Dax Swatek residence

The Dax Swatek residence is a home built for lobbyist Dax Swatek and his wife Rachael on Ridge Road in Homewood. It was designed by Joe Ellis of DWELL ING architecture and built by Twin Construction in 2007. Sandra Lynn of Lynn Allen Design selected interior finishes.

The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath house features Craftsman-style details on the exterior. The roof of the front two-story brick gable extends over a porch on one side. A wood trellis screens a window behind the driveway where a shed dormer breaks the roof plane.

Mrs Swatek concentrated on the design of the kitchen in a hybrid traditional/contemporary style with white-painted shaker-style cabinets with stainless steel trim and stone tile backsplash. A distressed wood "furniture style" island dominates the middle of the room and features a white Alabama marble top to evoke the bar at Highlands Bar and Grill. A boldly-curving copper range hood was given a rustic patina with a treatment of buttermilk and pickle juice.

The adjoining den opens upward to a cathedral ceiling finished in bead board and centers on a simple sandstone fireplace surround which reaches the full height of the room. The master bedroom has access to a private screened porch while another large paved area accommodates outdoor entertaining. A second den upstairs is used as a "man room", with dark brown-painted walls, a rich-red ceiling, and a large television.

References

• Millwood, Abigail B. (July 2010) "A Clear Vision: A newlywed couple designs the Homewood house of their dreams." Birmingham magazine. pp. 55-58