A Restored 1920s Artist Compound in Woodstock, NY, Available to Rent This Summer

Woodstock, NY has long drawn artists seeking quiet studios in the Catskill Mountains within reach of New York City. Set on a quiet road just a short walk from the village center, Library Lane is a circa-1925 compound originally built by local artist Paul Arndt during the town’s early period as an artist enclave.

The property includes a four-bedroom stone residence paired with a former painting studio now converted into a guest cottage. The interiors have been carefully restored with a restrained European sensibility, with the cottage described as Vervoordt-inspired — referencing Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt, whose minimalist aesthetic also shaped Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s widely publicized California home. The compound is currently offered as a furnished rental for $30,000 per month and is available this summer exclusively through The Lillie K. Team at Sotheby's International Realty.

Woodstock’s Artist Colony History

Woodstock developed its reputation as an artist community in the early twentieth century, when the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony was founded in 1902 and began attracting painters, craftspeople, and writers seeking a creative life outside New York City. The colony emerged from the American Arts and Crafts movement and drew inspiration from the region’s earlier artistic tradition established by Hudson River School landscape painters in the nineteenth century. Although the town is often associated with the 1969 Woodstock music festival — which actually took place roughly 50 miles away in Bethel, New York — musicians including Bob Dylan and members of The Band did record in the surrounding Catskills during the same era.

Today Woodstock remains known for its small but active cultural scene, with independent galleries, bookstores, and music venues clustered around its compact village center, alongside a longstanding yoga and wellness community. Despite its cultural notoriety, the town has retained something of a time-capsule quality, shaped by decades of artists, musicians, and independent businesses.

Illustrated view of Woodstock’s village center in the Catskill Mountains of New York’s Hudson Valley.

Woodstock, NY in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains

Located in Ulster County within the Hudson Valley, Woodstock sits at the eastern edge of the Catskill Mountains roughly two hours north of Manhattan. The region has long served as a seasonal retreat for New Yorkers seeking cooler mountain air, forested landscapes, and a slower pace within reach of the city.

In recent years the broader Hudson Valley and Catskills have drawn a growing number of architects, designers, photographers, and creative professionals establishing weekend homes and studios in the region’s small towns.

A 1925 Artist Compound Built by Paul Arndt

Library Lane reflects Woodstock’s long-standing tradition of artist homes that combine living space with studio environments. Built by Paul Arndt in 1925, the compound consists of a main stone residence and a separate structure originally used as the artist’s painting studio.

The property spans approximately 3,796 square feet across the two buildings on 1.6 acres, with the main house offering four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the converted studio cottage containing three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

French antiques, Belgian linens, and natural materials shape the interiors, while the former painting studio has been reimagined as a Vervoordt-inspired guest cottage.

The Main Stone House

The main residence is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom stone house that retains many of its original architectural features, including exposed wood beams, wide-plank pine floors, classic Dutch doors, and multi-pane windows that frame views of the surrounding trees.

According to the current owner, Arndt’s placement of the windows was particularly intentional. “The view from each window perfectly frames a picturesque and epic tree,” she noted.

The restoration introduces a restrained contemporary sensibility while preserving the home’s historic character.

European-Inspired Interiors

Interiors combine natural textures and understated materials, with French antiques, Belgian linens, and natural wood elements throughout. The palette is largely neutral — tans, browns, and whites — punctuated with occasional accents of turquoise and mustard. The owner cites Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt, English designer Rose Uniacke, and the Los Angeles studio Atelier AM among the inspirations behind the home’s design.

Walls are finished in Farrow & Ball paint, while the home also contains an art collection including photographs by Sally Mann. The design references reflect influences from travels to Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and the Netherlands.

Kitchen and Living Spaces

The living room centers around a large stone fireplace and deep seating designed for relaxed gatherings. Bedrooms are generously proportioned and furnished in a similarly understated style. A light-filled office provides dedicated workspace, while the renovated primary bathroom includes a double sink and soaking tub.

The kitchen is fitted with high-end appliances and distinctive material details, including Siberian elm countertops, a clé tile backsplash, and an unlacquered brass Barber Wilson faucet. Original paned windows allow natural light to enter while framing views of the surrounding landscape.

Set on 1.6 acres in the heart of Woodstock, the circa-1925 compound combines a historic stone residence with a converted artist studio guest cottage.

The Guest Cottage — Former Painting Studio

The separate guest cottage — once Arndt’s painting studio — has been converted into a three-bedroom guest residence. The structure retains its original wide pine floors and soaring ceilings, while skylights introduce additional natural light.

A stone fireplace fitted with a Stûv Belgian insert anchors the living space.

Interior finishes reference the restrained aesthetic associated with Axel Vervoordt, emphasizing quiet materials and minimal ornamentation. Furnishings include George Smith sofas and an oak sawhorse dining table, while custom barnwood cabinetry houses a fully equipped kitchen stocked with Le Creuset cookware, Sabatier knives, and small appliances including a Nespresso machine and juicer.

Landscape and Outdoor Spaces

The property’s outdoor areas are landscaped by Michael Trapp and include mature trees and garden spaces across the 1.6-acre site. A screened-in porch with cathedral-style ceilings provides a sheltered space for reading, yoga, or quiet relaxation.

The porch also includes a Sunlighten far-infrared sauna designed for low-EMF use.

Living in Woodstock, NY

Library Lane sits approximately five minutes on foot from Woodstock’s village center, where independent cafés, restaurants, galleries, and bookstores line the town’s small commercial district. The surrounding Catskills provide access to hiking trails, swimming holes, and seasonal skiing within a short drive.

With its origins in Woodstock’s early artist community and a carefully restored compound layout, Library Lane offers an opportunity to experience one of the Hudson Valley’s most enduring creative towns from within walking distance of its village center.

All photographs are courtesy of the listing agency, The Lillie K. Team at Sotheby's International Realty.