This 6,000-square-foot, 16-room Colonial Revival home, designed by architect Marius Rousseau and built between 1903-1906, blends various architectural styles, including Richardsonian Romanesque elements. The home features exquisite craftsmanship, with original woodwork in oak, cherry, and hickory, as well as marble, terrazzo, stained glass, and hardwood floors throughout the first two of five floors. Notable features include a central ventilation and light portal, nine fireplaces, and over 65 original doors and doorknobs. The kitchen boasts an original glass tile ceiling, built-in refrigerator, professional-grade stove, and furniture-style oak cabinetry.

The house includes 8-10 bedrooms and totals over 9,100 square feet of living space when factoring in unheated sunrooms and a heated basement. Other highlights include crystal doorknobs, brass window locks, push-button light switches, and a grand formal dining room with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and coffered wainscot. The enclosed porch features terrazzo tile and stained-glass transoms that create colorful patterns in the sun.

Rousseau, who designed numerous buildings in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, built this home for himself and his family. However, he lost the house to foreclosure in 1909, and it was later acquired by Margaret J. McKallip. The home remained largely unchanged for 90 years until undergoing a full restoration in 1996. It also served as the childhood home of Charles Wilson, former CEO of General Motors and U.S. Secretary of State.

The Marius Rousseau House was recognized as an historic landmark by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation in July 2016 and its listing in the National Register of Historic Places is expected to occur in February 2018.

The Conaway home, built around 1870, stands out as one of the oldest on the tour, reflecting the Italianate architectural style that was prevalent during Bellevue’s first building boom. This style is well-represented in Bellevue and the North Boroughs and differs significantly from the early 20th-century homes in the area. Notable features of this period include intricate woodwork, fireplaces, and inlaid wood floors that demonstrate stylistic contrasts from later constructions. The house underwent major renovations in 2001, transforming it into a duplex, and Ian and Amy Conaway have continued updating the property, most recently rehabilitating the front porch.

As you enter through the leaded glass doorway, you’ll notice the distinctive inlay patterns on each room’s floors and the impressive 12-inch baseboards. The home originally had four fireplaces for heating, with the dining room’s fireplace showcasing a beautiful Rookwood tile pastoral scene. The room also features an oak-carved nook that adds to its charm. One of the most remarkable aspects of the home is the preserved period kitchen, which retains much of its historic character.

Other highlights include a cozy screened-in back porch with a bamboo ceiling, an original skylight that brightens the second-floor landing, and a vintage bathroom with subway tile and beveled mirrors that create an infinite reflection effect. The third floor houses a playful, imaginative space for children, completing this charming and historic residence.

Christie and David Biber’s home, an asymmetrical brick Foursquare built between 1897 and 1906, is a charming example of urban living combined with a love for farming. The Bibers have lived in the house since 2001, and their property welcomes visitors with a garden of wildflowers and fruit trees. Like other Foursquare homes, it features a two-story structure with four equally-sized rooms per floor, a square shape, pyramidal roof, hipped dormers, and a full-width front porch.

Inside, the house showcases timeless details such as an oak staircase, original leaded glass windows, and four fireplaces, all with their original mantles. These elements harken back to an era when visitors had the time to sit and chat with their hosts. The previous owners carefully restored the oak staircase and a fireplace in the first-floor hall, while the Bibers completely renovated the kitchen to create Christie’s dream space for cooking.

The third floor serves as a creative hub for Christie, an artist, where she paints and works on printmaking. David, also in the arts and an avid cyclist, shares the artistic spirit of the home. Outside, the backyard has been transformed into an urban farm, complete with a chicken coop that houses five hens. As part of the experience, guests are encouraged to meet the Biber’s Australian Shepherd and personable parrot. The Biber family has skillfully blended urban farming and artistic passion to create a unique and welcoming home.

Val and Molly Pennington’s 1928 Tudor Revival home is an eclectic, charming residence located at the entrance to Bellevue. Originally owned by a wealthy family, the house was state-of-the-art for its time. The Penningtons have added their own distinctive updates while honoring the home’s historical features, creating a warm, inviting space for their family.

Upon entering, visitors are welcomed into the foyer, affectionately called “the rotunda,” featuring a curved staircase with a quaint niche for cherished keepsakes and a natural wood bench nestled into its arc. The spacious living room, accessed through arched French doors, showcases the home’s original beamed ceiling, an elegant fireplace, and built-in cabinetry.

The kitchen, while updated in the 1960s, still retains its original tile and cabinetry, including a cozy breakfast nook that blends vintage and modern elements. Outside, the secluded backyard features a stone patio, a rock garden terrace, and a tranquil in-ground water feature.

The second floor is home to three of the house’s five bedrooms and an in-home spa, designed by the Penningtons. With onyx tile and a rustic wood vanity, the spa exudes elegance and a natural, earthy feel. The third floor adds more charm, offering a bedroom, office space, and a dedicated crafting room.

Before leaving, visitors are invited to explore the lower level, which transports guests back to the 1950s with a vintage entertainment space. This area features a curved banquette and a southwestern-themed mural, complete with cacti and horseback riders, adding a unique touch to this fascinating home.

Kim and Paul Hassell were drawn to Bellevue’s welcoming, walkable neighborhood and are thrilled to call it home. Their house, built around 1899, is a stunning example of the American Foursquare, a popular early 20th-century residential style, infused with Colonial Revival ornamentation. This architectural style emphasizes symmetry and proportion, evident in the home’s rigidly symmetrical façade. The central entrance is flanked by large cottage windows on the first floor, with triple bay windows above and two massive brick chimneys framing the roofline.

Inside, the foyer greets visitors with a grand staircase and intricately detailed bas relief plaster ceilings. The home features seven fireplaces, each uniquely designed, with special attention to the reeded urn on the newel post and the carved face on the library’s mantle. The stairway boasts a striking two-story stained-glass window, divided by the landing. The front porch, supported by double columns with Ionic capitals and reproduction trellises, further showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of the early 20th century.

The Hassells had admired this grand dame of North Fremont Avenue for years, along with many other Bellevue residents. When the house unexpectedly went on the market in 2016, they leapt at the chance to make it their own. Today, the home stands as a beautiful example of early 20th-century architecture and craftsmanship, highlighting the charm and appeal of Bellevue’s historic homes.

Paul and Shari McGill are once again opening their 14-room brick Foursquare home to Live Worship Shop Tour visitors, celebrating its role in Bellevue’s history during the town’s 150th anniversary. This house, part of the Bellevue Land Company’s “Sunnyside Plan of Lots” from around 1892, was constructed in 1904 by prominent builder Benjamin Avery Groah, known for his work on local schools and adjacent homes. The McGill family has owned the house since 1948, with Paul and Shari purchasing it in 1993.

Over the years, the McGills have meticulously renovated the home, adding 26 updates while preserving its charm. Now empty nesters, they have converted one bedroom into a TV room and transformed a downstairs bath into a luxurious spa. The house features solid oak floors and woodwork, including mantels and a staircase, with stained glass windows and transoms adding sparkle and elegance. The décor includes eclectic artwork, much of it by Shari’s father, adding a personal touch to the home.

Architecturally, the house retains the simple Foursquare form with fine ornamental details such as two side bays, exquisite leaded glass windows, a bracketed cornice, and gabled dormers with decorative pilasters and shingled walls. The paint scheme highlights these features beautifully. The McGills believe the house experienced a fire in the 1920s, leading to structural changes such as the removal of walls and the replacement of ceilings. The living room fireplace differs from others in the house, potentially a result of the fire. The McGills also updated the kitchen in 1970, converting the former kitchen into a breakfast room. Their renovations thoughtfully balance modern updates with the home’s historic character.

Homeowner Mimi Rawlings affectionately describes her 1904 Victorian as her “inner sanctum.” The house, which features an expansive front porch with wicker seating, offers a welcoming space for gatherings. It shares the basic Foursquare design with other homes on North Fremont, such as the square shape, pyramidal roof, hipped dormers, and bay windows, but is distinguished by its wooden construction rather than brick. This choice of material and its more modest ornamentation reflect its history as a rental property for much of its existence.

A 1908 newspaper ad highlighted the home’s features, including eight rooms, a reception hall, china closet, bath, furnace, and laundry. In 1996, the previous owners undertook a significant renovation that earned them the Operation Image’s Award for Restoration Design Excellence in 1998. Mimi Rawlings, drawn to the recently renovated home’s Victorian charm, seized the opportunity to purchase it in 2002.

Mimi’s creative flair is evident throughout the home. The oak, scrolled staircase and open foyer lead to a classic black-and-white kitchen that opens onto a private back patio and yard. Her eclectic style is showcased in the dining room, where art glass windows are paired with a Murano Glass chandelier and MacKenzie Childs accents. The upper floor features a dressing room that blends classic feminine style with meticulous organization, reflecting Mimi’s personal touch and appreciation for both functionality and aesthetic detail.