For Autumn and Ryan Hadbavny, owning a midcentury modern home was always the goal. They just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. When a single-owner property in a Churchill enclave of midcentury modern homes came on the market, the couple knew they had found something special. In this episode of Feeling Nebby with Houses of Pittsburgh, we’re stepping back in time to the 1960s.
The home was built in the Usonian style, one of only about 60 in the United States. Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term to describe smaller, efficiently designed homes, usually built with flat roofs and natural materials. Though Wright didn’t design this house, many of his principals are evident throughout. The living spaces are integrated, and thoughtfully designed built-ins use every inch of space available.
The kitchen in the Hadbavny’s home is a great example of showcasing efficient design with a layout that maximizes the space. Its original Nutone flush countertop appliance system blends seamlessly with the design. Autumn and Ryan were determined to restore the house as authentically as possible. They drove round trip to Harrisburg to buy a set to complete the Nutone appliance. They also sourced a vintage refrigerator and stove. The stove had actually never been used since it was manufactured in the 1960s.
The living room is the true standout of the home with 15-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The amount of natural light coming in was achieved through a painstaking process. The Hadbavnys spent two weeks with razor blades scraping off decades-old sun protectant from the windows. A major theme in this design style is living among nature. With the natural light coming in, you really feel that.
Then there are the wallpapers. Original metallic designs remain throughout the house, including a unique chessboard pattern in a guest bedroom, complete with a silver foil ceiling that makes the room feel larger than it is. Despite serious water damage to the home, the original geometric wallpaper in the living room was spared. It’s featured in the lofted office, as well, with trapezoidal shapes mirroring the architecture of the home. Keeping with the style, the couple added their own touches with a rattan-inspired wallpaper in the dining room and playful patterned papers in both the main bathroom and first-floor powder room.
The home is one of 80 or so midcentury modern houses in the neighborhood. Last year, it was featured on the inaugural Midcentury Modern Home Tour, presented by Churchill Borough and the Pittsburgh Modern Committee of Preservation Pittsburgh. This year’s tour takes place on Saturday, Sept. 19, with events happening all weekend long Sept. 18-20. While the Hadbavny’s home won’t be on the tour this year, Autumn will be featured in a talk series on Sunday.
