Part of living in New York City is thinking about moving out of New York City. Each month, we’ll round up the best listings within commuting (ish) distance, places where entire houses go for the cost of a “junior one-bedroom” (or less) but you’ll have to fix your own toilet.
This month, a house in Woodstock that was built by Paul Arndt in the 1920s.
A Renovated Farmhouse in Rhinebeck
Three-bedroom, two-bath; $1,625,000
Everything about this updated farmhouse screams “I have a lovely life.” There’s the organic raised garden beds in front of the barn and the kitchen-sink window overlooking a magnolia tree. The house, built in 1830, has its original wood beams along with beautifully maintained hardwoods in the living room, which has period-appropriate low ceilings and a working fireplace that add real warmth. The bedrooms themselves are spacious and sparse, very early American meets recent renovation. There are built-ins throughout the house, and it seems like every room has a little nook to settle into. A guest cottage enhances the appeal — it has one bedroom and its own kitchen. The property is nearly four acres, and there’s a huge barn that could be used as a garage, a painting studio, or a wedding venue if you’re the entrepreneurial type. The house is above the median listing price for the area — $1.6 million compared to $800,000 — but it’s located off of River Road, which is probably the prettiest winding street in the area.
How do I get back to the city?
Drive seven minutes to the Rhinecliff Amtrak station.
What do I do if I live here?
Shop at the Migliorelli farm stand down the road.
A “Cottage” by the Stream in High Falls
Two-bedroom, three-bath; $2,450,000
This house is described as a “cottage,” but it’s almost 3,000 square feet and has 22-foot ceilings. It’s a new build, circa 2016, but the interiors and finishes lean rustic. Kind of a lot? There’s random rough-sawn wood on the kitchen ceiling, a deer head hanging in the living room, and different styles of lighting in every room. (“Lighting throughout mixes Restoration Hardware with vintage industrial factory lights and Kelly Wearstler pieces — eclectic choices that somehow achieve absolute cohesion,” per the dubious listing description.) If the interiors aren’t exactly to your taste, this is still the kind of place you buy for the location. The house is on a private road overlooking Rondout Creek; the landscaping is serene — stone pathways, a shaded patio, plus a sunken firepit right next to the water. It looks like the perfect home for lazy summer gatherings.
How do I get back to the city?
It’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive.
What do I do if I live here?
Genuinely, I think you should never leave your backyard.
A Stone House Built by an Impressionist Painter in Woodstock
Seven-bedroom, four-bath; $4,250,000
This house was built by Woodstock Impressionist painter Paul Arndt in the 1920s, and it comes with a three-bedroom cottage that he used as his painting studio. The main house, a fairy-tale stone structure with clinging vines, has four bedrooms and well-maintained original details, like the pine floors, wooden beams, and exceedingly charming Dutch doors. The kitchen is dreamy with its huge windows and Siberian elm countertops; same goes for the back patio with its trellis covering a full-size outdoor-dining table that feels straight out of Under the Tuscan Sun. The bonus cottage is basically a full house itself, with a stone fireplace and a screened-in porch. The grounds deserve real attention here, too: Designed by a landscape architect, they include 100-year-old trees and morning glories along the fence line. It’s pricey but huge, and you’re in a quiet oasis that’s still walking distance to town.
How do I get back to the city?
It’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive.
What do I do if I live here?
Buy some clogs at Pegasus Footwear and wear them back to your house, which is just ten minutes away.
A Modernist Home in Garrison
Five-bedroom, five-bath; $3,200,000
This house is designed by local modernist architect Frank Dushin, who was often compared to Frank Lloyd Wright (although Dushin apparently hated the comparison). The space is clean and inviting, with skylights, brick fireplaces, and a sunken living room. The kitchen is a stunner — black-stone countertops, huge windows, and a dual Wolf range — and when you’re done making dinner, you can bring it out to the screened porch. The listing sits on 13 acres (including a separate second buildable parcel) and comes with a pool, mature garden, a cheery two-bedroom guesthouse, and a separate “wellness pavilion” that includes a gym, steam room, shower, and outdoor hot tub. The last time it was listed for sale in 2019, the buyer managed to knock down the price by over $500,000. So maybe you can bring in that same negotiating energy.
How do I get back to the city?
Drive 15 minutes to the Garrison Metro-North station and take an hour-and-a-half train.
What do I do if I live here?
Hop onto the Appalachian Trail, which connects directly to your property through a private trailhead.
