Stephen Sondheim’s Historic Manhattan Townhouse ... the 19-foot residence has a wrought-iron gated forecourt that leads to a wood-paneled foyer with a midnight-blue tiled barrel-vaulted ceiling.

Natural wood is back in a big way, showing up on walls, built-ins, and ceilings of some of Dallas’ chicest homes. But this isn’t your grandma’s wood paneling or the farmhouse-flavored ...