Miles Smith is not a stranger to Sewickley, or to home renovations. With his mother being an interior designer, the family renovated houses as a hobby. “Fortunately, I married someone with the same interest and knack for interior decorating and renovation as my mom,” he says. His wife Amy has undeniably proven her passion, and her talent in the home decorating arena, a fact backed up by their incredible home renovation, and their back yard in particular.
With winters being so long, they wanted to have an outdoor living room for the warm months. The fireplace keeps the room in use through the fall. “Miles likes to bundle up (in the cold weather), light a fire, and have beers with his buddies,” says Amy.
It was intended to be an extension of the main living room, so we replaced original windows with French doors and added stone stair casings that stare at a grand, lodge-like fireplace.”
A Pergola open air awning is supported by beams which have been set into flower boxes.
Lanterns and an outdoor chandelier create the illusion of being on a patio in Mexico.
The residence has been passed through a diverse log of owners, ranging from railroad baron D.T. McCabe, to famous Pittsburgh industrialists, a US Navy Admiral, and even TV personality Rege Cordic.
Recently, the couple had 150 people over for a Cinco de Mayo porch party. It was sort of “their own” housewarming bash. “I don’t have to go away to get away,” Amy says with a smile. “I would rather be here than anywhere else.”