BIIA · ISLAND EVENTS

Holiday Home Tour Homes

Featured Homes 2025.

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

Featured Homes 2025

Back to the Holiday Home Tour See all BIIA events →

133 Opal

A beloved Balboa Island residence with a legacy spanning more than half a century, 133 Opal welcomes guests with history, heart, and beautifully reimagined coastal design. The home was owned by the same family for 55 years, and when the current homeowners purchased it, they made a promise: they would not tear it down. Instead, they would honor its spirit and thoughtfully bring it into the present. After the remodel, an original family member visited and shared that her grandparents would be proud. That blessing has stayed with the owners ever since. Inside, one of the home’s most striking architectural features is the floor to ceiling fireplace, crowned with a 200-year-old reclaimed barn wood mantle, a rich, textural anchor that brings warmth and authenticity to the main living space. The remodel also introduced several standout transformations, including the completely redesigned kitchen, renovated bathrooms, a dramatic new staircase, and the creation of a main floor primary bedroom, enhancing comfort and accessibility. Upstairs, the addition of a third bedroom expanded the home’s livability while preserving its original footprint. The décor blends personal style with meaningful pieces, including a striking photograph of The Wedge, and a set of memorable keepsakes such as the Famous Los Arcos tequila bottle and the spirited Trumpeter, both of which have become conversation starters for guests. Beyond its architectural charm, 133 Opal is a home shaped by tradition and togetherness. Each year, the owners host a lively Memorial Day celebration for family and neighbors, a gathering that has become a favorite island tradition. And perhaps most endearing of all, the house has earned its reputation as the party house among the owners’ granddaughters, who fill it with joy, sleepovers, and endless memories. Warm, welcoming, and thoughtfully preserved, 133 Opal stands as a beautiful example of honoring the past while embracing the present, an Island treasure with a story still very much being written.

305 Coral Ave

Coral Cottage, built in 1938, is a Balboa Island original that still retains much of its charm and character. Many of the home’s details remain from its earliest days, including the narrow wood floors that creak underfoot, crystal doorknobs, and hand-applied plaster walls that give warmth and texture to each room. A crystal light fixture still hangs in the hallway, while the original shutters and distinctive half-circle fireplace reflect the craftsmanship of the era. During restoration, the owners uncovered pieces of the cottage’s history hidden in the walls, including a wooden toy from the 1940s, an old hand mirror, and the frame of a window that once looked out onto the alley. These discoveries added to the story of the home and reinforced the importance of preserving its history. While its character remains, the cottage has also been thoughtfully updated. A fresh blue-and-white color palette and ocean-inspired accents bring a light, coastal feel to every room. Throughout the home, historic photographs from the Newport Beach City Archives highlight moments from 1938, the year the cottage was built, and connect visitors to Balboa Island’s past. Coral Cottage has been the backdrop for many special gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, and family reunions. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the home much as it might have been in its earliest days, with board games, jazz records, and vintage artwork that celebrate both history and community. For those who want to experience Coral Cottage beyond the Holiday Home Tour, it is available as a rental at mycoralcottage.com. Staying here offers visitors the chance to enjoy Balboa Island’s history firsthand while making new memories of their own.

mycoralcottage.com

205 Garnet Ave

205 Garnet Avenue blends original Balboa Island charm with thoughtful modern updates, creating a bright and welcoming coastal retreat. Inside, the home features vaulted ceilings, an open living space, white oak plank floors, shutters throughout, and two fireplaces that add warmth and character. A spacious second floor living area offers room for gathering, relaxing, and enjoying the Island’s gentle breezes. The exterior reflects the home’s classic cottage personality with wood shiplap siding, two Dutch doors, two balconies, a generous front patio, and a pair of distinctive lead glass windows that anchor the façade with vintage appeal. Built in 1921 as a simple three room, one bathroom home with a garage, the property remained largely unchanged until 1979, when it was expanded into the structure seen today. Its most recent transformation came in 2022, when the home was remodeled by HGTV stars The Flipping El Moussas, bringing a fresh, coastal modern aesthetic while preserving its century old history. Now newly settled, the homeowners look forward to creating many happy family memories within these walls as they become part of the Island’s ongoing story. Art plays a meaningful role throughout the home. The upstairs hallway features work by photographer Ben Wood, originally from the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England. In the primary bedroom, a photograph by a local artist brings a personal touch and a sense of place to the space. 205 Garnet is a beautiful blend of past and present, offering guests a glimpse of Balboa Island’s early beginnings along with the inviting comfort of a thoughtfully updated family home.

518 S Bay Front

518 South Bay Front is a home designed around its view, its light, and the joy of coastal living. Taken down to the studs in 2008, the house was rebuilt with expansive sliding doors that open fully across the front living area and the upstairs primary suite, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow and framing the panoramic bayfront scenery. As evening falls, the Pavilion glows across the water, a familiar landmark the homeowners affectionately describe as their own Eiffel Tower. The property also features a rare multifunctional private dock with motorized davits to lift and store a boat, plus space for both a Duffy and a Whaler. The dock was refurbished in 2024. The homeowners purchased the property in 2021, drawn to its waterfront setting, the activity of the harbor, and the sense of community along South Bay Front. Their children and grandchildren quickly embraced Island life, enjoying the water, the beach, and time spent together on the dock. The family has lived in Newport Beach for more than forty years, raising their children here, and now feel especially fortunate that one of their daughters recently purchased a home on Little Balboa Island. Before the current owners arrived, the home underwent a complete refurbishment in late 2020 by the previous owner, with design work by Blackband Design. The floors received a custom stain, and the entire home was refreshed and fully furnished. It was purchased turnkey down to the silverware and even included the Duffy boat. Since then, the house has become the setting for many cherished family celebrations, including two memorable Thanksgivings enjoyed outdoors in warm weather and an annual White Christmas Boat Parade Party. The dock has even served as a neighborhood wedding venue, a particularly meaningful moment for all. Originally built in the 1940s as a duplex, the home was rebuilt in 2008 by Patterson Construction as a single residence, joining the garage to the upper level. Longtime neighbors fondly recall that in the 1960s, birds were kept in the rooms over the garage. Inside, the home is filled with thoughtful craftsmanship and quality materials. The kitchen features a single slab Carrera marble island, Shaw sinks, Rohl faucets, a Miele coffee maker, Thermador range, Sub Zero refrigerator, a wine refrigerator, and a standalone ice maker. Nautical inspired beadboard cabinetry enhances the coastal aesthetic. The primary bathroom includes Carrera marble and a steam shower. The upstairs landing offers custom upholstered lounges for movie watching, motorized blackout shades, and its own bar with a refrigerator. The garage was enlarged last summer to accommodate two cars. The home’s most captivating feature remains its ever-changing view of the bay, the ferry, the Pavilion, and dramatic sunsets. The front patio and back breezeway each include fountains, with the front patio offering an in-ground fire pit for year-round enjoyment. New patio furniture was added this fall to make the most of the waterfront setting. Oil paintings by the homeowner are displayed throughout the home, including both original works and interpretations of well-known artists, adding warmth and personality to the space. 518 South Bay Front is a place where family, art, and waterfront living come together, capturing the essence of life on Balboa Island.

225 Apolena

225 Apolena is a charming 1931 Balboa Island cottage that beautifully preserves its original footprint while embracing thoughtful enhancements. The homeowners were intentional about keeping the home’s authentic character intact, elaborating on its classic architecture with strong egg and dart molding, exposed beams, and details that honor what a true Island cottage should feel like. Although the exterior shape and layout remain unchanged, everything inside has been refreshed. Custom cabinetry, new flooring, and a cottage-style sink blend modern function with timeless charm, creating a warm and welcoming interior that still pays tribute to the home’s origins. One of the most meaningful features is the long mirror upstairs, a sentimental piece passed down from the homeowner’s grandmother. It once hung in their engagement party home and now remains a daily reminder of family history and continuity. The homeowners look forward to filling the cottage with new memories too, especially visits from their thirteen grandchildren, who often come a few at a time to stay. The front room features artwork by artist Megan Mollen, adding personality and color to the home’s bright cottage aesthetic. And in true Balboa Island fashion, the house has its own small neighborhood story. After moving in, two visitors stopped by to welcome them and shared that they had lived in the cottage themselves at one time, adding another layer to the home’s rich and well-loved past. 225 Apolena is a classic Island cottage lovingly updated for today, blending heritage, family memories, and the inviting simplicity that makes Balboa Island such a special place to call home.

207 Crystal Ave

Owned by Doug and Martha, 207 Crystal Avenue is a beautifully crafted home designed by Brandon Architects and built by Gregory Homes Inc, showcasing thoughtful detail and a warm, welcoming personality. Doug completed all of the interior finish work himself, including installing the cabinetry, laying the tongue and groove throughout the home, and handling all the plumbing. His craftsmanship is visible in every corner, giving the home a distinctly personal touch. Before the original house was torn down, the grandkids were invited to a demo day where they spray-painted the interior walls and were encouraged to tear out anything they wanted. It was a joyful and memorable goodbye to the old home, and a playful moment woven into the story of the new one. Inside, the décor reflects years of collecting and creativity. Nearly all the shells displayed throughout the house were gathered on family vacations or found right here on Balboa Island. Martha decorated the home and painted many of the smaller works of art seen in spaces such as the living room and kitchen. She now uses the roof deck as her personal painting studio, where the Island’s coastal light inspires her work. Doug’s office serves as his workspace for building custom models with his 3D printers. One of his featured creations, a detailed Star Trek Enterprise, sits atop cabinetry that cleverly conceals a Murphy bed for visiting grandkids. Even the garage includes a feature guests often ask about. Its overhead storage lowers and raises by cell phone, using a lift system called My Lifter by smarterhome.com. 207 Crystal Avenue is a home built with craftsmanship, imagination, and family at its center, capturing the creative spirit and coastal charm of Balboa Island.

1209 N Bay Front

1209 North Bay Front carries with it nearly eight decades of Island history, beginning in 1946 when architect R. R. Casey Jones purchased the property. In 1947, he designed and built a tiny house on the back third of the lot, intended as a simple summer and weekend retreat. In the mid-1950s, Bob and Barbara Webb purchased the property, eventually razing the small structure and building the home that still stands today. Bob Webb was a director at 20th Century Fox, and his wife Barbara served as the Head of the Film Editing Department. The upstairs office, now used as a mancave, once functioned as Bob’s conference room. During their years on Balboa Island, there was a steady flow of film industry friends who visited the home for rest, relaxation, and business. Elvis Presley, whose first film Love Me Tender was directed by Bob, visited the Island often. He would arrive in disguise, and when recognized along the boardwalk, he would quickly retreat to the house until returning to Hollywood. The home also welcomed frequent visitors Natalie Wood, Bob’s niece, and Robert Wagner. Both Bob and Barbara Webb were Academy Award winners. In addition to Love Me Tender, Bob directed The Ten Commandments and Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef. The home was vacant when the current owners purchased it in 1996. They converted what had been a duplex back into a single-family home and have been enjoying their little piece of heaven on the bay ever since. Throughout the house, personal touches and meaningful details reflect the family’s history and traditions. The garden and patio are favorite gathering spots, and inside, features such as a shell chandelier and mirror, an upstairs laundry room, two walk-in closets, stairwell storage, and an unusually large amount of storage in both the house and garage add comfort and ease. The home is also the setting for celebrations shared with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who gather here for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. A mirror and chandelier, an extensive collection of cookbooks displayed in the living room and stairwell, and antique pieces including a cabinet, buffet, and tea cart all contribute to the character and charm of this cherished waterfront home. 1209 North Bay Front offers guests a glimpse into both Balboa Island’s past and the warm family life that continues within its walls today.

1611 Balboa Ave

1611 Balboa Avenue welcomes guests with its bright, open living spaces and the easy indoor-outdoor flow created by the large living room sliders opening onto the patio. This openness is one of the homeowner’s favorite features, especially during the holidays, when the home fills with winter sunshine, fresh bay breezes, and the warmth of seasonal gatherings. Inside, visitors will notice the original stairwell accented by a charming stained-glass window, a detail that glows even more beautifully as holiday light filters through it. The primary bedroom features vaulted ceilings and original beams, giving the room the feeling of a cozy lighthouse lookout with its elevated view of the bay. Stepping onto the upper deck, guests are met with sweeping views of Balboa Bay. During the holiday season, it becomes an especially magical vantage point as lights twinkle across the bay and boat parade. The homeowner takes great pride in the eclectic artwork displayed throughout the home and hopes visitors enjoy the mix of pieces that reflect a strong visual sense and personal style. As a corner property, the patio naturally becomes a gathering place for neighbors and friends. In the summer, it’s a hub of casual conversation, and in winter it transforms into a cheerful spot to welcome visitors, share holiday greetings, and enjoy the festive spirit that fills Little Balboa Island this time of year.