Entire home

Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym

Photo gallery for Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym

The Enlightenment House, freshly painted!
Interior
Gym - lots of mats, bands, kettle bells, free weights and bike
Larger dining table - made from neighbor's tree (!)
Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6399.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
Oakland, CA
  • Oakland Zoo
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Oakland Arena
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Oakland, CA (OAK-Oakland Intl.)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Jack and Jill

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Master Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs half bathroom

Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Office
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym

Our “Enlightenment Home” is a huge, spacious, artistic, modern and inspiring home in the Oakland Hills. Perfect work and play retreat. Large exercise studio, large office space. Happy, color-filled home with plants. We feel inspired to create here, we hope you do too. Super fast internet. A quiet street - more walkers than cars. Plenty of parking. 2 bedrooms each with attached bathrooms. Indoor jacuzzi tub. Front balcony has views of the hills. Back balcony wooded. Relax, create, BE in the Enlightenment House.

The space
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It's a tall two-story home that sits on a hill. An architect built the home for himself, it's private and expansive. We have a view of a private golf course. If you listen closely outside at night, you can hear the wolves howling at the Oakland Zoo. We love sitting on our "Cleopatra" lounge chair sipping our morning tea as we watch the sunrise over the hills. We live here part time, so it's a very cozy personal atmosphere in a spacious home (4,300 square feet). A gourmet kitchen with lots of appliances, gadgets, knives, and condiments. Just bring your food and you'll be able to cook whatever you want.

Great for two couples and/or a creative work time.

One bedroom has a king bed, the other with a queen. Both are high end memory foam mattresses (T&N and Essentia). Both bedrooms have their own bathroom, and there's a half bath upstairs near the great room/kitchen area.

If you happen to have a bird with you, you've just hit the jackpot. We have a very large parrot that goes to the bird hotel when we are not home. You are welcome to use her cages and perches.

Guest access
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We recommend parking in our driveway. Plenty of street parking too. You will need a car, or take lots of Ubers.

Other things to note:

This is a residential community and quiet street. Visitors other than the guests listed on the reservation are not permitted. If you’d like us to consider a request for visitors, please send an inquiry with details.

We mainly live here. When we go out of town, we make the home available for short-term rental. This means the house is very cozy, not a sterile hotel setting. We have our bookcases, our art, our kitchen utensils, etc.

Please treat our home like you are visiting a favorite relative!

We have a huge refrigerator and freezer. We leave the first two shelves of the freezer available for you.

The way the house was built which is long and open. the roof will sometimes make a sound like a squirrel is walking on roof, but usually it's just the roof creating the sound.

There is a railing that creates a loft feeling between the first and second floor. The railing is not child or pet proofed. There’s a few photos of the railing so you can determine if the house would be safe for your family.

Our backyard neighbor has chickens and a rooster that sometimes crows between 8am and sundown. We can’t hear it from the master bedroom.

Property manager

Mark & Shelley

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please do not park directly across the street in our neighbor’s driveway. It looks like a parking spot but it’s not.
Quiet hours 10pm-8am No extra guests without prior approval

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
Long-term renters welcome
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

About the area

Oakland

Located in Sequoyah, a neighbourhood in Oakland, this holiday home is in the mountains. Dunsmuir House and Gardens and Grand Lake Theater are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Oakland Zoo and Chabot Space and Science Center. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Oakland Arena or Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Oakland, CA

What's nearby

  • East Bay Regional Park District - 5 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Oakland Zoo - 7 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - 11 min drive - 8.9 km
  • Oakland Arena - 11 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Jack London Square - 14 min drive - 15.2 km

Getting around

  • Bay Fair Station - 10 min drive
  • Berkeley Station - 17 min drive
  • Oakland, CA (OAK-Oakland Intl.) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Church's Chicken - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Carl's Jr. - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Landing Cafe - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Oakland Hills Home: Artistic, Spacious, with Views, Home Office, and Gym located?

Located in Sequoyah, this holiday home is 1.1 mi (1.7 km) from Oakland Zoo and within 3 miles (5 km) of East Bay Regional Park District and Dunsmuir House and Gardens. Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area and Oakland Arena are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 13 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 13 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kristal R., Las Vegas

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and Relaxing Space

The owners made our family very welcome. Everything was perfect and the beds were extremely comfortable. Beautiful neighborhood for evening walks.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gregory T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Beautiful Home

This was one of the nicest homes we have ever stayed in. It is very spacious, clean, quiet, in a great neighborhood, and the communication with the owners was excellent. The many stairs provide good exercise!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful unique hone

We had a great visit. The home lovely and filled with fun artwork. We will be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mike M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magnificent Home

Our stay was superb!! The house had an abundance of artistic features that were incredible to see. Each part of this beautiful home captivated our senses with charm and delight. The views from the rooms were totally incredible and the accommodations were top notched. Thanks for an amazing experience.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin K., Venice

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sanctuary

We loved everything about the house. It was quiet, spacious and cozy with all mod cons and an eclectic aesthetic. Highly recommended.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leslie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely peaceful home!

Mark and Shelley were kind and helpful. Very quiet and spacious. Loved all the plants. Made it feel like home. Not much within walking distance, you need a car, but not an issue for us. Would stay again!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brian R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique home in the hills

Spacious with everything you might need. Beautiful setting in Oakland hills. Centrally located to all things you might want to reach in the East Bay.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tracey B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Space

This property was amazing. So organized, wonderful decor, VERY comfortable, all the amenities one could ask for, great location. We couldn't have been happeir.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jerilyn L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Creative environment amongst beautiful forested hills

Mark and Shelley were gracious hosts and made our stay so comfortable and welcoming. They were wonderful at communicating with us. Their home is so unique and has a relaxing environment with a beautiful view of the hills. The exercise room was such a bonus too. We didn't have to sacrifice our fitness routines during our stay. My daughter loved all of the plants too.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

6/10 Okay

Amanda R., Simi Valley

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Excitement didn’t meet reality

Overall the home is beautiful and very spacious located in a great neighborhood. I traveled to SF for work and my spouse (including 3 dogs-approved by the homeowners) tagged along with me. We were very excited for our stay for a number of reasons (space, beautiful photos of the home and friendly hands-on property owners). However when we arrived to the home; it unfortunately didn’t meet our expectations for a number of reasons. The house is big (which we knew) but the overall layout didn’t work well for us especially with three dogs. The Second level is the living area and there is a decent size gap between the floor and the banister/balcony to the 1st level which gave me a little anxiety seeing how two of my pups are small dogs. We also expected the house to be more clean than it was. We couldn’t walk on the floor without socks; because it was so dirty our feet turned black, the master shower was not clean. I had to use the Clorox wipes we brought to wipe down the shower. One of the sinks in the master bath was broken. The plug would not come up for the water to go down the drain so we couldn’t use the sink because the water would fill up. The sheets were clean but the duvet was dirty, it had long strands of black hair all over it. Someone rented the home before us (left the same day but the owner said the cleaners came). The home really isn’t pet friendly. There is a decent side/back yard, however the grass is overgrown and if you have a small dog they get lost in the grass (not kidding). One thing that is not in the description (from what I remember) is that the neighbors have roosters. Anyone who is familiar with a rooster, they are extremely loud early in the morning and sometimes throughout the day which caused for very stressful mornings. To end on a positive note; some of the pros, if you are looking for space but ultimately want to travel to the city, this house is in a great spot. It only took us about 30 minutes (at most) anytime we wanted to drive into SF no matter the time of the day. If you are looking to rent space with a group of people; this home is plenty big. All the cabinets, light switches, etc are labeled so you know where to go for what at all times. And most importantly the homeowners are wonderful! Very responsive, communicative and friendly! Certain wants and needs are more important to some than others so this isn’t to scare anyone away from the home. Unfortunately our expectations weren’t met this time.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elidaysi M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Property

Our experience staying at this property was great. The views from the house are beautiful and there is so much space for a group to gather here. The owners were so communicative and hospitable. We are very grateful for our time here.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary Ann J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home

We were in Oakland to drop off my granddaughter at college. We were looking for someplace fairly close that could accommodate us all. We were so pleasantly surprised. The pictures are lovely but they do not do the home justice. All the plants and lights and a wonderful homemade chandelier made the home so welcoming and restful. Our hosts were so helpful and accommodating. Our stay was wonderful.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sondra A., Atascadero

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home

Home was exactly as advertised. Very clean and organized for guests. My family and I had a great time, it felt like we were in a family home. Short Uber ride to Oakland coliseum. Neighborhood felt safe and clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Mark & Shelley

Host profile image
We are engaged hosts that are constantly learning how to become even better hosts! We love our new business! Mark grew up in the SF Bay Area and Shelley arrived in 1980 for school and never left. We love color and our taste is a bit whimsical. We have two fabulous homes (the other one in southern Utah), and we make available whichever home we are not in. Occasionally we double book (sometimes by mistake!) and then off to camping or become VRBO guests ourselves. Mark is a spiritual teacher that uses exercise to move people to greater presence. Shelley is a demographer, almost retired. We have several artist friends whom we like to support - artwork in our Oakland home is for sale and all proceeds go to the artist.

Why they chose this property

The neighborhood feels like you just entered a forest! Very safe and beautiful with spectacular views.

What makes this property unique

Our house was built by an architect for him and his wife. We are the lucky second owners. He had a contemporary flair, the house is very unique, great for entertaining and hanging out, as well as doing work and working out. One large room devoted to a gym; another large room a dedicated office.

Languages:

English