Sunset House

The aptly named Sunset House is located in The Hill district of Pittsburgh on a sloping site with fabulous views of the city. Every room on the main and second floors basks in those views thanks to windows covering the back side of the house, facing west. Even the large outdoor balcony off the main floor and a secondary outdoor balcony off the second floor have glass railings to maintain unobstructed views.

The form of the 3,100 s.f. home is a deceptively simple rectangular box. But the sloping lot made placing the home challenging. A garage and guest rooms are built partially into the side of the lot and capped at one end by a white stone retaining wall. The designer placed the home atop this ground level and cantilevered it over the retaining wall, making the home appear to float.

Sunset House eschews convention, putting more emphasis on the side facade of the house where celebrating sunlight is the priority. Noteworthy design details include canted side walls covered in warm cedar to meet the slightly recessed window wall, a series of recessed covered balconies, and a two-level living room with glass walls overlooking the city.

Inside, an open plan living room, dining room, and adjacent kitchen open up with ample light afforded by the wall of windows. A stone fireplace separates the two spaces. The kitchen is set off with deep blue cabinetry. To further define and visually enlarge the kitchen, a soffit in the same blue extends from the cabinets and stretches over the island. A door leads out to a large balcony.

Beyond the kitchen, the first-floor primary suite also has access to the outdoor balcony, along with large windows. A stone accent wall separates the bedroom and bathroom. It is punctuated by a see-through fireplace. The bathroom features a central wet area enclosed by glass and housing a freestanding black tub next to a sunken shower.

The upper level is an entertainer’s paradise. A large lounge with deep red brocade wall coverings and a black ceiling is reminiscent of a speakeasy. It opens to a large covered outdoor balcony, overlooking the city skyline. There is also a gym with a dry sauna upstairs, plus a home office.