Tour provides for children’s health needs
The kitchen on Crystal Drive before renovations.
Nancy Eschelman stands in her newly finished kitchen.
The spacious living room on Twin Hills Drive
T is the season. In the South Hills, craft and vendor fairs, soup sales, football and holiday shopping fill our weekends. House tours are another favorite pastime. Most dream of making changes to our houses, either major or cosmetic, but regret having no idea where to begin. Seeing how others completed their makeovers provides encouragement to go ahead with major changes as well.
For many years, the Mt. Lebanon office of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has drawn men and women to its annual house tour and luncheon. This year’s tour is set for 9:30 a.m. – noon Nov. 9. Pennsylvania Macaroni, Bado’s Grill, Breadworks and Giovanni’s, will provide lunch served 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Bower Hill Community Church. An “Early Bird” lunch special will be offered by Donte’s Pizzaria.
A basket raffle will include themes for gardening, pet or book lovers and even a lottery tree, all valued at more than $75. Lucky bidders in the silent auction will take home items such as Penguin tickets, a season pass to Bower Hill Swim Club or 10 ski passes to Wisp.
Proceeds from the house tour, auctions, $15,000 cash raffle (winner drawn Dec. 20) and bake sale benefit the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.
Houses that have been cosmetically enhanced or feature major facelifts are the focus of the tour. Offering a surprisingly different approach, houses will be showcased that have been updated with assistance from a designer or architect. Those attending the tour will meet a few decorator professionals along the way.
The tour begins at Howard Hanna’s newly-renovated three-story flagship building on Washington Road with its sweeping staircase and floor-to-ceiling windows. Map guides, beverages and sweet treats will be offered prior to the tour.
Designer Douglas Devlin will be on hand to offer insights and ideas at the large craftsman-style house on Avon Drive. Check out the completely renovated first level in the colonial on Lakemont Drive. Featuring an unusual living space, the contemporary on Osage Road was designed by Alexander Sansosti, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Designer Kim Barnes has provided impressive recommendations for restoration to the Cape Cod on Crystal Drive. Striking wall colors include eye-catching raspberry in the dining room and vibrant purple in the kitchen. Be sure to look for the owner’s collection of artwork which highlights sights of Pittsburgh’s South Side.
From the large spiral staircase in the contemporary-style home on Twin Hills Drive, visitors will quickly feel welcome and in awe of the spacious connecting areas created with expertise from Pittsburgh and New York designer Nancy Hoff Barsotti. Watercolors, created by the home owner, and decorative pieces from travels to Morocco and her homeland of India can be enjoyed throughout.
Tour admission is $25 per person. Tickets are available at Howard Hanna’s office on Washington Road, Gifted-Cochran Road, Blooming Dahlia-Beverly Road and Today’s Tiffany-The Galleria or call 412-561-7400.