Our stay here (our second) was wonderful. This property is absolutely magical. The garden looks and feels as if Susan has been cultivating it for a lifetime. There are so many things in bloom right now, the entire yard is bursting with color. And not just the typical plants that you find here, but gorgeous flowers like orchids, long stemmed roses and bearded irises. The grass could be a golf course. The yard is also ingeniously protected from the winds on the beach. When the beach is super windy, it’s calm and warm here in the yard. There’s a seating area outside for every need…sunny, shaded, next to fire, overlooking the ocean, tucked away under the shade trees…even one next to the outdoor shower for shaving your legs! The heaters on the deck allow for eating every meal outside in comfort and the hot tub is perfect for after a dip in the cold ocean (or not). The thing I love the most about this property is the privacy. You can’t see another house from anywhere on the property except the ones way across the bay. The house is also quite hidden from the beach, so people don’t even know you’re there. It feels like you’re alone. Meanwhile, you’re only 30 min from San Francisco.
We’re here with our daughter, for whom the little bedroom is perfectly cozy, and my Mom, who loves having her own bedroom separate from the house. It’s perfect for the 4 of us. The house is just big enough to make you want to be outside during the day. The home is an older one, so don’t expect it to be in perfect condition. Some of the windows are tricky to open and the kitchen feels a bit well worn, and is tiny, but it’s more than sufficient for cooking for 4. It has everything you need, including larger pots stored in the laundry room. The dishwasher is noisy, so I recommend not running it at bedtime.
I think our biggest surprise is how much this home feels like a vacation home, even though it’s so close to home (SF). We were supposed to be on Maui this week, but Corona virus…so we’re here. The water temperature and wind are about the only indications we have that we’re not in Hawaii! I feel as happy as I would be there, which is quite something given the situation.
It's not surprising when you figure out that Susan, the hostess, is an artist (from a framed Wall St Journal article in the bedroom) because the whole property inside and out is beautiful....just like her wine labels.