VAN DER RYN ECO-REFUGE
Only one hour North of the Golden Gate Bridge, this home is a slice of paradise situated on a beautiful 5-acre parcel on a relatively flat wooded knoll overlooking Tomales Bay near the top of Inverness Ridge. The Van der Ryn Eco-Refuge, a 3-story fully furnished home, reflects the creativity and care of its architect/owner, Sim Van der Ryn, a well-known pioneer of ecological design.
You enter the house through a work of art, the redwood door carved by the renowned sculptor, J.B. Blunk. The foyer, with a high vaulted ceiling painted with traditional Tibetan designs of sky and clouds by Tibetan monks, connects the two main sections of the house. From the foyer, Japanese sliding doors lead into a large open space containing a fully equipped gourmet kitchen and a dining/living room area with a cozy queen-size bed alcove. There is also a half-bathroom. A wood-burning stove and a gas heater to warm this space.
The second and larger section of the house is a 3-story pole construction with double groove cedar siding. The ground floor features an octagonal-shaped bedroom (originally called the "womb room") with ensuite bathroom and its own library. The second level has a second gathering space. It is spacious, high ceilinged, and drenched in light with cozy couches and another wood-burning stove (as well as a gas heater). There is a space for an office set-up as well. The 2nd-floor bedroom and en suite bathroom feature a large bathtub and a sink shelf unit hand-carved by J.B. Blunk. Wooden spiral stairs lead up to the third level that houses the master bedroom suite and bathroom. Windows from the third level offer great views. On the ground floor is situated the two-room Roost apartment, with its own private patio and entrance.
The whole estate with its landscaped grounds provides great comforts and beauty. The amenities include custom furniture and original artwork, a library with a rich variety of books, a sound system with speakers both down and upstairs, and good quality wi-fi system. The kitchen has a Bosch dishwasher, refrigerator/freezer, new gas stovetop, and newly built-in wall convection oven, and two separate sinks, one specifically for washing vegetables from the garden. Outside features include two stone patios, three water features, including a pond, various fruit trees, open grassy areas, extensive vegetable gardens, a private deck with Jacuzzi, an outdoor shower, a bocce ball court, and a trampoline with surrounding oak and bishop pine trees. No wonder one guest commented in the guestbook that being at the Van der Ryn Eco-Refuge offers "a lesson in living beautifully."
All utilities, including electricity, gas, phone, and wi-fi are included in the rental. The owner also supplies firewood for both fireplaces. Also, vegetable and flower gardens are provided for the renter's use. The house will be immaculately clean when you move in. $2,000 will be deducted from the deposit for deep clean at end of the lease. The family owners live in separate buildings on the property outside of the private grounds of the Eco-Refuge and are respectful of the renters' privacy. Yet renters are part of what feels like a small, safe, secure, and friendly familial village placed on a most beautiful piece of property. The host family can provide assistance of any kind that the tenants may need, in the garden or anything.
House for rent
Accepts Zillow applicationsSpecial offer
$9,880/mo
Inverness, CA 94937
4beds
4,000sqft
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Single family residence
Available Fri Jan 15 2027
Cats, small dogs OK
In unit laundry
Attached garage parking
What's special
Various fruit treesWood-burning stoveBocce ball courtWooden spiral stairsCozy couchesStone patiosJapanese sliding doors
- 21 days |
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Zillow last checked:
Listing updated:
Facts & features
Interior
Bedrooms & bathrooms
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 5
- Full bathrooms: 4
- 1/2 bathrooms: 1
Appliances
- Included: Dryer, Washer
- Laundry: In Unit
Features
- Flooring: Hardwood
- Furnished: Yes
Interior area
- Total interior livable area: 4,000 sqft
Property
Parking
- Parking features: Attached, Off Street
- Has attached garage: Yes
- Details: Contact manager
Features
- Patio & porch: Deck, Patio
- Exterior features: Extensive one of a kind book collection - ecological architecture, handbuilt homes., Fully furnished and artistically decorated., Garden, Water Feature, full size bocce ball court
Construction
Type & style
- Home type: SingleFamily
- Property subtype: Single Family Residence
Community & HOA
Location
- Region: Inverness
Financial & listing details
- Lease term: 6 Month
Price history
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 4/16/2026 | Listed for rent | $9,880-3.1%$2/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rentals Report a problem | ||
| 1/23/2023 | Listing removed | -- |
Source: Zillow Rentals Report a problem | ||
| 1/9/2023 | Price change | $10,200-7.3%$3/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rentals Report a problem | ||
| 1/2/2023 | Listed for rent | $11,000+17%$3/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rentals Report a problem | ||
| 12/13/2021 | Listing removed | -- |
Source: Zillow Rental Manager Report a problem | ||
| 11/27/2021 | Price change | $9,400+5.6%$2/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rental Manager Report a problem | ||
| 11/24/2021 | Price change | $8,900-5.3%$2/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rental Manager Report a problem | ||
| 10/27/2021 | Price change | $9,400-4.1%$2/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rental Manager Report a problem | ||
| 9/30/2021 | Listed for rent | $9,800+4.3%$2/sqft |
Source: Zillow Rental Manager Report a problem | ||
| 2/27/2021 | Listing removed | -- |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 9/24/2020 | Listing removed | $9,400$2/sqft |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 9/5/2020 | Price change | $9,400+11.9%$2/sqft |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 8/28/2020 | Listed for rent | $8,400-10.6%$2/sqft |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 6/7/2020 | Listing removed | $9,400$2/sqft |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 6/6/2020 | Price change | $9,400+11.9%$2/sqft |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 5/10/2020 | Listed for rent | $8,400+24.4%$2/sqft |
Source: Owner Report a problem | ||
| 2/2/2016 | Listing removed | $6,750$2/sqft |
Source: Azari Property Management Report a problem | ||
| 1/13/2016 | Listed for rent | $6,750$2/sqft |
Source: Azari Property Management Report a problem | ||
| 11/5/2015 | Listing removed | $6,750$2/sqft |
Source: Azari Property Management Report a problem | ||
| 5/13/2014 | Listed for rent | $6,750$2/sqft |
Source: Azari Property Management Report a problem | ||
Neighborhood: 94937
Nearby schools
GreatSchools rating
- NAInverness Elementary SchoolGrades: K-1Distance: 0.4 mi
- 8/10West Marin Elementary SchoolGrades: 2-8Distance: 3.3 mi
- 3/10Tomales High SchoolGrades: 9-12Distance: 10.9 mi
- Special offer! Get $500 off your first months rent if you sign lease agreement by 5/16/2026Expires May 16, 2026





