The Ivywood is situated high atop a hillside and immersed in redwood trees. Built in 1909, the main house was initially used just as a vacation cabin, and the office, and bedroom off the deck were added later. With careful curation, each room balances the comfort of modern furnishings and vintage touches reflecting the history of the home and community. Luxurious features such as gourmet cookware, GreenTea Foam mattresses, Pottey Barn Luxe linens, and a deep soaking tub while being both cozy and stylish. A Russian River standard with vintage sensibilities and modern practicalities. A lovingly remodeled classic with timeless character. We love The Ivywood any time of year.
Just minutes from downtown Guerneville, shops, restaurants, bars, and more art galleries and antiques than you can shake a stick at – The Ivywood will be your new favorite escape. World class wineries, renowned breweries, the Sonoma Coast (20 minutes), and ancient redwoods – your “near” neighbors while you enjoy hillside privacy and planning the next adventure.
We know there are a lot of stairs… but once you reach the top, you can relax, sit back, and enjoy the view.
Know Before You Book:
Maximum Occupancy and Quiet Hours: The maximum occupancy at The Ivywood is 8 people not including kids under 3 years old. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm until 7:00 am. Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited at all times.
A Note About Our Cleaning Fees: Thank you for supporting our local business! When you stay with us, you are supporting local families at work. We think everyone deserves a decent living wage, and we make sure to set the rates and fees so that our cleaners earn a living wage in beautiful Sonoma County.
Parking: There is parking for a maximum of 2 vehicles. RVs, trailers, and campers are prohibited, per the Sonoma County Vacation Rental Ordinance.
Bed Sizes: Upstairs bedroom #1: Queen bed; Upstairs bedroom #2: Queen bed; Downstairs bedroom: Queen bed; Studio/Common Area: Double bed.
Heating: The main house uses a Nest thermostat and has central heat and backup electric heaters are provided for each sleeping area.
Cooling: While The Ivywood does not have air conditioning, there are ceiling and freestanding fans for common areas and bedrooms. Afternoon and evening breezes from the ocean and up the river generally keep the house a comfortable temperature. It’s almost always 10* cooler at The Ivywood than in downtown Guerneville.
Kitchen: Yeah! There’s a dishwasher in the kitchen! The Ivywood also shares lovely vintage dinnerware, Le Creuset stoneware, Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma kitchen accoutrements. Home chefs and bakers will be delighted.
Bathrooms: The upstairs bathroom has a shower over bathtub. The downstairs bathroom has a shower only. The studio has a half bath with a private toilet and a sink in the main area of the room.
Location: The Ivywood is in a cozy, rural residential neighborhood. It is a mix of permanent residents and vacation rentals, families, working folks, and visitors. To honor this balance, we ask guests to park only in the designated parking spaces (at an angle) and respect the quiet hours in addition to general family-friendly, residential neighborhood expectations. Sound carries so we ask guests to be aware of noise – especially once quiet time starts at 10 pm. Thank you for helping to continue the tradition of a mutually beneficial relationship between vacation rentals and local community! You are also in a forest – you will see wildlife, birds, insects, and, yes, the occasional spider.
Road to The Ivywood: The road to the home is narrow and you may need to stop/pull over for oncoming traffic. There are deer and other wildlife on the roads and in the area. We recommend taking the road slowly.
Stairs: The Ivywood is a multistory home on a terraced hillside. There are approximately 3 stories of stairs from the parking area to the front door. The Garden Suite is on the ground level and is connected via interior stairs to the main living areas of the home. There are 2 exterior steps to the garden door of the suite. Once inside the main door, there is an interior flight of stairs to the main living areas. The kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, full bath, office, and 2 large decks are all on this level. From the rear deck, there are roughly 6 steps to the Casita. There are additional exterior staircases from the front deck and office to the ground level. While amazing, The Ivywood is not a good fit for guests with stair concerns.
Pet Friendly: This home welcomes up to 2 well-mannered dogs or cats. If you have more than 2 dogs or other types of pets, please contact us to see if exceptions can be made before reserving.
Kid, Family, and Friend-Friendly and Approved: With oodles of family games, crokinole, chess, board games, puzzles, and more – you’ll have fun – and rivalries – for all ages!
Fencing: The yard reflects a groomed version of a hillside forest. There are very natural areas and more landscaped areas, but it is not fenced.
Security: For the safety of guests and the home, there is a doorbell camera at the front door.
Work from HERE:
There is a dedicated office space with desk, monitor, and more.
Advertised Wifi Speed: Ultra high speed, unlimited use wifi through Xfinity.
A Note About TVs: The TVs have Xfinity’s Basic Cable package and access to Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, and hundreds of streaming channels via Roku. Guests are welcome to bring their login info for these apps. The television does not have cable services.
Common Amenities not included: This home does not have Air Conditioning, but the afternoon and evening breeze from the ocean and up the river generally keep the house a comfortable temperature. Ceiling and freestanding fans are provided.
River Access and Neighborhood Beach: These are seasonal amenities and only available when conditions allow. Expect the best river access when the summer dams are in (mid-June to mid- September). Conditions vary from year to year and can change rapidly – use your best judgement to determine your risk level and comfort in the water/physical activity. There is a neighborhood beach walking distance from the house, though you may prefer to call a cab for the trip back up the hill.
Proximity to wineries: The closest tasting rooms are in downtown Guerneville (1.6 miles), but there are many, many vineyards and at-winery tasting rooms within 10 miles of the house.
Nearest River Beach: The nearest river beach is a neighborhood beach in Guernewood Park – 0.8 miles from the house. Parking is limited.
Nearest Ocean Beach: In Jenner, 12 miles away.
Reviews for The Ivywood (under prior management):
- We loved staying at the IvyWood!! A beautiful space tucked into the hills with amazing access to Forestville, Guerneville and the Russian River. Be warned in warmer months that no AC is a little rough, but not unmanageable. The space was beautiful, clean, and we felt right at home. 10/10 would stay here again :))
- The place was absolutely gorgeous and so peaceful! The interior decoration is truly beautiful and it feels like you’re in a best in the trees. We stayed here while attending a wedding in the area and it was perfect. Would stay here again
- It was me and my boyfriend, our daughter and her best friend. It was the girl’s college graduation trip. The home was beautiful and cozy. Each girl had her own bedroom. The bedrooms were feminine and romantic-looking and the girls loved them. Their favorite spot was the nook where they sat and drank wine and giggled as they looked through their photos. The hot tub was to temperature when we got there but it was too rainy to use. The house is as described. A very pleasant stay.
- We absolutely loved our stay here and would definitely recommend this place to others! Out of every window there is a beautiful view of the trees and a quietness about the surroundings. The decor and home were inspiring and magazine like, and we loved ending our evening sitting in the hot tub outside under the stars. Overall a fabulous and restful stay…it was magical.
- We loved our stay! The house is high in the trees with dappled light sprinkling through all of the windows. Cozy, well-designed interior, great for autumn/winter nights. Super comfortable beds and big dining table. Also super close to downtown Guerneville, which made it easy to venture out for meals! We recommend checking out Boon - it was delicious!
Sonoma County TOT Number: 4139N
Sonoma County Vacation Rental Permit: TVR21-0090
Sonoma County Vacation Rental License: LIC24-0676
