders.com

A Taste of Guatemala in Oakhurst

The only place in Fort Worth to chow down on traditional Guatemalan cuisine, El Meson Chapin is also one of the city’s most authentic spots.

BY BRIAN KENDALL

Mexico might get all the attention when it comes to Latin American cuisine — they lucked out with the ubiquitous tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas — but its neighbor to the south offers some distinct and delicious fare of its own.

Walk into El Meson Chapin, a Guatemalan restaurant located in the middle of taqueria central on Sylvania Avenue, and there are two things you are bound to experience: a television playing marimba-heavy Guatemalan folk music and an introduction to Rolando Son, who, along with his wife, owns the restaurant.

Chapin, you should know, is a Spanish slang term for Guatemalans. While the correct Spanish form for Guatemalans is Guatemalteco, you will rarely hear this word in Guatemala, as locals prefer the shorter Chapin.

Son, a self-described Chapin, spent the first 35 years of his life in Guatemala, where he was the first born of 12 children. Growing up in the city of Quetzaltenango near the border of Mexico, Son would watch his mother cook for the large family, learning the tricks to preparing traditional Guatemalan food.

“As the big brother, I felt the need to learn how to cook,” Son says. “So that’s how I picked up the craft. And I like the food to taste exactly as my mom made it. I like the food to taste like home.”

Son is careful to follow his mother’s recipes to a T, making sure he has all the correct spices and seasoning required in the cuisine. According to Son, the main differentiator between Guatemalan and Mexican food is the varied flavor profile.

“Mexicans usually just use chile to give their food flavor,” Son says. “[Guatemalans] actually put work into their seasoning and try to make sure it’s all good.”

The Mayans, who Son proudly states are from Guatemala, had an ancient dish called Kak’ik — a turkey-based soup with fried celery, tomatoes,

PHOTO BY CRYSTAL WISE

One of the only places to find Guatemalan food in Fort Worth is El Meson Chapin, where owner Rolando Son follows his mother’s recipes to a T.

bell peppers, and a concoction of spices. The dish, which takes hours to prepare, is served, as is every other dish at El Meson Chapin, with a side of chile pequin. The menu bluntly describes this as “hot Guatemalan pepper sauce.”

Serving as a substitute for salt and pepper, it’s expected one should pour this sauce — made up of chile pequin, cilantro, onion, and lime juice — over any dish he or she is devouring. As pequin serves as the primary ingredient, one must be warned that the restaurant’s description of this sauce is spot on; it is hot. So, before you drown your enchiladas in said sauce, I highly recommend doing a test to ensure your taste buds can handle it.

As an Oakhurst resident, my frequent visits to the convenient restaurant have allowed me to sample a number of the diner’s unique dishes.

For those new to traditional Guatemalan cuisine, I recommend starting with the Churrasco al Chimichurri. This dish, something El Meson Chapin labels as its house specialty, is a Guatemalan-style grilled steak with a green chimichurri sauce. The platter is served with rice, beans, and a mayo salad that is not to be ignored.

Once you’re feeling confident, I suggest moving on to the amazing soups and stews the restaurant offers. The crown jewel of these is the Pepian, a rich chicken stew made from toma-

toes, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds (yes, making it especially good for the fall-time palette), and peppers. The stew packs a punch of flavors, and the chicken, slow-cooked, tears easily from the bone.

A Guatemalan Cracker Barrel of sorts, the restaurant also offers a wide variety of Guatemalan trinkets where you pay your check. A family-owned and -operated business, you will likely see Son’s son or daughter behind the cash register on any given day. 1560 North Sylvania Ave. 682.385.9246

Marimba-infused Guatemalan folk music adds to the ambience.

El Meson Chapin has a wide variety of tamales.

Chile pequin

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The Most Popular Tacos in Cowtown

As if tacos weren’t already a trendy culinary selection, Jacqueline Anaya’s birria taco truck, Calisience, takes the traditional fare to the next level.

BY MALCOLM MAYHEW

To have a full understanding of just how popular Jacqueline Anaya’s birria taco truck has become, one only needs to eat there — or, rather, try to — on any given Saturday.

Up and down East Belknap, cars start lining up around 11. Within the hour, the street looks like Interstate

35 during rush hour, with cars lined up as far as the eye can see.

The scene perfectly illustrates the growing popularity of birria tacos and, in particular, Anaya’s birria tacos. Next to barbecue, birria de res — a traditional Mexican dish consisting of stewed meat, spices and peppers — has been the hottest food trend in Fort Worth this year, and Anaya’s food truck, Calisience,

has greatly helped stoke that fire.

“It was definitely a right place/ right time type of thing,” says the Los Angeles native, who moved to Fort Worth as a teen and graduated from Eastern Hills High. “Believe me, it’s still kind of a shock to me, to think this many people want to try my food.”

The signature item at Calisience is tacos dorados, made with beef

birria, Monterey Jack cheese, and corn tortillas. Using a recipe passed down from her grandmother, Anaya simmers the beef in spices for up to seven hours. The beef is folded into the tortillas, along with the cheese. Each taco is then grilled for about 13 minutes, melting the cheese and crisping the edges of the tortillas. Some people call them “quesatacos” as they bear a resemblance to quesadillas.

Each order is served with a side of beefy broth, called consommé, for dipping.

What sets Anaya apart from others is how she utilizes birria in other dishes. She’s used it as a filling in quesadillas and, most recently, tortas. It’s also the primary component of her popular ramen, which she makes with birria broth and traditional ramen noodles.

Birria is thought to have originated years ago in Jalisco. Using it as a taco filling developed in Tijuana, according to Eater. As the popularity

of the dish increased throughout Mexico, different recipes emerged. “Originally, only goat meat was used for birria,” Anaya says. “But a lot of people use beef now, and some use veal, lamb, or pork.”

The trend of adding cheese and grilling the tacos on a flattop became popular in California, then other parts of the country — New York, D.C., Texas. In Fort Worth, restaurants that have long served birria are experiencing a surge in popularity, while others are adding their own spin.

“I love that about Texas,” she says. “Restaurants and chefs here aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zones and put their own twists on things.”

The success of Calisience has afforded Anaya the opportunity to expand her business. In November,

she’ll open a second food truck, called Cali Mar. Parked in the same lot as Calisience, it’ll be devoted to food inspired by the cuisine of Sinaloa, where some of her family is from.

She’ll offer two signature dishes: tacos gobernador, grilled tacos filled with shrimp, mozzarella, tomatoes, garlic, and poblano peppers; and mar y tierra, a breaded and fried sushi roll stuffed with vegetables and cooked seafood.

“This is all food I grew up on,” she says. “The birria comes from my grandmother, the Sinaloa food from my aunts. The fact that I’m able to share this food and these recipes with Fort Worth, I don’t know if there’s a better feeling than that.”

Calisience, 3318 E. Belknap St., instagram.com/calisience

Where to Get Your Birria Taco Fix

From new spots to long-standing neighborhood joints, there are plenty of places to find birria tacos in Fort Worth. Here’s a look at a few of our faves:

THE BAR FOOD RENAISSANCE

by Malcolm Mayhew

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order requiring alcohol-oriented business to close due to the pandemic may spell the end for many local bars. But some have figured out a way to reopen: by serving food. Billy Bob’s Texas and Proper are among the 700 Texas bars that have reinvented themselves as restaurants so they could reopen.

Birrieria Los Chivos de Oro: In its original form, birria was made with goat meat, and that’s what you’ll find at this mom and pop restaurant, a south side staple. Here, you build your own birria tacos, using a half-pound of stewed goat meat, freshly made corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, and consommé. Some of the best in town. 4221 Hemphill St., loschivosdeoro.com

Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez: Social media and word of mouth helped this east side food truck, opened in February, amass a huge following. Owner Reglio Cortez, whom we profiled in our April issue, specializes in quesatacos, grilled, quesadillalike tacos made with beef birria and mozzarella cheese. They’re served with a side of hearty consommé. 2220 E. Rosedale St., instagram.com/ birrieriaytaqueriacortez

El Tamaulipeco: New food truck in far south Fort Worth offers simple, frills-free birria tacos, made with tender, flavorful meat and soft corn tortillas. An order of four is $10, and each order comes with a small consommé, plus cilantro, onions, and green and red salsa. Excellent birria ramen, too. 3650 Altamesa Blvd.

La Antojeria Jalisco Gran Plaza: Family-run spot inside the La Gran Plaza shopping mall serves excellent quesatacos, along with ramen, boozy fruit drinks, and assorted desserts. 4200 South Freeway.

Mariachi’s Dine In: Hidden inside a gas station on the city’s east side, Mariachi’s is one of the area’s best Mexican food spots, and its birria tacos are superb. Three come to an order, and they’re stuffed with succulent shredded beef and a mix of mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheese. Grab a freshly made agua fresca, too. 301 S. Sylvania Ave., mariachisdinein.com

Paco’s Mexican Cuisine: Recently remodeled Near Southside restaurant offers an excellent rendition of crunchy birria tacos, served so quick off the grill, you have to wait a few minutes for the tacos to cool down. 1508 W. Magnolia Ave., pacosmexicancuisine.business.site

Tres Betos Taqueria: Birria tacos are an off-the-menu special at this long-running taco joint on the city’s north side. Wash ‘em down with a pepino, a cucumber-limeade drink. 2418 N.E. 28th St.

As part of the new ruling from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, a bar can reopen as a restaurant if its total revenue tops 51%. For the world’s largest honky-tonk, the switch wasn’t too difficult since the club already served food. But now it’s a focal point, says culinary director and executive chef Chris Fersch. “We do a fantastic old-school burger, chicken-fried steak — some say it’s the best in the Stockyards — and a great Wagyu steak,” he says. Billy Bob’s is also back to hosting live music.

2520 Rodeo Plaza, billybobstexas.com

Likewise, Near Southside neighborhood bar Proper recently reopened with a small yet impressive food menu put together by owners Phil and Lisa Adams. There are several sandwiches, including a grilled cheese made with aged swiss, provolone, Parmesan, and crunchy porcini mushrooms; a muffaletta with salami, ham, and olive salad; and a turkey and swiss topped with avocado. There are salads, too, plus deviled eggs and artichoke and shallot-topped bruschetta. 409 W. Magnolia Ave., propermagnolia.com

Mariachi’s Dine In

Building the Stone House

A couple of Del Frisco’s alums and their business partners open a new restaurant in Colleyville, but it’s not the highbrowed steakhouse some may expect.

BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN

Greg Kalina and Thomas Dritsas are quite at home with the upscale steakhouse environment. Kalina was a former regional manager at Del Frisco’s, and Dritsas, former vice president of culinary. When the opportunity arose to build a new restaurant with partners Paul and Lisa Pardo in Colleyville, they looked to carry on the quality of their work at Del’s — but with a more down-to-earth atmosphere.

Kalina and Dritsas took some time to chat with Fort Worth Magazine about Stone House, their new American restaurant located along Colleyville Boulevard.

FW: What eventually led you out of Del Frisco’s and into creating Stone House?

GK: When the pandemic hit, they put all the regional directors into a store as GMs. It reminded me how much I really like working inside four walls. I met my two partners now, Paul Pardo and Thomas Dritsas, at the [Stone House] property, and they showed me around. I immediately fell in love, and I think anybody who sees it will. The deal sealer was Chef Thomas. He’s just an amazing culinary

talent. I had the good fortune of working with Thomas for 14 years at Del Frisco’s. I know exactly what he brings to the party.

FW: So, Thomas, what are you bringing to the party?

TD: We’re picking from the Southwest — Texas, New Mexico, all the way up to Colorado; we’re doing Mississippi and Louisiana. That’s kind of the influence and inspiration. So, we have things like shrimp and grits. A salmon with smoked tomato butter sauce. Some steaks and chops, all hand cut in-house. Blue crab empanadas, where we’re bringing the crab out of the Gulf. We wanted to glamorize it a little bit. Have approachable, fun food.

FW: Approachability has been a big deal in the creation of Stone House. How will it be different from the vibe at Del’s?

TD: We’ve built the concept to have repeat business. Known as a community or neighborhood restaurant instead of the special occasion restaurant that you can bend your black card with.

We want to be portion approachable because people like to nosh — they don’t like to eat big anymore. The steaks are smaller cuts. So, we have

an 8-, a 12-, and a 14-ounce, versus at Del’s, it was the 24-ounce, the tomahawks, and the 32-ounce. Then all of the desserts and everything were bigger than life, right?

[At Stone House], appetizers probably range from $8 to $12; entrées range from $18 or $17 to $39. That’s the highest price item. We have nothing over $40.

GK: One of the things we never want to hear is “pretentious.” There’s some polish now; you have little pops of luxury. The property has a little bit of a California feel to it, so it would be an approachable restaurant with elegant touches.

FW: Of course, I have to ask what it’s like opening a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic.

GK: We’re working on creating a safe environment. Everybody’s in masks, sanitizing stations all over the restaurant, disposable menus — all of the protocols that, for now, are the new normal. I think we’re blessed by the fact that we do have a spacious patio to help us offset any seats that we may lose in our main dining room, just to practice social distancing.

There’s a lot of us in the business that were saying all along, when restaurants started closing during COVID and staying closed for a very long time, if even reopening at all, that as we come out the other side of this, there would be some opportunity. I don’t think, in this day and age, there’s ever a perfect time to find the opportunity. But this one feels really good.

Not Your Average Care Package

Local restaurants team up to give gourmet food to those in need.

BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN

Tokyo Cafe has had its own share of struggles like any other restaurant dealing with the effects of COVID-19 — that hasn’t stopped them from putting together care packages to give to struggling families every Sunday.

But these care packages don’t just carry the basic milk and eggs — the offerings are legit. Elotes from Panther City BBQ. Mole chicken from Magdalena’s. Mushroom risotto made by Jen Williams — you know, the Fort Worth chef that once cooked for President Barack Obama.

For Tokyo Cafe chef Kevin Martinez, it’s a small way to make a difficult situation better.

“Our thought was, we’re not just going to make whatever,” he says. “We want people who get [these care packages] to be happy.”

Tokyo Cafe and other restaurants began giving out care packages around the start of the pandemic last spring. Martinez simply called other restaurants, saying, “Hey, so here’s what I’m doing. I need y’all to throw

stuff into this bag.”

And they did.

“It’s not your basic sandwiches, chips. You’re getting a gourmet meal to feed you for the week,” says Magdalena’s chef Juan Rodriguez. “People are surprised. ‘Oh wait, this is actually nice, good, chef-driven food.’”

Setting up outside Nonna Tata on Magnolia Avenue, Martinez says the restaurants give out at least 100 packages every Sunday, with offerings varying each week. Previous packages have included everything from rib-eye steaks grilled by Tokyo Cafe to smoked pork miso soup from Brix Barbecue.

“It doesn’t suck,” Martinez says.

The care packages are for everybody — there are no background checks nor questions asked, aside from, “Do you know anyone else in need, and can you take this to them?”

“These are not handouts; these are investments into the future of our city,” Martinez says. “I understand some people that are like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to come. I still have a little bit of money saved.’ I’m like, ‘Well, just come and get food, so you don’t have to spend the money you have saved.’”

Bits and Bites

More biscuits have risen in Fort Worth: The Biscuit Bar, a family-run mini-chain based in North Texas, has opened in the Stockyards’ Mule Alley. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, double-B offers biscuits with both sweet and savory toppings, from fried chicken to sweet fig preserves. The restaurant’s specialty biscuit, the Rough Night, comes topped with a burger patty, fried chicken, smoked ham, pulled pork, turkey, tater tots, cheddar cheese, and housemade gravy. It should also come with your last will and testament. The menu also includes loaded tater tots, banana pudding and, to drink, beer, coffee and cocktails. 128 E. Exchange Ave., thebiscuitbar.com

The third location of Vietnamese favorite My Lan has reopened in north Fort Worth. You didn’t know My Lan had a third location? Join the club. Called My Lan Bistro, it opened in January but quickly closed after the pandemic struck. Reopened this summer, it features most of the signature items from the Haltom City original, including that incredible chow mein. 9180 N. Freeway, Ste. 504

After being delayed by construction and COVID-19, the Best Maid Pickle Emporium will open in October in a 1930s building just south of downtown. The store will offer T-shirts, hats and, of course, pickles, but will also pay tribute to Best Maid founders Jessie and Mildred Dalton via photograph and memorabilia displays. 829 W. Vickery Blvd., bestmaidpickles. com

Those in the Roanoke area now have a barbecue-for-breakfast option: Smiley’s Barbecue serves breakfast tacos 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday – Sunday. Owner/pitmaster Brendan Lamb offers tacos stuffed with eggs, cheese, and your choice of brisket, housemade sausage, or pork belly burnt ends. 206 N. Oak St., Roanoke, smileystxbbq.com - Malcolm Mayhew

A Tribute to Scott Simmons….

As we approach the one year anniversary of Scott’s untimely passing, we honor our founder, our friend and an extraordinary person.

The story of Scott Simmons and SCH Homes is one of resilience, passion and dedication to craft. Scott was an extremely motivated individual, starting his own company in 1989 under the name Newport Classic Homes only a few years after he graduated college. He evolved it into his namesake Simmons Estate Homes which became an award-winning luxury home building business. In doing so, Scott set the standard for collaborative home building and luxury living, and was considered to be one Dallas-Fort Worth’s premier builders, creating beautiful custom homes for his homeowners, with whom he forged lifelong friendships. Scott was beloved among the community and active in numerous philanthropic efforts. He was often affectionately referred to as “The Mayor of Vaquero.” In 2018, Scott formed a new partnership to launch the next generation of his legacy.

On December 31, 2018, Scott addressed his passion for the next step of his company. He stated, “Fortunately, God has helped the legacy to continue. For the last 7 and 11 years, respectively, Neal Calhoun and Jon Hebb have been key components in transforming my original operation into one of the pinnacle builders in the DFW metroplex. Their honesty, comprehensive and extensive Construction Management backgrounds, strong attention to detail, customer service and integrity is unparalleled…. Our newly formed partnership will continue to provide our clients with the same impeccable service you have come to know and expect.”

As a testament to Scott’s business leadership and passion for his craft, SCH Homes has thrived in spite of three challenging economic downturns, consistently fostering ethical relationships with subcontractors, suppliers and the lending industry. Perhaps even more impressive is the company’s reputation among the community for a principled work ethic, exquisite craftsmanship and impeccable aesthetics.

“Scott was an amazing person to work with,” says Neal. “He shared his entire life’s work with us as he at once mentored and grew with us. He was an honest and generous man – what you saw was what you got and he could laugh at himself. He demonstrated every

day his depth of caring for us and our families, and always gave credit where it was due. We are honored to have had him as such an integral part of our lives, mentor, partner and friend.”

Scott believed that perfection was possible,” Jon continues, “by maximizing people’s strengths and joining those strengths into teams where creativity, integrity and accountability were reinforced with each project. He loved elevating others. It provided a joyfulness that he shared with everyone he met. We stand on an award-winning legacy now spanning 31+ years. It’s a daunting responsibility and we are enthusiastically dedicated to achieving Scott’s vision one stunning home at a time.”

SCH Homes is a unique team of home-crafters specializing in the design and construction of high-quality, one-of-a-kind, impeccably-detailed, personable residences. Their approach to luxury homebuilding is one of total accountability & transparency in bringing clients’ dreams to reality.

Our Dream Street 2020 — three super-luxury homes side by side on 1-acre lots in Southlake’s new Oxford Place neighborhood — is complete, and the homes will be open for a month of tours in October to benefit a Wish with Wings, the magazine’s official charity.

Luxury builders Atwood Custom Homes, Heritage Homes, and WillowTree Custom Homes teamed with designers and some of the region’s finest subcontractors to complete and furnish the homes. The Atwood home has sold. The Heritage and WillowTree homes at 1104 and 1105 High Court are listed for sale through John Zimmerman and Tommy Pistana, respectively, both of Compass.

The homes, as in the magazine’s long-running series of annual Dream Homes, show off the latest in building and design trends.

Manhattan Mansion

1105 High Court

WillowTree Custom Homes’ 7,551-square-foot Dream Street home finds its inspiration in a hotel known for bringing the outside in.

BY SCOTT NISHIMURA

PHOTOS BY OLAF GROWALD

WillowTree Custom Homes and designer

Susan Semmelmann found inspiration in New York for the interior of their 2020 Dream Street home at 1105 High Court in Southlake’s Oxford Place.

Semmelmann calls the style “rustic contemporary,” exemplified by New York’s 1 Hotel Central Park, which finished its rooms in natural elements like woods and metals and gave them names like “Alcove” and “Greenhouse.” “I wanted to give a sense of class to the organic design elements but still make it home and warm,” Semmelmann, of Susan Semmelmann Interiors, says.

The Dream Street home, built by WillowTree and its interior designed by Semmelmann, is two stories and 7,551 square feet, with five bedrooms and six baths. The home, as in transitional, contemporary, and modern design, shows off a free-flowing and open floor plan. It’s meant to entertain, from the moment guests approach the front entry and its private garden fountain, step inside the two-story atrium foyer, and join the party that’s sure to billow onto the covered patio by evening’s end.

Semmelmann brings natural elements — colors, textures, shapes, materials, images — into every room and pushes past the typical.

“It’s a dream home,” says Semmelmann, in her fourth Dream Home partnership with the magazine. “Our inspiration is for you to walk in and see something you’ve never seen before.”

She makes ample use of Dekton concrete flooring and its elegant hues and woodlike finishes. Dekton ties the first floor and covered porch together, but Semmelmann also uses it on the great room’s massive fireplace mantel — the home’s “masterpiece” — and on walls, built-in furniture, and shelving. DuChateau hardwood flooring makes its way onto the home’s ceilings, not just the rustic flooring that unifies the second story.

Semmelmann uses light fixtures to augment every room, showed off most prominently with 16 Kichler pendants she clusters into two grand metal and glass fixtures in the great room. Metals, glass, and wood find their way into each fixture throughout the home; Passion Lighting, a longtime Dream Home partner to the magazine, provided the fixtures for all three 2020 Dream Street homes.

“That’s what takes it to a Dream Home level,” she says. “We wanted fixtures in every room. Most builders want to put ceiling fans in, for cost. [WillowTree] let us go totally out of the box. I think lighting makes the house.”

Floor Plans

THE HOME: Being built by WillowTree and decked out inside by Susan Semmelmann Interiors, the design is a cross between transitional and contemporary. The inspiration is a hotel in New York City. The home, at 7,551 square feet, is two stories with five bedrooms, six baths, two garages, multiple living spaces, and a pool. The open floor plan takes in the living spaces, kitchen, and wine room and connects easily to the outdoor spaces. The home listed for sale at $3.795 million.

THE ARCHITECT:

Watson Design Group is no stranger to Fort Worth Magazine’s Dream Homes. The firm drew the plans for the magazine’s 2013 Dream Home, in West Fort Worth’s Monticello neighborhood. Watson has been architect on several of the magazine’s Dream Homes. The Fort Worth firm focuses on residential design, historical preservation, and light commercial; and it’s one of the architects for Clearfork’s luxury Riverhills development in southwest Fort Worth.

The Dream Home’s foyer is where the entertaining begins. An understated 180-bottle wine room sits behind glass at the base of the stairway to the second floor. It waits patiently for your guests: Turn the lights on, and it becomes part of the party.

The Dream Home’s main stairway uses warm LED underlighting beneath the treads, accentuating them when the sun sets.

The Dream Home’s kitchen eschews the tradtitional. Hidden vent hood. Fabricated laminate and polished stainless cabinets, The Kitchen Source. Teklum porcelain countertops, Levantina. “It has the concrete organic look,” Semmelmann says. Metal tile backsplash from Daltile complements cabinet fronts’ wood grain texture. Appliances, Expressions Home Gallery. Semmelmann clusters minimalist Modern Forms pendants from Passion Lighting as single fixture.

“This is our masterpiece,” designer Susan Semmelmann says of the massive mantel in the home’s great room. Architect’s original plan: stone fireplace and traditional mantel. “We went completely out of the box.” Semmelmann used Dekton — a durable, heavy material made of concrete and typically used in flooring and countertops — for the mantel, accented by recessed, polished stainless steel. She deploys Dekton extensively throughout the first floor of the house as a unifying organic element, including much of the flooring. Dekton’s max 167-inch long spans ensured no seams on the mantel. To light the great room, Semmelmann grouped 16 metal and cracked glass pendants provided by Passion Lighting, partner on all three Dream Street homes, to create two big clusters.

“We love the idea of taking pendants and making them into a grand fixture.”

No need to look for the glam button: Semmelmann pushes it for you. “Contemporary glamour,” she says of the master suite. “Very light, very fresh, very master.” Semmelman puts LEDs behind the bed. The room is imbued with organic elements: rock-shaped mirrors and stones in picture frames and other accessories; animal prints; stainless steel and other metals; and glass. Alora chandelier from Passion Lighting sports clear glass tubes trimmed by metal band for antique look. Wood motif is on display in furnishings and a wallpaper pattern throughout the home. The master’s luxuriant bedding comes handmade from Semmelmann’s shop. “We make all of our bedding.” And Semmelmann lays out a copy of her book The Spirit of Living is in the Giving. “We wanted you to feel that spirit in every single room.”

Semmelmann incorporates natural elements — shapes, patterns, materials, colors, textures — into the Dream Home’s baths. Focal point of the master bath (upper right): concrete tub (“I fell in love with it and said we have to have it.”), set on a herringbone tile floor that runs the room’s length and into the shower and surround. The his-andhers vanities feature quartz countertops; Semmelmann extended one of them to build in a bench next to the tub and take the spa feel a few notches higher.

Semmelmann’s use of natural materials and finishes hits high gear in the study: DuChateau stained hardwood ceiling; Dekton concrete in 3-D matte wall, matte and gloss-finished floating shelves, built-in credenza, floor; croc, animal print, bronze, hairhide, tusk, metal textures in furnishings, accessories, and lighting. Even ostrich in the hardware. Light spills in through large street-facing divided lights. “I wanted to give a sense of class to the organic design elements but still make it home and warm.”

And are

Semmelmann loves this one, layered, underlit, and open to the pub, not closed-off. Guests can move freely between the bar and theater. “You don’t feel like you’re leaving the party.”

Semmelmann turns honeycombstyled piece of furniture and brick into boozy accent wall for the pub.

media rooms back?

Our Dream Homes are here to entertain. Open the sliding glass doors to an indoor-outdoor party. Hang out on the tanning ledge beneath the Claffey Pools’ waterfall, catch a game on one of your two flat panels, grill burgers with friends. Furniture by Yard Art Patio & Fireplace. Still a little warm right now? Push a button and the retractable sunshades drop in seconds. And so does the temp. Too cool in the winter? Another button turns on the built-in heaters.

The formal dining room is one of the first things you see when you enter the Dream Home’s two-story atrium foyer. Eschewing the typical, Semmelmann went with a mirrored wall and built-in inset buffet to a room already splashed by sunlight. “It just gives a different element than having sheetrock everywhere.” DuChateau hardwood flooring on ceiling. Uttermost mirrored glass and mixed metals chandelier, from Passion Lighting. Crocs, florals and animal imagery augment. “There’s a little bit of nature in every room.”

Builders/Designers

Travis Franks has a unique perspective on our 2020 Dream Street — as builder of one of the three superluxury homes that sit sideby-side in a cul-de-sac at the end of High Court, lone street in the Oxford Place neighborhood, which Franks also is developing.

The site has been in the family since the grandfather of Franks’ wife bought 50 acres in 1955 and ran a small ranch on it for years. The family sold 37 acres to Southlake’s Carroll schools for the construction of Carroll Middle School and kept 13 acres. Franks subsequently purchased the site, today, Oxford Place.

Beyond the three Dream Street lots, only three of Oxford Place’s other eight — all 1 acre — remain to be sold, says Franks, CEO of WillowTree Custom Homes. The residential market in the Southlake-ColleyvilleWestlake remains tight, and Franks predicted earlier in the spring Oxford Place would sell out quickly. “You can feel the urgency,” he says.

The builder: Travis Franks

WillowTree Custom Homes

“That’s the kind of phone calls we’ve been getting.” Franks, who graduated from the University of North Texas, worked several years for a North Texas homebuilder and later sold plumbing products as a manufacturer’s rep before he went into business in WillowTree with Jody Alumbaugh, a Texas A&Meducated structural engineer. Alumbaugh brings over 12 years of experience in construction and design and oversees, evaluates, approves, and coordinates all projects.

The pair started in high-end remodels before moving into new construction.

WillowTree today is building in Southlake, Westlake, Bartonville, and Colleyville.

The designer: Susan Semmelmann Susan Semmelmann Interiors

Susan Semmelmann is no stranger to our Dream Homes. This marks the fourth such project she’s collaborated on for Fort Worth Magazine. Semmelmann got her start building houses with her husband, Marc. That evolved into a design firm she owned with a partner for 18 years. And in March last year, Semmelmann launched her own brand and firm, Susan Semmelmann Interiors. She’s under construction on a 10,000-square-foot design center at 4372 West Vickery Blvd. in Fort Worth, which she hopes to open in December. It will be home to Semmelmann’s interiors business and her Fort Worth Design Studio, which will offer a broad array of brands and products and be open to other area designers and their clients who might now spend a lot of time at Dallas’ World Trade Center. “My idea is to be an asset to the designers, not a competitor.”

Residential construction and improvement has surged as COVID-19 kept people cooped up. “Our business is at an all-time high right now. We are getting calls daily to renovate, design, furnish, update, upgrade. It’s been great for acquiring clients. The

operational part has been the struggle because we’re having a really hard time getting product in a timely manner.”

A big part of her brand is in giving back. Marc Semmelmann is a cancer survivor who, as a general aviation pilot, regularly flies patients between North Texas and Houston for visits to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. One of Semmelmann’s favorite causes is a Wish with Wings, which grants wishes to ill Texas kids. Her motto, infused in her Dream Street design: “The spirit of living is in the giving.”

Dream Team: 1105 High Court

Builder: WillowTree Custom Homes willowtreetx.com

Architect: Watson Design Architects watsondesigngroup.com

Interior: Susan Semmelmann Interiors semmelmanninteriors.com

Realtor: Tommy Pistana, Compass thepistanagroup.com

Appliances:

Expressions Home Gallery expressionshomegallery.com

Cabinets, kitchen: The Kitchen Source thekitchensource.net

Cabinets, other: JIL Custom Cabinets jilcustomcabinets.com

Concrete flatwork: Blythe Concrete blytheconcrete.com

Countertops, fabrication: Absolute Stone & Tile absolutestoneusa.com

Countertops, material: Levantina levantina.com

Doors, exterior front: M2 Metals Iron Doors m2metals.com

Drywall and texture: Alliance Drywall sheetrocker.com

Here’s the lineup of partners for our Dream Home at 1105 High Court in Southlake’s Oxford Place.

Electrician: MPT Electric 469.667.1755

Energy sponsor: Atmos Energy atmosenergy.com

Fencing, wood, iron, automated gates: Lambert’s Ornamental Iron lambertsornamentaliron.com

Fire protection systems: Safe Life Fire Protection 682.365.8343

Flooring, tile materials: Daltile daltile.com

Flooring, wood, labor: North Texas Surfaces northtexassurfaces.com

Flooring, wood, materials: DuChateau duchateau.com (Contact North Texas Surfaces)

Garage doors/openers: Open Up Garage Doors openupgaragedoors.com

Gutters: Loveless Gutters lovelessgutter.com

Hardware, cabinets: Pierce Fine Decorative Hardware and Plumbing piercehardware.com

HVAC: Hawk Air Company 817.337.8089

Insulation: New Leaf Foam Insulation newLeafInsulation.com

Landscape/irrigation/grade/ lighting: Joey Design Irrigation and Landscapes 682.429.6911

Lender sponsor: First National Bank Mortgage fnbtx.com

Light fixtures and outdoor lighting: Passion Lighting passionlighting.com

Low voltage/AV/security: ComwareAV comwareav.com

Lumber and trusses: DeFord Lumber Co., Ltd. defords.com

Paint: Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com

Paint labor: J&V Painting jandvpainting.com

Patio furniture: Yard Art Patio & Fireplace myyardart.com

Plumbing fixtures: Expressions Home Gallery expressionshomegallery.com

Plumbing labor and supplies: Posey Plumbing poseyplumbing.net

Pool: Claffey Pools claffeypools.com

Pool and game tables: Fort Worth Billiards Superstore billiardsuperstore.com

Shower glass and mirrors: Fashion Glass & Mirror fashionglass.com

Site surveillance: SiteViewPRO siteviewpro.com

Stone materials: Texas Stone Creations texasstonecreations.com

Stucco material and labor: MCD Stucco 972.822.3875

Wine room, cabinets: Vineyard Wine Cellars vineyardwinecellars.com

Wine room, ceiling: Cosentino cosentino.com

Wine and spirits sponsor: Bear Creek Spirits and Wine bearcreekspirits.com

3D virtual tour: Metroplex360 metroplex360.com

A Dream Home Birthday

Fort Worth Magazine’s Dream Home turns 20

this year, and, my, have we covered a broad swath of design trends.

BY SCOTT NISHIMURA

Our baby turns 20 this year, and, man, has it grown up and covered a lot of ground since becoming a young adult.

The magazine’s annual partnerships with luxury builders, designers, and subcontractors began in 2000 when we

collaborated on the construction and finishing of a home in southwest Fort Worth’s Mira Vista neighborhood. The style: Old World European Country with New World open concepts, features, and technology.

Much has changed since then. The Old World has given way to transitional, contemporary, and modern design that lets the light pour in. Flat panels, digital entertainment, and smart systems have replaced CRT television sets. Heavy is out, replaced by clean lines and light organic finishes. And for the first time, this year, the magazine is collaborating on three luxury homes — a Dream Street in Southlake’s Oxford Place — at the same time.

The magazine birthed the Dream Home in 2000, teaming with Schwarz Hanson Architects, The Morrison Group as builder,

and Susan Stafford of Stafford Interiors to build the Mira Vista home. The Dream Home’s journey has taken us across the region, to Aledo, Westlake, Southlake, Monticello, Westover Hills, Colonial, River Crest, Montserrat, Keller, Benbrook’s LaCantera, Colleyville, and Walsh. We’ve done three Dream Homes in Westlake. And this year’s mark our fourth, fifth, and sixth Dream Homes in Southlake.

All along, the design trends of the day were infused with Texas. We’ve treated our readers to Texas Tuscany, modern hacienda, and Hill Country contemporary.

A slate of the region’s finest builders, designers, construction trades, and vendors have been aboard for the ride. This year’s builders are Jon Atwood of Atwood Custom Homes, John Webb of Heritage Homes, and Travis Franks of WillowTree Custom

The October 2000 cover, the magazine’s first Dream Home

Under the Texan Sun

Homes. It’s Atwood’s second Dream Home with the magazine since 2015 and Webb’s second in two years. Many of our vendor partners have supplied the project for years. And sales of tour tickets have always benefited a local charity — our partner today is a Wish with Wings.

Here’s a quick journey through our Dream Home:

Birth, 2000: Mira Vista. Theme: European country. Media room: “Tables and chairs double for dining or arts and crafts. The eyes are drawn to a dramatic aquarium. Giant-screen TV and stereo promise hours of entertainment.”

2006: Westover Hills. Theme: “Southern Mediterranean, with Italian Renaissance flair.” Pool: “The biggest challenge the design team had to overcome was crafting the layout of the waterway … conscious of the existing oak trees.”

2010: Colonial, a Dream remodel. Study/office: “The fireplace was brick but has been covered with slate. The wood surfaces and beams are knotty alder, finished to a deep brown. The ceiling is covered with heavy paper that looks like pressed tin.”

2014: Montserrat. Theme: California mission and Mediterranean fusion. On the

blue kitchen island quartzite stone: “I found an amazing exotic stone, and it feels like it is ocean and sand and water. It’s blue, and it has almost what feels like a wave that goes through it.”

2017: LaCantera at Team Ranch. “An understated Hill Country contemporary, rich in features but low on pretense, pops up in Benbrook’s luxury LaCantera.”

2019. Colleyville. “The clerestory windows, rich pecky cypress floor-to-ceiling surround, glass and doors at the entry and opening onto the pool, blonde wooden doors, and neutral color palette set the warm farmhouse mood.”

Height of the Hills

Eleganza Italiana, “Italian Elegance”, specializes in fine Italian antique furniture and custom designed home accessories handcrafted by Italian artisans. The luxurious richness and elegance of fine and rare antique European textiles and trims, from as far back as the 1500s, are transformed into “one of a kind” creations of custom designed pillows, headboards, lamps and lampshades, jewelry boxes, picture frames, tassels and Christmas ornaments. Custom designed creations upon request.

Mariangela Scandellari-Schuster | 817-659-9926 mariangelaschuster@icloud.com | eleganzaitaliana.net

& Co. in Dallas

Splintered Massing

1100 High Court

A single-story house packs a punch in this practical design that feels as much like a spa retreat as it does home.

BY BRIAN KENDALL

PHOTOS BY TRUITT ROGERS

Stucco, natural wood siding, and a concrete roof give 1100 High Court a beautiful contrast of materials. The 10-foot-tall windows also allow for plenty of natural light and view from the street of the home’s signature pool and backyard.

Splintered massing is how builder John Atwood of Atwood Custom Homes describes the architectural layout of this house. “When you build a single-story house and you spread it out, you got masses that are splintered throughout,” Atwood explains. The home’s entryway is a 700-square-foot hall with large, 10-foot-tall windows overlooking the pool. On either side of the wide, atrium-style entry are what amount to wings — with the west wing containing the master and two additional bedrooms, and the east wing containing the kitchen and entertainment areas.

“That’s what I wanted to create,” Atwood says. “Was that open field, nothing closed in. Not your normal walk-in dining room on your left, study on your right, kitchen right ahead of you. We wanted to splinter it up a little bit.”

Despite being a single-story home bookended by a couple of twostory houses, the home is far from dwarfed — it still measures at 6,000 square feet with five bedrooms, seven baths, and two garages. While the lack of multiple stories is what will immediately stand out as the home’s key differentiator, other clever design elements make the home a unique addition to Fort Worth Magazine’s Dream Street.

The wide footprint, which Atwood says was dictated by the shape of the lot, coupled with the natural wood entry doors and symmetrical lines throughout give the home a modern yet natural aesthetic that makes it stand out from the pack.

In addition, Atwood says the home’s design should attract those more interested in practical living.

“We chose to go the route of more timeless and comfortable living,” Atwood says. “I think most of the people coming through here are going to be the older people that say, ‘Hey, I could see myself living in this house.’ We didn’t go for gimmicky. We didn’t go for what’s new and faddish and what’s Las Vegas.”

The home, which was purchased before completion, also includes some additions from the owner that Atwood says greatly enhanced the livability of the house. These include a wood-fire grilling station that would make any barbecue connoisseur drool and a motorized pool cover.

“Being that we sold it early, I had a homeowner come in, and I showed him the ideas that I wanted to do,” Atwood says. “And then he kept one-upping me.”

Floor Plans

THE HOME: Being built by Jon Atwood of Atwood Custom Homes, this is the only one-story among the Dream Street trio. The home is 6,000 square feet, with five bedrooms, seven baths, two wings, two garages, and multiple outdoor spaces, including a pool. The second wing contains the master suite. Atwood, who built the magazine’s 2015 Dream Home at Southlake’s Carillon development, listed the home at $3.2 million, and the home was sold before completion.

THE DESIGNER: Jon Bolton of J. Bolton & Associates of Southlake has been in business for more than 30 years. Bolton will design a home custom, and he also has an extensive library of predesigned plans. He touts his plans as “soulful, timeless living solutions,” which he achieves “through a combination of artful, practical design and meeting the desires and needs of the homeowner.” His philosophy: “We believe that each home should be an elegant statement of individuality as unique as the people who dwell within.”

The atrium feel to the entry way, a 100-foot-long hallway, serves as the home’s trademark design element. With wings shooting off the east and west ends of the house, designer Dorian Stacy was careful to make sure things remained simple. “They wanted this area to be nice and open and to feel like a retreat,” Stacy says. “We wanted to be sure that we weren’t putting anything in here that would block the beautiful pool in the backyard.”

Despite the fabrics on the sofa being light, they’re made to be used. “They don’t scare me because they’re performance fabrics,” Stacy says. “So, they’re made to be enjoyed and not feared. And I love the way that the table brought in the wood.”

Speaking about the dining room, Stacy says “the custom cut rug to fit in the square room turned out great. And when paired with the round of the chairs and the table, it has a nice formal effect.”

The office’s highlights include an alligatorskin desk to give the room texture without overpowering the other elements in the room.

“The master bathroom is supposed to be like a spa,” Atwood says. “And for more natural light, we did a shower head up in the skylight, so you’ve got the rain effect.” The tile-heavy bathroom includes blue recessed lighting and a giant chandelier. The master bedroom itself, as Stacy describes it, is like the owners’ own little haven. “You’ve got mixed wood, metal, the glass touches,” Stacy says. “They kind of give it just a homey feeling in what could be a much more sterile spot.”

Touches of blue dominate the interior decor of the house. “This allowed us to have more colors to play off of it,” Stacy says. “So you occasionally see some warmer rust colors and things like that that are still timeless.”

“You’ve got these beautiful windows so you work around the space that you need,” Stacy says. “And if somebody is actually living in this room then you still have functionality with the dresser space.”

The three dining areas within conversation of each other creates a non-siloed eating experience for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. “You could have food and family here, food and family here, and food and family here, right in the kitchen,” Atwood says. Another design quirk is the large wooden lighting fixture, which is an inversion of the kitchen island.

The outdoor living area, which comes complete with a fireplace and flat screen TV, can also be entirely heated or airconditioned, depending on the season. Shutters fall between the pillars, cutting the space off from the outside. And the area uses fans, misters, and heaters to ensure guests are at a comfy temperature.

Two subcontractors, including a steel worker and hydraulic company, were brought in to complete the bar’s partition, which opens and closes via remote control. Making convenience and practicality a priority, the pool features a mechanical sliding pool cover, which will greatly decrease the area’s required maintenance.

Builders/Designers

It was 2015 when John Atwood of Atwood Custom Homes participated in the Fort Worth Magazine’s signature Dream Home project — a Spanish-inspired hacienda in Southlake’s Carillon development.

Coming back for a second round, it’s clear Atwood was highly involved in the floor plan, architecture, and layout of his 2020 home — even designing the pool himself. The large entryway, symmetrical design, gigantic windows, and selection of tile were all his doing.

A seasoned veteran of the homebuilding business, Atwood has been constructing houses in the Southlake area since 2001. In 2009, he started his own business, initially constructing smaller homes and villas, which would eventually turn into larger projects. This led to his participation in the 2015 Dream Home, which Atwood now claims has brought him substantially more business.

“Year after year, people brought me pictures from the

The Builder: John Atwood

Atwood Custom Homes

Dream Home,” Atwood says. “They would go back and buy furniture from the Dream Home; they’d come back and reference the Dream Home. I think it was very successful.”

A natural collaborator, Atwood has since taken other builders under his wing, including fellow Dream Street builder Travis Franks of WillowTree Custom Homes.

When asked about the massive undertaking of building three homes from three different builders in the middle of a pandemic — and meeting their deadlines — Atwood is equally amazed and gratified.

“Three different methods of madness,” Atwood says.

“We had different architects, different frameworks, different concrete guys, different pool guys. But we all got to the same point at the same time. We nailed it.”

The Designer: Dorian Stacy Stacy Furniture and Design

As Dorian Stacy puts it, she was the daughter of a “furniture guy” who started Stacy Furniture and Design. Born and raised in the area (she’s seventh generation Southlake), Stacy graduated from Southlake High School and felt compelled to participate in this year’s Dream Street to showcase her design work in her own backyard.

Despite her pedigree, Stacy says she doesn’t have any formal training in interior design.

“I actually was a paralegal first and wasn’t going to work in the family business,” Stacy says. “And then decided they really needed me. So, I came back, and I’ve literally worked in every aspect of our business, including driving the forklift and driving the delivery truck. Done it all.”

Stacy went through the school of hard knocks, paying attention and working diligently to understand what makes the most sense for specific spaces. Stacy says she owes her success to surrounding herself with a great team.

“We all work together,” Stacy says. “It’s not like individual women on their own, which is great. It takes

a lot to do these kinds of projects.”

Literally every member of the team has veto power. If someone doesn’t like the look or feel of a specific item or swatch, they can order it be removed — an example of the trust Stacy has in her teammates.

But it’s the personal touches that set Stacy apart from her contemporaries. When a series of decorative pieces arrived to fill the living room, they weren’t quite working. Stacy contended they needed more silver tones. The solution: Stacy added silver paint — creating a work that meshed perfectly.

Dream Team: 1100 High Court (Sold)

Here’s the lineup of partners for our Dream Home at 1100 High Court in Southlake’s Oxford Place.

Builder: Atwood Custom Homes atwoodcustomhome.com

Home plans: J. Bolton & Associates jboltondesigns.com

Interior: Dorian Stacy, Stacy Furniture & Design stacyfurniture.com

Realtor: Jeannie Anderson, Compass jeannieandersongroup.com

Appliances: Expressions Home Gallery expressionshomegallery.com

Cabinets, kitchen: The Kitchen Source thekitchensource.net

Concrete flatwork: Blythe Concrete & Excavation blytheconcrete.com

Countertops, fabrication: Absolute Stone & Tile absolutestoneusa.com

Countertops, material: Levantina levantina.com

Doors, exterior: Quarles Lumber quarleslumber.com

Drywall and texture: Alliance Drywall sheetrocker.com

Energy sponsor: Atmos Energy atmosenergy.com

Fencing, wood, iron, automated gates: Magnolia Fence & Patio magnoliafenceandpatio.com

Fireplace, inserts, interior; isokern and insert: Overhead Door Company of Fort Worth dallasdoors.com

Fire protection systems: Safe Life Fire Protection 682.365.8343

Flooring, tile materials: Interceramic USA interceramicusa.com

Flooring, wood, labor: North Texas Surfaces northtexassurfaces.com

Flooring, wood, materials: DuChateau duchateau.com (Contact North Texas Surfaces)

Garage doors/openers: Overhead Door Company of Fort Worth dallasdoors.com

Gutters: Loveless Gutters lovelessgutter.com

Hardware, cabinets: Rick’s Hardware & Decorative Plumbing rickshardware.com

HVAC: Hawk Air Company 817.337.8089

Insulation: New Leaf Foam Insulation newleafInsulation.com

Landscape/irrigation/ grade/lighting: Guardado Landscaping guardadolandscaping.com

Lender: First National Bank Mortgage fnbtx.com

Light fixtures and outdoor lighting: Passion Lighting lassionlighting.com

Low voltage/AV/security: H Customs Audio/Video hcustoms.com

Lumber and trusses: Builders FirstSource bldr.com

Paint: Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com

Patio furniture: Yard Art Patio & Furniture myyardart.com

Plumbing, fixtures: Ferguson ferguson.com

Pool: Claffey Pools claffeypools.com

Pool and game tables: Fort Worth Billiards Superstore billiardsuperstore.com

Roofing: Texas Tile Roofing texastileroofing.com

Shower glass and mirrors: Galactic Glass LLC galactic-glass.com

Site surveillance: SiteViewPRO siteviewpro.com

Stucco material and labor: Centurion Stone of DFW centurionstone.com

Windows and interior doors: Quarles Windows quarleslumber.com

Wine and spirits sponsor: Bear Creek Spirits & Wine bearcreekspirits.com

3D virtual tour: Metroplex360 metroplex360.com

A Wish With Wings

How a nonprofit that grants wishes for sick children pulled off a snowy Christmas — in May — for a 4-year-old North Richland Hills girl.

BY SCOTT NISHIMURA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL DELIRA AND RAYMOND CERVANTES

The call to a Wish with Wings came in mid-May from a social worker at Cook Children’s Medical Center: a 4-year-old patient named Eli was newly diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and likely had a month to live.

“She was going home in hospice,” says Clarissa Hernandez, program manager for a Wish with Wings, a Fort Worth

nonprofit that grants wishes for Texas children with life-threatening conditions. The organization didn’t waste time putting together this wish — this one was an emergency. “We knew we had to move quickly.”

Eli wanted a snowy Christmas in May — in Texas — with Disney characters on hand. On May 20, about two weeks after the call from Cook, Eli and her family walked outside their North Richland Hills home in

midmorning to find an improbable scene: snow falling on a lawn already covered by snow.

Their home was lit brightly with Christmas lights. There was the big polar bear, lit tree, and big presents. And for the next hour, a parade of hundreds of police officers and firefighters from a dozen agencies, MedStar medics, and other well-wishers. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, too. Elves gathered a pile of presents from people in the parade for Eli to open later.

The Fort Worth Police helicopter hovered overhead. A real reindeer wandered through. And, finally, Santa drove through in the bed of a pickup.

It’s one of the more unusual wishes a Wish with Wings has pulled off. “It’s my first parade in my six years here,” says Hernandez, in charge of pulling the pieces together. Mood swings are an increasing symptom of Eli’s cancer as it advances, heightening the urgency of executing her wish. “We wanted to do it sooner rather than later, and that’s what her medical team advised.”

How It Came Off Hernandez’s first call went fittingly to Emergency Ice, the first time a Wish with

Wings had contacted the firm for help. “I just researched ice and snow,” Hernandez says. Emergency Ice donated 4,000 pounds of ice — “there were pallets of ice,” Judy Youngs, a Wish with Wings’ CEO, says — and a crew and machine. Early in the morning May 20, the crew converted the ice to snow and blew it onto Eli’s front lawn and up into the air to simulate snow fall.

Youngs then contacted Christmas by Zenith, a longtime Wish with Wings benefactor. Allan Rodger, the owner, sent a crew, gratis, to Eli’s home the night before the parade to light the roof. The firm also threw in the polar bear, tree, and presents. “They have always been there for us,” Youngs says.

Next, a Wish with Wings rented the Mickey and Minnie costumes to provide the characters, and North Richland Hills police officers played the roles. The volunteerbased Once Upon a Cause, formerly Princesses With a Purpose, sent princesses to the parade, including Belle, Eli’s favorite. Brazos Carriage, which runs carriage services in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square, brought a carriage for the princesses to ride in the parade for a small fee. And after the parade, Eli and her family got to ride in it.

The Fort Worth and North Richland Hills police recruited 10 other agencies and MedStar to join the parade. Hundreds of police and firefighters — in police and fire vehicles and on motorcycles, bike, and horseback — rode. Parade participants included the Fort Worth Police chief Ed Kraus, incognito in a baseball cap and driving an unmarked Dodge Charger with a “Merry Christmas, Eli” poster and Christmas tree image taped on it. One fire engine blared Christmas music from its PA. North Richland Hills authorities managed the parade route.

Youngs estimated at least 500 vehicles were in the parade, including well-wishers besides public safety who joined the route. “When we let it out we were having this parade, people just showed up,” Hernandez says. Abby’s Warriors, formed a few years ago in North Texas by the mother of a girl who eventually died of the same kind of cancer Eli has, participated in the parade. Playing a connection, Hernandez contacted B3 Entertainment, a Dallas renter of live reindeer. B3 dispatched a handler and reindeer — shedding because

it was May — to join the parade route at no charge. “He has tons of animals; he was telling me about a monkey he has,” Hernandez says.

And then there was Santa, who signed up immediately. “The only thing we asked people not to do was bring Santa,” Hernandez says. “We had Santa. We wanted one Santa.”

A Wish with Wings had little expense to bear, which helps it grant as many wishes to significant depth as possible, Youngs says. “We can’t grant the number of wishes we grant if we had to pay full retail,” Youngs says.

COVID-19’s dented this year’s fundraising, but it’s also dramatically diminished the numbers of wishes the nonprofit can grant this year. That’s because Disney World wishes — the majority of wishes children ask for and that a Wish with Wings grants — have been shut down by the temporary closure of Give Kids the World Village in Orlando, Florida, a nonprofit partner resort where “wish families” stay.

A Wish with Wings has continued with other popular wishes such as shopping sprees. This fall, it’s teaming with Beyond Backyards to build a backyard playground for a 4-year-old boy, Lincoln, diagnosed with cancer as an infant, but now cancerfree. “They’re helping us tremendously,” Hernandez said of Beyond Backyards.

Dream Street Tours: If You Go

Fort Worth Magazine’s Dream Street — three luxury homes under construction on a cul-de-sac in Southlake’s Oxford Place — will be open for a month of tours in October to benefit a Wish with Wings, our official charity.

WHEN: Oct. 3 – 25, 2020, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only.

Thursdays – Saturdays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: 1100 High Court, 1104 High Court, 1105 High Court, Southlake. Take Kimball Avenue north from Texas 114 to East Highland Street; go west on East Highland to High Court.

BUY TICKETS: $20, dream.fwtx.com

BUY THE HOMES: 1100 High Court has sold, but 1104 High Court and 1105 High Court are for sale. Listings: compass.com

RETURN FOR EVERY $1 SPENT, HIGHER THAN THE $2.63 AVERAGE FROM DIGITAL DISPLAY AND THAN DOUBLE THE $1.52 FROM DIGITAL VIDEO.

Catalina Solutions, 2015) The average time spent on a website is 2 minutes. what i,s the average TIME SPENT READING A MAGAZINE? 20-25 MINUTES (Digital First Content Marketing: the Return of Print -CMO by Adobe, 2016)

Hill Country Hideout

1104 High Court

Heritage Homes’ 7,271 square-foot abode captures the wild, organic landscape of the Texas Hill Country, with a modern flair.

BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN

PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL WISE

Amodern, Hill Country aesthetic defines the design of 1104 High Court, the two-story home that stands on the right side of the cul-de-sac. The standing seam metal roof and stone incorporated into the building’s exterior pay homage to the popular architectural styles found in Austin, recreated in Southlake’s luxurious Oxford Place neighborhood.

At 7,271 square feet — five bedrooms, five full baths, two half baths, and a four-car garage — 1104 High Court is the handiwork of builder John Webb of Heritage Homes, designer Traci Darden of Elements of Design, architect Paragon Design Group, and a hefty roster of the city’s top vendors.

The home blends the sophistication of contemporary design with the Southern hospitality of the Texas Hill Country. Lines are clean but not cold. Rustic touches and warm tones create an inviting atmosphere. Organic elements like wood floors and custom greenery are a nod to the outdoors. And while neutrals like black, white, and gray dominate the palette, the house is

unafraid to make a statement with its incorporation of color, from the deep, calming blue that guides the home’s design to the bold artwork showcased in nearly every room.

In the spirit of the Hill Country, the home encourages its owners to spend more time outside. The spacious backyard, perimeter overflow pool, and outdoor kitchen are perfect for entertaining. Glass doors by the living room slide open from end to end to create one large space that seamlessly connects the interior with the exterior, and an upstairs balcony is oriented just right, so that one can look southward and see the Fourth of July fireworks over Southlake Town Square.

Drawing the outside in, the house incorporates a heavy use of glass — and not just with the large windows that draw in natural light. A floating staircase leads to the second floor. Glass also replaces the traditional walls of the study, offering an open view through the living room to the pool in the backyard.

“It’s a good-feeling home,” Webb says.

The house at 1104 High Court draws inspiration from architectural styles popular in the Texas Hill Country, defined by sloped metal roofing and stone incorporated throughout the exterior. Large windows also draw the outside in, giving the home’s dwellers ample views of the surrounding landscape.

Floor Plans

THE DESIGNER:

Paragon Design Group of Southlake is headed by Robert Leeper. The custom residential design firm has served the Fort Worth area for 28 years, offering services such as home design and planning.

THE HOME: Being built by John Webb of Heritage Homes, builder of the magazine’s 2019 Showcase Home in Colleyville. The home will be 7,271 square feet and two stories, with five bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, four-car garage, and pool. The interior will be finished by Elements of Design, which does the interiors for all of Heritage’s homes. The home will be designed in modern Hill Country, including a sweeping open floor plan in the living spaces, in keeping with transitional and modern design. It’s listed for sale at $3.825 million.

It’s hard to miss the floating staircase the moment one passes through the front door. Glass is a prominent material throughout the home, giving each space a modern flair. Meanwhile, bear grass and a leather accent chair at the foot of the staircase nod back to the Hill Country theming.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a chilled wine room that can carry over 600 bottles.

Blue is the home’s most dominant color. The walls of the study feature Sherwin-Williams’ “Cyberspace,” a gray/blue hybrid.

Designer Traci Darden had more than enough space to work with in the living room. To match its grandiose size, she incorporated oversized lamps, planters, and artwork, along with two sets of seating areas — the main sofa and, behind it, two swivel chairs that can be directed toward the kitchen or the TV. The starburst piece at the center of the living room is actually a candle holder, featuring a magnifying glass that amplifies the light.

The color blue is also notably prominent in the master bedroom, accented with pops of white, gold, and gray. Nine mirrors form a unified art piece above the bed, and pendant lights hung from the ceiling free up space on the nightstand. Long windows also offer a clear view of the backyard and pool.

The most lavish finishes are reserved for the owner’s suite. The bathroom features his-and-hers showerheads, plus a third; and the natural granite shower wall remains unobstructed thanks to the clear glass behind the soaker tub. There’s also a walk-in closet with a chandelier.

The kitchen features an asymmetrical island with a galley sink and butcher block extension. That black disk on the island is a phone charging station that also raises to reveal outlet plugs for additonal devices. The layout of the home flows easily between the dining room, kitchen, and living room. Glass doors adjacent to the living room open from end to end, creating a wide entryway into the backyard.

Playful touches are found upstairs in the bedrooms designed for children. The boy’s room includes an art piece that spells out “76092,” the neighborhood’s ZIP code.

The backyard was built for entertaining, with a spacious yard, perimeter overflow pool, outdoor kitchen, and plenty of seating. The balcony is accessible through the upstairs living area, oriented to offer a perfect view of the Fourth of July fireworks over Southlake Town Square.

The upstairs living area, which leads into the balcony overlooking the backyard, is outfitted with a fridge, sink, and floating shelves for snacks and drinks. A cluster of glass spheres — dubbed “caviar” — form the light fixture that dangles above the coffee table, accessorized with custom greenery and a piece called “Sun and Salt.”

Builders/Designers

Homebuilding is in John Webb’s blood. It’s something he takes after his father, who built houses in the BryanCollege Station area.

“I was always a hands-on, fix-it-myself kind of guy,” Webb says.

But homebuilding wasn’t something he immediately pursued, at least not after college. Webb started out in the corporate world; he worked a 9-to-5, “hated it,” and longed to do something that would bring more fulfillment.

So, he returned to his roots. After working for a couple of homebuilding companies, he launched his own in 2014 — Heritage Homes.

“I’ve always loved being out on the job sites, working alongside all the subcontractors and vendors, and was always interested in what they were doing that day and how they did it,” he says. “I just developed a passion for building houses, just being a part of the process, feeling like you’re taking something from nothing, to a beautiful home.”

The Builder: John Webb, Heritage Homes

Webb’s no stranger to Southlake. In fact, Heritage Homes’ first project was in the Carillon neighborhood, a 5,000-square-foot house that was sold around the time it finished. He’s no stranger to the magazine either as the builder behind last year’s Showcase Home in Colleyville.

That makes the Dream Street his second rodeo — a surprisingly smooth ride, Webb says, even through COVID-19 and a vigorous time schedule. Aside from some material delays, he says, “we haven’t missed a day of work.”

“It’s very rewarding to finish out a home and feel like you’ve done it the very best that you possibly can,” he says. “It’s a beautiful house that looks good and feels good. But probably the most fulfilling thing about it is the feeling that I’ve got a customer who’s completely satisfied with their home.”

The Designer: Traci Darden, Elements of Design

Traci Darden is a veteran in the design world, having spent the past 25 years running her Southlakebased firm, Elements of Design. Ask what sort of style guides each of her projects, and she doesn’t really have one.

“Our style stems from the client,” she says. “Listening to each client individually and finding out about what their needs are make every single project that we put our hands on unique and different … We really do all phases of styles and design and enjoy each one equally.”

Darden discovered her passion for interior design during college while studying fashion merchandising at Texas State University. She loved the idea of playing with patterns and fabrics within the context of a home, so she switched majors to interior design — and has stuck with it ever since.

“It’s been a really good ride,” she says. “I’ve been really blessed to land in an area up here in North Texas that has tons of new construction and tends to be a really good market for what we cater to.”

Darden’s first dip into Fort Worth Magazine’s homebuilding

series was in 2019 when she was one of the 14 designers behind the Showcase Home in Colleyville. In any of her projects, Darden says she’s careful not to be too trendy — instead, she prefers “to do more innovative things that people walk in, fall in love with, and think, ‘I never thought about doing it that way.’”

And, even after 25 years, nothing beats the excitement of install day.

“It’s like Christmas time,” she says. “You get there and unload — it can be trucks and trucks and trucks full of boxes and pieces — and put all the rooms together. That’s the absolute most fun.”

Dream Team: 1104 High Court

(Listed for sale, $3.825 million)

Here’s the lineup of partners for our Dream Home at 1105 High Court in Southlake’s Oxford Place.

Builder: Heritage Homes yourheritagehomes.com

Home plans: Paragon Design Group robert.paragon92@verizon.net

Interior:

Traci Darden, Elements of Design elementsofdesignllc.com

Realtor: John Zimmerman, Compass jzfortworth.com

Appliances: The Jarrell Co. jarrellco.com

Cabinets, kitchen: The Kitchen Source thekitchensource.net

Cabinets, master closet and all other: Mike Conkle’s Custom Cabinets mikeconkle.com

Concrete flatwork: Metroplex Concrete Construction metroplexconcrete.com

Countertops, fabrication: Absolute Stone & Tile absolutestoneusa.com

Countertops, material: KLZ Stone Supply klzstone.com

Doors, exterior: Quarles Lumber quarleslumber.com

Drywall and texture: Alliance Drywall sheetrocker.com

Electrician: C&B Electric & Security cbdallaselectrician.com

Energy sponsor: Atmos Energy atmosenergy.com

Fencing, wood, iron, automated Gates: Lambert’s Ornamental Iron lambertsornamentaliron.com

Fireplace inserts, interior: Overhead Door Company of Fort Worth dallasdoors.com

Fire protection systems: Safe Life Fire Protection 682.365.8343

Flooring, carpet and wood, materials and labor: Vintage Floors yintagefloorstx.com

Flooring, tile materials: Florida Tile floridatile.com

Flooring, tile-setting labor and supplies: Galvan Floors galvanfloors.com

Framing: Lone Star Framing & Construction LLC lonestarframingandconstruction. com

Garage doors/openers: Overhead Door Company of Fort Worth dallasdoors.com

Garage epoxy coatings: Premier Custom Floors premiercustomfloors.com

Gutters: Loveless Gutters lovelessgutter.com

Hardware/cabinet hardware: Pierce Fine Decorative Hardware and Plumbing piercehardware.com

HVAC: ICE HVAC/Builder Direct Sales builderdirectsales.com

Home warranty: StrucSure Home Warranty strucsure.com

Insulation: New Leaf Foam Insulation newLeafInsulation.com

Landscape/irrigation/grade/lighting: Metro Landscaping & Irrigation 817.825.7827

Lender sponsor: First National Bank Mortgage fnbtx.com

Light fixtures and outdoor lighting: Passion Lighting passionlighting.com

Low voltage/AV/security: Multimedia Solutions multimediasolutionsgroup.com

Lumber and trusses: DeFord Lumber Co., Ltd. defords.com

Paint: Sherwin-Williams sherwin-williams.com

Paint labor: J&V Painting jandvpainting.com

Patio furniture: Yard Art Patio & Fireplace myyardart.com

Plumbing labor and supplies: Pro Serve Plumbing Proserveplumbers.com

Pool: Leschber Designs leschberdesigns.com

Roofing: Ramon Roofing Ramonroofing.com

Shower glass and mirrors: Galactic Glass LLC galactic-glass.com

Site surveillance: SiteViewPRO siteviewpro.com

Stairs and railings: Lambert’s Ornamental Iron lambertsornamentaliron.com

Stucco material and labor: Centurion Stone of DFW centurionstone.com

Title company: Fidelity National Title, Baker Firm Fidelity-usa.com

Windows and interior doors: Quarles Windows quarleslumber.com

Wine room cabinets: Vineyard Wine Cellars vineyardwinecellars.com

Wine and spirits sponsor: Bear Creek Spirits and Wine bearcreekspirits.com

3D virtual tour: Metroplex360 metroplex360.com

Come chill at mag-aritaville

As the adage goes, the third time’s the charm. While the pandemic postponed our first two attempts at scheduling a time to celebrate all that’s wonderful about our city, we won’t let it rain on our parade for a third. Now more than ever, it’s important for our community to celebrate responsibly the businesses that have endured this unprecedented time and remain cornerstones of our city. So, it’s time (again) to dust off your flip flops, cowboy boots, Hawaiian shirts, and grass skirts and join us as we turn Mule Alley into a beach house for Fort Worth Magazine’s annual Best of Fort Worth party!

If you need a refresher on the party’s theme, think Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson, and Kenny Chesney. Come join Fort Worth Magazine for some cheeseburgers in paradise. We’ll pour you something tall and strong to get you into a MAG-aritaville state of mind.

saturday, October 17 6-10 pm

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and

Beyond the Burbs: a Guide to Southlake

Plopped in the middle of one of the best public school districts in Texas, it’s easy to see why Southlake has become such a desirable place to live. But, contrary to popular belief, the DFW town isn’t all great schools, luxury brands, and big houses. While it certainly has that in spades, if you know where to look, the city has more than a few surprises up its sleeve. You can always have a shopping spree at Southlake Town Square, but with fall upon us, it’s prime time to get outside and explore. Here’s where to take a hike, ride a horse, learn about the town’s history, and, of course, grab a bite.

BY MARY MURPHY

EXPLORE THE TOWN

BOB JONES NATURE CENTER AND PRESERVE has more than 20 miles of dirt hiking trails to wander down, some of which will take you along the shores of Lake Grapevine. As you step out into nature, keep an eye out for deer, birds, and other inhabitants of the Cross Timbers ecosystem that thrives here. There’s history along these trails, too. Part of this land once belonged to John Dolford “Bob” Jones, a freed slave and one of Southlake’s largest landowners in the 1800s. He lived in the area with his wife, Almeady Jones, and their 10 children. Walk through the nature center to learn more about Bob Jones’ life and the impact he had on the Southlake area.

355 E. Bob Jones Road

At MARSHALL CREEK RANCH, it doesn’t matter if you’re a horseback riding pro or if you’ve never saddled up before. Marshall Creek’s ranch wranglers will show you the way along rustic, traditional trails as you meander down to Lake Grapevine and back. They’ll also answer any questions you have on your 1 1/2-hour trail ride and make sure you’re paired with a horse that’s the right fit for you. Don’t want to be around hootin’ and hollerin’ kids on horseback? Make a reservation for an adults-only ride, offered almost every weekend. People tend to book their rides pretty far in advance, so be sure to check the schedule and call ahead before making your way down to the ranch.

4401 T W King Road

RIDE WITH PRIDE has been teaching kids how to ride horseback since the 1980s. Children as young as 3 years old are welcome to come learn all about horses and horseback riding from owner Doreen Bruton and her certified instructors. They’ll teach your kiddo basic horsemanship skills and other key things they should know as a horseback rider, such as safety rules, grooming, barn chores, and games. They offer group classes and private lessons, as well as birthday party packages where you can party with the ponies.

480 W. Highland

SOUTHLAKE’S PUBLIC ART makes for a great self-guided tour. The city has art on display in its parks, roundabouts, and in front of public buildings. You can find where the art is located on the Experience Southlake website, then familiarize yourself with the town by driving around to find all of these unique art pieces. New art is added in town every year, so keep an eye on the website for new sculptures and murals.

TAKE A HISTORY TOUR with the help of Southlake Historical Society’s online, interactive map. Although the city was established in the 1950s, this area’s history goes all the way back to the 1800s. The map includes spots like Lonesome Dove Cemetery, the resting place of many Southlake pioneers. Here lies a veteran of the War of 1812 and a girl who was kidnapped (but then returned) by the Comanches when she was young. Another historic stop is located outside of Bicentennial Park: a log house made with materials from the 1850s and 1860s. Bill Marquis, a well-known restorer of log houses, assembled pieces from three old, deteriorating log houses in Southlake and used classic pioneer techniques to build this log house in 2008.

southlakehistory.org/history-of-southlake/history-tour

SOUTHLAKE SAFE

We’re all working together to stay safe and healthy this year. Southlake has created “Southlake Safe” to help businesses and community members rest assured they’re going above and beyond with safety precautions. Before heading out on your adventure, you can take a look at southlakesafe.com to see which businesses have signed the pledge or simply keep an eye out for the Southlake Safe decal before heading into a store or restaurant. Every business that has taken the pledge has been provided with a “Southlake Safe Pledge Kit” filled with PPE essentials and is committed to keeping the community safe with proper health protocols.

EAT LIKE A LOCAL

Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine is well known as one of the best Indian restaurants in Dallas and Southlake. It’s owned by Javeed Khan and his wife, Sonia, who grew up helping her parents bring authentic Indian cuisine to midtown Manhattan with their restaurant “Moghul Room.” Word on the street is that Mughlai’s Indian food is the most authentic in all of Texas.

3311 E. State Highway 114

Dragon House is a Southlake goto for Chinese cuisine. It closed briefly last year but has since reopened under new management. Fortunately, the change of management didn’t affect its menu — all of its food is still top-notch and incredibly authentic. It sources fresh ingredients from the local farmers markets and prepares fresh, handmade noodles right in front of you in the restaurant.

2640 E. Southlake Blvd.

Ozeki Ramen & Sushi Izakaya not only has a unique atmosphere but a unique menu to boot. Here you’ll find 75 different sushi rolls, as well as ramen (served in the traditional Japanese style) and izakaya — Japanese bar bites varying from squid legs to soft shell crab. Although it’s only been around since late 2019, it has spent 2020 making a name for itself with delicious food and excellent service.

432 Grand Ave. West

Mango’s Breakfast & Brunch is the perfect place to start your day of exploring in Southlake. Pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, omelets, chicken and waffles, avocado toast — the options are endless. Feeling extra hungry? Grab a skillet — there are six options (one’s called the “hardy boy” for a reason) — all served over a bed of brunch potatoes. Mango’s also has its own blend of coffee, and all of their coffee proceeds are donated to help build schools in Nicaragua.

2750 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 140

Il Calabrese also prides itself on its authenticity. The owner, Luciano Salvadore, grew up in Vicenza, Italy. He has over 40 years of cooking experience under his belt and imports fresh ingredients from Italy for his recipes. With delicious food and a seemingly endless wine list, it’s no wonder why this is the local go-to for anniversaries, birthdays, special celebrations, and date nights.

1281 E. State Highway 114

Peace & Love Little Donuts serves up some of the most delicious (and photo-worthy) doughnuts in town. Grab one from each menu category: “Funkadelic” (extravagant doughnuts), “Far Out” (flavorful and glazed), and “Groovy” (the classics). This little shop may have first opened in Pittsburgh, but their Southlake location is one of a kind in Texas. Swing by and satisfy your sweet tooth before heading out to explore the city or, better yet, grab a baker’s dozen for the day and try all the different flavors. After all, a doughnut is a great little snack after a horse ride or walk in the park.

601 East Southlake Blvd.

European in Texas is a unique little café and European market. Head here if you’re in the mood for Pierogis, sausages, and Polish food — or if you want to add some European snacks to your weekly grocery haul. They have an incredible selection of fresh meats and cheeses in the deli, along with bread, snacks, candy, and handmade cakes.

2777 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 100

Herencia is a unique concept that comes from a woman who traveled from Latin America to Texas, keeping a journal of the foods she tasted along the way. She blended together the different styles to create “Texican Cuisine,” a mix of flavors and cooking styles from Latin America and Texas. Its menu includes dishes like Wild Boar Tacos, Guacho Ribeye, and Quesadilla de Brisket. It also has gluten-free and vegetarian options.

1431 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 551

Feedstore BBQ is owned by a family who’s called Southlake home since 1974. The building their restaurant is in has been around even longer — it initially opened as Bailey Feed Store in the 1950s. The Lafavers bought the shop in 1997, remodeled it, and began sharing their family barbecue recipes with the town in 2001. Grab a plate of classic Texas barbecue, then head out front and say hello to their field of friendly farm animals.

530 S. White Chapel Blvd.

Wildwood Grill has been a Southlake favorite since 2009. The family-owned hot spot offers a wide range of options: steak, ribs, burgers, seafood, and salads. The classy and cozy atmosphere you’ll find here lends itself to long conversations with friends over a good meal and an even better cocktail. Whiskey drinker? You’ll like this place. They have an extensive list of whiskey and bourbon that you can try, either on its own or in a flight.

2700 E. Southlake Blvd.

Johnny B’s serves up the best burgers and shakes in town. If you’re a fan of local history, check out its wall of old photos while you wait for your made-to-order burger. This local joint has been a longtime hangout for Southlake high schoolers and Carroll Dragons football fans, and the restaurant even has a Dragonburger: a triple chili-cheeseburger with jalapeños. If you’re not a fan of meat, don’t worry. Beyond Meat burgers are on the menu, too.

2704 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 104

TruFire Kitchen is an American concept that draws inspiration from Mediterranean and Italian dishes. It has a variety of chef-driven bites that change with the season, plus an outdoor patio and a swanky indoor vibe (perfect for relaxing after a day of shopping in Southlake Town Square). It also supports farmers and ranchers from around Texas and has a gluten-free and vegetarian menu with brunch options. If none of that got your attention, maybe this will: Brunch at TruFire means $2 mimosas.

1239 Main St.

Milwaukee Joe’s Artisan Ice Creams started as a “someday” dream for federal agent Joe Libowsky. He wanted to serve up old-fashioned ice cream, so in 1995, he left his job in Milwaukee and moved to Texas to do just that. Joe’s since retired, but his recipes — and local ingredients — are still used to make the sweetest ice cream in Southlake.

1417 Main St.

Whimsy Cookie Company may be part of a Southern franchise, but it’s the only one you’ll find in Texas. The shop is definitely Insta-worthy (think pink walls, checkered floors, and chandeliers), and so are the cookies. They’re baked daily and decorated with fun designs, from footballs to smiley faces.

2645 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 180

Armend’s Restaurante is a mom and pop Italian restaurant that’s known for its pastas and pizzas. According to Southlake Style, it has the best pizza in town. It’s a bit more casual than Il Calabrese, but the food will still make you drool. Don’t forget to BYOB.

2315 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 101

A Q&A with Southlake’s Mayor, Laura Hill

“I believe in Southlake” — Mayor Hill

BY MARY MURPHY

Laura Hill is Southlake’s first female mayor. She’s lived in Southlake since the ‘90s, joined the city council in 2004, and was elected mayor in 2015. She truly loves her community and calls this “the job of a lifetime.” Her term will end in May 2021, and although her final few months as mayor looked nothing like she expected them to, she and Southlake’s community have been changed for the better.

Fort Worth Magazine: Is it true that Southlake’s mayor and city council members are volunteer roles?

Laura Hill: We’re not paid, and we have term limits. I’m not getting a paycheck. Really, I’m talking with people in Tom Thumb or at the pet store or in Central Market.

I’m like [Southlake’s citizens]; I just chose to run for mayor. I got elected, and maybe myself and the council are more dedicated because we’re doing it for no pay. It gives us a little gravitas. We’re truly doing this out of a love and concern for our community and the people that make us great.

FW: Where do you like to spend time in Southlake?

LH: My dog and I walk all the time, so we love our Southlake parks. I love walking through Southlake Town Square and window-shopping when the stores aren’t open. I’m also fortunate because my office in Town Hall has a beautiful balcony that overlooks Southlake Town Square. I have an amazing view of the city.

FW: Was it strange to see businesses closed in Southlake Town Square during the pandemic?

LH: One of the days that will stick with me for the rest of my life was the week the city shut down in March. I went out on the balcony, and there was no one in town hall, no one at the town square. Not a

not a person. I knew at that moment that I was in the right place at the right time. I knew, I’m supposed to be the mayor right now.

We had an employee die of COVID-19. We lost a young woman; she passed away in the beginning of April. It’s taught me that although you may constantly talk about your citizens as a mayor, you have just as much responsibility to your city staff.

It’s been a time of a lot of soul searching. You know ... How do I communicate? Why can’t I find the words when I want to make everyone feel better? It’s been humbling.

FW: How have you communicated with the city during this time?

LH: When things started out, there was a halt in communication. The easy flow of communication I had prided myself on as a mayor was lost. All we had left was posting on social media; then people started getting comfortable on Zoom and WebEx and Teams. People started participating again.

FW: Do you still use social media to communicate with your citizens?

LH: Yes, I’m really engaged on social media. On average, I get close to 20 private messages a day from citizens.

FW: Are you able to respond to everyone who gets in touch with you?

LH: That’s an absolute must for me. It’s a conversation. I run all my own social media. My phone sits at my desk, and if I see something pop up, I get an answer to them right away. I enjoy it; that’s the best part of the job.

FW: How has an open line of communication helped your city during the pandemic?

LH: Trust, No. 1. Trust. When people private message me and ask, “Should I go to church on Sunday? I’m worried,” I take that as a huge,

huge compliment. They trust the city. And the way I’ve always operated is, if you have a problem, private message me. I’ll always say, let me get you the answer. I have great people I work with that get me answers immediately so that our citizens can get answers.

FW: How have your local businesses been handling COVID-19?

LH: The first thing we did was put together the Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Recovery. We started from day one. We went to our businesses and said, if you’re open, if you’re doing curbside, grab-and-go, put a sign out on the highway. Then, the task force came up with the Southlake Safe Program, which was a big hit.

FW: What’s the Southlake Safe Program?

LH: As soon as the governor allowed us to reopen, we realized that the biggest hurdle would be making sure your customer felt safe coming into your business. Our team decided to create something similar to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Dozens of businesses signed up. They all have stickers on their front doors, and they’re following the protocols.

FW: What are some other programs you’ve implemented during this time?

LH: We went to the chamber of commerce and offered to mentor businesses. [Our council members] will give you three hours of advice and direction to get your business back up and running, put you in touch with the right people in the city. We’ve also been having virtual “Coffee and Conversations” [with our community], and I’ve been doing virtual chamber updates for our members to find out what they need. I think some of our new programs are things that will change us forever. I think

we’ll think outside of the box in a different way moving forward. FW: How has this past year changed you?

LH: I think we’ve all gotten a little more real, right? If you would’ve talked to me a year ago, I would have been dressed perfectly; I would’ve gotten my hair blow dried before our meeting. Now, I don’t even — I don’t even have earrings on! What I learned this year is that I’m okay with who I am, and I’m going to be this way. I will never go back. I used to always have my pearls on. Honestly, now I don’t even know where they are. I don’t think I’m ever wearing them again!

FW: What are some of the biggest ways you’ve helped Southlake grow as city mayor?

LH: Taking our city to a whole new level of communication. Citizens see lack of information as lack of transparency. If you can start communicating and building confidence with them, then when something bad happens and you need an hour to get your thoughts together, they’re going to give you that. They’re going to give you grace because they believe you and they understand it.

FW: What three words describe your experience as mayor, especially this year?

LH: I have to use the four words I keep going back to: I believe in Southlake. That, for me, sums up everything that I do. I can tell you words like resilience and community and spirit, but that’s not who I am. From the day I decided to run for mayor until the day I leave, I believe in my community. I think our citizens believe in our community. We may have rocky roads together, but we’ll ultimately want what’s best for our community because we really believe in it. We really do.

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FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET VENDORS

The 2020 Dream Street project relies on the skill and expertise of the area’s best builders, designers, architects, to landscapers and audio technicians. Whether you are looking to update your home or to build a new one, our official Dream Street builders, contractors, and subcontractors featured on the following pages can help you turn your dreams for your home into reality.

The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Magazine.

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official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Charlie, Shelly, and Brian Claffey Claffey Pools

FOCUS: At Claffey Pools, we strive to lead the industry in design, technology, energy efficiency, and building practices and employ a state-of-the-art sales and construction team. Customer service is always our No 1 priority, and we continue to focus on ways to set us apart from our competitors. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Baylor University Small Business Award of the Year; Better Business Bureau of Fort Worth Golden Torch Award; and Ranked No. 3 in the Nation for Top 50 Pool Builders in the World. Claffey Pools has many clients that come back to build multiple pools

and projects with us, and that is a true testament to the overall firstclass experience they get when they choose to build a Claffey Pool. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Clients choose Claffey Pools for our unique designs and superior construction methods, our exceptional customer service, our follow-through, and our name. MISSION STATEMENT: To consistently provide a positive experience for our customers and employees with A Passionate Commitment to Excellence, which is our motto. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A POOL: Understand what you are truly purchasing and the

quality of the purchase. COMPANY’S AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Best of Best Pool Company, The Courier Journal, 2005 - 2020; Pebble Tech Awards Greatest Pools; Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Awards Region 111 over 200, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance International over 100; Master Guild Awards; Fort Worth Small Business Award; Best of Southlake Pool Builder Claffey Pools – Readers’ Choice 20062020. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Better Business Bureau Fort Worth; Southlake Chamber of Commerce. FREE ADVICE: When choosing a pool builder, know their history,

understand their warranty and service department, and who to call if you need assistance for anything. PICTURED: Shelly, Charlie, and Brian Claffey.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 1625 Brumlow Ave. • Southlake, Texas 76092 817.488.5795 • Fax 817421.2670 claffeypools.com shelly@claffeypools.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Lisa Alexanderson Territory Sales Manager

Duchateau

COMPANY FOCUS: Duchateau designs and manufactures highend wood flooring, LVT flooring, and wood wall panels. COMPANY’S AWARDS: We have been recognized as one of Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing companies four times. MEMBERSHIPS: Duchateau is a proud member of the National Wood Flooring Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We are proud to have introduced European-inspired, wide-plank, oil-finish flooring to the U.S. market. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We are known for our innovation and design aesthetic. We focus on innovation within the luxury floor covering segment. Our wood wall panels are unique in the market, freeing the beauty of natural wood from the floor. COMPANY VISION: Our vision is to inspire a refined lifestyle. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: The key to building a house that will become a true home is to ensure that you incorporate your personal style throughout.

While the technical aspects of a home are certainly important, it is the aesthetics of the surfaces throughout the home that leave the most lasting impression. FREE ADVICE: Make sure that you have thought about your desired lifestyle when choosing a floor. You want to choose a floor that fits in with the way you plan to live on it. Pets, children, water — all make a difference when choosing the floor that you will be happiest with.

PICTURED: Lisa Alexanderson.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Duchateau • 8480 Miralani Drive • San Diego, California 92126

858.790.3139 duchateau.com lalexanderson@duchateau.com 512.993.4607

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Elements of Design

FOCUS: Elements of Design is a full-service interior design firm, with a builder’s showroom in Southlake. Traci Darden, owner of EOD, knows it takes a team. With talented designers like Stephanie working with builder clients and Monica designing model homes, Traci loves to focus on residential clients’ needs, whether that’s here in Southlake or in faraway locations like Washington, D.C., or Denver, Colorado. She designs with great sensitivity to the homeowners’ needs and, importantly, their emotions. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our proudest achievement is that we’ve been in business for over 20 years, and even

though we’ve grown and expanded, many of our very first clients are still working with us today. Many of our builder clients have worked with us for 10 to 12-plus years, and many of our residential clients have returned to us for their third or fourth homes, as well as vacation properties. They’ve truly become family. MOTTO: Interior design done, from conception to completion. We work with our clients even before the construction begins, through the entire building process and beyond — helping with furnishing the home, complete with custom bedding and window treatments. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Thinking

that they can go through the process of building a home without a designer to help bring the project together in time and on budget. There is much more to a successfully designed space than just good color. Special attention must be paid to scale and proportion when making your choices. That is where our name came from. We truly use all of the “Elements of Design” when approaching our client projects. FREE ADVICE: To keep your home authentic to you, it must be designed to reflect both your lifestyle and personal style, creating a space that you’ll love to live in. Also, trends are “hot,” but it’s best to keep these to smaller things — spaces like throw pillows

and powder rooms. You don’t want to invest your money in a large ticket item that’s going to be out when the next trend comes through the door.

PICTURED: Monica Finn, Traci Darden, and Stephanie McPherson.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

405 S. Nolan, Ste. 400 • Southlake, Texas 76092

817.428.0657

elementsofdesignllc.com • traci@elementsofdesignllc.com Instagram @eodllc

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Expressions Home Gallery

FOCUS: Our company’s focus is to perfect the home customization experience for all clients. The elegant showroom provides a see, feel, and touch of high-end appliances, plumbing, lighting, and hardware. Our focus is to make the selection process an experience that will help customers choose products tailored to their individual style.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Featured in Luxe Interior Plus Design Magazine, D Home Magazine, Dallas Design District - Spotlight Blog, American Lighting Association - Digital Magazine. Awards from American Society of Interior Designers, 2013-2014; Brizo|Delta, 2016-2017 and 2019-2020 Showroom Rewards Program; Greater Fort Worth Builders Association, 2015. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/

AFFILIATIONS: National Kitchen & Bath Association, American Society of Interior Designers, Texas Association of Builders, NARI – National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Forte, American Lighting Association, AIA - American Institute of Architects, ASA - American Supply Association, DPHA - Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our greatest achievement is serving our essential customers each and every day — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide the necessary products and resources needed to keep our local communities safe and healthy. Our products ensure clean water and sanitation are delivered to our communities. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Embarking

on any design project for your home can be a stressful process. Our team of professionals are committed to our customers every step of the way, helping them select, coordinate, and execute the ideal design for their home. Set apart by our superior products, expertise, and eye for emerging trends — come experience the Expressions difference.

MISSION STATEMENT: To help our customers discover excellence. Supporting your project is our No. 1 goal. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not seeking professional help from an experienced sales consultant who holds the knowledge of product functionality. These professionals share their expertise with clients and provide resources used to build a home.

FREE ADVICE: Get to know your unique style and your vision. Build a home that best suits your lifestyle. Expressions Home Gallery is here to help you express yourself! PICTURED: Caroline Freeman, Joyt Gray, Allison Greenhaw, Melisa Johnson, Amy Burns, Greg Haczynski, Jill Bolton, Jennifer Gilmer, and Billy Wadle.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

5001 Bryant Irvin Road North • Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817.259.0920 • Fax 817.259.0930 expressionshomegallery.com/ info@morsco.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Florida Tile, Dallas Branch

FOCUS: Porcelain Tile. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: To excel in the world of luxury ceramics means knowing how to continuously create highly technological products and how to enhance them through the utmost attention to aesthetics and details. WHY CHOOSE THEM: In the six decades since Florida Tile began, our dedication to employees, customers, and the environment has not changed. Today, we are renewing our commitment to exceed expectation through products, quality, service, sales, marketing, and supply. WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE: Florida Tile has a strong focus on research and innovation and is resolute to satisfy the highest expectations in the fields of

STREET

general well-being and aesthetics. All of our tiles are certified porcelain made in the USA. Adhering to the highest standards of excellence, combining its history of artisan craftsmanship, technological expertise, and dedication to sustainability, Florida Tile is able to serve all markets from commercial design to residential. MISSION STATEMENT: For over 65 years, we have worked to deliver the most innovative and beautiful tile in the industry. This commitment has taken us from being a small ceramic trim producer in Lakeland, Florida, to a leading manufacturer of porcelain floor and wall tile across the USA. As technologies and designs continue to evolve, so does our commitment to our customers.

We believe in transparency and building long-term loyalty by creating better experiences and anticipating customers’ needs. In this competitive arena, Florida Tile is unmatched in its dedication to remain a trusted source for quality, ingenuity, and superior customer care. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Green Squared Certified, Mindful Materials, ASID Dallas/Fort Worth, TCNA, Why Tile, and IIDA.

BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Homeowners tend to play it safe by going with what they know or have done before and not exploring the current options and trends that are readily available in today’s market. FREE ADVICE: Consider larger for-

mat sizes than you may be comfortable with. It will help make the space feel larger, cut down on grout lines, and give an upgraded aesthetic.

PICTURED: Christie Bendele, Wesley Brown, Jermaine Edwards, Mia Plant, Pedro Cuellar, Lina Boutdy, and Sanford Valentine.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

9755 Clifford Drive, Unit 190 • Dallas, Texas 75200 214.366.0845 • Fax 214.366.0718 floridatile.com dallas.orders@floridatile.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

Interceramic

FOCUS: Interceramic has been an industry leader in manufacturing innovative ceramic and porcelain tile in North and Central America for over 40 years. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Interceramic changed the way the industry looks at ceramic tile. Their Durabody Ceramic Tile is a revolutionary hybrid technology that fuses the technical characteristics of ceramic and porcelain tile. The result is a ceramic tile that features all the benefits of porcelain tile, twice as strong as the industry standard, at an affordable price. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Dedicated service to customers by understanding their business and needs in tile and stone, along with a distribution center located in Carrollton, Interceramic meets their needs quickly. The tenured sales staff can provide personalized on-site service or dedicate design sessions in their showroom. MISSION STATEMENT: At Interceramic, we believe that tile matters — and that it has the unique

ability to lay a foundation of beauty that can help any home be at its best for a lifetime. Interceramic Is Crafted for Life. FREE ADVICE: Tile is the healthiest building material for your home. Families can confidently choose tile and keep their family safe from harmful toxins.

PICTURED: Bret McIntire, Branch Manager; Don Scruggs, Territory Manager; Lindsay Andrews, Showroom Sales.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Fort Worth Showroom 6318 Airport Freeway, Ste. A • Fort Worth, Texas 76117 817.834.8491 • landrews@interceramic.com • interceramicusa.com Dallas Showroom 11935 N. Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 130 • Dallas, Texas 75234 972.243.4465 • vveloz@interceramic.com • interceramicusa.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

KLZ Stone Supply Inc.

FOCUS: To supply America with the finest stone on the market today for homes and businesses. MEMBERSHIPS: NKBA, ASID, MIA, and NTSFA. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We are the largest supplier in the state of Texas. KLZ also is one of the only suppliers in the state to do processing. MOTTO: From our hearts to your home. FREE ADVICE: Look for a supplier who does more than take orders. At KLZ we pride ourselves on service and guidance. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: The biggest mistake people make is not budgeting their entire vision before they begin.

Do some homework. Shop around and get ideas of what you like before ever starting the building process so you can get an accurate budget.

PICTURED: Maggie Addison.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 11129 Zodiac Lane, Ste. 300 • Dallas, Texas 75229 972.807.6187 • Fax 972.807.6179 klzstone.com maggie@klzstone.com

FOCUS |

FORT

WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Levantina

FOCUS: Distribution of natural stone, quartz, and porcelain. RECOGNITIONS: Award-winning customer service. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: National Association of the Remodeling Industry, NARI; National Kitchen & Bath Association, NKBA; American Society of Interior Designers, ASID; Natural Stone Institute; International Decorative Surfaces, IDS. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

Levantina is the pioneer of large format porcelain tiles and panels, “Techlam,” which today is revolutionizing the industry. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We excel in customer service and quality products. We are one of the very few fully integrated companies that owns quarries, factories, and distributions throughout the world to service the U.S. markets. MISSION: Continuously innovate and develop our products, systems, processes, services to ultimately have a satisfied customer base, create value for the shareholder, and have a motivated and qualified staff.

MOTTO: The Natural Stone Company. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Taking an inspiration for the space might not be practical for living. Think through how you would live in and utilize the space you are designing. FREE ADVICE: Provide your contractor, builder, and designer multiple examples of the design you are trying to achieve. PICTURED: (left to right) Ryan Ritsema, Patrick Folks, Martin Gonzalez, Ruben Gonzalez, Scarlett Villegas, Alexander Gravis, Veronica Alvarado, Juan Rodriguez, Liz Rivas, and Cynthia Ochoa.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

2250 Morgan Parkway, Ste. 140 • Farmers Branch, Texas 75234

972.488.2800 levantina.com patrick.folks@levantina.com

North Texas Surfaces, Inc.

Maribeth Glans, Owner

FOCUS: North Texas Surfaces has positioned itself as a premier contractor of tile and carpet installations across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. North Texas Surfaces provides sales and installation of tile, ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, carpet, and hardwood floors as well as mosaics and decorative accents from around the world. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau; member of the National Wood Flooring Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: The reputation of excellent service forged over almost 18 years in business. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Each project is completed through proper management, organization, attention to detail, dedication, and experience. We meet directly with the homeowners and designers in our 3000-square-

foot showroom. As a local tile and carpet installation company, we make sure the type, style, and design of floor coverings perfectly fit customers’ needs. We do this by consulting directly with customers and by putting our experience with small and big flooring projects into practice. FREE ADVICE: Hire or make use of an experienced design consultant. PICTURED: Maribeth Glans.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

720 Industrial Blvd., Ste. 300 • Grapevine, Texas 76051

817.424.1444 • Fax 817.424.2922

NorthTexasSurfaces.com mb@ntsurfaces.com

FOCUS |

FORT

WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes

John E. Quarles Co.

Quarles Lumber • Quarles Windows

FOCUS: Serving contractors with quality building materials, professional service, and expertise. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS:

Outstanding Sales Achievement (Andersen Windows); Architectural Dealer of the Year - Sales Volume (Andersen Architectural Division).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, Lumbermen’s Association of Texas, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, and Certified Master Builder.

GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Succeeding in business for more than 120 years. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We strive to provide the best service in our industry. It starts with quality products, but you’ll find in Quarles more than a supplier of high-quality brands — you’ll also find a vital partner that believes in old-fashioned, enthusiastic service. MISSION STATEMENT: John E. Quarles Company is dedicated to the principles of higher quality, better service, and the

commitment to the betterment of our customer and company relationship. We know that to benefit the company is to work with and for the customer, and we will strive to maintain the commitment. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not reviewing plans and understanding them. FREE ADVICE: Never assume — ask questions and know your builder. PICTURED: (standing) Gary McGuire, Bo Chovanetz, Keith Dixon, Chase Dixon, Sean James, Carter

Tillman, Jeff Campbell, Kris Kennedy, Brett Musslewhite, Mitchell Travis; (sitting) Bart Graves, Sharon Mann, Paul Reuland, and Lonnie Goolsby.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 1801 Park Place Ave. • P.O. Box 11617 • Fort Worth, Texas 76110 817.926.1761 (Quarles Lumber) • 817.926.2271 (Quarles Windows) quarleslumber.com • lumber@quarleslumber.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

Stacy Furniture & Design

FOCUS: Stacy Furniture & Design is dedicated to providing an outstanding selection of quality, name-brand furniture and accessories for any budget. Our professional sales team and interior designers are qualified to help with any furniture project, residential, or commercial – no project is too big or too small. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 2014 Nominee for NAHFA Retailer of the Year; selected to furnish the 2015 Fort Worth Magazine Dream Home, benefiting a Wish with Wings. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Stacy’s has been an active part of local DFW schools and communities for years, including multiple chambers of commerce as well as a variety of charitable organizations. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Continuously building our team with amazing people who want to work together to positively impact our clients’ lives, helping them make their house a home — one room at a time. We

are a family business, and we take that seriously every day. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: It’s very easy to get both overwhelmed and too excited when building. It’s best to take things slowly, ask tons of questions, and be sure you understand expected timelines, responsibilities, and all aspects of the end result. Building a new home is a major undertaking whatever the home size — it’s a lot of work. Ask questions — assume nothing. PICTURED: Gretchen Stewart; Kathy King; Dorian Stacy Sims, President; and Tisa Eubanks.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Grapevine • Allen • Outlet/Flower Mound stacyfurniture.com 817.424.8800

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

Texas Tile Roofing LLC

FOCUS: To install a roof that is not only beautiful but one that will last for many years. AWARDS/HONORS: “Voted favorite roofing company in Fort Worth, 2015”; Golden Hammer Award. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, and Western States Roofing Contractors Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our greatest achievement is to be known as a company that has integrity. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Choose Texas Tile Roofing because of our knowledge on all areas of roofing, and we will be up front with you on what will and will not work on the roof. MOTTO: The Roof Tile Specialist. We are unique in that we will take care of our customers long after the roof has been installed. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not allowing the builder to handle the job that

you’ve hire him to do. As an example, we have seen homeowners trying to push the builder to install expensive imported floors before the outside walls and roof are complete. FREE ADVICE: Do your research on any contractor you hire. Check references, reviews, and the Better Business Bureau. Also, make sure they are insured! PICTURED: (front, left to right) Javier Sosa, Renee Cremean, Larry Cremean, Andrea Hernandez, Evencio Gaona; (back, left to right) Arturo Castillo, Lazaro Castillo, Melvin Maldonado, Hugo Sandia, Pedro Marquez, and Miguel Sandia.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

2616 Weaver St. • Fort Worth, Texas 76117

817.838.6100 texastileroofing.com

Larry Cremean

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

The Jarrell Company | Appliances, Plumbing and Decorative Hardware FOCUS

SPECIALTY: We work with both professionals and homeowners to find the perfect high-end appliance, plumbing and decorative hardware solutions to suit their needs. Whether you are working on a large kitchen remodel, building a custom home or adding a new bathroom addition, The Jarrell Company wants to be your go-to supplier for everything that makes your home both gorgeous and functional. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Dallas Builders Association, Greater Fort Worth Builders Association, National Association of the Remodeling Industry, National Kitchen and Bath Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Since we opened our doors, we have seen a wonderful response from the community and incredible growth. We owe it to our dedicated and knowledgeable employees and our passion for everything that makes a house a “home.”

where beauty and function meet. It is our mission to help people find the perfect high-end appliance, plumbing and decorative hardware solutions that will fulfill their practical and aesthetic needs. FREE ADVICE: Talk to an expert first. It will save you time, money and frustration. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not planning for the appliances and plumbing properly. It is more complicated than you think. PICTURED: Eric Neel and Morris Wells. CONTACT

PHILOSOPHY: The Jarrell Company is

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Absolute Stone & Tile, Inc.

FOCUS: We concentrate on natural stone materials in custom homes and commercial buildings. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Absolute Stone & Tile has worked with Fort Worth Magazine on three Home of Dreams projects and has a close affiliation with Betty Baker, a prominent builder in Tarrant County. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Servicing the DFW area and becoming a trusted business for the past 16 years. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: Being locally owned and operated, our business focus is on the individual attention to our customers. We do our own work from estimating, consulting, and outlining to fabrication and installation, which ensures a prompt and reliable service. FREE ADVICE: Absolute Stone & Tile, Inc. is your “one stop” service company for all your granite countertops

and other natural stone applications. We will help you in your project through every step of the process and provide you with a wide selection of materials and finishes that you can choose from. Whether you are a homeowner looking for just a kitchen upgrade, custom designs, or a commercial builder with multiple divisions, we can help you.

PICTURED: Roman and Felisa Abundiz.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 11655 Alta Vista Road, Ste. A • Fort Worth, Texas 76244 469.621.8387 • Fax 817.753.6140 absolutestonemex@hotmail.com absolutestoneusa.com

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Alliance Drywall Inc.

FOCUS: Alliance Drywall Inc. is a Texas-owned and -operated, turnkey drywall contractor. Providing both residential and commercial drywall systems, we supply and install for the following: metal stud framing, suspended ceilings, all gypsum products, soundproofing products, tape-bed-texture, special hand textures, Level 5 finishes, an array of drywall trims, and demo/cleanup services. RECOGNITIONS: Alliance Drywall Inc. is recognized as a leader in high-end residential construction with financial stability. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Next year we celebrate our 25th anniversary and feel extremely blessed and proud to be here. Serving the many successful architects/builders/homeowners for this span has been very rewarding for us. MOTTO: “Whatever it takes.” FREE ADVICE: Homeowners tend

to hire unqualified builders that tell them what they want to hear instead of the facts. It is expensive to build a true custom home. For most folks, the single largest investment you ever make is your home. Why hire someone inexperienced with the custom process? You get what you pay for!

PICTURED: David Maserang and Jason Blaser.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

1207 Timberline Court • Southlake, Texas 76092

817.577.0661

sheetrocker.com Rock@sheetrocker.com Blaser@sheetrocker.com

FOCUS

| FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM

builder: Atwood Custom Homes

FOCUS: High-end design and customer satisfaction. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Voted Best of Custom Home Builder by my clients and peers in Southlake for the last three years running. Houzz Best of 2015 – 2020.

MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Greater Fort Worth Home Builders Association, Texas Association Builders, Cambria Design Council, Andersen Windows Select Builder Partner. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Being able to participate in two Dream Home projects, allowing us the opportunity to partner with our charity, a Wish with Wings, and give back, and having a clean reputation of integrity in construction for over 10 years. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We offer a fun, friendly, inviting, and educational environment toward a partnership in building our homes with our clients. MOTTO: Only the Best and Noth-

STREET

ing Less. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING

A HOME: People often choose their builder solely because they own the lot and not because they are a competent builder. FREE ADVICE: Stop. Don’t buy that lot until you meet with a builder and designer.

PICTURED: Jon Atwood, Heath Souders, Chase Dearing, Donna Winburn, Maria Mock, Peyton Mock, and Brittany Haro.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 1207 Timberline Court, Ste. 180 • Southlake, Texas 76092 817.505.8881 atwoodcustomhome.com jon.atwood@verizon.net

Jon Atwood Atwood Custom Homes, Inc.

Stone of DFW

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: WillowTree Custom Homes

FOCUS: ComwareAV is an installation and design firm that provides a wide range of state-of-the-art technology and network integration services to our clientele and luxury homebuilder. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Elan Dealer of the Year, Lutron Platinum, Sony Diamond, Barracuda Networks Partner of the Year, and Trend Micro Partner of the Year. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Working with the Gary Sinise Foundation to provide a specially adapted intelligent home and entertainment system for a severely wounded American hero through the R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) project. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Our networking prowess and extensive testing of innovative products will ensure homeowners many years of enjoyment. We provide proactive support, often discovering issues before the homeowner and keeping small issues from turning into big problems. MISSION STATEMENT: We are perpetually devoted to enhancing and simplifying the lives of our clients through

only the most efficient, exciting technical innovations in home automation and convenience. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Homeowners do not prepare for the technology needed to live, work, and entertain in their home. Properly wiring the home for these and possible future technologies early in the process takes coordination between the builder, electrician, and other trades to make successful integration of technology into your new home.

PICTURED: Mark Rhine; Chris Wigginton; Kyle Couch, owner/president; Jason Hanifan; (not pictured) Charles Carlson, owner, CEO.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 1110 E. State Highway 114, Ste. 250 • Southlake, Texas 76092 214.393.3129

comwareav.com info@comwareav.com

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET |

official project partner for: WillowTree Custom Homes

FOCUS: Daltile is the industry-leading brand of ceramic, porcelain, glass and metal tile as well as natural stone, large-format slab, and countertop products. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Best Bath Product in the Best of IBS Awards (Winning product – Daltile Marble Attaché); Most Familiar Ceramic Tile Brand in Builder Magazine’s Brand Use Study; Floor Covering Weekly Dealers’ Choice Award for the 13th Consecutive Year (Winning product – Daltile Fabric Art); Interior Product in the Green Home Builder Editor’s Choice Awards (Winning product – Daltile Tiger Eye); Best of TileExpo Style & Design Winner (Winning product – Daltile Multitude). MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Tile Council of North America, American Society of Interior Designers, and National Tile Contractors Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our company’s greatest achievement is becoming

the leader in the tile industry, offering an unparalleled breadth and depth of product through our 250 company-owned Sales Service Centers, Stone Slab Yards, and Gallery Design Centers across the country. WHY CHOOSE THEM: With products and styles for every budget, Daltile delivers the broadest array of tile with unmatched availability, helping customers bring any design imaginable to life. FREE ADVICE: When moving forward with developing a design, it is important for homeowners to focus on the things that will make them happy in their home, addressing current and future needs. Don’t skimp on big-ticket items, like floor tile or countertops, as those features define a space.

CONTACT INFORMATION: daltile.com

SPECIALTY: Dreaming of a new kitchen or bath? No one helps homeowners bring their vision to life better than Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. See, touch, and compare top-selling lighting, appliances, bath and kitchen products in one of our showrooms. WHAT SETS US APART: Whether you are renovating an outdated bathroom or designing your dream kitchen, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery can help. Our state-of-the-art showroom is stocked with beautifully displayed products in a welcoming, handson environment. From lighting and appliances to bath and kitchen faucets, fixtures, and accessories, Ferguson’s knowledgeable product experts ensure your selections are perfect for your project. Our passion for customer service is easy to see after just one visit to one of our four Dallas-Fort Worth showrooms. PICTURED: Marcela Haddenham, Missy West, Stephanie Goad, Kaitlin Spaans, Aisha Ulmer, and Kayla Barton.

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Fort Worth Billiards Superstore

FOCUS/CONCENTRATION: Our focal point is to exceed expectations with unparalleled customer service. Product selection and availability are paramount so that when our clients are ready to purchase, we can deliver promptly. With over 100 years of combined experience, our sales and service are second to none. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: As one of the Brunswick Billiards’ largest dealers, Fort Worth Billiards received over 20 JM Brunswick awards for Outstanding Sales and most recently received recognition as Brunswick’s No. 1 single store worldwide dealer. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We’re celebrating an anniversary milestone; this year marks 68 years in providing game room sales and service. We want to thank Fort Worth and surrounding cities for their support and loyalty in buying local. Our employees have dedicated their time and have illustrated the perseverance in making our

company successful. MOTTO: More than just billiards. FREE ADVICE: When designing a game room, it’s a “must” to bring your game room measurements with you so we can help with the right pool table size that fits best. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Making an assumption that you have enough room for a pool table. Let us help you and advise what size room will work best for the game room. PICTURED: (left to right) Albert Trujillo (president) and Ernest Lazo (vice president).

CONTACT INFORMATION:

3970 W. Vickery Blvd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817.377.1004

billiardsuperstore.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes

FOCUS: Frameless Showers, Glass Handrails, Custom Mirrors and Residential Glass. We offer a variety of services that are needed in residential construction. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Our goal is to give our customers the best service and best product in the metroplex. We are not your cookie-cutter glass company. We step outside of the box on every project we are a part of. Our extensive inventory of mirror and flat glass gives our customers a variety of options for color, texture, and thickness. If a customer needs a piece custom cut, that can be done easily. PICTURED: Jeff Benson and Jordan Lively.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 2401 E. Loop 820 N. • Fort Worth, Texas 76118 682.626.5447 • galactic-glass.com Jeff@Galactic-Glass.com • Jordan@Galactic-Glass.com

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Galvan Floors LLC

FOCUS: We specialize in all residential and commercial installations in tile, wood, LVT, VCT and carpet. We also fabricate and install custom quartz and granite countertops in-house. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Presidential Who’s Who. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: We are MBE and HUB certified and are a member of the Bluebook Network. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our greatest achievement is having our customers request services to be rendered by us and look to Galvan Floors to do their work as returning customers. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We strive to meet our customers’ expectations and address their concerns. We take pride in finding solutions and concentrating on keeping up with new trends and products in the market. MOTTO: We are always up for a challenge! BIGGEST MISTAKE

PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: If people rush when building, they select products without being fully aware of what is the best solution in an application. FREE ADVICE: Please do a little research before making an executive decision on what finish to install in each area. Price should not always be top priority. PICTURED: (left to right) Azenette Galvan, Jocelyn

CONTACT INFORMATION:

3140 South Freeway • Fort Worth, Texas 76110 817.920.0931 • Fax 817.920.1758 galvanfloors.com info@galvanfloors.com

Galvan, Juan Galvan (front), Juan Galvan Jr.

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

Guardado Landscaping

Eloy Guardado

CONCENTRATION: Guardado Landscaping is a landscaping and retail garden center. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS: Guardado Landscaping has been the official landscaper for eight Fort Worth Magazine Dream Homes; 2008 Kaleidoscope Home. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Alabama Nursery Association, Better Business Bureau and Greater Fort Worth Builders Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Every day there is a professional achievement. The entire staff receives a sense of accomplishment when a project begins and when it is completed. That’s important not only to myself, but to my staff. PHILOSOPHY: You only get one chance at a first impression — let us design a landscape that they will remember. FREE ADVICE: The team at Guardado Landscaping believes that a job well done means that promises have been kept and

the customer is delighted with their project. Always keep your word and offer your customer the best possible service. There are many landscaping companies to choose from, so be sure that the vendors you choose are licensed, bonded and fully insured. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not taking the landscaping seriously. Because landscaping is the first thing people see when they drive up to a home, shouldn’t it be the best impression as to what’s inside?

CONTACT INFORMATION: 3228 Alta Mere • Fort Worth, Texas 76116 817.732.3434 • Fax 817.732.4545 sales@guardadolandscaping.net guardadolandscaping.com

Hawk Air Company Chris and Tammy Hawkins

FOCUS: Hawk Air provides heating and cooling services for every household. Whether we are providing new installation, equipment replacement, air purification, repairs, or seasonal maintenance, we are focused on your comfort. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: What means the most to us is the recognition we receive in the form of appreciation from our clients. Over the past three decades, our builders and homeowners have continued to call on us to be their comfort specialist. That is the most valuable award we could receive. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

Proudly celebrating 30 years in business. Nearly 100% of our work is based on referrals and word-of-mouth. We have been working with many of the same builders and homeowners since 1990. The Hawk Air reputation and an honest handshake are what have kept our business thriving.

WHY CHOOSE THEM: When you call Hawk Air, you know that our family is working hard to take care of your family. Owners Chris and Tammy Hawkins are involved in the daily operations to make sure our team is providing good old-fashioned customer service. MISSION STATEMENT: Providing honest reliable service you can count on. MOTTO: Keeping families comfortable in all seasons. FREE ADVICE: Schedule yearly maintenance for your heating and cooling systems for peak performance and energy savings. PICTURED: Chris and Tammy Hawkins and family.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

H Customs Audio Video

FOCUS: Since 2004, H Customs Audio Video has concentrated in the sales and installation of residential and commercial electronics with a focus on automation. Home automation integrates lighting, HVAC, cameras, security, televisions, home theaters and whole house audio that can easily be controlled from any tablet, smartphone, computer, or Control4 touch screen. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: H Customs Audio Video strives to provide the best in high-performance audio and video with a dedicated, personalized approach to meet each of our customers’ needs. We help create home automation simplicity by using the best smart home technology. ADVICE: Contact a custom integrator instead of going to the “big box” stores. We have a larger selection of products and know how to tailor them to fit your specific needs. Big retailers sell parts; we sell a quality working system. EXPERTISE: We have been in business for 16-plus

years and have handled thousands of different types of jobs. Control4 Home Automation is a great area of expertise for our company as they advance in technology. H Customs Audio Video performs all project interior design, systems design, sales, service, installations, and most project construction in-house, thereby reducing the number of other contractors needed to perform a project. PICTURED: Kevin Fowlds, Craig Aldridge, Matthew Smith (The Bear), Brian Hugghins, Aidee Geist, Madison Moore, Doug Bonewitz, Adrian Guevara, and Brent Mullen.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

5059 Martin Luther King Jr Freeway • Fort Worth, Texas 76119

817.300.1518 hcustoms.com

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

builder: Heritage Homes

Heritage Homes

SPECIALTY: Heritage Homes creates beautiful custom homes, each as unique as our clients. Their needs, preferences, and priorities are part of the equation, but it’s in capturing the vision each client has for one of life’s most important purchases that separates Heritage Homes from other builders. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

Watching Heritage Homes become an emerging leader in the custom home market is gratifying to the entire HH team. We judge our success based on the satisfaction of our clients, and our greatest achievement is making sure our next client is as delighted with their new home as the last.

PHILOSOPHY: A signature Heritage Home tells the story of its owner through style, design, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Character and integrity are as important as the materials used in our homes. We strive to make a positive contribution in the communities

we serve, in the homes we create, the partnerships we build, and the lives we touch. FREE ADVICE: Learn from the past; plan for the future.

BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME:

Failing to think long term, particularly with respect to design. Most clients intend to remain in their custom-built home for many years, and taking the long view at the construction phase can save headaches down the line. PICTURED: John Webb, President.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

P.O. Box 92279 • Southlake, Texas 76092

682.225.2544

sales@yourheritagehomes.com yourheritagehomes.com

FOCUS: Residential HVAC Sales and Service. WHY CHOOSE THEM: It is imperative to take measures to improve indoor air quality. We focus on your HVAC needs for the good health and well-being of your family. At ICEHVAC, we understand the importance of providing careful consideration to each aspect of your project. We want to leave you feeling healthier, confident, and satisfied with our services. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING

A HOME: Not focusing on the items that affect the comfort and efficiency of the house is the biggest mistake people make when building a home. FREE ADVICE: Remember that all homes are different. Talk to your builder about what you expect from your HVAC system. Always invest in a system that matches your family’s needs. PICTURED: Roger Thoes.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

1114 S. Airport Circle, Ste. 110 • Euless, Texas 76040 972.414.0236

icehvac.com service@icehvac.com

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET | FOCUS

official project partner for: Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

J & V Painting Plus, LLC

FOCUS: J & V Painting services your commercial, residential, and faux painting needs. We specialize in small sheetrock jobs, texture, faux finishes, and tape and bed work. We are the leading edge on acrylics as noted by our competition. We also use oil bases, epoxy, and lacquer.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 2000 Southern Living; 2002 Historic Fort Worth Designer Showcase; 2008 Charity Designer Showhouse; 2017 ‒ 2019 Fort Worth Magazine Dream Home; 2017 ‒ 2020 Fort Worth Magazine Best Of; 2018 Fort Worth HOME Design Winners.

MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: BBB, IDAL - International Decorative Artisans League. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

Continuing to service nine out of my first 10 customers for the last 45 years. MOTTO: Doing it right the first time by continuing to deliver quality work for over 45 years with a dedicated workforce.

BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME:

Getting in a hurry at the end of the job. Don’t start with a deadline. If you must, let everyone involved in the process be aware so that they can tell you if it is possible. FREE ADVICE: Don’t expect to get a perfect paint job for a cheap price. Ask what you are going to get; for example, what type of paint, number of coats, what will I get for this price?

PICTURED: Kimberly Pierce, Jon Nappier and Sara Hiett.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

4429 Birchman • Fort Worth, Texas 76107

817.994.3277 • 817.291.0207 sara@jandvpainting.com jandvpainting.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

Jon Bolton J Bolton & Associates

FOCUS: Custom Residential Design. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: J Bolton & Associates has been in the residential design business for over 35 years, providing quality design and counsel. It is a personal and professional achievement having our previous clients return for their third or fourth design. WHY CHOOSE THEM: J Bolton & Associates is one of very few firms who hand sketch, design, and collaborate with clients in person throughout the entire process. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING

A HOME: We believe it is a mistake for clients to cut corners on choosing an experienced professional when it comes to designing and building their dream home. Jon guides clients through the design with focus on the way the family likes to interact, entertain, and relax.

FREE ADVICE: Research design ideas beforehand and hire and collaborate with both the designer and builder throughout the entire process. Confidently communicate throughout the entire design process and do not feel pressured or rushed. PICTURED: Jon Bolton.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 700 North Carroll Ave., Ste. 100 • Southlake, Texas 76092

817.251.9393

jonb@jboltondesigns.com facebook.com/jboltonandassociates instagram.com/jboltondesigns jboltondesignstudio.com

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM

official project partner for: WillowTree Custom Homes

JIL Custom Cabinets

FOCUS: Custom Cabinetry for High-End Residential Homes. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Growing from a one-man operation to establishing ourselves as one of the premier cabinet manufacturers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. WHY CHOOSE THEM: For over 30 years, JIL Custom Cabinets has been building specialty cabinets for DFW’s leading homeowners and builders. With our experience and specialty processes, we can take just about any photo or inspiration and make it come to life in your home. MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to provide creative designs and the utmost service. We strive to create cabinetry that fits seamlessly into each individualized home. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not choosing quality builders and subcontractors. The difference between a

good contractor and a bad one isn’t just quality of work but also time and headaches. A good contractor is worth their weight in gold. FREE ADVICE: Have an interior designer on your projects. They will help keep everything moving smoothly, as well as help your vision come to life with a cohesive balance. PICTURED: (left to right) Heather Bowman (Designer), Bayley Cavazos (Office Administrator), Brent Miller (Operations Manager), Sara Miller (Office Manager), and Bryan Miller (Construction Manager).

CONTACT INFORMATION: 2150 Greenwood Drive • Southlake, Texas 76092 jilcustomcabinets.com office@jilcustomcabinets.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

The Kitchen Source

FOCUS: Our team at The Kitchen Source is dedicated to providing the finest products and service for the kitchen and bath. By creating the most functional room for our clients’ needs, we provide a working space that fits their specific lifestyle. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Legacy of Design awards for kitchens and baths; Wood-Mode’s Platinum Level Award; ASID’s Designer’s Choice Awards for Cabinetry/Cabinet Materials; NARI’s Contractor of the Year for Residential Kitchens; NARI’s Contractor’s Choice Awards for Kitchen & Bath; Sub-Zero/Wolf’s Regional Kitchen Design Contest winner and NARI’s CotY awards for Residential Kitchens. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: American Society of Interior Designers, National Kitchen & Bath Association, National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Dallas Builders Association, and Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Serving the DFW metroplex for over 25 years and having our clients rely

on us to complete their projects anywhere from New York to Hawaii to the Cayman Islands. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We are full turnkey, and our kitchen designers take the client through the process from beginning to end. MISSION STATEMENT: The Kitchen Source has built a reputation for professionalism and quality work. Our goal is to give our clients an exceptional experience throughout their remodeling or building project.

PICTURED: Amber Paulk, Haleigh Gray, Jennifer Johns, Natalie White, Elizabeth Tranberg, Haley Meredith, and Corinne Danicki.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 2356 E. State Highway 114 • Southlake, Texas 76092 Southlake 817.857.4001 • Fort Worth 817.731.4299 • Dallas 214.741.1912 thekitchensource.net info@tkstx.com

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Greg Leschber

Leschber Designs Pools + Outdoor Living

FOCUS: Company focus is the detailed custom design of a backyard. From the pool, to the outdoor living space, to the landscape and landscape lighting to accent the entire project — “The complete backyard.”

WHY CHOOSE THEM: Clients should choose Leschber Designs for several reasons: experience and personal attention. Greg Leschber meets every client, designs the project, helps guide clients through the material selection process, and personally oversees the construction of the project. MISSION STATEMENT: We are not trying to build as many pools in the metroplex as we can. We want to build a handful of top-quality projects each year in order to maintain the personal attention that we believe is crucial to providing a top-quality project and producing not just satisfied customers, but excited and happy customers.

BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A POOL:

Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. In the end, the best-looking and most functional pools and outdoor spaces are the ones that “fit” the space they are in. FREE ADVICE: Don’t design the pool for someone else. Don’t make decisions about what kind of project you want to do simply because you think it’s what other people may like. If you are spending the money, get what you want … within reason!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Leschber Designs, LLC • Pool + Outdoor Living 1704 Bellechase Drive • Keller, Texas 76262

817.586.5709

LeschberDesigns.com sales@leschberdesigns.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Loveless Gutters

FOCUS: Taking what my father had created to the next level. AWARDS/ RECOGNITIONS: St. Jude Children’s Dream Home. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Better Business Bureau; Fort Worth Business Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Being in business for over 30 years is our greatest professional achievement. WHY CHOOSE THEM: My father has been in this industry since the 1970s, and I have carried the legacy of knowledge, workmanship, and wisdom passed down to me from him. MOTTO: We take the time to do it right. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE

WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not being involved. FREE ADVICE: The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten. PICTURED: James Loveless.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

P.O. Box 905 • Colleyville, Texas 76034 817.590.2583 • Fax 817.284.4936 lovelessgutter.com info@lovelessgutter.com

Magnolia Fence & Patio

FOCUS: Residential and Commercial Wood and Metal Fencing. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Best of Fort Worth 2017-2020; EOE Finalist 2018-2020. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We have added team members and raised salaries during COVID-19. Our team has shown creativity, perseverance, and forward-thinking during this unknown season — all while being safe and providing an incredible product and service. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We have a full team of in-house installers. This allows us to build relationships, train, and retain great team members — more than half of them have been with us for five or more years. MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to create outdoor environments that are durable, practical, and visually pleasing, using quality materials and craftsmanship. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: They forget

to have fun. Write on the framing some of your favorite quotes, take pictures, drive by all the time, leave waters for the workers, and just trust the process. Once it’s all over, it will be those memories you remember the most. FREE ADVICE: Referrals are the best compliment. When we are referred to others, we already feel like your family and want to do anything we can to help. PICTURED: Robert and Vanessa Whittaker.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

6080 S. Hulen St., Ste. 360 • Fort Worth, Texas 76133

817.995.7461 magnoliafenceandpatio.com sales@magnoliafenceco.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Metro Irrigation and Landscape

Scott Hunnicutt, Carrie Hunnicutt, Steve Cannon

FOCUS: Focus is on our landscape design being unique and not like the house next door or even down the block. RECOGNITIONS: Walsh Ranch Dream Home, 2019; Parker County Business of the Year. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: TCEQ, Texas Certified Nurserymen, and Association of Landscape Architects. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our greatest professional achievement would be the fact that we have customers that we did jobs for 10 years and more ago that tell us our designs have stood the test of time and are still looking good. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We have over 60 years of combined experience in the irrigation and landscape business. We have two licensed irrigators and one landscape architect. We strive to do quality work at a good price and enjoy helping people make their homes

beautiful, even when they don’t have a huge budget. MOTTO: Do it right the first time. We won’t leave until you’re happy. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: They think they can put a yard together for little or nothing and either don’t put enough money in the budget or use it on upgrades to their home before they get to the yard. FREE ADVICE: Put a pre-emergent on the lawn grass three times a year. PICTURED: Scott Hunnicutt and Steve Cannon.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

1271 Lazy Bend Road • Millsap, Texas 76066 817.825.7827 scotthunnicutt6@gmail.com

FOCUS: Providing exceptional custom cabinet products and installation for our customers with quality and exceptional service. AWARDS/ RECOGNITIONS: Featured in several local magazines for exceptional craftsmanship. Outstanding payment history from all our vendors.

MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: FSC certification. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Constantly producing a high-quality product at a competitive price using innovative design techniques and high-tech machining centers. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: Take care of our customers; our livelihood depends on it. FREE ADVICE: Good quality is defined by the details. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE

MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not choosing a building contractor that uses high-quality building materials and quality subcontractors. PICTURED: Ricky Gonzalez and Dean Ojeda.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 318 West Kennedale Parkway Kennedale, Texas 76060

817.483.9658

mikeconkle@mikeconkle.com mikeconkle.com

Mike Conkle Custom Cabinets Inc.

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

Electric Co.

Marco Torres

FOCUS: The main focus in MPT Electric Co. is to successfully operate the lighting, electrical cable and wire, and do home automation systems in custom homes. Each house is professionally managed by experienced teams that have the goals to provide great quality products and achieve excellent customer satisfaction. HISTORY: With 24 years of electrical experience, I was part of a different electric company before starting my own company this year. Thanks to Willow Tree Luxury Homes, MPT Electric Co. has the opportunity to work on a dream home. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Clients should choose us because we work beyond what is asked. We give you more opinions/options based on what we observe. Our clients are

our priority, and we have the skills to complete the work as you wish.

COMPANY MOTTO: “Success doesn’t come easy. It’s not about a single day or single action but about achieving great things through hard work.” Don’t hesitate to contact us. We will gladly assist you.

PICTURED: Marco Torres, master electrician.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

950 West Cedar St. • Celina, Texas 75009

469.667.1755

marcoptorres@att.net mptelectric55@yahoo.com

MPT

Multimedia Solutions

FOCUS: Sharing the joy that comes from doing something we love — electronics systems integration. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: CE Pro Top 100 Integrators in America for several years; Control4 Diamond Dealer; Sony Diamond Dealer; Lutron Gold Dealer; ProSource Power member.

GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Building a successful business from three people working out of a public storage unit to over 100 employees in five locations by focusing on doing things the right way. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Clients and partners should choose us because we love our craft and we care about how people experience our company and the technologies we provide. MOTTO: Enhance the lives of others by simplifying complicated technology. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: We have found that projects go

smoother, the end result is better, and the overall timeline and budget are improved when a project is planned all the way through before starting work. FREE ADVICE: Assemble a great team of professionals who cannot help but share their passion for what they do. PICTURED: John Carter, CEO; Seth Lauritzen, Managing Partner; Mike Stewart, Sales Manager; Rachel Stewart, Lighting and Shading Designer.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

2030 Diplomat Drive • Farmers Branch, Texas 75234

972.488.1084

multimediasolutionsgroup.com info@multimediasolutionsgroup.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

New Leaf Foam Insulation, LLC

FOCUS: A family-owned and operated business since 2001, New Leaf Foam Insulation’s focus is to deliver quality work and good customer service. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Fort Worth Magazine Dream Home 2014. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Dallas Builders Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We believe that one of our greatest achievements is to stay in the market for more than 20 years. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We work honestly, and we like to offer clients quality work and the best materials and products we can find for home energy savings. MISSION STATEMENT: Colossians 3:23-25. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING

A HOME: With great respect, one of the biggest mistakes people make

when building a home is believing to know everything about construction and not making sure to hire someone reliable. FREE ADVICE: Having faith and working with honesty and perseverance can take us to places we have not imagined. PICTURED: Hector and Laura Herta.

Open Up Garage Doors & Services

FOCUS: Our company prefers to focus on custom garage door applications to fit the needs and visions of our clients. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Gold Award for Outstanding Sales. MEMBERSHIPS: International Door Association (IDA) member since 2008, four-star recognized CHI Dealer, and awarded 2015 No. 1 Garage Door Company in the Nation for customer service from American Home Shield (AHS). GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our industry is not known for providing custom, quality options with actual showroom facilities to physically touch and view before making financial decisions for your home. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: “Whatever It Takes” customer service, professionalism, and just being kind and courteous will always be our first priority. FREE ADVICE: Research your

options regardless if it’s for your new home or your existing home. Be more involved in where, how, and with whom you spend your money. Information is free. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: The biggest mistake people make is not realizing all their available options and understanding some of their choices long term. PICTURED: William and Colleen Roberts.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 10500 E. Hurst Blvd. • Hurst, Texas 76053 817.399.9092 • Fax 817.399.9305 contact@openupgaragedoors.com openupgaragedoors.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Paragon Design Group

FOCUS: Serving the Greater Fort Worth area for 28 years, Paragon Design Group is a custom residential design company that offers home design, planning, and more. We have a combined 57 years of experience in helping clients meet their design needs for a creative, outstanding home. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Numerous Kaleidoscope of Homes and Parade of Homes Best of Show and Best Overall Design and Elevation. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Helping clients navigate the emotional process of designing a home and helping them set expectations for the building process. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Our ability to creatively listen to their design needs and the overall design and construction education we provide to simplify the process for them. Clients choose Paragon Design Group because we have a strong, honest willingness to spend the time with clients

during the design process to understand the intricacies, details, and consequences of their desires and design needs. We are committed to clients’ enjoyment of their home design as well as love of their future home. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Listening to too many outside opinions and not having more faith in their own. FREE ADVICE: Find a design professional who’s intent on listening to your ideas and willing to challenge you to help you successfully design the best home for you. PICTURED: Robert Leeper.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 630 E. Southlake Blvd. • Southlake, Texas 76092 817.946.5933

robert.paragon92@verizon.net

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET | FOCUS

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes | Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Passion Lighting

FOCUS: Everything lighting, interior and exterior, including decorative lighting, lighting design, and landscape lighting. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: National Lighting Showroom of the Year finalist nine times since 2010, winner in 2012; National Arts Award finalist five times since 2011; Lutron RadioRA 2013 winner; Lutron 2014 Visionary Award winner. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: American Lighting Association, Grapevine Chamber of Commerce. Bruce is an American Lighting Association Certified Lighting Consultant, one of five in Texas. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We started our business 15 years ago from scratch, with zero customer base, building it into a major regional showroom in the DFW area with national recognition.

MOTTO: Everything Lighting. FREE ADVICE: Lighting makes a huge difference on any project when done right; use professionals from the lighting industry for expertise. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not using high-quality recess lighting, not using enough, and not using it properly. Another mistake is not investing in lighting controls. PICTURED: Gloria Paul and Bruce D. Paul, CLC.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 1649 W. Northwest Highway • Grapevine, Texas 76051 817.310.3261 • Fax 817.310.5584 bruce@passionlighting.com • passionlighting.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Pierce Hardware – Fine Hardware and Plumbing

FOCUS: Fine door hardware, plumbing fixtures and fittings, as well as cabinet hardware. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: DPHA Showroom of the Year. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association (DPHA); NKBA, Forte. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Being in business for over 80 years. Converting the business to a 100% employee-owned company. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: Experience matters! We only employ the finest and most knowledgeable professionals in the industry. They will save all stakeholders time and worry. FREE ADVICE: Come to one of our two showrooms and see for yourself how our experience and knowledge will benefit you. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Don’t wait

to get education on what we offer. Many items customers love require planning before the framing stage of construction. Coming in too late may prevent you from installing many of our life-improving technologies.

PICTURED: Dayana Carrillo Munuz, Kathy Sanders, Whitney McMurry, Lenny Russo, and Karen Visage.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 4030 W. Vickery Blvd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817.737.9090 info@piercehardware.com piercehardware.com

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Premier Custom Floors

FOCUS: Every floor is unique. We work with our clients to create a floor personalized to enhance the beauty of their home or place of business. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Brightest Floor in North Texas, recognized by D Magazine — Brown Lane Studios. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL

ACHIEVEMENT: Our clients’ appreciation and satisfaction will always be our greatest achievement. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We service all types of customers — residential, commercial, and industrial with interior and exterior floors. We use the highest quality material the industry has to offer. Our pricing is competitive, and our trained professionals are eager to help you understand the coating process and choose the perfect floor for your style and budget. MOTTO: Serving DFW and surrounding areas for all your epoxy needs since 2010. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN

BUILDING A HOME: The biggest mistake people make when choosing an epoxy floor is believing that “epoxy is epoxy,” and the cheapest option will get the job done. Without high-quality material and proper preparation and installation, the floor will likely not last. FREE ADVICE: When designing a home, don’t stop at the garage door. Designing your garage gives your home or commercial property a completed look and adds to property value. PICTURED: Paul Giatas, owner, and his wife, Adrienne.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 817.914.1431 premiercustomfloors.com premiercustomfloors@gmail.com

FOCUS

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

Pro Serve Plumbing LLC

Kenneth and Melissa Golden

COMPANY FOCUS: To provide exceptional quality plumbing services with attention to detail. We want our customers to feel confident in selecting us and to know that we will provide them with professional service every time. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

We have created a company that continues to experience professional growth, and our employees really like working for us. We have created long-lasting relationships with them, which allows us to provide our customers with the knowledgeable and professional workmanship that we promise. MOTTO: We take care of you so you can take care of what is important. FREE ADVICE: Do your research and ask questions. Nobody knows you like you know yourself. Most of the time, people know what they want, and it helps in the overall building process if they

are able to convey that to their contractor. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Sacrificing on the things they really want, thinking they will do it later. Often times, later never comes, and they wish they had gone ahead and gotten that beautiful freestanding tub, or exotic granite, or elaborate light fixture. It’s your dream home; get what you want!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

11255 Camp Bowie W., Ste. 120 • Aledo, Texas 76008 817.244.0614 • Fax: 817.244.4897 melissa@proserveplumbers.com • proserveplbg@yahoo.com proserveplumbers.com

Ramon Roofing Inc.

FOCUS: We are a full service roofing company that specializes in tile, slate and metal roofs. AWARDS: We are a four-time golden hammer award winner from the North Texas Roofing Contractor Association and received the Presidents Gavel Award from the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: We are members of the BBB (A+ Rating), Tile Roofing Institute, North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, and the National Slate Association. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Giving back to my industry and having a great business for 25 years. Thank you, Fort Worth. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: We service our clients with quality work at a fair market price. ADVICE: Never take life for granted, appreciate your family and friends, and never give up on your dreams. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING/REMODELING A HOME: Not doing their homework when selecting a contractor. Always check credit references, past and current projects, accreditations, and most of all, their reputation. PICTURED: Paul Ramon.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 3027 Ramona Drive • Fort Worth, Texas 76116 817.924.1645 • Fax 817.831.8730 paul@ramonroofing.com ramonroofing.com

official project partner for: Atwood Custom Homes

Ricks Hardware and Decorative Plumbing

FOCUS: Hardware and plumbing supply and installation. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Ricks Hardware and Decorative Plumbing has been one of the leading suppliers of hardware and plumbing as a family-owned, small business for over 45 years. MISSION STATEMENT: We are dedicated to providing outstanding customer service and bringing the most cutting-edge hardware and plumbing products to our industry. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Our turnkey, handson approach from walking houses and installing hardware brings a unique and high-quality service that nobody else offers. Rick’s Hardware and Decorative Plumbing has showroom locations in Grapevine, Dallas and Granbury so that we can serve the entire North Texas area with great pricing and top-notch customer service. PROFESSIONAL

MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Greater Fort Worth Builders Association, Dallas Builders Association, and CBUSA. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not giving enough lead time is one of the biggest mistakes people make when building a home. FREE ADVICE: Trust in your suppliers and their product knowledge. PICTURED: Paul Tacker, Dianne Tacker, Trevor Tacker, Skye Davis, and Arman Delaughter.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 1200 Minters Chapel Road, Ste. 400 • Grapevine, Texas 76051 817.481.8807 • Fax 817.481.0028 rickshardware.com

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET |

official project partner for: WillowTree Custom Homes

Susan Semmelmann Interiors

FOCUS: Construction detailing and interior design. EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Texas Christian University. BUSINESS RECOGNITIONS: Best of Interior Design in Fort Worth, Fort Worth Magazine ; Best of Houzz, 2019 – 2020; Entrepreneur of Excellence finalist, Fort Worth Inc. , 2020. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: The greatest professional achievement is to look back at a 23-year career from building homes to serving hundreds of clients, with design expertise and resources. PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT: Zig Ziglar said it best: “You’re getting what you’re getting because you’re giving what you’re giving.” I believe in a positive environment, praising my team and appreciating their efforts, giving them recognition, and knowing it is not about me but about a design team that gives all it has, resulting in the best for our clients. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Raquel’s Wings for Life, a Wish with

Wings, Susan Semmelmann Interiors Foundation and other local charities. FREE ADVICE: The more you can give of yourself to anyone or any project, the more you will get back in return. Finding balance with work, family, and friends is critical to any successful woman, as well as keeping your outlook positive, keeping faith in God and continually growing in your field to learn more each day and be able to offer more knowledge and experience. MOTTO: The Spirit of Living is in the Giving. PICTURED: Susan Semmelmann.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

4372 West Vickery Blvd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76107

940.577.1000

semmelmanninteriors.com susan@semmelmanninteriors.com

official project partner for: Heritage Homes

The Sherwin-Williams Paint Company

FOCUS: Founded in 1866 by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams, the Sherwin-Williams Company services the do-it-yourself homeowner, residential repaint contractors, multifamily apartment facilities, commercial paint contractors, municipalities, industrial and manufacturing. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Sherwin-Williams is the largest producer of paints and coatings in the world, with over 4700 stores. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We celebrated our 154th anniversary in 2020. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Sherwin-Williams specializes in paints and coatings and can provide you with a solution to protect your greatest assets with quality products, exceptional service, and beautiful color. MOTTO: Cover the Earth. Ask Sherwin-Williams. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Acting

as your own general contractor, not utilizing a professional builder and paint contractor, cutting corners on paint costs by not using quality paint products. FREE ADVICE: Your home is the biggest investment of your life. Invest in quality paint products from Sherwin-Williams to protect it.

PICTURED: Timber Condra, Tiphani Hambright, Bruna Da Cas Dalcin, Jeremy Matteson, and Chris Chavarria.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 5604 Colleyville Blvd. • Colleyville, Texas 76034

817.514.3954

sherwin-williams.com sw707230@sherwin.com

FORT

FOCUS: Site View Pro specializes in autonomous surveillance and jobsite management solutions. Our mobile surveillance trailers are the perfect solution for temporary jobsite surveillance and project management applications. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: We are recognized for exceptional customer service and have exceeded the expectations of hundreds of clients over the years. AFFILIATIONS: Texas security license No. B18917. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our flagship mobile surveillance units outperform our competition at a competitive price point. Our cloud platform allows clients to use any device to easily access their video directly from our encrypted cloud servers. WHY CHOOSE THEM: We provide excellent customer service, and our sincere desire is to create repeat customers for life. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business!

MOTTO: “Overbuilt, not overpriced.” BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: We specialize in remote project management, and people often overlook the benefits our services can provide. Our products allow people to check in on the progress of their project at anytime from anywhere which saves time and money. FREE ADVICE: Never make a promise you cannot keep. PICTURED: Cameron Covington, owner; Matt Hannah, operations manager.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

701 Bear Cat Road, Ste. C • Aledo, Texas 76008

817.776.5678

siteviewpro.com info@siteviewpro.com

official project partner for: WillowTree Custom Homes

Texas Stone Creations

FOCUS: Texas Stone Creations, established over 15 years ago in Dallas, has become one of the most reliable stone manufacturers in the U.S. With over 30 colors of natural stone, Texas Stone Creations specializes in interior and exterior architectural designs along with offering finished custom-made product for residential and commercial applications.

GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our customer base and our continued commitment to our clients have paved the way for us to directly sell and deliver our production nationwide. WHY CHOOSE

THEM: At Texas Stone Creations, our craftsmanship is superior, and we commit to exceptional manufacturing standards, respect time frames, and always provide excellent customer service. Our customer service team will be by your side during the entire process, from the design, fab-

rication, delivery, and installation. MOTTO: Turning Dreams into Stone. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: They think that custom is going to be too complicated or expensive. FREE ADVICE: Keep in mind that when buying something, good customer service should be a part of the package. PICTURED: Sergio Ruiz, Alex Cueto, and Luis Perez.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 8939 Directors Row • Dallas, Texas 75247 214.325.4680 • Fax 214.272.8252 texasstonecreations.com info@texasstonecreations.com

Vintage Floors

FOCUS: We specialize in custom wood floors, tile, stone and carpet. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Our greatest reward is the smile on the faces of happy, satisfied clients. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

National Wood Flooring Association, Greater Fort Worth Builders Association, Custom Builders Association, Better Business Bureau, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, ASID Industry Partner. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our ability to maintain a large, loyal client base. We are so privileged to work with wonderful people who refer and recommend us to others. MOTTO: Quality products, trusted service. FREE ADVICE: When making selections for your home, always invest in quality products. Remember, “the bitterness of poor quality remains long

after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.” BIGGEST BUILDING MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE: Being in a hurry to complete the project. When building a new home or remodeling an existing one, please be patient. You can’t rush quality. Unforeseen delays can occur, but you must allow the necessary time to properly complete the project so the quality and craftsmanship are not compromised. PICTURED: Bryan Page.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 5136 Camp Bowie Blvd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817.877.1564 • Fax 817.882.1162 vintagefloorstx.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

official project partner for: Heritage Homes | WillowTree Custom Homes

Vineyard Wine Cellars

FOCUS: Vineyard Wine Cellars is the leading provider of wine cellars for enthusiasts seeking inspired solutions for the preservation and enjoyment of their collection. We source state-of-the-art products and materials in wine cellar cooling, construction, finishes, lighting, and racks to provide wine storage solutions for all applications and to suit any design style. Over the last 18 years, Vineyard Wine Cellars has earned a reputation as Texas’ premier wine storage provider by bringing ingenuity and quality workmanship to the process of designing and installing award-winning wine cellars. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: We have created more than a thousand wine cellars in homes, businesses, retail and hospitality spaces nationwide. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: Our consultative approach, attention to detail, and superior customer service are the foundation of our reputation. FREE ADVICE: Building a wine cellar is a specialized project

that requires a team of creative and technical experts. Be sure you have professional guidance on the design and the function of your wine cellar. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A WINE CELLAR: The most common mistakes are related to the enclosure of the space and ensuring a consistent and optimal climate.

PICTURED: Sarah Palmer and Andy Daniels (second generation brother and sister team; son and daughter of the company founders, Bonnie and Gary Daniels).

CONTACT INFORMATION:

1001 Millcreek Road • Cross Roads, Texas 76227

972.712.9600 info@vineyardwinecellars.com vineyardwinecellars.com

Watson Design

FOCUS: The firm’s primary focus is on high-end residential design, historical preservation, and light commercial projects. RECOGNITIONS: Watson Design is no stranger to Fort Worth Magazine’s Dream Homes. The firm, founded by Scott Watson in 1996, drew the plans for six of the magazine’s previous Dream Homes. WHY CHOOSE THEM: The Fort Worth-based firm also has offices in Southlake and Dallas. With a team of 10 professionals from architects to designers, Watson Design takes its customers’ projects from dream to reality. With a heavy focus on 3D imaging, the company’s goal is to help the customer build their

project virtually before construction starts. Its visual approach gives clients confidence that the final product will match their unique vision.

PICTURED: Scott Watson.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

2920 Alta Mere Drive • Fort Worth, Texas 76116

817.882.8882 watsondesigngroup.com scott@watsondesigngroup.com

FOCUS | FORT WORTH MAGAZINE DREAM STREET

builder: WillowTree Custom Homes

FOCUS: WillowTree is a custom homebuilder with an innovative, detailoriented approach that puts emphasis on planning and focuses on the client’s wants and needs. Every project is aligned with client’s expected dreams, ideas, and expectations. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS:

WillowTree is affiliated with professional groups such as the Southlake Chamber of Commerce and Greater Fort Worth Builders Association. WHY CHOOSE THEM: At WillowTree, our team strives to follow a scheduling process that allows the client to see financials at real time, schedules of the project, and a forum for communication so that clients, project managers, and designers can be on the same page — a process that always keeps everyone in the construction process loop. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: Not understanding the

entire process from start to finish is the biggest mistake people make when building a home. Do not be afraid to ask tough questions during the process. Set expectations with your builder and communicate on a regular basis. FREE ADVICE: Choose your builder based on a real connection. This process should be fun and exciting from start to finish. You should choose your builder on referrals, overall trust, and client-builder partnership to build your dream home. PICTURED: (standing) Luke Roll, Emily Reeves, Phil Matwijszyn; (seated) Jody Alumbaugh and Travis Franks. CONTACT INFORMATION: 607 S. Pearson Lane, Ste. 102 • Keller, Texas 76248 817.617.9105

Yard Art Patio & Fireplace

FOCUS: Yard Art Patio & Fireplace is focused on creating a relaxed shopping experience with a knowledgeable team and the best selection of outdoor furniture in the world. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Apollo Award winner in 2015, 2010 and 2004; Apollo Award finalist in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2008; Casual Living 100 Powerhouse winner 2004-2016. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: We are members of the ICFA, ASID, HPB and AFHA. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our greatest professional achievement is that we were able to stand strong and grow during a time of recession and small businesses closing, thanks to our dedication, hard work and, most of all, our customers. PHILOSOPHY: Our business philosophy is to provide our clients with the best outdoor

furniture at the best prices! FREE ADVICE: Like everything else out there in the world, you get what you pay for. We are lucky because we specialize in quality outdoor furniture. BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUILDING A HOME: The No. 1 mistake people make when building their home is space. Most people do not take into account how much space the furniture they want will take up. PICTURED: Garrett Wallace.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Fort Worth • Colleyville • Plano • Allen • Lewisville • Grapevine Info@MyYardArt.com MyYardArt.com

Atwood Custom Homes

OCT. 3-25

Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street Touring a Wish with Wings awww.org

OCT. 9

Day of the Girl 2020 Girls Inc. of Tarrant County girlsinctarrant.org

OCT. 14 Virtual Event

65 Roses Wine & Food Extravaganza Cystic Fibrosis Foundation events.cff.org

OCT. 22

2020 International Award of Excellence in Conservation BRIT brit.org/conservationgala

NOV. 5

Light The Night Leukemia & Lymphoma Society lightthenight.org

NOV. 10

Heart (at home) for the Homeless Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County heartforhomeless.com

NOV. 13 Virtual Art Auction & Gala

An Artists’ Christmas Camp Fire campfirefw.org

DEC. 4 Virtual Event

Home for the Holidays Gala Presbyterian Night Shelter journeyhome.org

APR. 24, 2021

Butterfly Wishes Gala a Wish with Wings awww.org

Fall of 2021

Hearts of Gold Giving Rutledge Foundation rutledgecancerfoundation.org

Ongoing Donations

Make-A-Wish ntx.wish.org

Ongoing Donations

Parenting Center theparentingcenter.org

Ongoing Donations

Legacy of Women/Legacy of Men SafeHaven safehaventc.org

Ongoing Virtual Event

Pivot with a Purpose Wings of Hope wingsofhopeequitherapy.org

Give Back Calendar

There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back and making a difference in the lives of people in this great community. As the city’s magazine — which has the eyes and ears of some of Fort Worth’s most affluent and philanthropic citizens — we feel a responsibility to give back to the people of the city that is our namesake, which is why Philanthropy is one of our core values.

Every year, Fort Worth Magazine sponsors more than 100 charity events, which range from luncheons to black-tie galas. The following promotional section is devoted to these charities and their fundraisers. We invite you to consciously peruse and consider lending a helping hand by either making a donation or attending these events.

Because COVID-19 caused a delay or cancelation of the charity events this season, as a service to all the charities in the Greater Tarrant area, we are listing the new dates or cancelations as they come in.

Call for Entries

Enter your well-designed space for a chance to be featured in the special HOME section of Fort Worth Magazine in March. Winners from 13 different categories will be recognized at a future event in front of the top Fort Worth/Dallas design professionals. Categories:

PRINT IS MEMORABLE.

Print creates an emotional connection. Print builds relationships.

more "real" to the brain, involves more emotional processing, is better with greater internalization of ads all important for brand associations. (FORBES)

(Digital First Content Marketing: the Return of Print -CMO by Adobe, 2016)

Photographer Jhonathan Rodriguez captured this photo of a friend as he waded through the overgrown grass of the abandoned LaGrave Field, just north of downtown. “He simply looked lost in beauty,” Rodriguez says. The image inspired a poem by Rodriguez in which he writes, “I’m just strolling through the fields of the grass / Counting flowers, picking at the petals of my past / I can only wish so many things could have last.”

So you’ve snapped a cool pic of the city. We want to see it. Tag your photos on Instagram with #fwtxmag. The winning image will get published on this page — so hit us with your best shot. main line 817.560.6111 | subscriptions 800.856.2032 | website fwtx.com

@basikphotographer

PHOTO BY JHONATHAN RODRIGUEZ

We’ve been around the block.

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. Building on heritage, results and relationships for 60 years and counting.

5-STAR

Service

When Fort Worth resident Sonia Phillips needs a luxury vehicle for her personal use, she repeatedly turns to Mercedes-Benz. Her new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 from Park Place Motorcars Arlington converted this luxury sedan buyer into a luxury SUV buyer. “A smaller SUV with great style and lots of luxury was important to me as I drive my clients around,” says Phillips, a Realtor and sales representative for Antares Homes. Phillips says her MercedesBenz GLE 350 drives like a dream and has a luxurious interior with a wide range of amenities. “The car is like none other in its class,” she says. “It makes me feel like the queen that I am as I drive and live life daily.”

Phillips says that the Park Place Motorcars Arlington sales team of Doug Mayberry and Tony Vega Montelongo worked with her to find the right car and the right deal. “They went above and beyond to show me what a five-star experience means,” Phillips says. She went on to praise sales and finance director Matt Woolsey and GM Malcolm Gage. “They are the epitome of excellence and professionalism.” With Park Place Motorcars Arlington, Phillips found exceptional personalized care and service. “Park Place is My Place because I love how they do business,” she says. “I will be a loyal and repeat customer for life.”