Extraordinary 1906 Marin County Chalet Built for a Lumber Baron Hits the Market for $13 Million

An architecturally significant Marin County estate that was built 120 years ago for a thriving lumber baron has made a bold return to the market—with an even bolder asking price of $12.95 million.

The estate, known as Grayoaks, has been standing in the same spot since 1906, surviving the ages and earning a chapter in an architectural history book. Yet its stunning appearance could grace the pages of a modern shelter magazine.

Today, the chalet-style Arts and Crafts estate in Ross, CA, is among the most architecturally significant residential offerings in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The fact that it was designed by esteemed architect Bernard Maybeck, is located on a sun-drenched Marin County hillside, and has been renovated by experts with extraordinary talent, adds to its value.

Perched slightly above the Ross Valley with sweeping views of Mount Tamalpais and Bald Hill, Grayoaks sits on approximately 1.24 acres in one of Marin County's most private and exclusive communities.

The residence spans more than 5,500 square feet, encompassing five bedrooms and 4.5 baths, having been extensively restored and expanded in recent years.

The grounds include a pool and spa, terraced gardens, a stone fireplace, entertaining areas, and pathways through a curated landscape designed by landscape architect Michael Yandell.

That's just a broad overview of the prestigious estate. The true glory is in the fascinating details.

A century of history

The story of Grayoaks begins in 1905, when J.H. Hopps commissioned Maybeck, who was already building a reputation as a visionary architect in the American West, to design a dramatic hillside residence that would reflect Hopps' lofty stature as a lumber titan.

The result was a three-story redwood-and-stone chalet unlike anything else in the fledgling community of Ross.

Grayoaks "is one of the most important early residential estates in Ross, and one of the earliest surviving examples of the First Bay Tradition / Arts and Crafts movement in Marin County," says Margot Edde, who is co-listing the property with David Cohen, both with City Real Estate.

The estate was completed in 1906—the same year the San Francisco earthquake reduced many an elegant city mansion to rubble, prompting wealthy residents to begin building new homes outside of the city and also establishing more country retreats.

"At the time the residence was built, this section of Ross was still largely undeveloped woodland," Edde explains. "Grayoaks became one of the first homes built in this part of Ross and was an early signal that wealthy Bay Area elites were beginning to transform the area into a country-estate enclave."

From 1904 to 1908, Maybeck designed three substantial residences in San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Ross, as well as the Marin Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley. Of those, Edde notes, "Grayoaks was the only Maybeck-designed residence in Ross."

The site for Grayoaks was selected with care.

"Maybeck and Hopps selected the site specifically for its sunny panoramic outlooks while remaining tucked just a gentle bend up the hill from the main road," Edde says. The location would remain private and with striking views more than a century later.

In 1926, the Hopps family commissioned Maybeck to design a second structure on the property. That structure, originally built as a reception hall for their daughter's wedding, now serves as the home's luxurious primary suite, which, as you can imagine, is spectacular.

Grayoaks was later featured in architectural historian Sally Woodbridge's seminal book, "Bernard Maybeck: Visionary Architect," cementing its place in the annals of California's residential heritage.

Grayoaks' signature features preserved

Through the decades, Maybeck's signature touches have been artfully preserved.

"Grayoaks is often described as chalet-style Arts and Crafts architecture. It blends Alpine chalet influences, rustic California materials, English Arts and Crafts detailing, and Bay region romanticism," Edde says of the original features that remain today.

Among the home's original details that are still intact are Dutch entry doors, boxed Douglas fir beams, board-and-batten redwood walls, wood-latticed windows, deep overhanging chalet eaves, and massive fireplaces in the main living spaces.

Also, the three-story residence is clad in oversized redwood shakes above a stone base that is positioned parallel to the hillside in classic Maybeck style. This makes the home appear organically rooted to the land rather than sitting atop it.

Hopps' ties to the California timber industry are evident at almost every turn, especially the redwood, which can still be found in almost every room.

Reimagined for modern life

Grayoaks' original bones remain stronger and ever, but the entire home was reimagined in 2012 to facilitate modern living.

"It was restored and expanded in 2012 with exceptional architectural sensitivity," says Edde. "The Abrams family—particularly Miranda Abrams, a noted Bay Area interior designer trained at Parsons and under Victoria Hagan—brought warm, understated sophistication to the interiors."

Abrams' work has been featured in the Financial Times, Marin Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, and 7x7, among others—and Grayoaks represents what could be considered her most significant project.

The chef's kitchen is centered around a dramatic 10-foot Carrara marble island and outfitted with top-of-the-line, stainless steel appliances—a space that manages to be both beautiful and entirely functional.

The primary suite, housed in Maybeck's 1926 addition, is highlighted by a 7-foot fireplace and French doors that open to a lovely balcony. The primary bath, with its custom cabinetry, double vanity and shower, wall of glass, and access to a private outdoor spa, sets a new standard for personal luxury retreats.

The family room and entertaining spaces flow seamlessly—indoor to outdoor, formal to casual—in a way that honors the original open spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement while meeting the demands of 21st-century family life.

Grayoaks features multiple decks that extend the living spaces outward toward the hillside landscapes. The indoor-outdoor flow throughout is exceptional.

"While Ross is home to only about 780 residences, just a handful were designed by Bernard Maybeck, and this is among the most significant," Edde says.

"What truly sets the property apart is the extraordinary level of restoration," says Edde. "Too often, historic homes are either stripped of their original character or left to deteriorate over time.

"Grayoaks is the rare exception: beautifully preserved, thoughtfully updated, and stunning at every turn, with a restoration executed with exceptional care, restraint, and architectural sensitivity."