As seen in this listing photo, this stone residence in Hopewell Junction has plenty of its early 20th-century grandeur.
Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photo: HVCRMLS
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, we’ve got a former president’s hunting retreat in Hopewell Junction, and a restored Queen Anne cottage in Hudson.
$1,550,000; five bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms
The original beams and stone mantels, as seen in this listing photo, maybe have something to do with why this residence FDR’s favored hunting retreat.
Photo: HVCRMLS
A 1930 stone residence for the history buffs. Per the listing, Aymar Embury II, who handled a number of the Works Progress Administration projects in New York City, designed this home with stone from a local quarry as part of future Treasury secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr.’s Fishkill Farms estate. FDR was a fan, and the spot became the president’s “favored” hunting retreat. It’s easy to see why, particularly with the grandeur of original timber beams and the stone mantel and fireplaces, as well as views of the mountains framed by Tudor-style windows. But it’s not fusty, with nice modern updates, particularly the Viking appliances in the kitchen. Upstairs, the second-floor primary suite comes with its own stone fireplace, while a clawfoot tub, office, and an additional room comprise the third-floor suite. There’s a heated saltwater pool and spa outside, plus plenty of trees and a creek scattered across the property’s 12 acres. It’s all very, well, presidential.
How do I get back to the city?
It’s a little over a one-and-a-half-hour drive.
So what do I do if I live there?
You’re a little under a 20-minute drive to Fishkill, and you can make some friends over bratwurst and tripels at the Dutchess Biercafe. Mount Beacon is just a smidge further for a hiking daytrip and dropping into the Hudson Valley Brewery after.
Two bedrooms, two bathrooms; $995,000
It’s floor-to-ceiling windows throughout this contemporary build in Round Top, as seen in this listing photo, which get you great views of the surrounding woodlands.
Photo: Compass
A spacious, barn-inspired new build that’s heavy on Scandinavian motifs. There’s white-oak flooring throughout, which plays well with the floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of light and full views of the surrounding woodlands. Along with the two bedrooms, there’s a loft space with a skylight that is currently set up as a Pilates studio but could make for a meditation or indoor stargazing space, or a third bedroom to lure your friends still in the city up on the weekends. The kitchen has a built-in Wolf gas range and oven, plus custom cabinetry. In addition to the woodlands, the property’s 2.2 acres of outdoor space includes a kitchen, a built-in firepit and an outdoor shower, which helps if you’re into wading in the private creek.
How do I get back to the city?
It’s a roughly two-hour, forty-five-minute drive.
So what do I do if I live there?
Make the seven-minute drive to nearby Cairo for croissants at Red Star Cafe & Bakery; go camping at Whip-O-Will.
Three bedrooms, three bathrooms; $1,550,000
This barn-inspired home in Saugerties, as seen in this listing photo, has warm, airy interiors outfitted modern and antique pieces that its current owners have collected.
Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
We’ve clearly got a thing for barns this month. This one, set on 13 acres of land, has a little more color, which perhaps partly could be chalked up to its 1980s build and the owners’ penchant for collecting. We’re fans of the airy, open-plan downstairs, which has a wood-burning fireplace in the living area and a nice flow between the custom kitchen and dining area. That, and the exposed beams lining the 18-foot ceilings. The primary ensuite bedroom and guest rooms are situated upstairs, as is a lounge with mountain views and custom shelving that could double as a library. Not too shabby.
How do I get back to the city?
It’s a little over a two-and-a-half-hour drive.
So what do I do if I live there?
Hit the trails at nearby Huckleberry Point, or make the roughly 15-minute drive into town to lounge with a latte at Josie’s Coffee Shoppe.
Three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms; $1,435,000
This Queen Anne cottage in Hudson, as seen in this listing photo, has managed to retain some of its late-19th-century charm following a restoration.
Photo: Brown Harris Stevens
The restoration of this Queen Anne cottage preserved some of the building’s quaint, 1870s charm. The new floors and exposed beams are reclaimed old-growth Heart pine, and the custom kitchen is quite impressive, between the inset cabinetry, marble countertops, and brass hardware. The second-story porch, outfitted with shingled archways and accessible from two of the three bedrooms upstairs, is an ideal escape after emergency Zoom meetings. The yard, with a bluestone patio and perennials, is quite nice, as is the property’s detached carriage house that can host guests thanks to the full bathroom and custom kitchenette built with an antique farmhouse sink. There’s also this bonus: off-street parking in the rear.
How do I get back to the city?
It’s a roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive, or two hours and 15 minutes via Amtrak.
So what do I do if I live there?
You’re right in the thick of Hudson, so grab a cozy and pull up to the bar at Spotty Dog Books & Ale, or catch a show at the Time and Space Limited theater; also, there’s always antiquing on Warren Street.