PHOTOS BY JOSH YENCIK

Despite living in Pittsburgh for years, Thekla and Philip Wainwright never owned a home — until 2013. Philip, a minister, had the privilege of living in parsonages during his career, but when he retired, the couple decided to purchase a house. 

“We first rented an old house in Morningside with pocket doors that we both adored, and we fell in love with the ‘old house’ thing, I guess,” says Thekla. 

When she saw the house at 326 Maple Terrace on Mount Washington — which also happened to have pocket doors — she fell in love. 

For Philip, it wasn’t love at first sight, but the house checked a lot of boxes on the couple’s list.

“We knew when we saw it that it would be a good house,” he says. 

Only afterward, when the couple pulled up the carpet, revealing the rare red heart pine floors they would refinish, did he feel the old house tug at his heart strings. 

“It was a large and extensive job, but once it was finished we began to see it was going to be great; we could put some work into this house, and the house will respond to what we do,” he says.  

The couple moved into the home in July of 2013. While the house did need some work, they loved that its original layout and woodwork remained largely intact. 

“My husband is from England, and he’s never been a fan of open floor plans,” says Thekla. “So many homes have been flipped and remodeled — and so many features have been removed. In England, they have doors for every room; when you go into a room, you close the doors. We loved that this home had all of the pocket doors intact, as well as original stained glass.” 

They learned from neighbors that the home’s original colorful palette had been hand-painted by the former owner when she was in her 80s. Not only did the former owner mow her grass — and the grass of many nearby friends — she climbed out onto the porch roof annually to paint each piece of trim a unique color. 

“It was a hobby of hers,” says Philip. 

When it was time to paint the exterior of the home a few years ago, the Wainwrights had to narrow it down to just a few trim colors, but they stayed with vibrant hues. 

After a decade working on, and loving on, their Mount Washington home, the couple has decided to move for one reason — to be closer to their grandchildren. They chose a smaller, simpler home that’s just a short walk away from their extended family. 

The home, listed by Tracy Jones of RE/MAX Select Realty, recently was reduced in price by $10,000 to $389,000. With two full bathrooms and four spacious bedrooms, the nearly 2,900-square-foot home has plenty of room for a family. 

“When I walk in that door, or even sit on the porch, it just has such a homey, comfy feeling,” Jones says. “It may be my favorite listing over the last 12 to 15 years.” 

Jones says the foyer and vestibule create an entrance that feels both grand and welcoming. She also loves the neighborhood, as well as the home’s proximity to Grandview Avenue’s grand view of Downtown’s iconic skyline. 

“To me, it reminds me of when I was a kid and all the neighbors would come over and bring cookies,” she says. “Plus, you walk up the street and have the best view in the world.” 

The home has been well maintained and, other than a few cosmetic changes, Jones says the next owners will be able to move right in. 

“I just love that it has an original butler pantry and three full levels of living space, plus five fireplaces,” she says. “Each and every one is unique.” 

The Wainwrights say there has been a bit of interest in their house from investors looking to use it as a short-term vacation rental, but they want to sell the home to someone who will live in it and love it as much as they did. 

“This is just a house that deserves to be enjoyed,” says Thekla. 

She adds the house was well loved by her family. 

“One thing I forgot to rave about was the porches, both front and back,” she says. “The front porch has a city feeling; you can watch the world go by. But the back porch is peace and quiet, with deer and birds. It’s a great place for your morning Bible study, meditation or whatever version of that you do. It’s a peaceful and safe place.”

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.

About: Mount Washington
Population: 8,592
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: Few places in Pittsburgh are as centrally located as Mount Washington. A quick trip down the hill provides access to all of the city’s major arteries, and both inclines run directly from Grandview Avenue to parts of Station Square (the Duquesne Incline descends farther up the Mon River toward the Point at 1197 W. Carson St.). Several bus routes through the region and a walkable business district with a grocery store mean residents of Mount Washington do not necessarily need a car.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: Mount Washington has a vibrant, walkable business district with both sit-down and quick service restaurants. Many young professionals call the neighborhood home due to the easy commute and vibrant nightlife, but there are also many families with children in the community. It is ranked as one of the top 10 Pittsburgh neighborhoods to buy a home in, with a strong camaraderie among residents and plentiful green space for recreation. 

Neighborhood data provided by Niche.com