950 Blackburn Rd

Set on 5.16 private acres atop a wooded hilltop in the borough of Sewickley Heights, 950 Blackburn Road is a 3,790-square-foot contemporary retreat that has spent more than four decades quietly conversing with its landscape. Built in 1980 and shaped by the modernist conviction that a house should rise from its site rather than perch upon it, the residence balances soaring architectural geometry with the warmth of natural materials — most memorably, the hand-laid river-stone masonry that anchors both the great room and the open-air terrace beyond. Investments include a new roof, fully renovated kitchen and baths, and fresh paint throughout, allowing the next owners to move in and simply enjoy. Approach is a study in restraint. A long ribbon of lawn unfurls beneath a canopy of oaks and maples, and the home reveals itself in dark cedar planes and pitched gables, quietly confident. Inside, herringbone terracotta floors lead past a sculpted floating staircase into a light-flooded living room where coffered ceilings and walls of glass gather around a baby grand. Two wood-burning fireplaces — one anchoring the soaring two-story family room, one warming the living room — bring the warmth of the season indoors, while outside, a built-in stone charcoal grill station and wide-plank deck set the stage for summer entertaining around the sparkling in-ground pool. The pool is a true outdoor centerpiece. Surrounded by mature trees and enveloped in complete privacy, it's perfect for summer entertaining or quiet afternoon swims with nothing but birdsong and treetops above — a rare combination of resort-quality amenity and untouched natural setting that the five-acre lot makes possible. The heart of the home is a soaring double-story family room where a hand-laid river-stone fireplace climbs to the ceiling, a handcrafted spiral staircase rises to a book-lined loft above, and walls of glass open directly onto a pergola-covered deck with the pool glimmering below. The kitchen flows seamlessly from this space — navy cabinetry, honed white quartz, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Miele dishwasher, and double ovens — designed for the way people actually live, with the loft, the living room, and the outdoors all within reach. A glass-roofed solarium opens to the gardens — made for morning coffee, candlelit suppers, orchids in winter. The formal dining room, framed in soft sage and crystal, was built for long tables and longer stories. Three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths are arranged for privacy and quiet. The primary suite is the architect's crescendo: a cathedral-ceilinged sanctuary with exposed white trusses, a private balcony into the treetops, and a spa bath skylit beneath the eaves with soaking tub, dual vanities, and forest views from every angle. A three-car garage, generous storage throughout, and a lower level dedicated to utility and organization keep the architecture uncluttered and the living spaces serene. The lot rolls in mature lawn and woodland — utterly private, yet minutes from Sewickley Village with easy access to major highways, about a 20-minute drive to downtown Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh International Airport. A lovingly maintained estate in one of Western Pennsylvania's most coveted enclaves.