A modern holiday celebrated in a historic house in Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Streets.
A House with History
Camden Leeds, Heather Johnson, and their school-age son live in a 1909 house in the Mexican War Streets on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Heather owns Alchemy Dry Cut Lounge in Lawrenceville. Camden founded 1412 Design House, one of Pittsburgh’s leading graphic design and branding companies, and serves as TABLE Magazine’s creative director. Naturally, their home reflects a mix of beauty and creativity.
“We renovated the house in 2011 as our home and my office,” Camden says. Moving easily from room to room, he feels entirely at home there. Cats, child, and sometimes even clients move with him through the space. On the ground floor, he removed a few interior walls, transforming late-Victorian rooms into one open, high-ceilinged living area. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the backyard, while the original staircase draws the eye upward to Camden’s office and the family’s private rooms.
The Neighborhood’s Past
The neighborhood takes its name from the Mexican-American War of 1846–48, with streets dedicated to key battles. Most of its houses went up between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Allegheny City expanded rapidly. Styles range from Gothic Revival to Queen Anne, Italianate, and Romanesque. Despite their variety, they share one trait: quality. Builders used top materials and excellent craftsmanship for the families powering Pittsburgh’s industrial rise. These homes, as the saying goes, have good bones.
An Irreverent Holiday Style
Living among such fine-boned structures, it makes sense that Camden collects skulls. “They remind us of the durability of life—and that we all look the same on the inside,” he explains. His skulls take on a festive look during the holidays, filled with carnations and red ferns.
That playful irreverence appears elsewhere, too. A bust of Venus de Milo shows off a Kiss tattoo. Red holiday pillows from North Side neighbor Shannon Pultz and her company Blak Rust brighten the otherwise black-white-gray palette. Floral arrangements by Karrie Hlista Designs bring warmth to Victorian mantels and highlight the grand staircase. Dozens of candles and votives glow through the winter darkness. And of course, one of the family cats—Big Guy or Shy Guy—makes a cameo in front of the camera.
Just Enough Celebration
This year’s holiday gatherings call for intimacy. All in Good Taste Productions created a menu of sweet and savory hors d’oeuvres meant for four guests. It is refined, seasonal, and perfectly scaled: enough for a cozy evening of food, conversation, and candlelight before a twilight walk through the neighborhood. For Camden, Heather, and their son, this holiday is not about abundance. It is about celebrating with just enough—and no more.
All in Good Taste’s Holiday Hors d’Oeuvres Menu
- Poached Citrus Lobster Medallion on a Vegetable Cake, Saffron Aioli, Black Lava Salt, Sprouts
- Smoked Trout Salad with Crispy Capers, Preserved Lemon Rind, Herbed Citrus Aioli, Crisp Gaufrette Chip, Chive Garnish
- Phyllo Pastry Cup with Brunoise of Pickled Beet, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Julienne of Snap Peas and Carrots, Shaved Radish
- Toffee Taboo Ice Cream Ball with Whipped Cream, Raspberry, Almond Praline Wafer
Photography Dave Bryce
Story and Styling Keith Recker
Food by All in Good Taste Productions
Flowers by Karrie Hlista Designs
Pillows by Blak Rust
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