PHOTOS BY EXPOSURE IT

In 2021, Tasha Gilbert and Derek Bennett were looking for a home to share; she was living on the South Side, and he was relocating to Pittsburgh from out of state.

After several months of searching, the couple was still looking for that “aha” moment when they walked through the front door of 1741 Duffield St. in Morningside.

“We both knew we wanted something full of character, had a historic feel, but at the same time was close to move-in ready,” recalls Gilbert.

Balancing those asks can be difficult, but they knew their search was over as soon as they stepped into the Mid-Century Modern style home.

“We knew it was perfect as soon as we walked in,” Gilbert says.

For Bennett, it was not just the house, but the setting that made him fall in love with the property.

“We were drawn to the unique character of this house: the brick exterior, windows everywhere, spacious layout and a yard leading into the woods,” he says.

Built in 1956, the contemporary house measures just over 1,200 square feet. A decade ago, an architect bought the house and began a quest to thoughtfully update it for modern life. Gilbert says the goal was to make the home as functional as possible while retaining its historical charm.

“Every inch of space is used well in this house, making it feel so big,” Gilbert says.

Contributing to the roomy feel of the first floor is an open-concept layout, as well as a wall of street-facing windows that flood the home with light.

“I enjoy spending my time in the living room. It’s connected to the dining room and kitchen enough that I can feel involved with whatever is happening in there,” says Bennett.

They’ve rearranged the open space on a whim many times over the years, with Bennett particularly enjoying the home’s connection to the outdoors.

“I also really like having a taste of wildlife in the city,” he says. “Having deer, turkey and fox run around in the backyard is such a calming presence.”

After three years in their home, the couple is relocating out of state — although they’re a bit wistful about leaving this home behind. Jordan Jones of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty doesn’t blame them; he also has fallen a bit in love with the two-bedroom house.

“Out of the hundreds, if not thousands, of houses I have toured in the Pittsburgh area, this one is truly one of a kind. I have not set foot in a house just like it,” he says.

Now listed for $375,000, the move-in ready home has a combination of original elements, like hardwood floors and cast iron railings, balanced with modern updates such as a functional kitchen with a breakfast bar and an updated upper-level bathroom with a double vanity.

“This house would be a great fit for any buyer,” says Jones. “The impeccable condition of the house makes it a candidate for FHA and VA loans.

Future owners could capitalize on the unfinished basement, which has a second full bathroom, as additional living space, Jones says. The backyard’s funky, corrugated aluminum fence also was the backdrop for many gatherings, which is one of the things the owners will miss most about it.

“The yard and patio have turned out really great and will be a much better part of the property for the summers,” says Bennett.

Gilbert recalls the “Whiskey Wednesdays” the couple often hosted at the home.

“Friends and friends of friends would come and just hang out, play board games, and sip the occasional whiskey,” she says.

The couple also enjoyed having neighbors who look out for each other and well the home’s proximity to local businesses, including their favorite watering hole.

“As a soccer fan, The Bulldog Pub is the highlight of the neighborhood for me,” Bennett says. “The community that has been built there, willing to show up at 7 a.m. on a Sunday to watch English soccer, is really wonderful.”

Other local spots the couple says the next home owners may fall in love with are Smiling Banana Leaf, LaScola’s Italian Ice and Custard and the 380-acre Highland Park, which features a scenic reservoir, popular swimming pool and several playgrounds. The proximity to green spaces is unique for a city home, and this one has a front-row seat.

“The front view isn’t obstructed by any other buildings, so we could see the deer walk in Highland Park from our bed in the morning,” says Gilbert. “It’s especially beautiful with a fresh layer of snow.”

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: Morningside
Population: 3,246
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: The Pittsburgh neighborhood is walkable, with easy access to bus routes and plentiful ride shares. The East End is also working to increase its bike infrastructure. Residents can drive to the airport in under 30 minutes, or take a bus Downtown to catch the Airport Flyer.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: Located along the Allegheny River, Morningside is bordered by Highland Park, East Liberty and Upper Lawrenceville. The small, East End community is close to green spaces, such as Pittsburgh’s Highland Park, as well as the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. With eight different city steps, Morningside is also home to longtime locally owned businesses The Bulldog Pub and Firecracker Fabrics. Homes remain largely affordable in Morningside, which is a draw for homebuyers looking to live in a walkable city community.