If village lifestyle is what you crave Ligonier is the place. This charming New England-style hamlet one hour from Downtown has become a sanctuary for Pittsburgh’s captains.
Interior designer Gil Walsh, who grew up in Latrobe and went to college from Ligonier, has called the place home for much of her lifetime. She and her husband Mason, the former manager of the Mellon Foundation, have put their three-bedroom, two1/2-bath house at 215 W. Church St. on the market for $550,000 together with Scott Ludwick of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (724-838-3660 ext. 648 or even www.thepreferredrealty.com).
Even the 2-year-old, 3,500-square-foot house (MLS No. 1228974) was the couple’s variation of downsizing.
“We lived in a huge farmhouse, but when he murdered we determined we didn’t want such a large home,” explained Mrs. Walsh, who also has a house in West Palm Beach, Fla., where her design firm is headquartered.
Believing they could live out their golden years part time in Ligonier, she thought out every detail of the home, starting with its own location. The two-story house with a front porch that is covered is a short walk in the Diamond at the middle of town.
“It is a great downtown neighborhood and developing,” she explained. “It is just cute.”
They looked for an current house but nothing met of their requirements. They purchased a lot in this development of townhomes that were detached and started planning a house that match their fact — she’s not ready to retire and he murdered.
Along with some first-floor master suite, a bonus room is above the garage. “I turned that into an office space, but it could be changed into anything.”
“I’d say my furniture is very conventional, but I made this house to be somewhat adaptable so that someone who prefers contemporary or transitional could quickly make that change,” she explained.
Mrs. Walsh enclosed the sun porch and she said it could easily be transformed into a breakfast nook. An additional tweak she left into the aims of the builder was to increase the dimensions of their master suite to include more closet space and a bigger bathroom.
“When we got older, we discovered we didn’t use our living space that far. So in this house, the living room and dining room are combined to more of a salon setting,” she explained.
“Believe it or not, as people get older they need to sit in chairs around a dining table and have beverages,” she explained with a laugh.
That same thinking went to the kitchen, which boasts granite counter tops tops, high-end cabinets that reach into the ceiling, crown molding and a huge center island that can chair six.The kitchen opens into the family room with a rock fireplace and built in bookshelves.
“Mason and I utilized the island often,” she explained.
They worked together with Manor House Kitchens because she wanted up to cupboard space as possible. Bar stools encircle the island, and it has a concealed cabinet.
“Being an interior designer, we are apt to amass a whole lot,” Mrs. Walsh explained.
Appliances include a Wolf gas stove with warming drawers plus a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Signs of grade are marble baths, a stairwell that is paneled, hardwood floors and crown molding in many rooms.
The second floor includes two bedrooms plus a bathroom that will accommodate a growing family. The side yard was turned in an urban backyard and the yard is fenced, making it fine for pets and children.
The finished basement has storage space. “This house has so much storage. I built all,” said the designer.
With customers in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania, she said her interior design company that was developing is why they are currently moving. They desired a central site.
“The method by which in which the house is laid out, it works for a young family or empty nesters,” she explained.
Patricia Sheridan: psheridan@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2613, Twitter: @pasheridan.
Ligonier Borough at a glance
Inside out: History runs deep at Ligonier, to 1758. The flag of Britain’s King George was flying across the post at Loyalhanna about Nov. 12, when Col. George Washington led a detachment of 500 soldiers out to the field. Thirty-eight guys died from friendly fire by troops under Col. George Mercer at what became Fort Ligonier. The fort contains artifacts and history in the French and Indian War.
Even the borough has only 1,540 residents, who enjoy Idlewild Park and Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Locals flock into the Ligonier Market and the Diamond in the middle of town for classrooms that are free.
The town is still strongly connected with the Mellon family, which owns tracts of property. Unspoiled by development, the place is beautiful in all four seasons.
Enrollment: 2,700; levels 10-12 can attend to the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in Derry, which offers education in health care, culinary, construction and digital media.
Average SAT scores: Reading, 531; Math 549; Composing, 496
Taxes for 215 W. Church St., Unit 3: $8,120.62
Borough: $1,607.20 (23.5 mills)
School: $5,136.48 (75 mills)
County: $1,376.94 (20.99 mills)
Earned income tax: 1 percentage
source http://home-improvements-one.com/purchasing-here-the-ligonier-home-match-for-empty-nesters-or-a-family-of-interior-designer-gil-walsh/
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