The Pittsburgh Left

In Pittsburgh, there’s a traffic move that feels equal parts chaotic and generous: the Pittsburgh left. At a green light, the first car turning left slips through the intersection—sometimes out of necessity, sometimes because the oncoming driver offers a friendly wave, and sometimes with no permission but plenty of determination. It’s survival, yes, but also a kind of quiet understanding between strangers: we’re all trying to get somewhere, so let’s help each other keep moving.

The Pittsburgh left says something about the character of this city: pragmatic, a little scrappy, and surprisingly generous. Like many things in Pittsburgh, it’s less a rule than a rhythm—something you learn simply by living here.

That gesture is what I want this space to embody. The Pittsburgh Left is my way of staying in motion too—pushing forward with curiosity, connection, and creativity in the city I now call home. Like the traffic move itself, it’s part instinct, part generosity, and part faith in the idea that we get further when we look out for one another.

A Designer's Eye

I’m an interior designer at an architecture firm, though my path here began with a degree in city planning. That background—along with family ties to international travel and exploration—shaped my appreciation for the ways we live together in community and the many meanings of sustainability.

Sometimes sustainability is about preserving resources. Sometimes it’s about balancing work and life. Always, it’s about creating spaces and rhythms that endure.

Woven through all of this is beauty. Beauty isn’t a luxury to me; it’s a form of sustenance. As a residential interior designer, I pay attention to the quiet details: the blend of textures and patterns, trim that feels balanced and intentional, a kitchen where every movement flows effortlessly. These elements elevate everyday life.

Beauty in a space isn’t surface-level. It shapes how we feel, how we gather, and how we move through our days.

Why This Space

This blog is part diary, part experiment, and part invitation.

It gives me a reason to explore Pittsburgh with fresh eyes—to seek out new shops, hidden corners, unexpected makers, and the rhythms that make this city pulse. It’s also a place to share my own work: projects I take on at home with a DIY spirit but a high-design sensibility. My goal is to create pieces that echo the elegance of luxury interiors, using tools and materials anyone can reach for.

Along the way, I’ll share sketches and paintings as well. Drawing has always been a parallel thread in my life—sometimes fueling my design work, sometimes existing simply for its own sake. Here, I hope to celebrate both: the professional craft I’ve honed and the personal explorations that keep me connected to it.

Turning Together

If you stay with me, you’ll find a mix of design reflections, glimpses into Pittsburgh’s culture, everyday inspiration, and the occasional bold swerve into bigger questions.

In other words: the kinds of turns that keep life interesting.

Like the Pittsburgh left itself, this blog is about claiming a little space to move forward—and hopefully turning it into something worth sharing.

xx Kendall