Gallery

92 Fernwood Drive

92 Fernwood Drive

Neighborhood

Neighborhood



Features

Featured on SFGATE

Featured in the Marin IJ

Featured in the WSJ

VOTE FOR WSJ HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Beautifully sited on 2+ sunny acres, this custom built Hacienda style estate was masterfully crafted in 2000 for the internationally known, best-selling author, Isabel Allende. With imported high quality natural finishes, authentic decorative details, traditional floorplan and grand scale rooms, this sophisticated estate is an exemplary combination of old world charm and modern day living.

Soaring ceilings, broad hallways, and stately spaces highlight this light-filled estate while impressive doors and windows lead you outside to the exquisite resort-like grounds and outdoor living spaces. Relax and entertain in the covered loggia that connects to the sparkling pool & spa, flat lawn area, custom fountain, spectacular gardens, meandering paths, private terraces, view decks and the 1-bedroom/1-bathroom guest house, named the Casita.

The Casita is the birthplace of 11 books from Isabel Allende. It is a sacred and serene space with commanding water and garden views. Adjacent to the pool area, it is complete with 1 private bedroom and 1 full bathroom, a small kitchen sink, and a small refrigerator. With a picturesque window seat, the Casita is a perfect place for an office, guests, a game room, pool house, or a space for personal reflection.
 
 
MAIN LEVEL
 
Formal Living Room: Elegant, inviting, and stately featuring custom bookshelves, an architecturally appealing gas fireplace, and dramatic water views.
 
Formal Dining Room: Spacious with sweeping Bay views and beautiful French doors that lead your guests to the view deck, pool area, Casita, and gardens.
 
Breakfast Area: Opening to the kitchen and family room with breathtaking views of the Bay and the Richmond/San Rafael bridge.
 
Chef’s Kitchen: Gorgeous counters highlight this custom kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances, natural wood block island, generous sized counter bar, Butler’s pantry and spacious walk-in pantry. An entertainer’s dream just steps to the loggia, outdoor BBQ, lawn area and pool.
 
Family Room: Adjacent to and opening to the kitchen and outdoor area, this room features a fireplace, indoor/outdoor access, and views of the SF Bay. This inviting space is light-filled and casual.
 
Office/Den/Library: Extensive custom bookshelves and built-ins line this beautiful serene room that overlooks the front gardens and palm trees from the romantic iron balcony.
 
Elevator: Located in the main hallway, this gorgeous luxury elevator takes you downstairs to the lower hallway and garage entrance.
 
Full Bathroom
 
Master En Suite Bedroom: Romantic, private, and spacious, the master suite is located at the far end of the home with magnificent french doors leading to a separate view deck showcasing water views and the lovely oak-studded acreage.
 
Spacious 5-piece marble bathroom includes a mirrored makeup counter, soaking bathtub with jets, glass enclosed shower, private water closet & bidet, and generous sized organized walk-in closet.
 
LOWER LEVEL
 
Bedroom 2: The largest of the guest bedrooms, it is generously sized and has incredible views of nature and the SF Bay. Ample windows and light, this bedroom shares a Jack and Jill bathroom with Bedroom 3.
 
Bedroom 3: This bedroom is private and light filled with French doors leading to a deck with nature views. There is a shared Jack and Jill bathroom.
 
Bedroom 4: Private and spacious with easy access to the Bonus Room and to the downstairs full bathroom.
 
Bonus Room: This large space has ample storage and built-ins to accommodate toys, games, or office storage. A perfect place to watch media with direct access to the meandering paths on the generous 2+ acres and the gated flat driveway.
 
Full Bathroom
Wine Storage
Laundry Room
Elevator
3-Car Garage entrance
Storage
 
Isabel Allende and her former husband fell in love with the lot at 92 Fernwood Drive and hired a highly reputable builder to complete their dream home in 2000. They moved into the home in 2001 and began creating the outdoor living spaces that not only complimented their vision, but also enhanced the spectacular, sunny, private home site.
 
The home was named, House of Spirits, after Isabel's first novel and the notion that good spirits inhabited it. Isabel explains that houses frequently had names in Venezuela, where she lived for 13 years after the military coup in Chile.
 
Being an international best-selling author and having traveled the world, this divine property is deeply steeped in history and is adorned with various authentic decorative items; including the Italian tiles in the loggia walls, the Italian platter on the Casita wall, the antique corbels from Thailand in the loggia, and the magnificent imported front door from Mexico, just to name a few.
 
The House of Spirits holds deep sentiment to Isabel and is the birthplace of the following novels:
 
My Invented Country
Kingdom of the Golden Dragon
Forest of the Pygmies
Zorro
Ines of My Soul
The Sum of Our Days
Island Beneath the Sea
Maya's Notebook
Amor
Ripper
The Japanese Lover
 
MORE DETAILS
 
• Gated & Private Luxury Estate on 2.03 Acres
• Main House: 4 bedroom / 4 bathroom
• Casita: 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom
• 3-Car Garage
• Elevator
• Pool and Spa
• Flat Lawn, Manicured Gardens & Mature Landscaping
• Breathtaking Views of the SF Bay & Lagoon
• Close to the Highway, Schools, Yacht Clubs, Shopping, Hiking, Biking, and the Beach

Neighborhood

ABOUT SAN RAFAEL
Serving as the county seat for Marin County, San Rafael was once the site of several Coast Miwok villages. Mission San Rafael Arcangel was founded in what is now downtown San Rafael as the 20th Spanish mission in the colonial Mexican province of Alta California by Father Junipero Serra on Dec. 14, 1817, four years before Mexico gained independence from Spain. Mission San Rafael Arcangel was located a donkey's day walk to the mission below it. The mission and the city are named after the Archangel Raphael, the Angel of Healing.

San Rafael has 149 parks, yacht clubs, outstanding docking and launching facilities, tennis / swim clubs and bicycle trails. It is truly a community where families can enjoy an active lifestyle and partake of a rich historical and cultural heritage. San Rafael has one university, Dominican University, founded in 1888 and typically has approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Other notable landmarks in San Rafael include: the Marin County Civic Center building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; the Rafael Film Center; China Camp State Park; Kerner Studios, the George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch, and the Falkirk Cultural Center, a handsomely preserved, 17-room Victorian mansion that is set on 11 acres of formal grounds just a block from downtown.

SCHOOLS:
San Rafael City Schools: The San Rafael City Schools serves more than 5,400 students at 11 schools.
Dixie School District
Dominican University: Dominican is an independent, international, learner-centered university of Catholic heritage located in San Rafael, California.
College of Marin: College of Marin has been providing exceptional educational opportunities since 1926. The College has earned a reputation as a quality educational institution that provides a pathway for achievement and success for students of all ages. Each semester about 8,000 students are enrolled in over 1,100 credit classes.

PARKS
Whether you’re looking for a field to run on or a new playground to discover, parks are one of our City’s best assets. Centrally located throughout the city, several picnic areas are available for day rentals.



Schedule

Open Houses:

Brokers Tour:

Additional Showings by Appointment:
Contact Whitney Rich
415.250.9914
wrich@pacunion.com



Contact

Whitney Rich

Real Estate ProfessionalGolden Gate Sotheby's calDRE# 01211911415-250-9914 directwww.WhitneyRich.com