This Franklin Park Home Really is Smart

PHOTOS BY ZACH ALDEN-BROWN AND LUKE MAWHINNEY, EXPOSURE IT REAL ESTATE MEDIA.

On summer evenings, Karen and Tom Reinsel’s Franklin Park backyard has main character energy. Dinner drifts outdoors, guests settle in — and “home” begins to feel more like a retreat.

That’s by design.

“After living in France on a work assignment in 2001 and 2002, we transformed the woods in the rear of the property into a magnificent landscaped garden modeled after the famous French garden in Tours France called Jardin des Prébendes de Oé,” the couple shared in an email.

Tom adds that from May to almost the end of October, his favorite part of his home is the pool house.

“It’s rare to see a pool house in our area, and this one has a full bath and kitchenette so everyone can stay outside and never enter the house,” he says. “It’s like having a second home on your property.”

That sense of careful planning and thoughtfulness carries throughout every corner of 1621 Blackburn Heights Drive, which the Reinsels spent 26 years refining.

Now that the couple is ready to move on, they’ve listed their beloved home for $1.375 million with Brianna Markham and Adam Cannon of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty. The property pairs long-term stewardship with a future-forward approach — particularly when it comes to technology.

The house sits on a full acre that has been transformed into a curated outdoor experience unusual for the Pittsburgh area. Flowering gardens, a saltwater pool and a lanai anchor the rear of the property, which also includes a pool house.

The home’s layout has been reimagined with an eye towards openness and flow. The divide between kitchen and dining room was removed, creating a single, expansive space designed for both daily living and large-scale entertaining.

Markham says the home gives new meaning to the term “meticulously maintained.”

“The owners have treated this home as a member of their family,” she says. “No aesthetic detail or operational function has been overlooked, and the result is an exceptional standard of living. With more than a dozen smart home integrations, it is designed with comfort and convenience in mind.”

From remote monitoring of digital systems such as the HVAC and pool safety to custom automation for light and climate throughout, the home is designed to care for its occupants — literally.

The level of care given by the Reinsels to the home includes a long list of updates, one that spans decades.

“In our marketing literature, we try to keep our list of updates to a single page. In this home, it couldn’t be done,” Markham says with a laugh. “The owners have devoted decades to continuous maintenance and improvements, and the smart features are upgraded as often as the technology itself.”

The Reinsels say the smart home features can’t be credited to a singular upgrade, but rather a fully integrated system that touches nearly every aspect of the home. At the core are Ecobee Smart Thermostats that manage seventeen zones, adjusting temperature based on presence and use. Automated blinds respond to daily light cycles, while a multi-zone Sonos system connects audio throughout the house and entertainment areas.

Security and infrastructure are similarly comprehensive, from a 24/7 Guardian system and MyQ garage access to a whole-house generator with Ting monitoring and an Ambient Weather detection system designed with pool safety in mind.

Even the outdoor spaces, from irrigation to lighting, operate on programmed scenes that shift with the time of day. This home is not only move-in ready, it’s set-it-and-forget-it.

For all the technical sophistication, the home doesn’t feel robotic and cold. Markham calls the renovated kitchen the star of the show.

“The kitchen was designed with masterful foresight to function for a host who takes both cooking and entertaining seriously,” says Markham. “The former dining room is now a chef’s station with 8-burner Wolf range, four ovens and an island with its own dedicated dishwasher and sink, but it lies entirely open to a matching island with seating for guests so that the host can enjoy visitors without interference to the work at hand.”

Karen adores the kitchen, but says it’s just one of the reasons she loves the home they worked so hard to curate.

“The kitchen is unique in that it spans the entire width of the house, with two side-by-side islands perfect for entertaining or just hanging out,” she says. “The windows provide tremendous natural lighting. If you love to cook and entertain, this is your kitchen.”

Filled with natural light from floor-to-ceiling glass windows and anchored by a wood-burning fireplace that adds timeless warmth, the sunken family room flows right off the kitchen. The main level offers flexible spaces, including a music room that can double as a formal living or dining area, a cozy den or an office. Upstairs, a landing leads to a reimagined primary suite with French doors, hardwood floors, a tray ceiling and a serene, spa-like ensuite. Three additional large bedrooms share a hallway bathroom.

The lower level adds even more living space with a fitness room, media room, half bathroom and a four-car integral garage. The walkout basement provides access to all of the high-end outdoor amenities, which is perfect for easy, indoor-outdoor entertaining.

The couple’s connection to the property is rooted not just in the house itself, but in its setting. After relocating to Pittsburgh in the late 1990s, they chose Franklin Park for its accessibility and balance.

“We call this area of Pittsburgh the northern magic triangle because we have three highway exits within two miles of our home that lead to the city, the airport and Cranberry for shopping. Everything is 20 to 30 minutes away,” they explain.

The neighborhood offers a different kind of appeal, with mature trees, generous spacing between homes and a social atmosphere that remains close-knit without feeling crowded.

“Blackburn Heights is a special suburban and culturally diverse neighborhood with large lots with ample separation lending to privacy, but not isolation. The neighborhood is very friendly and neighbors visit often with each other,” they say, adding that nearby Blueberry Hill Park and drives through Sewickley Heights to the amenities of Sewickley’s bustling business district.