Apartment

Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands

Photo gallery for Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands

Welcome to the Garden Apartment! Freshly renovated, spacious, private and serene
Comfy and stylish living area, seats four
Sliding and screened glass doors and windows let the light in!
Yummy rich colors
At 800 square feet plus patio, this is an unusually large space.
Reviews
9.0

Wonderful

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 374 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Washer
    WasherWasher
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFiFree WiFi
  • Kitchen
    KitchenKitchen

Explore the area

Map
Kentfield, CA
  • Popular LocationLarkspur Ferry Terminal6 min drive
  • Popular LocationDominican University of California9 min drive
  • Popular LocationMuir Woods National Monument20 min drive
  • AirportSan Francisco, CA (SFO-San Francisco Intl.)51 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands

What a special place this is! Sit on the patio, sip tea and look out over a hillside of peaceful woodlands. Wake up to the call
of our resident redtail hawk, and go to sleep to the sound of our local owls. See the occasional deer walking the paths below you. Walk through blooming gardens filled with hummingbirds and butterflies to get to and from your car. Have a picnic on the front lawn. What a perfect retreat.

The Garden Apartment is on the ground floor of our family home, a Victorian dating back to 1903. The house sits on a beautifully landscaped 2-acre gated family compound with two other cottages and a central lawn which everyone is welcome to use. It's a truly unique property. And the location is just incredible. We are in Kentfield, one of a string of small towns (we call it a "string of pearls") in upscale Central Marin, an area world-known for its yearlong mild weather, hiking and nature, great restaurants and proximity to both San Francisco and wine country. This is a great launching spot to explore the SF Bay Area.

The apartment itself is lovely, comfortable, and quite large at 800 sf plus patio. It is a terrific value considering the grounds and the location. It has been recently renovated, and has a fresh new feel. The entry steps are entirely rebuilt, with great lighting and handrails. There is an in-unit washer/ dryer, a 50' HD flatscreen TV, a beautiful new dining set, and head-to-toe redesign including new light fixtures, window treatments, bed linens, throw pillows and more. It all feels very fresh and stylish. The one thing that hasn’t been redone is the original kitchen, who’s retro vibe we love. It retains its’ funky handmade oak cabinets, blue tile counters and spanish tile floors. (I swear I grew up in that kitchen!) The apartment comfortably sleeps 3, with an enclosed bedroom and a twin bed/ daybed in a nook off the living room. Both of the beds are exceptionally high quality and comfortable, as are the linens and pillows; We take our sleep quality seriously here! The main bedroom features a premium latex bed and the twin bed nook a new Puffy memory foam mattress. The unit comes with a small patio, a private entrance and one parking space. It is quiet, serene, and ridiculously safe, with woodland views from every window. THINGS TO NOTE: This is a ground floor unit in a family home, so guests should expect there to be some upstairs noise. Most of the year it is just my husband and I, so things are pretty quiet, but when our adult kids are home for the holidays etc. noise levels can go up. Most of our guests are entirely fine with the noise level, but very noise-sensitive folks might not find this unit comfortable.

PET POLICY:
We love the doggos and welcome them to this pet-friendly property! But, there have to be rules:

1 well-behaved dog 50 lb or less allowed in the unit. No dogs younger than 1 year. $50 nonrefundable pet fee/ pet. Please abide by the following:

- Clean up after your dog scrupulously
- Only well-behaved dogs allowed. No chewing, excessive barking, etc.
- Please don’t leave your dog alone in the unit for a long time.
- Make sure dogs are current on flea and tick treatment.
- IMPORTANT: Wash and dry dogs paws at the provided “Dog paw washing station” near the lawn if they are muddy or dirty, before entering the unit. Towels are in the grey box.
- Use provided couch and bed covers
- PLEASE report any damage to us immediately, especially “accidents”, so that we can treat immediately before they set in
- Have fun playing with Rosie our sweet resident Bernadoodle! She’s entirely friendly.

PARKING:
The Garden Apartment comes with one parking spot. Nearby street parking is very limited: 45 minutes until 10pm weekdays. So please bring just one car. No other cars allowed on the property, even for a short period. You’ll be taking someone else’s assigned spot or blocking access.

Property manager

Jennifer Israel
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

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

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking, inside or out, of any substances.
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.
Unit comes with one parking space. No parking additional cars on the property, even for a short time.
Person booking the unit must be the person staying in the unit.

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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Greenbrae

Located in Greenbrae, this apartment is on a river. Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at San Francisco Bay and Muir Woods National Monument. Novato Arts Center at Hamilton Field and Bay Area Discovery Museum are also worth visiting. Sailing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and cycling nearby.
Map
Kentfield, CA

What's nearby

  • Larkspur Ferry Terminal - 6 min drive
  • Dominican University of California - 9 min drive
  • Marin County Civic Center - 11 min drive
  • Sweetwater Music Hall - 11 min drive
  • Muir Woods National Monument - 20 min drive

Getting around

  • Berkeley Station - 23 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
  • ‪Flatiron Saloon - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Depot Garden Cafe - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands 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 Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Lovely, Large1Br Apt. in Sunny Central Marin! On 2 acres of gardens & woodlands located?

Situated on the riverfront, this apartment building is 0.6 mi (1 km) from Kentfield Hospital and within 3 miles (5 km) of Imagination Park and San Francisco Theological Seminary. San Rafael Pacifics Albert Park and Mission San Rafael Arcangel are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 59 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Eric G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Well Maintained Property
Great well maintained property with a great host!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great apartment and location
The apartment was perfect for the two of us, clean, well equipped, good WiFi and lovely surroundings. Jenny and her family were very welcoming, and responded very quickly to any queries. Rosie their gorgeous dog is delightful and her cuddles were an added bonus for me! The location is ideal for exploring both the Marin headland, San Francisco and all it has to offer. We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 week stay and would highly recommend.
Stayed 13 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Megan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfy with a great location...perfect for couples! Would stay here again!
Unit was PERFECT for my husband & I; we would stay again. Description almost 100% accurate, has a NEW full size stacked washer/dryer IN the unit, when we booked, it was noted as a shared washer & dryer. After staying 2 days in San Fran/Union Square at a hotel, this location was ideal for us as we did day trips to Muir Woods & Point Reyes National and scenic drives on the PCH; we also hiked Samuel P Taylor Park, just 20 min away. Overall well appointed, comfortable bed, quality bed/bath linens. Kitchen has basics for cooking, including tupperware; Keurig 1 cup coffee as well as shampoo/conditioner/body wash were provided, which was a welcome touch as was the full size hair dryer & clothes iron. Wifi worked great; Samsung Smart TV & Roku stick provided access to all of our streaming needs & local channels for weather updates. AT&T cell service was not working in the unit so I switched to WIFI calling with no issues; husbands Verizon service worked ok. This area of CA is hilly, didn't realize how much being from FL. Steep hill to drive to unit; as described, the stairs to the unit have been redone including lights & handrail, while bit of a descent, very doable for anyone that does not have mobility limitations. This is a basement unit, but does not feel like it, lots of windows/natural light. Heard upstairs noise few times between 7-9pm but was not an issue; saw resident dog 1x; saw 1 other person 2xs, who was staying at one of the other onsite units.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cindy V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
118 A Stetson
We enjoyed our stay. The VRBO was clean and cozy and beautifully decorated. We are looking forward to coming back to this lovely place!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynette J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best location!
We loved our stay in Marin! Beautiful hikes and near Muir Woods. The place was tucked away in quiet wooded neighborhood. Just perfect. San Francisco was just a.ahoet drive over the bridge.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cindy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Spot.
The property was exactly as advertised and perfect for us.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robin Jeanne

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
A lovely, private apartment surrounded by tall trees- The quiet balcony looking out at the wooded area and the mountain- A tranquil oasis-
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

June A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic!
The property was wonderful and as described. The yard and surroundings are beautiful. The unit was clean, quiet and amenities just right. Very secure area with quick access to 101 and quaint nearby towns.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Miri N., West Hollywood, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful quiet place to stay
Nice space. Clean modern bathroom. Decent bed. Beautiful surroundings.
Stayed 24 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Rosemary M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Convenient
Jenny is very nice and a responsive host. Property was a bit of a challenge for us getting luggage in/out because of distance from parking. This was fully disclosed by Jenny in online description, but we didn't take luggage into consideration. Younger folks would probably not mind! The bed is very comfortable and the kitchen is very usable. We had a long stay so that was important. There is a walk in closet, plenty of storage. The bathroom is nice, good shower including handheld. The couch in living area is not very comfortable but we didn't spend a lot of time sitting around the apartment since we were helping out with new grandchild. The area is good but not really walkable from the apartment, for us anyway....but that is true in most places in Marin. There are good restaurants nearby and easy commute on the 101 to our daughter's home in Mill Valley, shopping restaurants etc. One improvement would be an additional mirror, other than the one in the bathroom.
Stayed 32 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sarah G., Concord MA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location and cozy house
Perfect for coupled with one child or adult Great location
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Linda G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Kentfield House
Very secure and private property. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonder -ful
All that I wanted and more Excellent location…. Great little house All was perfect
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2022

8/10 Good

Roger P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice
Roomy, clean, lots of amenities. Washer-dryer a plus. Cable and TV too. Would suggest a storage bin foot outdoor cushions; we couldn't use because they were wet from the mist. Shades in bedroom needs fixing (mechanism to turn blades is broken). Someone walked quite loudly upstairs (seemed like stumping almost) until about 11:00 PM a couple of nights; could try be quieter, that late especially.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Matt S., San Francisco

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just as described
Lovely rental close to town. Beautiful property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Serene and convenient
We had a great stay at this small garden apartment. It felt secluded and quiet, even though it was below the main house. The setting and landscaping is very beautiful and it was close by 101, so it was easy to get into the city and beyond. The apartment itself was comfortable and clean. The living room/kitchen/dining area was very spacious, although the bedroom was pretty cramped. I would say the parking situation was difficult to navigate when "checking in" at night--we originally parked in the wrong area, had to go back out to move the car, and it took us about ten minutes to actually find the entrance. This may not be a problem if you are checking in during daylight, however. Read the check-in instructions carefully!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Linda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A family visit
The apartment was very tidy and clean. The ONLY caution is that there are a lot of stairs down to the apartment and one must be able to carry their luggage. Other than that, it was quiet and even came with a few deer sightings. Very special.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
It was great. Very roomy and well set up and exceptionally clean. Just a bit of a challenge getting the car in and out the gate, but I got better at it
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Lori R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Kentfield VRBO
The owner was unable to provide us with one basic necessity - washcloths (we had none). After several messages back and forth she dropped off hand towels which we didn't need. I had to borrow a few from my friend's rental. Also we would really would have appreciated coffee.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Diane M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A beautiful place in a beautiful area
I enjoyed my quiet getaway on this beautiful property. There was some construction down the hill but it didn’t bother me because it was so lovely. A short drive to the ocean and muir woods and made my time here complete.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location!
Well equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, and a nice sitting area out back. Loved that it was close to Sausalito and Muir Woods.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Richard H., Seattle

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location for family visit
Not only was the location perfect for my family visit, but the place was spotless, quiet, spacious, and welcoming. The lush garden setting was restful and well maintained. This was my second visit and I would definitely stay again.
Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Laurel H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Remote urban getaway
We’re retired, so we were looking for a quiet location with easy access to walking, hiking, biking and sight seeing. We found the spot. Biking and walking trails, just down the hill, wind through an estuary loaded with water fowl. Great restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance and just up and over the Wolf Grade to downtown San Rafael. The properties are going through renovations, so this they will only get better. We really felt lucky to have found this spot.

8/10 Good

Paul V.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location
Our stay
Nice place but a little stuffy, this can be fixed by putting screens in a couple of windows to allow for more air circulation. Thanks
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful location and a very nice cottage but it had lots of stairs to get down to it and parking was a little challenging when getting out. There was an automatic gate and it would open only when you backed up to a certain spot. Overall I thought it was nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer 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 architect, an artist, and a stay-at-home Mom. 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 it's 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. Can you tell I love this place?

Kentfield is in central Marin, the sunniest and mildest part of Marin. it is in central Marin, just north of the Mill Valley fog belt and leaving us sunny and mild most of the year. This is one reason we chose a house here. Kentfield is one of a string of charming small towns along the Ross Valley. I grew up one town over, in Ross, and have always loved this area, with it's nearby hikes, schools, bikes paths, restaurants, shops, and small-town feel.

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.

Languages:

English, Spanish

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