Artist's Cottage In Venice, California

When House Crazy Sarah first came across this darling white cottage in a magazine article circa 2010, she fell absolutely head over heels in love with the place.

The sweet classic California bungalow was built in 1921 and is only a few blocks from famed Venice Beach.

It was owned and loved for many years by artist Lynn Hanson and her partner and fellow artist John Robertson.

The Lynn Hanson Years

Lynn Hanson is known for her rich, atmospheric paintings and mixed-media images that are rooted in the natural world.

You can see some of Lynn’s original art adorning the walls in these old listing photos.

These photos were taken when Lynn and John put their house up for sale in 2012 after many years of living there.

The style is so effortlessly beautiful and calming.

This modest 750-square-foot home has been featured in numerous home decor and cottage magazines and was a regular stop on The Venice Garden Tour, and The Venice Art Walk.

The front bedroom was painted a deep lavender, which when paired with breezy sheer curtains and white lines and furniture, made for the perfect nesting retreat.

The bedroom at the back of the house was painted a cool blue and had exposed ceiling rafters – adding to the vintage appeal.

The small bathroom was mostly untouched from its original state with delicate hardware, old basin, and rustic cabinet mirrors that were flea market finds.

Outside, Lynn and John had made the most of their enclosed yard by cultivating a wild cottage garden.

Lynn used the back part of the home – a converted carport – for her studio.

It’s lovely the way nature can come right in through those old windows, thrown open to welcome the California breeze and warm sunshine.

Alas, the home sold for a reported $930,000 in the year 2012.

But the sweet cottage didn’t go out of sight.

It was purchased by famed interior designer and author Rachel Ashwell.

Known for being the founder of Shabby Chic, there was speculation in the design world about what Rachel would do with the tiny cottage in Venice.

She ended up gifting it to her equally talented daughter, Lily Ashwell, who is herself an artist.

Do we see a theme here?

The Lily Ashwell years

Lily Ashwell lived in the home from 2012 to 2019, during which time she threw herself into redecorating the space to her own liking.

Luckily her style didn’t veer too much from the natural breezy feel that this home was used to.

When Lily lived here, the home was also featured in many magazines and websites, but being a millennial, she brought a youthful aspect to the design.

Lily also used the back converted carport for a studio space.

In 2019, Lily being young and restless, moved across the pond to England for a spell and put the little cottage in Venice up for rent for a whopping $5,800 a month.

She eventually returned to California, but moved on to bigger things, selling the little bungalow in 2021 for $1,962,500, according to Zillow.

The 2021 Zillow Listing Photos

Unfortunately, the charming rickety white picket fence has been replaced with more of a privacy fence and screen with tall greenery. You can no longer see the cottage from the street.

But once you enter through the front gate, it is still the same adorable white bungalow with the soul of an artist.

Inside, the layout is still the same, but there have been some subtle changes in the decor.

Gone is the richer red-wood floor in the living room, and the fireplace surround is now a painted white brick design.

The small kitchen has been remodeled with Morrocan-themed floor tile, a breakfast bar, new cabinets, countertops, and new high-end appliances.

In the listing photo above, we can see that the little room off the kitchen is actually a laundry area.

The front bedroom – the one that was once painted a deep shade of lavender – is now a zen meditation den.

The once vintage bathroom has been completely transformed into a sleek, luxuriously appointed spa, complete with a soaking tub and walk-in shower.

While the transformation is impressive, the tiny home has become increasingly sterile and has lost some of its vintage 1921 beach house vibe.

But apart from the regular renos (kitchen and bathroom), the home retains its light-filled cottage charm.

In the listing photos of the back bedroom, we can see a door to the backyard. Not sure if this is a new addition or not, but it is a splendid idea!

Although the home is small, there seems to be no end to how the light and natural beauty flow throughout the space.

Outside, while the yard has become more groomed and curated than the original wild cottage garden, it is nonetheless a serene retreat.

Lucky for us house nerds, the Zillow listing displays a floor plan of the home:

Who knows what the little white house on Superba Avenue looks like now, after its last sale.

Hopefully, the new owners are keeping it as lovely as it deserves to be.

While the various reiterations of the home are gorgeous, House Crazy Sarah will always prefer the breezy, yet earthy natural style of when the cottage was owned by artist Lynn Hanson.