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Gorgeous 2Bd + Loft with Deck and Gardens. Soaring 20 ft ceilings, huge windows!

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Welcome to the Musician's Cottage!
Gorgeous light-filled Great Room with soaring 20' ceilings
Spiral stair in corner. Walls of windows looking out on green woodlands
Such high ceilings!
Comfortable, stylish living area

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Kentfield, CA
  • Larkspur Ferry Terminal
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Dominican University of California
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Muir Woods National Monument
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • Sausalito, CA (JMC-Commodore Center Heliport)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Loft

1 Single Bed

Master bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second bedroom

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Bathtub or shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Gorgeous 2Bd + Loft with Deck and Gardens. Soaring 20 ft ceilings, huge windows!

This lovely cottage was originally a music studio for the owner, a performing musician and teacher. Now in its second life as a guest cottage, you can still feel the happy vibe of the space! Fully renovated in Sept. of 2020, the large 1200sf space is fresh, upscale, and very Marin. The light-filled great room has soaring 20' ft. ceilings and walls of windows looking out onto woodlands. The cottage is located in a quiet, private 2-acre property walking distance to town and convenient to both San Francisco and wine country.

The Musician's Cottage is nestled in our peaceful, historic family property along with our Victorian main house and another cottage. The grounds are landscaped beautifully with wild woodlands behind. The cottage has access to a lovely green front lawn and a private back deck. Hummingbirds and butterflies flit about, deer are frequent visitors, and we even get the occasional fox. As you enter the cottage you feel the freshness of a full, high-quality renovation. There is a new kitchen, a dining area flooded by light from double french doors, an incredible great room with double-height ceilings and a small loft for reading or stashing an extra guest. Enormous windows surround the great room on three sides and look onto old sculptural oaks; you'll feel like you are in a treehouse. The bedroom wing features a quiet master bedroom with woodland views, a large, luxurious new bathroom, and a twin bedroom. The renovation was done by an award-winning San Francisco designer, and all furnishings, fixtures and finishes are stylish and of the highest quality. And another plus: There is so much outdoor space to enjoy! A private back deck, a small front patio, and the large common lawn and gardens in front. Breathe deep, enjoy!

The property is entirely private, with no traffic noise and surrounded by nature. But here's the kicker: It's only 1 minute from a main thoroughfare of Marin County, Sir Francis Drake. This means every convenience is close by: grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The charming small town of Kentfield is walking distance away (about 7 min down a steep hill) with a fantastic deli/ gourmet store and two restaurants. Best of all, we are in central Marin, the best part of one of the safest and most beautiful counties in the land. Marin is world-renowned for its year-round fantastic mild weather and its hiking, biking, and kayaking. Sunny central Marin, in particular, is free of the chilly fog that plaques southern Marin (Mill Valley, Sausalito, Stinson Beach) and San Francisco. Central Marin, moreover, is located about halfway between San Francisco and wine country, making it convenient to both. It's no wonder that so many Marinites call this place Paradise!

This is the perfect place to bring your pooch along on vacation! The property has a central common lawn for the doggos to play, and is a gated compound at the dead end of a road so very little traffic (except us). Rosie the resident mini-bernadoodle is a wonderful hostess and always up for playtime!

Pet policy: 1 dog 50 lb or less welcome in the cottage. No animals younger than 1 year old. Dog must be cleaned up after scrupulously. Dogs with behavior issues like chewing or excessive barking are not allowed. If dog’s paws are dirty wash and dry them at the “Dog Paw Washing Station” next to the lawn (towels in grey bin) before entering the cottage. Use provided couch and bed covers. $50 nonrefundable pet fee.

NOTE: Your unit comes with two assigned parking spots, on the tight side. They are large enough for 2 standard-size cars (compact to midsized), one full sized car and one compact, or one large or oversized vehicle. No additional cars allowed on the property, even just for dropoff.

Property manager

Jenny Israel
Premier Host

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Spiral stairs and loft unsafe for young children.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Max 2 cats, 1 dog under 20 lb allowed. $50 fee.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Long term guests agree to a phone interview shortly after booking to make sure that it's a "match". If not, they agree to cancel booking the same day.
This is a shoes-off house. Please remove shoes at entry.
Quiet hours between 11p and 8am. No loud noises of any kind between these hours.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Greenbrae

Located in Greenbrae, this cottage is in the mountains. Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate Bridge are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at San Francisco Bay and Presidio of San Francisco. Book Passage and Novato Arts Center at Hamilton Field are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Kentfield, CA

What's nearby

  • Larkspur Ferry Terminal - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Mission San Rafael Arcangel - 7 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Dominican University of California - 9 min drive - 5.9 km
  • Marin County Civic Center - 11 min drive - 11.1 km
  • Muir Woods National Monument - 21 min drive - 16.9 km

Getting around

  • Richmond Transit Center - 27 min drive
  • Oakland, CA (OAK-Oakland Intl.) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Jack in the Box - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Muffin Mania Cafe - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Pond Farm Brewing Company - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Depot Garden Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Guesthouse - ‬8 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Gorgeous 2Bd + Loft with Deck and Gardens. Soaring 20 ft ceilings, huge windows! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Gorgeous 2Bd + Loft with Deck and Gardens. Soaring 20 ft ceilings, huge windows!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gorgeous 2Bd + Loft with Deck and Gardens. Soaring 20 ft ceilings, huge windows!?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Gorgeous 2Bd + Loft with Deck and Gardens. Soaring 20 ft ceilings, huge windows! located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is 0.6 mi (1 km) from Kentfield Hospital and within 3 miles (5 km) of San Anselmo Town Hall and San Francisco Theological Seminary. San Rafael Pacifics Albert Park and Mission San Rafael Arcangel are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 48 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 48 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 48 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Randall P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A little bit of paradise

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the former music space in Kentfield, with its elegant windows looking out at the trees behind the house. Jenny is a great host and we felt right at home. Perfect location in Marin, just minutes from San Anselmo as well as the Larkspur Ferry and 101. 30 minutes to San Francisco, and 30 minutes to the beach at Point Reyes. What could be better!!
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steve M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent vacation rental

We are a family of four, now with older teenagers. We have stayed in a lot of vacation rentals over the last 16 years. This was the closest to perfection that we have yet come across: a beautiful house, nicely furnished and well equipped, in a really peaceful setting close to the lovely town of San Anselmo and Muir Woods and within easy reach of San Francisco and Wine Country. Great WiFi, great a/c, easy check-in and access, easy parking, good washer and drier and nicely dark main bedroom for a good night’s sleep. The only very tiny point to note is that the small skylight in the second bedroom might mean that a light sleeper in that room wakes with the sunrise (unless you bring blackout paper), but we didn’t find that to be a real problem (not least because it didn't get light until nearly 7am in August) and I would not want that to put anyone off. I would highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carter W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Sandra B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great short stay

Place was so beautiful and peaceful. I believe I left a pair of jeans. Can you lease call me? 415-341-3674
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for us

The house was even more beautiful in person, great attention to detail. The location was perfect, close to family, coast, and San Francisco. We hope to come back again soon.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nancy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet Spot

We will be going back asap! We loved this property and our stay- too many details for a short overview. We travel heavy so we appreciated how spacious. We rent properties and this is in our top 3! All the furnishings were very comfortable and nice. Plus the bathroom was nicely extra large. The owners are thoughtful in details including a dog clean up station on their very lovely central yard with lots of flowers and great trees with shade. And a blanket to cover the couch so the dog can go there. Bonus: Rosie the resident pup was scrumptiously cute and fun! We loved how central the property is to all of Marin’s great sights and activities so it was quick and easy to go to/ from, including Napa, SF, Tomales Bay, etc. So close yet it feels secluded as the compound is situated at the end of the street and thus quiet. just lovely! Thank you Jenny and Sandy!
Stayed 10 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Return Visit

This is our second time staying in this lovely cottage and we look forward to future returns. Host is very responsive and quite gracious and location is first rate. Cottage is light and welcoming and had everything we needed.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Erin G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

We had a very nice stay at this Kentfield rental. We did run into an issue with a broken refrigerator and the Wi-Fi not working upon arrival and for the first 24 hours. It was stressful and had to spend a lot of time working with the owners to resolve the issues, in the middle of the holidays. They gave us a small credit although not enough to make us feel valued. Aside from that, the location is beautiful and about 8 to 10 minutes from the 101. This is a small house right next to the owners home and there are two other rentals on the property. The beds were very comfortable, beautiful views out the large windows in the back, and the kitchen had everything you need. Great double sinks in the bathroom as well. It is very peaceful however, there was a loud barking dog every night at around 9 to 10 PM, which was not expected. We would stay here again as overall it was a great rental. 4 stars is because of the issues we encountered.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Desiree P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hidden Gem

Beautiful cottage and setting. Central to many restaurants, shopping and walking paths. Well stocked kitchen perfect for a small group. Felt like we were sleeping in the trees. Loved it!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

dr. rick n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Couldn’t ask for better….

I have stayed here before and will be staying here again. It is my “home away from home“ and meets every expectation. it is simply the best I have ever stayed at in Marin County.
Stayed 13 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nanci R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay for visiting family in SF

Beautiful setting and close to so many things in the Bay Area
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cathy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved every minute

We stayed 10 days and brought our Labradoodle. The fact that we could bring Tula with us was super special. The house was light, airy and comfy. Loved the privacy and trees. It was so relaxing, we didn't do much sightseeing, though we could have since fun locations were easy to access. Comfy beds, too. Highly recommend and will return.
Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Edward S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Treehouse in Kentfield

We really enjoyed our stay in this charming space. All expectations were either met or exceeded with our experience and look forward to being there again.
Stayed 12 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Davie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay in Kentfield

Great place, loved hanging out in the front lawn in the evening and beautiful view of the woods in the back. Very close to restaurants and the awesome Woodlands market. Highly recommend this place!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tara S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Base for Exploring Marin County

Private, seclude home close to grocery, restaurants, Muir Woods, Golden Gate Park, Point Reyes. This home is tastefully decorated and comfortable. This home is centrally located to Marin County and close to San Francisco. We enjoyed our stay and highly recommend this property to others!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debbie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

Perfect in every way. Beautiful renovated home. So peaceful with all the woods and gardens surrounding. The Bon Air area nearby had anything needed and easy to get on highway. Jenny was a great host. Hope to be able to stay again when visiting the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chris H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Property!

I came to SF Bay area with my children to attend my niece's wedding and other wedding-related events in Sausalito and Mill Valley. This unit was perfect! Easy access to 101 made it a breeze to get to all the activities and SF, while providing a pleasantly remote respite in the evenings. The property was immaculate and exactly like the photos. Huge picture windows provided beautiful, wooded views. Beds were comfortable and kitchen was well-stocked. Although we did not have time to prepare any meals, I can imagine we would have had no problem finding anything we needed. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend the Musician's Cottage to anyone visiting Marin County.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

dr. rick n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Best!

I have stayed at many short term rentals in Marin County. This one met my needs perfectly. I will be returning for sure!
Stayed 12 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lark K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect little gettaway

Really beautiful property with nice, high-end finishes. Beds are comfortable and the location is great. Communication with the host was excellent and they were very kind. Definitely would stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth S., Bainbridge Island, WA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Kentfield Stay

Well located, private getaway. Owner super responsive and very helpful. Very well stocked, clean and attractive. We couldn't have asked for more and hope to be back some day.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marla L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet and Comfortable

A lovely location in the hills with easy access. The cottage is completely private on a beautiful large property. The kitchen is well equipped with everything that you need and the host is very responsive with any questions. I am planning to stay again when visiting family in the area.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Linda A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful setting & home

We were happy to stay in such a nice property for 3 nights and cook some amazing meals in the gourmet kitchen.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

joanne g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun getaway

A beautiful and easy, tucked away house. Good location and well stocked. Beautifully appointed and walking distance for coffee and markets. Totally charming and Jenny is a delight!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

john b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property and excellent location.

Well represented.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wendy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Place to Enjoy, Relax and Recharge!!

I enjoyed my stay immensely!! Very warm and comfortable. Pictures and details are accurate. Loved preparing meals in the well appointed kitchen but close to restaurants if thats your preference. Stayed during Atmospheric Rivers and very happy to have had this space to spend my time indoors. Centrally located in Marin County. Jenny was helpful and responsive before having to ask. Big thumbs up!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jenny Israel

Host profile image
I am a native of Marin, and love everything about it! Hiking, beach barbecues on Muir Beach, Mountain Home Theater, burritos in the Mission, Fairfax Scoop, wine tasting in Napa... the list goes on and on.

I love Marin even more as I took a long detour from it. Our three children were born and raised in NYC, and I persuaded the family to move back here in 2013. Quite the change, brownstone Brooklyn to nature-filled Marin! We love both but are so happy to have landed here.

I am an artist, a Mom, and a small business owner. I love yoga, hiking, hanging with the family, reading on the porch, and dinner with friends. My husband Sandy is a professional musician and teacher. We are a relaxed, creative family.

My motto? I guess it would be: 'Have a gratitude attitude.'

Why they chose this property

A huge attraction of this property is Marin County itself, one of the most magical places on earth. Marin is famous worldwide for its' astounding natural beauty and the huge amount of land protected for public enjoyment. There are few places on the planet where you can hike, mountain bike, surf, sail, horseback ride and camp on thousands of acres of untouched wilderness, all within an hour of a major city. The variety of fun to be had in the area is unmatched: all the restaurants, museums and shopping of SF, the stunning beauty and outdoorsy lifestyle of Marin, plus wine country just 40 minutes north.

Kentfield is a charming little town in central Marin, an area with the mildest, sunniest, most lovely year-round weather you can imagine. It has several very good restaurants, a gourmet market, bike paths, a school with a big field to kick a ball around, and loads of small town charm. It's one of a string of such small towns along the Ross Valley, all very special. I grew up the next town over, in Ross, and have always wanted to come back. Can you tell I love this place?

What makes this property unique

I first became intrigued with our property when I heard of it's unique history. The property was owned by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and the house and two cottages were built in 1890-1905. They were together known as "The St. Francis Outings Club", a summer and weekend retreat for Catholic women, both nuns and laypeople. Catholic factory-worker girls from the city were invited here to relax and reflect. In the Main House (118), the two central living spaces were used as prayer rooms and had pews as late as the 1970's. The Musician's Cottage (117) was the Mother Superior's private quarters, while the other cottage (116) was a barn or garage. A path through the woods had the 12 Stations-of-the-Cross, some of which remained until the 1970's.

Those were the roots, but several incarnations followed. In 1946 the property was bought by a retired war colonel. When his widow died in 1978 the property was sold, used as a rental, and fell into disrepair. We've heard that it became something of a wild place, with a local reputation, fitting for its' times. It was then reclaimed by the owners before us, and lovingly restored. We've continued this effort.

We love all the long and varied history of this property. The property is all at once a spiritual retreat, a colonel's home, a flop house, and now the happy home of two artists and their family. All of these layers are present in historic properties like this.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests