If you’ve ever wondered what a homebuilder’s personal residence is like, look no further than 310 Mingo Road in Marshall.  

Mel Wann — a premier custom home builder who dominated the Pittsburgh market in the 1980s and ‘90s, built the luxe — 9,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, 6½ bathroom home in 1989. He went on to enter the home, which sits on more than 3 acres nestled against state game lands, in national homebuilding contests, where it won design awards sponsored by both Architectural Digest and Better Homes and Gardens magazines.

Jeanne Hammel first saw the property in 2007 and immediately fell in love.

“I wanted to stay in the school district and my husband wanted a bigger house,” she recalls. “I came here initially with my son, who was in third or fourth grade at the time; his reaction was just, ‘Wow, Mommy!’” 

When the talkative youngster remained speechless throughout the tour, Hammel called her husband, Donald, to join them. After viewing the kitchen and primary suite together, the couple decided right there to buy the home. 

More than a decade later, they’ve listed the property for $2.2 million (MLS# 1590534, Aubre Stacknick, Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty, sothebysrealty.com). It is open by appointment. 

From the home’s entry, one can see straight through a series of pillars, angular ceiling and skylight to the main staircase. The dramatic vista has a completely different feel from many of today’s new home builds, which typically feature a large open space with few walls. 

Wide-plank hardwood floors and interesting angles add to the home’s grandeur while keeping it from feeling overwhelming. In the heart of the home, the great room’s two-story fireplace façade is fashioned from hammered copper and stone. 

Hammel says Wann deliberately chose finishes that made the large home feel comfortable, including Venetian plaster wall treatments done by an artist that changes with the light. 

“It is very cozy and comforting for being as large as a house as it is,” Hammel says. “It is like being in a lodge more than a formal home. Mel Wann built a very artistic house.” 

In the kitchen is a palladian window set against a stone wall and a peninsula island with built-in appliances hidden by panels as well as custom cabinets with arched tops. An addition to the property that expands the main and lower levels includes a Pilates studio with a cathedral ceiling. The fully accessible addition also includes a universally designed bathroom, bedroom and living room. 

Rounding out the first-floor amenities are a dining room, sitting area and space for a baby grand piano, which sits below a second-floor loft. 

Each of the six bedrooms has its own bathroom and walk-in closet. The first-floor primary suite takes up a wing of the house and is outfitted with a private den, fireplace, two walk-in closets and a separate shoe closet. The bathroom also features a large dry sauna. 

Another expansion was an up/down build that added a one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and access from inside and outside the home; the space was used by various family members throughout the years, Hammel says.  

During their time in the house, the Hammels updated the flooring and also expanded the lower level’s wine cellar, adding custom storage and glass doors.  In the main game room is space for ping-pong, chess and billiards. 

“Because of the way the home is built, you can put the kids to bed upstairs and entertain on the lower level without disturbing the children,” Hammel says.

The back exterior is home to several decks, a favorite spot for Hammel. 

“In the warm weather, I love sitting out on the back and hearing all of the animals,” she says. “In the winter, I love the great room with the fireplace; we play a lot of games on the large coffee table there.” 

Conveniently located near interstates 279 and 79, with easy access to shopping and local farmers markets such as Soergel’s and Shenot’s, the home also boasts a governor’s driveway and a four-car garage.  

An inside look into unique and historic homes on the market, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign each week to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home. Four times a year, Hot Property gives an in-depth look at the region’s real estate market in Pittsburgh Magazine HOME, tracking housing prices and sales and detailing where the hot properties can be found. Rosa can be reached at onecordovaroad@gmail.com.

About: Marshall Township (twp.marshall.pa.us)
Population: 10,080
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: A 30-minute commute to the airport.
Schools: The large North Allegheny School District (northallegheny.org) serves the greater northern suburbs and offers extensive programming, including music, sports and advanced placement classes.  Neighborhood: Marshall participates in the multi-municipality Northland Public Library. Recreational areas include Altmyer Park, Knob Hill Community Park  and Warrendale Park.