House Spotlight: Oswego County Raised Ranch Transforms Into an Energy-Smart Retreat
CONSTANTIA, NY — Welcome guests to Kevin Anderton’s six-bedroom raised ranch at 229 County Route 23A in Constantia, just across Oneida Lake from southern Oswego County, and you’ll likely be asked one question above all others: how can they design a home that looks and functions like this?
Since 2020, Anderton has relentlessly upgraded the 1994-built house into what he calls an “energy-efficient compound.” The upgrades include Energy Star windows, LED lighting, a dual geothermal heating system, and a roof outfitted with 60 solar panels. Even after a recent National Grid rate hike, his monthly energy bill stays astonishingly low at just $19.
(He keeps the thermostat at 50 degrees—the lowest setting he can tolerate—and leaves it there.)
When neighbors wonder whether his near off-the-grid lifestyle makes a political statement, Anderton shrugs it off and focuses on practicality.
“I like to save money,” he explains.
Beyond efficiency, the home is a showcase of technology, featuring remotely controlled and app-operated lighting, climate control, hot water, and even showerheads.
No wonder he ranks this property among the eight homes he and his wife Colleen have owned since tying the knot 23 years ago as the front-runner.
“It offers the privacy of the countryside, a relaxing backyard retreat, and ample space for entertaining.”
Their move to Constantia happened during Memorial Day weekend in 2020, as the pandemic tightened its grip. The couple were caring for three foster children and needed more space.
“We needed more bedrooms,” Anderton recalls. “This one even had spare rooms.”
While the interior received high-tech upgrades, the nearly 1.5-acre property preserved its old-fashioned appeal for family life. The children kept chickens in a coop, tended vegetable and flower gardens, picked berries, and explored on ATVs and four-wheelers. Wildlife—deer, wild turkeys, and rabbits—abounded nearby, and the 52-by-30-foot back deck offered wide, unobstructed views thanks to glass-ballast railings.
Anderton freely admits he tends to overbuild for his own enjoyment, a habit he calls “Kevin-ization”—a playful way of saying he designs with extra flair and scale.
His curiosity and background in technology and emergency preparedness shaped how he trained and outfitted the home.
The raised ranch unfolds with stairs leading to a lower level, which houses three bedrooms, a large family room, in-floor heating, and a robust wood stove. The family space is where everyone gathers for movies or sports on a 110-inch projection screen. A woodworking shop sits nearby, along with plentiful storage.
The main level opens into a living room that flows into an eat-in kitchen. The kitchen gleams with wood cabinetry, a farmhouse sink, and stainless appliances; the stove is electric, and the refrigerator and dishwasher are new. A wet bar and an extra freezer connect the kitchen to the expansive primary bedroom suite.
That suite, about 900 square feet, was added by the previous owner and serves as a bedroom, den, and office. It can accommodate a king-size bed, and Anderton has kept the large television so it can be viewed from anywhere in the room. Access to the back deck is through French doors.
The suite’s bathroom is notable for vibrant blue tile and a remarkable walk-in shower. Clever storage solutions were added to keep Colleen’s belongings neatly organized, reflecting Anderton’s thoughtful approach to comfort.
The upper level houses two guest bedrooms and another full bathroom with a refreshed vanity and medicine cabinet, plus a laundry area. The home has been freshly painted, with new carpeting and light fixtures, and the siding has been updated across the house.
A detached two-car garage features a poured concrete floor, new roof, and new siding.
After completing the renovations, Anderton anticipated staying another five to ten years. With the children moving forward, he now plans to downsize while remaining in the region and continuing to imagine new projects.
An open house is set for Sunday, December 14, from noon to 3 p.m. for those who want a closer look.
Details
- Address: 229 County Route 23A, Constantia, NY 13044
- Price: $369,900
- Size: 2,576 square feet
- Lot: 1.46 acres
- Monthly mortgage (est.): $1,811 (based on 6.19% national average, 30-year fixed, 20% down)
- Taxes: $7,021 (assessed value $181,400)
- Year built: 1994
- School district: Central Square
Kitchen and living areas: The eat-in kitchen features stainless appliances, a farmhouse sink, and ample wood cabinetry. The adjacent bonus space includes a freezer and wet bar. The main living area connects seamlessly to the kitchen, with floating shelves added from a prior home.
Bedrooms and baths: The primary suite dominates the upper or added space at roughly 900 square feet, suitable for a king bed and featuring a private deck access and a versatile layout. The home contains three additional bedrooms on the lower and upper levels, each with closets, plus two full bathrooms—one with striking blue tile and an impressive walk-in shower.
Outdoors: Located about 30 minutes from downtown Syracuse, the property is quiet and serene. Wildlife and gardens accompany year-round outdoor activities, with the large back deck ideal for gatherings and quiet evenings alike.
Agent: Ryan Millard, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Coldwell Banker Prime Properties
Contact: 8233 Park Ridge Path, Liverpool, NY 13090 - (315) 727-4062 - Ryan.Millard@coldwellbankerprime.com
Website: https://ryan-millard.coldwellbankerprime.com/
Nominate a property: If you know a beautiful or interesting house for future House of the Week, email listing details to home@syracuse.com.
