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The dining room of the house at 149 Orchard St. in Leet.
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Buying Here: Leet home's makeover was a family affair

Joe Indovina photo

Buying Here: Leet home's makeover was a family affair

Matt and Diana Weisser love their home, but with two growing girls, something had to give.

“We are moving because we need more showers with three women in the house,” Matt Weisser said, laughing.

Their four-bedroom house with two full baths and two half-baths at 149 Orchard St. in Leet is a showcase of warm, family-friendly design trends. It’s on the market (but under agreement) for $174,900 (MLS No. 1080570) with Julie Guss of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, (412-741-6312 or www.thepreferredrealty.com)

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The Weissers purchased the home in 2005 after a flipper had installed new drywall, electrical and plumbing. The interior and exterior were pretty “plain Jane,”  but no more.

Rosa Colucci
Leet at a glance

The Dutch Colonial’s recent paint job included the welcoming front porch, cheery red door, white trim and railings.

Inside, the roomy entry features wood laminate floors and Shabby Chic-style furniture; armoires, benches and a wall stencil make for a welcoming foyer.

To the left in this open floor plan is the kitchen/dining room area. A combined 26 by 17 feet, the space features cherry cabinets (some with divided-light glass doors), a wine cabinet and black appliances. A half wall with a breakfast bar and desk on the far side create more usable space in the dining area.

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The family space has gray walls with lemongrass green valances and white shutters. Both rooms have crown molding and trim installed by the homeowner.

“The corner detail is a miterless system. It’s cheating, but it looks so cool,” Mr. Weisser said.

A first-floor powder room was carved into tiny space and has a hanging sink, natural wood shelf and statement mirror that will stay with the home.

The living room measures 16 by 13 feet and features a corner fireplace with a ventless gas insert.

“It is awesome” said Mr. Weisser, “We had a bad snowstorm four or five years ago and lost power for three or four days. It kept the whole house at 56 degrees and saved the pipes.”

The second-floor master bath suite features a 14- by- 14-foot bedroom whose original mantel was refinished to look distressed. Mr. Weisser also installed a new tile surround. He also updated the master bath.

“There used to be only one large vanity with a single sink. We installed two vanities and upgraded the lighting.”

Seeing that he planned to reuse some original tile, his daughter suggested adding mosaic tile to accent the floor and jetted tub. A standing shower with window seat gives the bathroom a garden feel. There is access from the hallway and the master bedroom.

Mother and daughters decorated the girls’ rooms in a Paris theme. One 14- by- 14-foot bedroom has a purple feature wall with fleur-de-lis accents and matching linens. The other room measures 12 by 11 feet and is pink and soft gray. A twin bed was tucked in a dormer and a closet used to store dolls.

The third floor has a 12- by- 12-foot guest bedroom and a 12- by- 11-foot playroom. It could be used as a bedroom but is not listed as such because it does not have a closet. A second full bathroom has a tub but no shower.

The basement was finished into a man cave. The 12- by- 17-foot space has a corner fireplace with an LED insert and wood laminate floors.

The homeowners also tackled the front and backyard, installing a two-car parking pad and lots of landscaping. Curved planting beds contain trees, shrubs and flowering perennials.

“We planted a Magnolia tree, Japanese willow, rhododendron and a little raised vegetable garden,” Mr. Weisser said. “I brought in 30 tons of soil to create the back yard.”

Improvements include a flagstone patio, retaining wall and small pond with waterfall. A back porch has seating for four and room for a grill.

The property’s county assessed value is $131,000 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Search.aspx). Over the last four years, two properties have sold on Orchard Street for $112,500 in August 2011 and $152,500 in August 2013 (www.realstats.net).

The home has newer forced air heat and central air conditioning. Shopping is convenient in Leetsdale, Ambridge, Baden and Cranberry on the Red Belt.

The Weissers are remodeling a nearby home and staying in the area.

“The Quaker Valley School District is second to none. It was very hard to find an affordable home with the same amenities,” he said.

They are looking forward to the next renovation. “We will live with family for a while, but it should be fun,” Mr. Weisser said.

Leet at a glance

Website: www.leettownship.org.

Inside out: The township was originally part of a much larger tract that included neighboring Edgeworth, Leetsdale and Sewickley Heights. That’s a far cry from the 1.48 square miles Leet sits on today. The township, which was named after surveyor Jonathan Leet, was part of the original Deprecation Lands purchased by Revolutionary War veterans with state-issued Depreciation Certificates. Residents decided to break away from Sewickley Township in 1869 after a dispute over services.

The community is home to the D.T. Watson Rehabilitation Hospital, where in 1955 Dr. Jonas Salk performed the first clinical trials of the polio vaccine.

Recreation options include Plum Street Park. Most of Leet’s 1,634 residents head outside the township for shopping.

Schools: Quaker Valley School District (www.qvsd.org),

Enrollment: 1,971

Average SAT scores: Verbal, 576; Math, 588; Writing, 572 (Quaker Valley High School)

Taxes: The average median assessed value of a home in Leet is $118,500, with a tax bill of $3,324.11. Real estate taxes per $100,000 of assessed value are $2,790:

Township: $670.00 (6.70 mills)

School: $1,732 (26.11 mills)

Allegheny County: $388 (4.73 mills)*

Earned income tax: 1 percent

*Includes the Act 50 Homestead Exclusion, which reduces the assessed value of a primary residence by $18,000.

Rosa Colucci, 412-263-1634 or rcolucci@post-gazette.com; Twitter, PgRosa_Colucci.

First Published: November 19, 2015, 3:13 p.m.

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The dining room of the house at 149 Orchard St. in Leet.  (Joe Indovina photo)
Homeowners repainted the interior and exterior, including the railing and posts on the small front porch.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The 14-foot-by-14-foot girl's bedroom has a purple feature wall with fleur-de-lis accents and matching linens.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The homeowner replaced one large vanity with two vanities.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The homeowner's daughter suggested adding mosaic tile to accent the floor and jetted tub. A window seat gives the bathroom a garden feel.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The master bedroom measures 14 feet by 14 feet.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The 12-foot-by-17-foot man cave in the basement has a corner fireplace with an LED insert.  (Joe Indovina photo)
Backyard improvements include a flagstone patio, retaining wall and back porch with room for a small table and grill.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The newly painted front door was one of the many color changes for the house at 149 Orchard St., Leet.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The entry features cabinets and other furniture with a Shabby Chic-style, distressed look.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The view from the entry to the living room and kitchen/dining area.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The kitchen/dining area is divided by a half wall with a breakfast bar and desk.  (Joe Indovina photo)
Another view of the combined kitchen/dining area, which measures 26 feet by 17 feet.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The kitchen has cherry cabinets, a wine cabinet and black appliances.  (Joe Indovina)
The livingroom at 149 Orchard St., Leet.  (Joe Indovina photo)
The pink and gray girl's bedroom measures 12 by 11 feet and has a twin bed tucked in a dormer.  (Joe Indovina photo)
Joe Indovina photo
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