436 Forest Ave.

Her “inner sanctum.” That’s what homeowner Mimi Rawlings calls her 1904 Victorian. The expansive front porch, with its wicker seating and beautiful detail make it a great place for friends to gather.

The home exhibits the same basic Foursquare form as the houses at 65 North Fremont and 93 North Fremont, including the square shape, pyramidal roof, hipped dormers, and front and side window bays. However, it is executed in wood rather than brick, and is more modest in its ornamentation, befitting a house that was a rental property for most of its existence. A 1908 newspaper advertisement offered “a Bellevue residence, 8 rooms, reception hall, china closet, bath, furnace, laundry; up-to- date.”

A major renovation in 1996 by the previous owners garnered Operation Image’s Award for Restoration Design Excellence in 1998 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 31, 1998).

When Mimi decided to buy in her hometown, she was impressed with this recently renovated home and its Victorian details. The oak, scrolled staircase and open foyer lead the visitor to the classic black and white kitchen which opens to a private back patio and yard. When the opportunity arose in 2002 to buy the home, Mimi jumped at the chance.

The homeowner’s eclectic style pairs the dining room art glass window with a Murano Glass chandelier accented with MacKenzie Childs whimsy. Mimi’s creative touch extends upstairs to her dressing room – a masterpiece of organization and classic feminine style.