This Upper St. Clair Home is a Usonian Time Capsule

PHOTOS BY FLYOVER PROPERTIES, KIRSTEN HEAGY

While some potential homeowners spend months or even years searching for a perfect property, John and Eileen Joyce weren’t even truly looking.

Although they had been residents of Pittsburgh’s East End for most of their lives, one of their adult children urged the couple to move closer to his family in the South Hills. The idea floated around for some time before the couple went to check out an open house in Upper St. Clair that’s located just a block from their son’s home.

Built in the 1950s by Jamrom-Keegan and Associates, an architectural firm once located in Mount Oliver, 1801 Kent Road — which came with the original blueprints — was Usonian in design.

Popularized by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Usonian homes were typically created to be affordable, use simple materials and rely on natural elements for design. The Joyces liked the house right away.

“My husband wanted to make an offer the day we saw it,” Eileen recalls of that first visit in 2008. “But it has no basement, and I needed to think about moving from a larger house we had been in for 30 years.”

The couple did make an offer, albeit not that day, and moved in a year later, after selling the Forest Hills home where they raised their four children. They are only the home’s second owners after purchasing it from the Palumbo family, who moved there when the home was new in 1955.

Not much has been touched since, says Eileen, although a new roof in 2022, updates to the HVAC system and the maintenance required for an older home mean the 3,100-square-foot ranch is in stellar shape.

Beyond the massive double front door, slate floors flow throughout the common areas of the home. One feature of Usonian architecture is open floor plans with plentiful windows to draw nature inside, and that is true of this home, too.

Wooden beams, trim, and feature walls combine with the stone floors to create a cozy, nature-soaked feel. A brick fireplace, corner windows and a view of the back patio and a fish pond add to the natural connection. There also is ample outdoor space and a two-car attached garage.

The home retains its original kitchen and two full bathrooms, both untouched by any renovations.

“My daughter has bugged me since we bought it to change the counters, but they don’t bother me,” says Eileen. “The cabinets are California birch. They are beautiful and flow into the family room as well; there are over 20 feet of built-in cabinets along the wall.”

While she initially worried about downsizing to a ranch without a basement, Eileen says the home turned out to have more than enough space. They’ve enjoyed hosting their Columbus, Ohio-based daughter and her children every holiday season; aving three spacious bedrooms made that easy.

“She recently realized that they’ve never spent Christmas in Columbus; it was so nice to have the space to host them all,” Eileen says.

The Joyces are now choosing to move into a maintenance-free apartment for their next chapter. Their Usonian gem is listed with Christine Healy of RE/MAX for $589,000. The realtor says she rarely has the chance to feature an architectural find like this.

“I love how the slate flooring transitions from outdoors to indoors, and the tall windows throughout frame the surrounding landscape beautifully,” says Healy. “The entryway makes a striking first impression with its double wood doors and sidelights, and the minimalist design paired with natural materials is a favorite of mine.”

The Joyces say they enjoyed the location of this home, which is situated in a neighborhood but has plenty of privacy. The couple also enjoyed easy access to the many amenities of the area; they could walk to South Hills Village Mall to shop and dine locally or catch the T to the city.

“It was kind of an impulse purchase,” says Eileen, adding she has no regrets. “If we weren’t octogenarians, we would have stayed in this house.”