1049 Keith Ave

Some homes are built. Others are composed. In the early 1920s, artist-architect Paul Beygrau and his wife, Marie Rosalie Schaff, a gifted woodcarver from Alsace, arrived in Berkeley after distinguished work abroad. Trained in both fine arts and architecture, Beygrau had designed interiors for royal commissions in England and public buildings in Winnipeg. Together, they turned to a deeply personal project in the Berkeley hills, creating neighboring homes that would express their shared artistic vision. At 1049 and 1051 Keith Avenue, they produced what many regard as their collaborative masterwork - a rare expression of European artistry translated into California architecture. Featured on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle in 1928, the home was described as “the most remarkable expression of domestic art and architecture in the Bay Region.” At 1049 Keith, artistry is present in nearly every surface. Massive hand-carved doors, reportedly shaped by Marie herself, open to interiors rich in material and craft. Inlaid hardwood floors run throughout, while the living and dining rooms unfold with grand scale, clad in solid redwood wainscoting. Overhead, decorative ceilings reflect European fresco traditions, reimagined in sculptural plaster and painted finishes. The main level is anchored by these dramatic spaces, along with a period-inspired kitchen and marble-appointed bath. Upstairs, the primary suite feels expansive - defined by a columned atrium ceiling and French doors opening to a sweeping view deck. Two additional bedrooms offer distinct character: one wrapped in warm wood for a more intimate feel, the other a larger, double-sized room with fireplace, garden access, and an ornate ceiling. Outside, the grounds cascade in a series of terraces - an upper level for dining and gathering, a middle expanse for recreation, and lower gardens with raised beds for planting. A detached apartment, tucked privately on the property, includes a lofted sleeping area and its own terrace, ideal for guests or creative use. At once architectural artifact and living home, 1049 Keith Avenue offers something rare: a place where history, artistry, and daily life meet in enduring form