Napa Stone terrace walls holding alternating rows of two types of lavender, is the first thing you notice as you drive up the steep winding street of this magnificent home that had just been fully renovated.

The views of Mt. Tam, San Francisco, the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate from the upper deck are nothing short of breathtaking.

But the heart of the property- its genus loci- is the walled courtyard. Here is where one can truly escape from the noise and pressures life in the Bay Area. Calm and quiet, the courtyard it is a space for contemplation and reflection.

Among the salvias and lantanas, the milkweed and phlox, one can get transported to another place simply by watching the butterflies dance, the bees buzz and the hummingbirds hum.