This is the third in a series of interviews with the homeowners participating in SGA’s First Annual “Inspiration Home Tour” of Mid-Century homes in Southern Scottsdale on Sunday, November 9th.
Meet Phil and Cristen
Leaning up against a gorgeous 11 x 5-foot island that stretches through a spacious kitchen with a high-pitched ceiling, Phil Dudiak said in an understated tone: “We wanted to make our house a home.”
Phil and his soon-to-be wife, Cristen, have done exactly that … and much more. They have created a spectacular home for their family in the Southwest Village neighborhood.
Phil and Cristen have transformed their 1,450 square-foot house that was built in the early 1960’s into a home of 2,150 square feet with a dazzling interior. The couple has added a lot of bells and whistles that must be the envy of their millennial generation. There’s the wine cabinet with a built-in light show, the two-car garage with the 3-D epoxy floor and the huge walk-in shower with multi-directional shower heads that Cristen described as “like taking a shower in a drive-thru carwash.”
The three-bedroom house features two master bedrooms. Tucked in between the two big bedrooms is a small closet in which the home’s “central nervous system” is stored, including audio, video, lighting and security systems. Sweeping his hand over all the electronics, Phil held up his iPhone and proudly said, “I can control everything here with my phone.”
Notwithstanding all the contemporary features of Phil and Cristen’s home, they enjoy explaining their down-to-earth reasons for having moved to this neighborhood just west of the Valley Ho.
“We wanted the urban lifestyle,” Cristen said. “We wanted to be able to walk places and socialize with people.” Phil quickly added that they also wanted their 3-year-old son, Jaxson, to grow up in “a real neighborhood.” He continued, “This house is really for Jaxson.”
Phil and Cristen started work on their home in February while living in a rental house. They moved into their freshly remodeled home in August. What they have accomplished in just a little more than six months is amazing. But they’re not done yet. They’re still working to complete the fireplace in their front room as well as a front patio area that will include a fiery water feature.
Like so many houses that will be on the “Inspiration Home Tour,” Phil and Cristen’s home has an “open floor plan,” which allows their 130-pound female Great Dane, “Memphis,” to move about freely.
Phil describes himself as an “entrepreneur.” However, by trade he is a designer who owns his own construction company. He has just bought another house in Southwest Village and has his eye on one in a nearby neighborhood. Cristen is a hair stylist working on her real estate license that she expects to have soon.
Phil and Cristen represent the new younger demographic that’s moving into their Southwest Village neighborhood — the trend that’s taking place throughout Southern Scottsdale.