This issue really reminded me of how your home tells your story.

Take newly minted interior designer Kacie Cope, for example. Her eclectic row house in Sharpsburg is filled with items that carry special meaning, including a black-and-white mural of her apron-clad grandmother, Fortune, that spans her dining room wall. Fortune pops up again on a fun backyard neon sign that reads “Fortune Favours the Brave.” I mean, how cool is that?

Elsewhere, Cope’s home is filled with thrifted and estate-sale finds. It’s the kind of place where guests walk in and immediately get a sense of its quirky, creative owner.

The same rings true for designer Cyd Mello’s storefront-turned-home in Morningside. Mello’s mother is Stacy Weiss, the longtime owner of Weisshouse in Shadyside (where Mello also works), and it’s obvious good taste runs in the family.

While modern and edgy, the home nevertheless is filled with nostalgic vintage items that speak to the family’s interests. There also are pieces by artists Karl Mullen and Jack Weiss, Mello’s father and grandfather, respectively, both of whom inspired Mello’s own creative endeavors.

This got me thinking about what my house would say about me. I’m guessing a stranger walking in from the street would assume its owner has a penchant for toys (scattered around my work-from-home desk as I write this) and the color pink. Such is life with two little girls ages 5 and 7, but that’s fine by me. At this stage in life, that is my story.

I’d love to know your story. We’re just about to launch our annual Best of Design contest. If you remodeled or built a home in 2021 and would like to enter it in the contest, shoot me an email at jsinichak@pittsburghmagazine.com with photos and some details. The story of your home could end up being featured in the magazine.