As seen in this listing photo, this painting barn is a standout of the Lake Kenoza compound that once belonged to the late Pop artist Allan D’Arcangelo.
Photo: NYSAMLS/kyoshino

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 late artist’s compound in Kenoza Lake and a storybook cottage in Salt Point.

Three bedrooms, two and a half baths; $1,395,000

As seen in this listing photo, this Lake Kenoza compound’s main house is 2,600 square feet, and honestly, you should probably leave a lot of the kitchen as-is.
Photo: Compass Greater NY

This looks like the kind of place that would ruin your life with upkeep, but it’s so pretty. What appears to be the estate of the late Pop artist Allan D’Arcangelo comes with a primary residence — a lovely, lived-in three-bedroom farmhouse — two barns, three tiny homes, and a greenhouse spread out over 92 acres. In the 2,600-square-foot main house, there are three baths, three bedrooms, and an open chef’s kitchen with tin ceilings and terra-cotta tiles I would leave as is, personally. There’s also a wood-burning stove. As for the rest of the property, the painting barn is a standout, but the extra little houses are ideal for guests or an artist’s residency or two.

How do I get back to the city? 

It’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive, which feels humane enough.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Check out One Grand Books in nearby Narrowsburg. Go canoeing in the lake.

Two bedrooms, three baths; $459,000

As seen in this listing photo, this Rochester modernist home was built in 1976, and its owners were smart to leave it alone more or less since.
Photo: NYSAMLS

I love an all-caps listing — such conviction. “NEVER BEFORE ON THE MARKET!” reads the write-up for this two-bedroom in Rochester. “A MODERN MASTERPIECE DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT CHARLES LEWIS FOR CURRENT OWNERS.” The place was built in 1976 and the owners seem to have left well enough alone in the years since — thank God. It’s an airy little midcentury number with double-height ceilings in the open living room, walls of windows, and wood finishes throughout. The only thing I would touch is the white carpet in the living room, which likely could use a refresh and, if you’re lucky, is hiding more of the lovely wood floors that are nearly everywhere else in the house. There’s also a wine cellar in the basement that looks a bit like a jail cell — not really sure about that one, honestly.

How do I get back to the city? 

I’m going to level with you — Rochester is very far. It’s nearly a six-hour drive, and as we all know, that means an eight-to-nine-hour drive. Maybe you’re back in Manhattan for the occasional weekend, but otherwise I’d advise you to stay put.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Walk the paths of the Mount Hope Cemetery. Think about making a trip to Toronto.

Four bedrooms, four baths; $2,800,000

As seen in this listing photo, this mid-aughts farmhouse leans into the natural environs with plenty of oversized windows on the first floor.
Photo: Hudson Valley Catskill Region MLS

A mid-aughts farmhouse set on eight acres with perennial gardens, rolling lawns, and woodlands. (Per the listing, the only building in sight is a church steeple in the distance.) As for the interior, the first floor has plenty of oversize windows, which means a lot of garden and landscape views to take in with your coffee on the screened-in porch or while you’re getting some work done in your office or contemplating the world from your sitting rooms. (Yes, you’ll be a sitting-room kind of person here.) As for the rest of the first floor, you’ve got a great chef’s kitchen with a giant island, a Viking gas range, and two dishwashers. Upstairs is a trio of en suite bedrooms with a balcony off the primary one for more view taking.

How do I get back to the city? 

It’s a little more than a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

So what do I do if I live there? 

Get Italian combos from Otto’s Market. Take a tour of the Olana State Historic Site and brush up on your knowledge of the painter Frederic Edwin Church.

Three bedrooms, three and a half baths; $1,575,000

As seen in this listing photo, the owners of this Cape Cod home in Salt Point owners clearly are fans of shiplap walls, perhaps from binging a little too much HGTV.
Photo: Hudson Valley Catskill Region MLS

This cottage has a great setup: five acres next to a semi-private lakefront, which you get sweeping views of thanks to the bay windows and Dutch doors. The structure itself looks like something out of a fairy tale, and if you’re not so hot on renovations, the good news is this 3,000-square-foot residence is turnkey with a 50-year new roof, solid-oak flooring, vaulted ceilings, and your usual suite of high-end appliances. Also, there’s a finished basement — bring on the additional guests. The current owners might have been watching a little too much HGTV given the heavy shiplap.

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? 

Roughly a 22-minute drive away, you can hang out with alpacas at Lilymoore Farm. Stroll a little closer to home at Innisfree Garden.

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