PHOTOS BY 360 CAPTURES

After more than 20 years at 5321 Wilkins Ave., a local couple known for their good taste is moving on to their next project. 

The duo, who own a nationally recognized, award-winning design firm, has renovated every inch of the 6,000-square-foot home in their two decades there. 

“They called it the greenhouse because the yard was nothing but wildflowers and there was ivy covering the whole house — even the windows,” says one of the owners, who wishes to remain anonymous.  

But he saw potential. 

When he first came across the Georgian-style home in Squirrel Hill North, his husband was traveling — but he knew he had to act fast. The property was priced to sell and oozed potential under all that ivy. 

“We wanted a family home, and that was the feeling I got when I walked in,” he says.  

Thankfully, his husband felt the same when he returned to Pittsburgh and toured the property. 

“When he got off the plane, I said, ‘Hi, we are buying this house,’” he recalls with a laugh. 

Now listed for $1.895 million, this house has the perfect mix of historical charm and luxury updates. Realtor Christine Healy of RE/MAX says the next owner will not have a single worry in the home, which was built in 1908 and boasts seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. 

“The attention to detail, the congruence with respect to design throughout the home, and the quality of materials and workmanship make this home stand out from my other listings,” Healy says. 

The many updates made by the couple include rehauling the mechanics of the home from top to bottom. They also remodeled the kitchen, added custom finishes throughout and created a stellar outdoor space for entertaining that’s centered around a picturesque pond. 

“You don’t hear the traffic with the water running; it just fades away,” the owner says. “The pond is a really nice, soothing sound. Even when we are in the kitchen with the doors and windows shut, you can still hear it.” 

Because the couple works in design, their home, of course, is brimming with creative features. Olive green kitchen cabinets are a welcome break from today’s basic gray kitchen and the unique wall coverings throughout the home serve to highlight the intricate woodwork rather than detract from it. The couple also added a veranda with an outdoor kitchen and a fireplace. 

Renovated in 2010, a separate carriage house features an apartment that could be used in a variety of ways by the next owner — including for remote work, as a studio space or as living quarters. 

The couple says their home was the go-to spot for gatherings in their circle of friends, and they hosted many holidays throughout the years. 

“Everybody wanted to come to our house,” the owner says. “You could use the whole first floor and go from the kitchen to the back porch, where we would have a fire going. It was always fun.”

With three adult children who have left Pittsburgh, the empty-nesters say the home is ready for new life. 

“We have this big house with all these rooms, and we only use three of them,” the owner says.  

The house was perfect for their family, though. With a third-floor suite ideal for a live-in nanny and walkability to Pittsburgh’s universities and the many amenities in Squirrel Hill and Shadyside, the family very much enjoyed the years in this house. 

Their kids have mixed feelings about losing the house they grew up in, the owners say — and have balked as their dads prep the home to sell. 

“We’ve replaced some tables and things as we prepared to list the home. Our daughter asked, ‘Where is that old table?’ She doesn’t want it for herself, but she likes us having it,” the owner says with a laugh. “She has memories of sitting there to draw.”  

While the home has been used for magazine shoots throughout the years and is pure luxury everywhere one looks, the thing the owners say they’ll miss most is the cozy feel they’ve managed to create — despite the property’s size. 

“One of the compliments I get from people touring the home is that it’s a big house, but it doesn’t feel like it,” says the owner. “You get a feeling of warmth, they tell me. That makes me feel good when they say that. We love the house and loved raising our kids there.”

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: Squirrel Hill (North) (shuc.org)
Population: 11,879 (North)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: 40 minutes to the airport; walking community, public transportation, bike lanes, rideshare.
Schools: City of Pittsburgh (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: One of the most highly sought after neighborhoods in the East End, Squirrel Hill’s overall borders touch Greenfield, Oakland, Shadyside and Frick Park. Housing includes some of the area’s most historical grand mansions, Craftsmen and simple row houses. The community is diverse with a mix of students, families and immigrants from the world over; several historical districts are within its borders.