When Carol Christ took over as UC Berkeley’s chancellor last week, not only did she become the first woman to occupy the job — she also broke with tradition by deciding not to move into the gated campus mansion made notorious by the costly spruce-up by her predecessor Nicholas Dirks.

More than $1 million was spent in recent years remodeling University House for Dirks and his professor wife, Janaki Bakhle — including $247,000 authorized by former UC President Mark Yudof to renovate the kitchen, paint the place, refinish the floors and install new window coverings.

The university also spent close to $700,000 — 2½ times the original budget — to install a security fence after protesters sprayed graffiti on the house.

Plus, Bakhle swapped nine Persian rugs for six newer ones — at a net cost of at least $90,000.

University House has been home to UC presidents and Berkeley chancellors since 1911 — so why isn’t Christ moving in?

“Because I have a lovely house in Berkeley that I love,” she told The Chronicle’s Nanette Asimov. “But I will use University House extensively for entertaining.”

Christ was promoted from her job as interim executive vice chancellor and provost at Berkeley and will earn $531,939 in her new position — the same salary Dirks was making. She says that in addition to giving up the keys to University House, she and the rest of the campus’ senior leadership will skip a raise next year as UC Berkeley deals with a $110 million deficit.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross