Village of Liverpool property includes two houses, pool

In-law suites are great for keeping relatives close, but when multiple generations share a house it can be a little too much togetherness.

There's a four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath house at 100 Fifth St., Liverpool, that might solve that problem, since it comes with a two-bedroom, two-bath house next door at 102 Fifth St.

Mary Ann and Jay Ledden are selling the houses, built around 1858, together for $249,000 after owning them for 12 years. The Leddens rent out the little house, but Mary Ann heard the original owners presented it to their oldest daughter when she married.

The larger home's main entrance faces Tamarack Street. On one side of the foyer, there's a small office with a built-in desk. On the other side, there's a wall of clear, leaded-glass panels that divides the foyer from the formal living room.

On either side of the living room's fieldstone wood-burning fireplace, doors with matching leaded-glass panels cover built-in bookshelves. A triple picture window floods the room with light and overlooks a small covered side porch.

The adjacent formal dining room has original oak floors, fluted Victorian moldings and a tin chandelier. The room has lots of windows and would easily accommodate a large table, sideboard and hutch.

The kitchen, which Mary Ann said is her favorite room in the house, has an atrium morning room with window seats that open for additional storage. The lower windows have blinds as well as removable decorative grids Mary Ann slips in place when she wants to give the room a cozier look, especially in the winter. The atrium's glass roof is outfitted with a motorized sun shade that is raised or lowered with the touch of a button.

"There's so much light, I have grown tomatoes and other plants from seeds in there," Mary Ann said.

The kitchen has pegged golden oak floors, raised-panel dark-stained oak cabinetry and a mixture of solid surface and butcher block counter tops. There are two ovens - one is convection - and an electric range with a grill/griddle and an integrated center exhaust vent.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a powder room, and around the corner there's additional counter space, cabinets and a trash compactor. The washer and dryer are hidden behind louvered doors next to a large food pantry. The counter space offers additional food prep space and a handy place to fold laundry.

A previous owner added a family room with a cathedral ceiling and dark-stained oak floors with antique iron nails. A section of brick wall and floor complements a free-standing faux wood stove that is fueled by natural gas.

The family room, which also has electric baseboard heat, easily accommodates a grand piano. "It's always been a problem, anyplace we've lived," Mary Ann said of her piano. "Not here, though."

Double doors in the family room open to a wood deck with benches, a brick walk to an asphalt driveway and a detached two-car garage with cedar closets and a walk-up attic. A gate in the wood fence behind the deck opens to a pool house and an in-ground pool surrounded by brick decking.

The pool house has a room in the back for the pool's mechanicals as well as pool toys and outdoor furniture. One of the two front rooms, both finished in cedar, has a refrigerator and a sink with counter space and cupboards. The other room is a dressing area with a toilet. The pool house's roof overhangs a patio, providing a convenient spot for grilling and getting out of the sun.

The home has four bedrooms on the second floor, and all have deep closets and original pine floors. One bedroom has an atrium window and a window seat with storage. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and a full bath with a glass-enclosed stall shower. There is a ceramic tile floor, pedestal sink, linen closet and a tub with a shower in the hall bath.

Both homes have a gas forced-air heat and are on public water and sewers. The larger home has central air and a central vacuum system.

Mary Ann said she loves living in the village because she can walk to the grocery store, to events at Johnson Park and to Liverpool Public Library , which she considers the hub of the close-knit community.