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The time had come to move from Downtown.

For several years, Nick Varischetti and his wife, Kristin, had lived in an ultra-modern two-bedroom condo above the Capital Grille, Downtown. But when the couple, who married in 2019, found out they were expecting their first child — their son, Strayer, is now 3, while brother Alden is 1 — they started looking for a place outside Downtown.

They explored homes in Fox Chapel and a few other Pittsburgh suburbs, but as it turned out, their hearts were still in the city — just not in a condo.

“It was a totally different lifestyle that we were living,” Nick recalls of his and Kristin’s pre-kids time.

When they heard of a 100-year-old home in Shadyside near Winchester Thurston School that was on the market, they decided to explore it. Despite the home’s age, it had been impeccably maintained by the previous owners, who had thoughtfully updated the nearly 7,000-square-foot property while respecting its historical features.

As they toured it, the couple fell in love with the ornate woodwork, original Italian marble floors and the zen-like outdoor spaces, which included a gated, rose-covered courtyard facing Amberson Avenue.

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They also loved the home’s location near the shops and restaurants of Walnut Street, as well as its proximity to their old stomping grounds at the University of Pittsburgh. A partner with Burns White law firm and founder of advocacy firm Allegheny Strategy Partners, Nick — whose family has a minority ownership of the Pittsburgh Steelers — is a massive Pittsburgh sports fan.

“We’re big Pitt supporters, so it’s great to go up to the basketball games and bring the kids, or go Downtown for the football games,” he says. “We love going to campus and walking around; it’s cool to have that be part of your neighborhood.”

They were less certain about the home’s design. Although the opulent details were what made the couple fall in love with it, they realized they would need to update the home to accommodate their young family.

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“It has a lot of really unique features that you don’t see anymore,” Nick says. “We thought we could keep those unique features, but then make it more friendly for little kids to be running around.”

Helping them strike the right balance was interior designer Betsy Wentz.

“Obviously it is a really beautiful old house,” says Wentz, who owns Betsy Wentz Interior Design in Sewickley. “And part of the home’s beauty is all of that dark wood, but it was overwhelming.”

While the Varischettis and Wentz agreed they didn’t want to paint over the original woodwork, they compromised by removing the murals from the coffered ceilings in the foyer and the family rooms and painting them a warm white. Wentz also added light fixtures that toed the line between contemporary and classic.

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The result is a space that blends modernity and comfort with old-world details.

“It changed the whole look of the room,” Nick says. “Painting some of the wood was outside my comfort level, but I’m glad we followed that direction because it came together beautifully.”

Other family-friendly touches are an oversized, clover-shaped (and soft) ottoman in the foyer that complements the blue, gold and coral tones of the original marble floors, which expand into the sunroom. There, Wentz chose contemporary furnishings with clean lines, including a large table perfect for family game nights or crafts. Not wanting to overwhelm the space, Wentz also added patterned blue wallpaper to the ceiling as well as bold light fixtures and a thick, cream-colored rug.

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“We were able to turn that into an adult/kid playroom,” Wentz says. “It’s a place where Kristin could hang out with the kids and they could all be comfortable.”

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In the living room, which has two seating areas, Wentz went with a child-friendly, rounded coffee table. The massive, U-shaped, sectional sofa is outfitted in a durable performance fabric that can withstand kids — and stains.

Taking inspiration from the modern floral pattern on the cream-colored drapery, Wentz also layered soft peach and gray tones into the space, including a rug she had made specifically for the room by a New York-based vendor.

Adding more contemporary flair are two colorful pop art paintings of roses by acclaimed Pittsburgh-bred artist Burton Morris. The pieces mirror the rose garden just outside the sitting room’s three sets of French doors, which led to Wentz dubbing the stately home as Rosewood.

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The Varischettis say they love the connection with the rose-filled courtyard, which surrounds a fairytale-like circular fountain. Enhancing the hedge-lined courtyard is patio furniture cushioned in bright blues, greens and yellows that play off the brightness of the many flowers.

Kristin acknowledges it was a big change from a city condo to being stewards of an already established, thriving garden.

“Luckily, we found a lovely [gardener] who helps us very much,” she says. “I actually have come to really enjoy it,” she says. “I never thought I’d be so into flowers and how they’re doing.”

The family also spends a lot of time in the private backyard, which, besides being flat, is walled on all sides. Along with outdoor heaters and a fireplace, the space is anchored by an elaborate, columned pergola, where the couple can relax on their cheerful, colorfully patterned furniture while the boys explore the yard and wheel around the heated driveway.

“It makes it so easy for them just to run around and we can just be hanging out here,” Nick says. “We spend a lot of time out here.”