One reason? The four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home was left virtually untouched and unchanged since it was designed by architect John Marsh Davis in 1965. None of the original appliances, plumbing, soaring bookcases, banquettes or cedar floors have been replaced.
The home is listed at $4,995,000.
Davis' other projects include other San Francisco Bay Area homes and Napa Valley wineries such as Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Rutherford Hill Winery, the same family that has owned the home since commissioning Davis' design.
"It defines Zen living," says Elizabeth Freeman of Boulevard Real Estate." It's filled with natural elements, has lots of natural light, is surrounded by forest and [has] iconic views of Mount Tamalpais."
The home went under contract after 17 days on the market. The attractive property is currently awaiting sale.
"The only changes that have occurred are the repainting of the upstairs and the new carpeting," Freeman says." Other than that, the house remains in its original condition. Everyone who was interested in the house wanted to buy it. They didn't look at it as a demolition project, although that did happen in our neighborhood."
"The owner who bought it, he likes it the way it is," Freeman says, still acknowledging that "it's a work of art that needs some major updates."
Anticipated improvements include a new deck (sunlight and moisture have taken their toll over the years) and air conditioning, which the house currently lacks.
The list also includes a 19,000-square-foot lot that would be ideal for a pool or guesthouse.
"It feels like a nature preserve," Freeman said.
Thomas Church designed the property's gardens. The renowned landscape architect's 4,000 projects include master plans for the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University, and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Mrs. Clinton-Walker house in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, which was sold in February for $22 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Kentfield is located 20 miles north of San Francisco. There are currently only 15 listings in the area on Realtor.com® with a median price of $2.7 million.
"The local market is pretty hot, especially on the lower end of the price spectrum," Freeman said." Most of our homes don't last very long. Our inventory is at an all-time high and things are selling fast."
