We found four homes that share a rather specific architectural feature — frieze-band windows. What exactly are they? Popular in Greek Revival style homes, they are small, rectangular windows set just below the eaves or cornice in a horizontal row, most commonly across the front facade of a building. They are sometimes called eyebrow windows for their visual effect across the top of the “face” of a structure.

All of the houses we’ve found are restrained in ornamentation, with no elaborate door surrounds or ornate cornices — just the frieze-band windows set directly below roofline. This window style was all the rage in the early 19th century, appearing on houses from about the 1830s to the 1850s.

Three of the houses were built or altered early in this time frame. The fourth, an octagon house, is the most “modern” on our list, constructed in the late 1850s, and a stylistic departure from the other residences.

The houses are located in Columbia, Dutchess and Westchester Counties. The asking prices range from $250,000 to $649,000.

Which one would you choose?

First up is the circa 1810-1845 Isaac Foster House in Hillsdale, N.Y. The Greek Revival style house is located within the Hillsdale Hamlet National Register Historic District. A wood frame structure, it has a central entrance with a small Doric-columned porch. Photos of the rear show fairly typical later lean-to additions as well as an enclosed sun porch. While the listing photos show interior alterations, wide-plank floorboards, mantels and original Greek Revival ear moldings survive. There are four bedrooms, two full baths and a (fairly bland) new kitchen.

upstate homes for sale hillsdale red hook stone ridge bedford

2657 Route 23
Price: $250,000
Area: Hillsdale
Distance from Brooklyn: About 1.5 hours via the Hutchinson River Parkway
Broker: Copake Lake Realty Corp. (Lindsay LeBrecht)
See it here ->

A similar silhouette, a gabled wood-frame house with a simple entrance porch, is found in Red Hook. The early 19th century structure is a lovely vernacular style farmhouse with some elements of the Greek Revival, such as the frieze-band windows. The front porch with its thin columns is probably altered or a later addition, and spans two entrances. There are gorgeous original details aplenty inside (some older than Greek Revival), such as beamed ceilings, wide-plank floorboards, hardware and a large fireplace, complete with bread oven. While not detectable in the images, the windows boast hand-blown glass, the listing claims. The house has three bedrooms and 1.5 baths. The full bath has been recently renovated, and while “period” in design, thankfully the period is one with indoor plumbing — circa 1900. The kitchen has also been renovated, with a country aesthetic and the ubiquitous stainless steel appliances.

upstate-homes-for-sale-hillsdale-red-hook-stone-ridge-bedford-23

327 Academy Hill Road
Price: $415,000
Area: Red Hook
Distance from Brooklyn: About two hours via the Taconic State Parkway
Broker: Gary Dimauro Real Estate Inc. (Gary Dimauro)
See it here ->


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We jump from frame to stone construction with the Vandermark House, appropriately located in Stone Ridge. The house began as a stone cottage constructed circa 1760 and then was enlarged in the early 19th century, according to the listing. The four-bedroom and 2.5-bath home has some original interior details, including wide-plank floorboards, wooden mantels and a massive stone fireplace. The latter comes complete with a crane for your cooking pot, though you may wish to use the more modern kitchen. The house has some of the quirks expected from an 18th century house altered over time, including what the listing calls a “secret attic,” really a small door leading to a storage area. The house is set on 10 acres and includes a barn, well house and horse shed.

upstate homes for sale hillsdale red hook stone ridge bedford

245 Pine Bush Road
Price: $649,000
Area: Stone Ridge
Distance from Brooklyn: Just under three hours via I-87
Broker: Westwood Metes & Bounds (Lynn Masanotti)
See it here ->

In Bedford we find completely different geometry, an octagon house. Promoted by Orson Squire Fowler in his 1840s book A Home for All as a perfect building form, octagon houses were briefly popular in the 1850s. The Bedford house has the exterior characteristics typical of the style: two stories with a wrap-around porch, topped by a cupola. What the original details on the inside looked like is a mystery, as the interior was gutted and left unfinished. There are new windows and the rooms are framed out, so the house is optimistically described as having three bedrooms and two baths.

upstate homes for sale hillsdale red hook stone ridge bedford

47 Round House Road
Price: $424,900
Area: Bedford
Distance from Brooklyn: About 1.5 hours via the Hutchinson River Parkway
Broker: Keller Williams Realty Partner (Mark Boyland)
See it here ->

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