Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Green and Modern in Pennsylvania
An architect and his wife craft a modern family home with clean lines, a warm interior color palette and an ecofriendly bent
Lee and Amy Calisti's modern home perches in the clearing of a tree-lined cul-de-sac in the historic Academy Hill neighborhood of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Clad in a geometric orchestration of glass, brick, steel and concrete, the home strikes a balance of harmonious, fresh and practical. “Eliminating the excess was both a sustainable and a visual goal," says Lee.
Lee, who is an architect, named his home House 6, and it represents his ongoing interest in modern, environmentally conscious single-family home design that is also affordable. He says, “My home is my family’s refuge, my business card and my philosophy of housing in a neat package."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lee and Amy Calisti and son Noah
Location: Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Size: 2,217 square feet; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: The building site was previously undeveloped; no virgin land was disturbed to build the house.
Lee, who is an architect, named his home House 6, and it represents his ongoing interest in modern, environmentally conscious single-family home design that is also affordable. He says, “My home is my family’s refuge, my business card and my philosophy of housing in a neat package."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lee and Amy Calisti and son Noah
Location: Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Size: 2,217 square feet; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: The building site was previously undeveloped; no virgin land was disturbed to build the house.
The exterior of House 6 exudes a clean design aesthetic also found throughout the interior. Lee designed the steel mailbox and had it built by a local fabricator.
Door: Low thermal-emissivity glass, Pella
Door: Low thermal-emissivity glass, Pella
Light from large south-facing windows and doors illuminates the living space, reducing the need for artificial light during the day. This complements Lee's plan for cost-efficient living and also creates a warm glow that softens the home’s modern geometry.
All living room seating: La-Z-Boy
All living room seating: La-Z-Boy
The open living area is Lee's and Amy's favorite spot in the house. “Even if we have family and friends over, everyone can still feel together, even if they are spread throughout the kitchen, dining and living rooms,” says Amy.
Large windows welcome in views of the outdoors. Most of the kitchen storage sits below the counter line, creating an expansive feeling that opens up the northeast corner of the house.
All windows: low thermal-emissivity glass, Pella.
All windows: low thermal-emissivity glass, Pella.
The open kitchen features stainless steel appliances and custom-made maple wood cabinetry by Andredas Kitchens. The Bosch range and dishwasher are Energy Star compliant, and the flooring is Forbo by Marmoleum, a natural linoleum material. Magnetic jars above the range offer convenient access to spices.
The couple chose a warm primary color palette for the main living areas. “Amy suggested most of the color ranges, and we got large samples to hang on the walls in the space during construction," Lee says. “Several years later, we still like them just as much.”
A handmade pillow by 10-year-old son Noah adds a personal touch, infusing the space with warmth of both hand and heart.
“We both share a love for clean and simple furnishings that feel comfortable too," Amy says of the couple’s decorating philosophy. Symmetrical arrangements throughout the home, as seen here in the living area, play off the asymmetry of the windows, lending rhythm to the space. The interplay between hard and soft, smooth and textural, and modern and traditional appears throughout the home. Lee says, “My wife keeps me grounded and real. She lends a balance to the style of our home.”
The guest bathroom has a stainless steel bowl sink and a floating mirror, which Lee designed using a simple glass and wood panel.
The warm color scheme of the first floor carries through to the upstairs. The washer and dryer are neatly tucked away on the right behind triple-paneled doors.
Paint: Hubbard Squash and Rookwood Terra Cotta, Sherwin-Williams
Paint: Hubbard Squash and Rookwood Terra Cotta, Sherwin-Williams
The master bedroom has a cool and refreshing color palette. Lee designed a long window above the headboard so they could see the sunrise every morning. An Ikea shade installed on a sliding track covers another window for privacy. The shade is left open during the day and acts as a modern tapestry, introducing pattern amid the room’s geometry.
Paint: Icelandic, Sherwin Williams; headboard fabric: Jo-Ann; rocking chair: Ikea
Paint: Icelandic, Sherwin Williams; headboard fabric: Jo-Ann; rocking chair: Ikea
Striped walls and boyhood collections give Noah’s room a youthful charm. “We felt it was important for Noah to have a place of his own, so we let him choose how to decorate it," says Lee. “He wanted stripes, so we painted stripes.”
Lee and Amy's next home projects include installing built-in storage and stone countertops, and finishing the basement as a playroom for Noah.
More Houzz Tours:
Modern Urban Oasis in Austin
Ultramodern in Rotterdam
An Aussie Home Mingles With Nature
More Houzz Tours:
Modern Urban Oasis in Austin
Ultramodern in Rotterdam
An Aussie Home Mingles With Nature
Minimal glass on the western side of the house celebrates the materials of the exterior and keeps out the effects of harsh winter winds. The exterior materials include a combination of brick, Galvalume from Atas, flat-seam metal panels and split-face concrete block.