PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LISTING AGENCY

Krista Joseph and her husband, Edgard, have a joy-filled house. Through the years, they’ve added kids and extended family and still managed to do some really nice renovations — even with little ones running underfoot.

Their four-bedroom, two-bath home at 612 Hill St. in the heart of Sewickley is roomy and cute as a button, but now too small for their growing family. It’s on the market for $369,000 (Robyn Jones, Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty, MLS# 1483734; 412/973-7277, piattsothebysrealty.com) and is open by appointment only in accordance with the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. 

Located within walking distance to the village’s business district, the three-story home has a charming front porch with gingerbread trim. The front door is painted in an eye-popping teal that brings a smile and that repeats throughout the interior.

 “It was my first house purchase. My husband is from Nicaragua and he is used to pops of color,” Krista says.  

Inside, the couple updated the entry with board-and-batten trim, lots of hooks and a bench with storage to help keep the family organized. The original spindle staircase was left in a natural stain and it plays nicely off of the home’s original hardwood floors. 

The 12-by-12 square-foot living room lives large thanks to an efficient floor plan. The couple added a natural shiplap-clad wall accented with industrial shelving to house media equipment. A cubby organizer and sectional sofa leaves room for everyone to share in movie night. 

The 13-by-11 square-foot dining room is painted a fresh light green. Simple décor and more pops of color make this a welcoming space. In the kitchen, much use is made of the 13-by-8 square-foot space. 

“We remodeled it last year,” Krista says. “The appliances, countertop and backsplash are all brand new.” 

Warm, honey-tone cabinets are accented by a marble herringbone backsplash and granite counters. A commercial-style sink faucet, stainless appliance package and under-cabinet lighting give the kitchen a light and bright look. A versatile movable island-style cart brings more flexibility to the space and a large window and door that accesses the rear lets in lots of light. A powder room rounds out the first floor.

“I love all the windows on the main floor,” Krista says. “It brightens it up with lots of natural light.” 

The second floor has three bedrooms, plus a full bathroom remodeled in 2020. The bathroom wears a soft seafoam shade on the walls, while a white vanity, mirror and an alcove tub with a tile surround and decorative accents add to the spa-like feeling. 

The second-floor bedrooms measure 12-by-10 square feet, 13-by-11 square feet and 10-by-7 square feet, respectively. They are wonderfully kept, with the smallest room —  used as a nursery for the couple’s toddler — painted in soft greys with white elephants. 

A 16-by-15 square-foot owner’s suite on the third floor was finished by the previous owners, according to Krista. The room has high dormer ceilings, a skylight and can fit a king-size bed. There’s also a crib for the newest addition to the family. 

“You can see why we need to move,” Krista says with a laugh. “We spend a lot of mornings and nights getting ready for the day and have family time.” 

The adjacent full bathroom was also remodeled in 2020 and includes a wood-look floor, alcove tub, subway tile and a large vanity. It’s fresh, bright and private.  

But out of all the great renovations, the family’s favorite space is the side yard they created last year. 

“We kept the parking pad and added grass carpet with cushioning underneath for the kids’ play area,” Krista says. “We added large flower planters and a firepit with fun chairs and big lights to use in the summer.” 

She says they use it so much they regret not doing the update earlier. 

“Before COVID, you could watch the fireworks from the porch,” she says. 

The house has central air, gas heat and is within the Quaker Valley School District. 

“The location can’t be beat,” Krista says, adding she walks to her nursing job at nearby Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital. “We are staying in the community … I was born and raised here so I know all of the great things that the community offers.” 

Drawing on her years of experience covering the region’s real estate industry, Rosa Colucci’s Hot Property will offer an inside look into unique and historic homes currently on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh area home. And four times a year, Hot Property will give an in-depth look at the region’s real estate market in Pittsburgh Magazine HOME, track housing prices and sales and detail where the hot properties can be found. Rosa can be reached at onecordovaroad@gmail.com.

About: Sewickley (sewickleyborough.org)  

Population: 3,827

Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Just a 17-minute commute to the airport. Daily transport via Port Authority. 

Schools: Quaker Valley School District (qvsd.org) is ranked the sixth-best school district in the state with extensive arts, sports and extracurricular activities.   

Neighborhoods Sewickley has a charming main street and business district. It’s filled with tree-lined streets, churches and historic landmarks that make it an attractive place to live. Several sports heroes — including Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby and Franco Harris — call Sewickley home.