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“Once in a Blue Moon” captures the spirit of this charming, semi-secluded 1920’s cottage set over the water. The cottage lies near the north end of the San Francisco Bay at the gateway to the wine country, where the Napa River flows into the Carquinez Straits.
The cottage is reached via a boardwalk along the water’s edge, which meanders through a tiny community called “Sandy Beach”. As you stroll to your cottage, you will see sea birds and sailboats dipping along the water’s waves and hear the rhythmic sound of the water lapping against the shoreline .
The magic of this place is the way that, after a day in the world, the day's stresses seem to always recede, replaced by feelings of peace and serenity.
At the garden gate is where you really leave the world behind. Upon entering the gate, you are bordered on three sides by a 6-foot fence and on the fourth side by the cottage itself, providing complete privacy. In the morning, you can sit in the garden with your coffee or tea and watch songbirds wash themselves in the large fountain.
The garden is filled with plants and has a table and chairs and several other seats where you can relax. Umbrellas protect you from the sun and on breezy days, the cottage forms a barrier, making the garden an excellent setting for meals and barbeques.
The cottage has an open floor plan and is filled with light. Even with the windows closed, you will hear the sound of the water much of the time. In the house, you are surrounded on three sides by sweeping views of the Bay, Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, and Mare Island. The ferry to San Francisco passes by every 45 minutes.
The cottage is in the style of an Eastern Seaboard beach cottage, with paned and casement windows, tongue and grooved white wood walls and white painted floors throughout. Two pairs of French doors open onto the deck that's over the water.
The waterside deck is furnished with a picnic table, swing, and Adirondack chairs. Relax on the swing while you drink Napa Valley wine and watch the sun set behind Mt. Tamalpais.
The living and dining areas feel spacious and comfortable. The master bedroom, in particular, has stunning views from the bed. In the living room, the doors of a Ben Franklin woodstove can be opened to use as a fireplace during cooler months.
There is also a forced air heater for colder weather. A galley kitchen is open to the living area, adjacent to the garden, and has a large window overlooking the garden. The kitchen has all basic appliances, including a vintage Wedgewood stove.
The kitchen also has an adjoining pantry where dishes and dry goods are stored. The study, which also overlooks the water, is equipped with a desk, file cabinets and a daybed. The bathroom has a clawfoot tub and pedestal sink. The house is decorated with wicker and simple country antiques.
From the communal lot where your car is parked, it is only 2 minutes to the I-80 via the Carquinez Bridge and 5 minutes to the ferry building to San Francisco. Two bicycles are available. A Toyota Tercel with manual shift is also available for shorter stays.
The cottage is in a unique setting and surrounded by a community of people who love life on the water. Your neighbors are friendly and helpful and will look out for you, while respecting your privacy. There is room for up to three cars in the communal parking lot.
If you are an esthete (an artist, a writer?) or someone who loves nature and the simple life--someone who doesn’t mind walking five minutes to get to your home-- this may be the place for you. For this type of person, this is the kind of place that you discover “once in a blue moon.” |
Pet Friendly
