The bad rap on Long Island is that there’s no affordable housing. Not true.
Birchwood squares cover a massive, living room wall of a Riverhead ranch, thanks to an owner who has an architecture degree and now works as a construction project manager.
It’s one of the contemporary-style touches that Jessica and Brian Frank put in to cover ‘70s-style dark paneling when they moved in three years ago. They first painted the wall purple, then put up the birchwood, creating a dark grid pattern around the light wood.
“We get compliments on it every time someone comes in,” said Jessica Frank. “It’s just like a focal point. We have lights that shine on it.”
The two-bedroom house has grown too small for the family, who two months ago celebrated the arrival of third child, Elianna. Out back, there’s a shower with heat, a hot tub and a three-level deck. Plants, put in by the last owner, light up the one-third acre property.
“Flowers bloom from spring to fall,” said Frank, who’s taking a post-baby break from teaching.
The railraod tracks are not far from the house, but Frank said there’s a lot of privacy and the train, which passes about four times a day with about two cars, isn’t noisy. “I hardly notice it and my kids love it,” she said. “I was very concerned about it when we looked at the house. I made sure I was here when the train passed and realized that it was not a big deal.”
The Franks are selling the house on their own for $299,000, but if the potential buyer does not have an agent, the price will be lower because the agent’s commission won’t have to be paid.
Those interested may email the Franks at house4sale04@gmail.com.
“It’s not the hugest house in the world,” Jessica Frank said, “but there’s nothing you have to do. You can walk in and put your furniture down here.”