After years of love, this Mount Washington home deserves to be “enjoyed”

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

“We initially rented an old house in Morningside with sliding doors that we both loved, and I think we fell in love with the ‘old house’ thing,” says Thekla.

When she saw the house around 326 Maple Terrace on Mount Washington – which also happened to have sliding doors – she fell in love.

For Philip, it wasn’t love at first sight, but the house met many of the couple’s criteria.

“When we saw it, we knew it would be a good house,” he says.

Only afterwards, when the couple pulled up the carpet and revealed the rare red pine floor they wanted to restore, did he feel the old house touch him deeply.

“It was a big, complex job, but once it was completed, we knew it was going to be great. We could put some work into this house, and the house would respond to what we did,” he says.

The couple moved into the house in July 2013. Although the house needed some work, they liked that most of the original layout and woodwork had been preserved.

“My husband is from England and has never been a fan of open floor plans,” says Thekla. “So many houses have been remodeled and renovated – and so many elements have been removed. In England, there are doors to every room; when you enter a room, you close the doors. We loved that in this house all the sliding doors were intact and also the original stained glass windows.”

They learned from neighbors that the home’s original colorful palette had been hand-painted by the previous owner when she was in her 80s. The previous owner not only mowed her lawn—and the lawns of many nearby friends—but climbed up on the porch every year to paint each trim a unique color.

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

When it came time to paint the exterior of the house a few years ago, the Wainwrights had to limit themselves to a few colors, but stuck with bright hues.

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

The house, listed by Tracy Jones from RE/MAX Real Estatewas recently reduced in price by $10,000 to $389,000. With two full bathrooms and four spacious bedrooms, the nearly 2,900-square-foot home offers plenty of room for a family. A full bathroom on the main level is unique in a home of this age and makes the home flexible for those with limited mobility. The woodwork is in pristine condition — and stunning, Jones says.

“When I walk through that door or just sit on the porch, I just get such a homey, cozy feeling,” she says. “This is perhaps my favorite object of the last 12 to 15 years.”

Jones says the foyer and vestibule create an entrance that feels both grand and inviting. She also loves the neighborhood, as well as the home’s proximity to Grandview Avenue, which offers great views of the iconic downtown skyline.

“It reminds me of my childhood when all the neighbors would come over and bring cookies,” she says. “Plus, you have the best view in the world from here.”

The home has been well maintained and, aside from a few cosmetic changes, the next owners will be able to move in immediately, according to Jones.

“I just love that it has an original pantry and three complete living levels and five fireplaces,” she says. “Each one is unique.”

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

“This is simply a house that deserves to bring joy,” says Thekla.

She adds that her family loved the house very much.

“One thing I forgot to mention was the porches, both the front and back porches,” she says. “The front porch has a city feel; you can watch the hustle and bustle. But the back porch is peaceful and quiet, with deer and birds. It’s a great place for your morning Bible study, meditation or whatever you do. It’s a peaceful and safe place.”

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

Around: Mount Washington
Population: 8,592
Planes, trains and cars: Few places in Pittsburgh are as centrally located as Mount Washington. A short drive down the hill provides access to all of the city’s major arteries, and both inclines lead directly from Grandview Avenue to parts of Station Square (the Duquesne Incline continues up the Mon River to the Point at 1197 W. Carson St.). Several bus routes through the area and a walkable commercial district with a grocery store mean that Mount Washington residents don’t necessarily need a car.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (www.pghschools.org)
neighborhood: Mount Washington has a vibrant, walkable commercial district with both full-service and quick-service restaurants. Many young professionals call the neighborhood home because of its easy access and vibrant nightlife, but there are also many families with children in the community. It is considered one of Pittsburgh’s top 10 neighborhoods to buy a home in, with a strong camaraderie among residents and plenty of green space for recreation.

Neighborhood data provided by Niche.com