Who we are
The Anita Louise House is a hybrid creative real estate project — a live/work property designed to serve artists, educators, traveling performers, and cultural workers while generating sustainable, diversified revenue for itself.
Located at[ Top Secret Location ] in the heart of Westville Village, New Haven, CT, the property is a classic 1950s mid-century ranch home situated in the geographic and cultural center of Westville Village — New Haven's most arts-dense neighborhood.
The property sits adjacent to the New Haven Free Public Library, within three blocks of cafés, restaurants, galleries, music venues, a salsa school, a wine shop, tattoo studios, outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, hiking and biking trails, and a weekend farmers market.
With two dedicated sleeping rooms and an open-plan living space, we are poised for an intimate experience of thoughtful interactions that cater to artistically inclined minds and have coined the phrase “ADHD compliant” space for gentle creators in the visual fields.
It is in proximity to Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, and the University of New Haven, so during the college move-in and graduation schedule, this house will become available on a public platform to allow common visitors to experience a space that is usually reserved for creators. During the summer months, in tandem with the larger-scale community events that our town holds, we will offer this up as an Airbnb, restricting access of the studio spaces during this time.
With access to public transit and EV stations, you can access all parts of town during your stay at this property.
We intend to offer this space up for board retreats, writers workshops, artists demonstrations, guest chefs, and open studios oppurtunities in addition to the live/work shop space that is needed to accommodate our non-profit housing agreements with local theaters, venues, and festivals.
How we got here
The Anita Louise House is named in honor of Anita Louise Ault, one of the first women to attend the Kansas City School of Art and Design, and a great-grandmother to the founding members. Anita embodied a pioneer of creativity, woven tightly with a spice of domestic flair, that was chaotically sewn together into a spirited personality. She was a landlord to multiple properties in her Kansas town and took to entrepreneurship well.
Her world was a kaleidoscope of poppy hues, where fashion and design met daily function, and every day was an opportunity to create something extraordinary.
The Founders of The Anita Louise House wanted to invoke her inventive spirit and bold independence to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary — one quirky masterpiece at a time, starting with this 1100 sq ft home in our own Westville community.
Our Founders and brand origins
Luke & Mistina Hanscom — Champions of Creative Community
Since moving to New Haven in 2006, Luke and Mistina Hanscom have been at the forefront of artistic and entrepreneurial life in the city, helping transform Westville neighborhood into one of Connecticut's most dynamic creative hubs. Rooted in the belief that art and community are inseparable, they have dedicated nearly two decades to building spaces, programs, and opportunities that elevate both practicing artists and the broader public.
Deep Roots in New Haven's Arts Ecosystem
Early in their time in New Haven, Luke and Mistina forged deep relationships in the local arts scene, contributing to public programming with organizations such as the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA), The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, ArtSpace NH City-Wide Open Studios, the New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL), the Yale Art Gallery, and the Wadsworth Atheneum.
Lotta Studio — A Boutique Creative Production Hub
In 2015, the Hanscoms launched the brick-and-mortar of Lotta Studio, a boutique photography and creative production studio known for its high-end visual storytelling and collaborative spirit. Their artistic expertise — shaped by their education at the Brooks Institute of Photography and early professional work with renowned artists including David LaChapelle and Annie Leibovitz — infuses every project with elevated standards, DIY grit, and imaginative vision grounded in real human connection.
West River Arts & The Range
Seeing a need for affordable workspace and community gathering places, the Hanscoms expanded to create West River Arts — a curated studio hub offering year-long leases at below-market rates, youth internship programs in partnership with Hamden Hall and Amity High School, and monthly open-studio events. They also created The Range, a collaborative co-working space for editors, illustrators, and content creators. Together, these spaces have become anchor institutions that attract talent, spark new business
