Minimalist at Heart

Architect John Francona chooses the North Side to call home

As senior vice president and a studio leader at Astorino, John Francona, RA, LEED® AP sees some of the best and most elaborate residential projects Pittsburgh has to offer, but when it comes to his own home he lives by a less-is-more motto. It was about 12 years ago when John decided to buy a 19th-century building in Pittsburgh’s North Side to call home. On the outside, the building has the architectural charm one would expect to see in the Mexican War Streets, but the inside houses a crisp, clean and contemporary twist.

Slice of history

John believes the building was constructed sometime in the 1890s due to cast iron columns stamped “Carnegie.” “Carnegie only made cast iron for about six years in the 1890s, so it has allowed me to come up with the time frame for the building,” John says. “There is also a store sign on the front entry window that I’ve kept, displaying the date 1894.”

Once inside, guests may be surprised at how light and bright the home is. “One thing I really like most about the space, and what is somewhat unusual is the fact that I get light from all four sides,” John says. “I really play that up by not having any window treatments.”

The cast-iron columns frame a 20-foot skylight along the south side of the apartment, while large windows in the living room area look out to a courtyard that is situated between John’s building and the next house up the street.

Simplistic design

John did the interior design himself and says it’s very typical of what he would design at the office. “It’s clean and not very colorful, with everything neutral,” he says. “The color scheme is basically tan and black, with natural wood.” The hardwood floors that cover the apartment are original and although John’s not positive what species they are, he loves their strong and worn look.

The entire design concept is very utilitarian and sparse according to John. “There’s no artwork on the walls because I consider the space itself to be the artwork,” he says. John likes to mix simple pieces with a few special ones he’s collected over the years such as the Marcel Breuer chairs and the Steinway piano. “I spend a lot of time playing the piano, which I’m sure drives my tenants crazy, but at least I play pretty well,” John says.

John spent a large amount of time renovating the kitchen, which proved to be quite a challenge. The kitchen was originally two separate spaces and was on two levels, leaving John to the build the floor up to make everything on a level playing field. “The challenge was that I wanted to make it large enough to work in and also have room for some kind of seating,” John says. “I’ve always wanted a Viking stove, even though it’s probably too big for the space and I never use more than one burner at a time, but it’s just one of those things I wanted,” he says.

John likes to entertain and he says the best thing about his home is the fact that the entire space gets used when he has people over. “When people first come in they’re really shocked because they don’t expect what they see, especially with the interior design,” John says. “Rather than walking into a traditional space with Victorian furniture, which is popular in many homes in the area, I think most people find it refreshing that I’ve gone with such a modern and unexpected look.”

Resources:

Designer: John Francona RA, LEED® AP; Architect: John Francona RA, LEED® AP; Flooring: Original storeroom flooring; Kitchen cabinetry and countertops: IKEA; Kitchen backsplash: Subway Tile; Kitchen sink: Kohler; Kitchen faucet: Grohe; Dishwasher and range: Viking; Refrigerator and microwave: GE Profile; Lighting: Home Depot; Sofa: Pottery Barn; Piano: Steinway