This Couple Fell in Love with a House — And Each Other
When Steve Chupinka showed Ken Means the gutted house he was renovating in Munhall, they felt drawn to make it their dream home — and later the site of their wedding.
PHOTOS BY SHOWING TIME + LISTING MEDIA SERVICES
The house at 803 E. 11th Ave. in Munhall had sat in disrepair for so many years. It was once hard to imagine anyone living in it — let alone building a life there and hosting a wedding party for 150 people.
Realtor Steve Chupinka of K & S Real Estate says he loves to rehabilitate older homes; he originally purchased the Munhall home in 2018 from a local nonprofit focused on addressing the region’s issues with abandoned and blighted homes.
Although he already was working on several homes in Munhall — where he serves on the community’s architectural review board — Chupinka began to slowly rehab the property
“The more work and design I did on this home, the more I fell in love with it,” he says.
Still, he felt it was too big for just himself. Then, Chupinka fell in love. Not just with the house, but with a person, Ken Means.
Means, who had been living in West Virginia, was planning to move with Chupinka into another home he had renovated that was located just a few blocks away. It was smaller, more suited to a couple with grown children — and it was also completed. But, Chupinka says, the home on 11th Avenue had gotten under his skin.
He decided to show it to Means.
“He was astounded… he thought that I was out of my mind,” he says with a laugh. “I assured him that this would be our dream home.”
Eventually, he won his partner over. The couple decided to finish the basement, build a pavilion and use the green space at the vacant lot next door, which they also own.
“Not only did we redo the entire house,” says Chupinka, “We planned our wedding at our gutted home for June of 2021.”
Before their nuptials, the couple worked hard to get the home in shape. Although Chupinka says they strove to bring back the historical charm of the early 1900s-era home, the only original piece of character that could be salvaged during the renovation was the living room mantle.
They also added a three-story addition on the side of the home that gave them more windows, as well as some more space, without changing the home’s original footprint. Today, the first floor welcomes visitors with a spacious foyer that opens into the living room. The dining room and kitchen are in the rear of the 2,250-square-foot home.
The bright and sunny kitchen is a standout thanks to smart design choices such as two pantries, a small eating nook and funky tile. A stainless-steel, apron-front sink and glass cabinets where the couple display their Fiestaware collection are just a few of the unique touches that make this home feel well-loved rather than just renovated.
Each of the home’s three bedrooms have an ensuite bathroom. The second floor includes two of those rooms, plus a laundry room, while the third floor is entirely dedicated to the primary suite. Besides two spacious closets, the primary suite also has a freestanding tub situated under the home’s signature circular window, which offers views of the neighborhood while still affording privacy.
The home’s basement is one of its most interesting features. Finished with the couple’s wedding party in mind, the kitchen has mint cabinets, a full-sized refrigerator, double wall ovens, a bar and a lounge area make it the perfect spot to host gatherings big and small.
The basement, which is roughed-in for a full bathroom, is level with the backyard, so guests are able to walk out to enjoy the 16-by-28-foot pavilion the couple constructed for their ceremony.
“It really is a great house for entertaining,” says Chupinka.
While they had no plans to sell their home, the couple has grandchildren they would love to live near.
“If you would have told me on New Year’s Day that we would move this year, I would have said that this was our forever home,” says Chupinka.
A friend let the couple know of a Mid-Century Modern home closer to their six (soon to be seven) grandchildren in the South Hills. They also have an adult son in Wheeling, West Virginia, so the new location is more central to their needs. They were also excited about the chance to bring another older home back to life.
The Munhall home now is listed for $395,000 by Chupinka’s son Brett Chupinka, also a Realtor at K & S Realty.
“This home renovation was really well-planned with an incredible attention to detail. It brought modern functionality to a 1900s home,” he wrote in an email.
In addition to the design and finish work, all of the home’s internal systems have been updated. There is also a new roof.
Chupinka and Means say they will certainly miss the house — and neighborhood. Being able to walk to the Homestead Library, as well as the growing number of restaurants on Eighth Avenue, have been a delight. They both say they plan to stay involved in helping the community grow and thrive.
“I will miss the memories most,” says Means. “Our wedding was here, and we’ve made great memories with family and friends here.”
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: Munhall
Population: 10,738
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Located on the west bank of the Monongahela River, not far from Interstate 376, residents of Munhall can access Downtown easily. The airport is a 30-minute drive. PRT buses run through the area as well. Residents of Munhall do not need a car due to the walkable business district and access to The Waterfront, which is packed with grocers, restaurants and retail spots.
Schools: Steel Valley School District (steelvalleysd.org)
Neighborhood: There is a tight-knit community in Munhall, with many residents having lived in the community for their whole lives. While a large part of the Homestead Works of the Carnegie Steel Company once existed in Munhall, today an influx of recent development is also bringing new residents to the community. The walkable business district gives the community an old time feel, and the proximity to The Waterfront and Sandcastle Water Park is a plus for residents, too.
