A Laguna Beach storybook-style cottage once owned by the late artist Virginia Woolley, a co-founder of the annual juried Festival of Arts, is on the market for $4.35 million.
The list price is more than double the $2.075 million paid by the current owner in August 2022 but reflects what the listing describes as a “comprehensive and creative remodel.”
Spanning 1,256 square feet, the house features three bedrooms and three bathrooms, including a Jack and Jill bathroom connecting the two downstairs bedrooms.
Co-listing agent Nick Hooper of Compass said the current owners have “masterfully kept the historic feel while updating for living today.”
Designed to optimize space and natural light, the interior boasts custom glass doors and original stained glass.
The great room, which combines the living and dining areas and has a window seat, features a vaulted wood-beamed ceiling and a fireplace as its focal point. The ceiling and walls are white except for the archways and walls of the primary living space, which are lined with brickwork of different shades.
A dining area leads into the kitchen, updated with contrasting black stone countertops and stainless-steel appliances.
Up the narrow staircase lies the primary bedroom. It has an attached deck with ocean views, a vintage soaking tub in the ensuite bathroom and closet space.
There’s also a small office area.
Outside, pruned hedges and an arbor enclose the front patio and garden area for entertaining.
A one-car garage with tiled flooring and finished walls rounds out the offering.
The property is on the city’s historic registry with a build date of 1930. According to Senior Planner Chris Dominguez, it is pending approval for a Mills Act contract from the City Council later this month.
Mike Johnson of Compass shares the listing.
Woolley hailed from the American South. She studied art in Chicago and Paris in the early 20th century. In 1923, she left Atlanta and settled in Laguna Beach, where she taught outdoor art classes and served as the curator at the Art Gallery. She helped launch the Festival of Arts in 1932 and participated actively until her death. She died in February 1971 at 86.
