Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photo: SMART MLS

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.

A study in contrasts: two modernist houses and a Queen Anne dating back to when Ulysses S. Grant was president.

Four-bed, five-and-a-half-bath; $8,000,000

This Charles Gwathmey–designed estate blends seamlessly with the outdoors, as shown in this listing photo.
Photo: SMART MLS

If you happen to have $8 million to spend right now, perhaps do a little soul searching but then consider this listing. The Falls, as its been named, goes way beyond the standard luxury box house. Designed by architect Charles Gwathmey, likely most famous for his addition to the Guggenheim in the early ’90s, the house blends with its lush surroundings, which include a running waterfall and a wildflower meadow. The interiors are by New York–based designer Stephen Sills — the kitchen is open concept with metal cabinets and one of the bedrooms comes with an angled fireplace right at the foot of your bed. Glass block windows trim the ceilings adding extra light and a little design wink to the fact that it was built in 1981. The estate also comes with a pool, tennis courts, and a sprawling stone terrace. Just make sure you have enough put aside for a healthy window-cleaning budget.

How do I get back to the city? 

It’s 20 minutes to the nearest Metro North station, then a two-hour train ride.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Stop in at the Fife ’n Drum, a local piano bar.

Three-bed, three-bath; $2,250,000

The exteriors of this Queen Anne, as shown in this listing photo, look like they’ve literally been lifted from the 1800s.
Photo: Four Seasons Sotheby’s International

This mansion was built in 1869, something the listing will not let you forget. The house won’t let you forget it, either: The wallpaper (“remarkably intact,” per the broker copy), drapery, fireplaces, and stained-glass transoms are all original to its first owners, George and Emma Coykendall. The hand-carved woodwork, Tiffany pendant lamps, and curved terraces are complemented by “state of the art commercial mechanical systems,” a generator, and, thankfully, a “newer roof.” There are multiple bay-window reading nooks, a claw-foot bathtub, and a kitchen with a sink that’s placed so incoherently that I’m a little speechless. (Can someone explain it?) The house was last owned by antiquarian book collectors, and it’s clear that the broker who holds the listing is mildly obsessed with the place: “It is easy to imagine rose laden luncheons, candlelit dinners, and evenings that stretched effortlessly into night.” Go off!

How do I get back to the city? 

It’s just over a two-hour drive.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Get your groceries at Adams Fairacre Farms, the best grocery store in the world.

Three-bed, three-bath; $1,200,000

This listing has a cabin vibe with modern amenities, like the Caesarstone counters featured in this listing photo.
Photo: Compass

This house has been on the market for a year, but it just got another price cut so now may be the time to strike. If you want a cabin feel but with modern amenities, this place has a lot to offer — radiant-heated floors, a Kohler digital shower system, Caesarstone counters in the kitchen. It’s a long open layout, the bathrooms are cozily tiled, and one of the bedrooms comes with its own private deck. The soaking tub and the large back deck are nice touches. There are also views of the Catskills and 60 planted trees that look small now but will soon grow into lush landscaping.

How do I get back to the city? 

It’s around a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Get the prosciutto sandwich at Olsen & Company.

Four-bed, three-bath; $1,995,000

The modernist cubic house shown in this listing photo is going for just under $2 million.
Photo: William Raveis-New York

Stay with me — I see potential. A slightly dated, modernist à la 1986 house, with exteriors that are beautiful and imposing — huge windows bringing in a lot of light here. (The wildness of the landscaping is also a draw.) Inside is, well, a time capsule but not without its charms: Curved walls, double-height ceilings, and ample natural light bring a more organic feel to the place despite its ’80s-party-den thing. (There is a lot of white wall to wall to contend with — beware.) There are a lot of bedrooms (nice for guests, considering you’re so close to the city), plus a cavernous kitchen that has more cabinet space than you’ll ever need. Plus, plenty of the bones have been upgraded — a new roof, digitized HVAC, and resealed driveway. Other houses with less square footage are selling for more nearby.

How do I get back to the city? 

It’s just an hour-and-45-minute train ride.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Go see a show at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.

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