A Reinvented Schoolhouse in Columbia County: $599K

  |  December 20, 2023

Today’s house pick is in Columbia County’s Valatie
(pronounced “Val-ay-sha,” not “Val-a-tee”).

The former schoolhouse was built in 1840; the two-story addition was added later on. The exterior is swathed in gray wood siding, and the front door is an inviting rusty tone within a portico.

The entry is the original entrance to the schoolhouse. The white wainscoting and original window are an homage to the building’s birth. Those steps up to the main floor look a little tricky.

Old, rustic beams are scattered throughout the living room, which takes up the bulk of the original schoolhouse. A fireplace sits against a brick column, and you can get a peek at the original wood flooring around the area rugs.

A den sits next to a winding flight of stairs, with a big picture window for lots of light.

French doors separate the den from the kitchen.

Those doors lead to an elegant, columned portico that steps down onto a bluestone patio.

The kitchen has a pie-wedge center island that seats two, and room for another dining set. Custom-crafted cherry cabinets line two walls, and the stainless-steel appliances include a French-door fridge and a gas range with a vent hood.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, each one currently decorated in a minimalist, vintage theme. This room has wood flooring and big, beautiful windows.

This room appears to be even bigger, with plenty of space for area rugs and vintage furniture.

The house sits on more than five acres, and includes a small barn and the original outhouse! It’s northeast of the center of Valatie and north of Chatham Center,  close to I-90 and a 25-minute drive to the Berkshires. Valatie has a cool little downtown that’s home to an annual Winter Walk in early December.

If this former schoolhouse is your home of choice, find out more about 270 County Route 17, Valatie, from Andrea Gabel with Gabel Real Estate.

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