A converted schoolhouse in Upstate New York has storybook character

Straddling the border between the Hudson Valley and the Berkshires, this not-so-tiny house comes with all the hallmarks of a fairytale summer property. Built in 1875, it has the wood-sided gables and deep verandah of a period home, with established gardens that burst forth from the half-acre property, visited by birds and butterflies. And yet its 1,200 square feet easily make space for two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an office and eat-in kitchen. The living space has super-high ceilings and a gas fireplace, leading out to a sunroom converted from the old porch.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty.1 of 19

Clever nooks hide a laundry room, pantry and energy-efficient upgrades like a full-house generator and air conditioning; outbuildings include a chicken coop.

It’s currently on the market for $480,000 with Sotheby’s Realty.