3017 Mt Allister Rd
Home of Kristyn and Marc Felman
Until they bought this house in 2014, Kristyn and Marc lived in a nearby apartment. Now, as new homeowners, they are enjoying the neighborhood more than ever. The house was built for Harold K. Hess in 1936 by Kaiser Neal & Reid in the Tudor Revival style. This firm had previously built Sacred Heart Church on Shady Avenue in Shadyside; we presume that they built a number of other Tudor style homes on this block as well. The home's original blueprints are on display.
The original slate roof, porch, stone fireplace, and much of the interior woodwork (including the staircase, drawers in the upstairs hallway, and a window bench in the dining room) are still intact—albeit in rough shape. "We're in the process of restoring the stone and woodwork that were damaged during previous renovations," says Kristyn.
The previous owners restored the kitchen and bathroom years ago. Kristyn and Marc painted nearly the entire house and updated the dark, outdated, oak kitchen with LED lighting, period-appropriate hardware, and painted cabinetry. This space is now a much cheerier place to be. They plan to add a second bathroom to the third floor and to restore the current bathroom to its original vintage feel. Check out the "before" and "after" pictures that Kristyn and Marc have made available!
In the living room, look for the antique porcelain elephants that Marc's grandparents brought back from their travels in Taiwan. Almost all of the other art and furniture are secondhand treasures, refinished Craigslist finds, or vintage cast-offs. The television cabinet in the living room was once an inexpensive mid-century china cabinet! The Feldmans replaced the glass panels with wood, removed shelves, and added ventilation.