![center hall house Mary Cerrone Architecture & Interiors Pittsburgh](https://www.marycerrone.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/center-hall-house-existing-kitchen-pittsburgh-mary-cerrone-architect.jpg)
Before
Working with this large 3-story home’s existing traditional center-hall style, we made significant changes to dramatically improve the quality of interior space, to infuse it with natural light, and to create new connections to a large and sunny back yard.
![center hall house Mary Cerrone Architecture & Interiors Pittsburgh](https://www.marycerrone.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/view-from-back-door.jpg)
View from back door
![center hall house Mary Cerrone Architecture & Interiors Pittsburgh](https://www.marycerrone.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/center-hall-house-view-to-kitchen-pittsburgh-mary-cerrone-architect.jpg)
Dining room to kitchen
![center hall house Mary Cerrone Architecture & Interiors Pittsburgh](https://www.marycerrone.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/view-from-kitchen.jpg)
View from kitchen
The work was done in phases, beginning with the removal of a narrow, 4-story, servants’ stair. Removing this stair opened views through the center hall to a south-facing back yard. It allowed us to connect the kitchen and dining room around a central axis with a large framed opening. It also freed up space to create a spacious master bedroom suite on the second floor.
![fireplace detail center hall house Mary Cerrone Architecture & Interiors Pittsburgh](https://www.marycerrone.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/center-hall-house-fireplace-pittsburgh-mary-cerrone-architect-300x225.jpg)
Fireplace
To replace this stair’s function, we created a generous center hall staircase connecting the second and third floors and overlooking the street. We also added a new stair to the basement off the side entry. In addition to design changes, we corrected floor framing deficiencies, removed and redesigned the HVAC system, and replaced the roof and numerous windows, doors and trim.