With the description, “1910 carriage house…in the beautiful back garden of owner’s historic family property in old town Sausalito”, I thought I might be in for a treat with lodging for our trip to San Francisco and Sausalito in May.  This delightful 850 square foot home became the perfect base for our trip to explore Sausalito, the Marin headlands, the city of San Francisco, and Napa valley.  I’m finding that the more I travel, the more I am enjoying sites like vrbo.com and airbnb.com and the rentals available.

As an alternative to a hotel, an apartment, home, or cottage can provide so much more – usually in terms of space (most with full kitchens) but also in terms of character and becoming part of the local culture, not to mention cost savings.  We can make our own coffee and enjoy leisurely breakfasts.  Or we can shop at local farmer’s markets and cook a meal or two at home.  The idea of coming back to a “home” inspires deeper relaxation and appreciation of the environment we’re exploring.

This lovely cottage I discovered in Sausalito was aptly named “Maison Rêve“, which means “dream home”.  Alas, I knew I was at the right place.  🙂 Owner, Yasmine McGrane, lives with her family in the main house on the property and is a renaissance woman after my own heart.  She is a professional interior designer and life coach and has created a concept of “white space living” that she incorporates into her designs as well as her coaching experiences.

The cottage is outfitted with curated vintage and flea market treasures from her travels to France and throughout the US, with some items available for purchase in her online shop. The cottage is quaint and historical but also includes modern amenities, like fast Wifi for those who might need to get online for work or play. I found myself connecting to the objects on display and the spaces that encouraged me to write or read or just be.

The upstairs loft drew me in with crisp Belgian linens that elevated the bed from mundane to divine. Yasmine’s artful displays of old bottles and ephemera delighted our senses. Waking up in the morning, we could hear the foghorns on the bay and even see the boats go by our little slice of Sausalito bay from the hilltop window.

Good-bye, Maison Rêve, and merci for adding to our joie de vivre!