Upstater

Pearl River, in the Rockland County town of Orangetown, flies under the radar for being a bedroom community for NYC.

Granted, it’s a half-hour or so to the city. But it’s got its own charms and history. Today’s home was built in the Depression era, and we wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it were a Sears kit home, given its A-line facade. The c.1935 cottage’s brick half-moon steps and arched front door are adorable, nonetheless.

The brick fireplace in the living room is simple but enchanting, as is the original hardwood flooring and those vintage radiator screens.

The house is being sold “as-is,” which speaks more to the buyers who are house-hunting nowadays instead of the actual condition of the home. For instance, this kitchen: While it may not be up to pristine 2020s standards, it has been recently updated in a white/gray ethos and is completely functional. But that’s our opinion: The new owners have carte blanche to do whatever they wish.

We like the sharp nickel hardware on the white cabinets, the broken-slate-like floor, and the stainless-steel appliances.

The house has three bedrooms and 1.5 baths. This bedroom has a big pair of windows, freshly painted walls, and O.G. wood flooring.

This den is light-filled, with a French door that opens…

…to a bright, three-season sunroom. The sunroom has sliders that lead to a rear deck, too.

This bedroom, with its painted-paneling walls and shallow windows, would tug the heart of a Midcentury Modern lover.

This half-bath could use some love, if not a full-on gut renovation.

We love those floors, even if they do need refinishing. Who can hate those thick baseboards, too?

This bathroom is fit for a Midcentury Modern dream, from the on-point diamond-pattern floor tile to the oversized tub to that lil vent in the chrome-trimmed vanity. That tilework is pristine, too—though we wouldn’t blame the new owner for calling heads-or-tails on whether they want to focus on the gold on the lower walls, or that green bit of tile way up above the tub.

The bedrooms, overall, don’t need much except for the aforementioned floor refinishing.

The laundry room is in the unfinished basement.

There’s room to improve and maybe expand living space, too.

Out back is a warren of trellised decks.

This ground-level deck directly off the house adjoins a detached, one-car garage.

The 1,360-square-foot house sits on a fifth of an acre with mature landscaping that includes a peach tree, according to the listing. Locals who are house-hunting will appreciate that this is on EAST Washington, thus avoiding the “uphill both ways to and from the high school” lament of those who happen to reside west of Route 304 (if you know, you know). The house is priced at $559,000.

It’s a block off the main drag, not far from great live music and eats at Joe & Joe’s (try to catch the Georgia 5 band when it plays there!)

If this c.1935 cottage in Pearl River sounds like home to you, find out more about 99 East Washington Avenue, Pearl River, from Denise Rooney, licensed real estate salesperson with Joyce Realty.