We can’t forget about tech when we talk about the look and feel of a home. Our favorite gadgets help transform our spaces to function more smoothly, which is why the best tech is both fun to play with and makes our lives easier. Whether you’re looking for something to bring your home further up to speed, or simply want to treat yourself to a new tech tool, we’ve got a few ideas to get you well on your way.

← Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant $80

Calling all sleepyheads, this smart alarm clock just may be your morning rise-and-shine solution. The Lenovo Smart Clock may help to get at the root of your sleep issues by reminding you to reduce smartphone screen-time at night. Plus, it can control any smart features in your home from your lights to your espresso machine, play music, and keep you on schedule for meetings and to-dos. The soft-touch gray cloth exterior blends in well with any style.

Sonos 5.1 Home Theater Surround Set $1,650 →

When you’re having friends over to watch the big game or indulging in a movie night, you want a system you love, and can easily use. This set delivers on both, offering quality sound carried through just four pieces—a Sonos Beam, Sonos Sub, and two wireless speakers, making set-up easy. Once plugged in and ready to go, the system responds to voice command, your remote, the Sonos app and Apple AirPlay 2.

← Google Nest Hello $229

Google Nest Hello is a smart doorbell that offers both convenience and peace of mind. It provides 24/7 streaming and continuous video recording, video coverage that’s wide and tall to give you a fuller picture of your doorstep and HDR video that shows sharp details even when it’s extra bright or dark out. Google Nest can also be personalized to you and your home to recognize familiar faces and play prerecorded messages when you can’t answer the door.

Sensate Faucet with Kohler Konnect $919 →

This smart faucet is like having another hand in the kitchen. With voice-activated technology, the faucet can connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri to follow voice commands. You can ask your faucet to turn on or off, dispense measured amounts of water, fill to presets such as your coffee pot and even check your water usage. You can also use the faucet’s sensor to turn on, hands-free. But aside from the smart features, the faucet itself is a great fixture, allowing you to choose from two steam settings and four chic finishes.

← KitchenAid Smart Display: Coming soon

In the cold winter months, many of us spend a lot more time in the kitchen, which is why we welcome a gadget that makes cooking easier and more fun. Whirlpool’s new KitchenAid Smart Display is a water-resistant, ten-inch standing screen meant for your countertop. Messy hands in the midst of cooking? The KitchenAid Smart Display takes Google Assistant voice commands. You can ask it to play a YouTube recipe video, call your mom for help with your turkey or pull up recipes from Yummly, another Whirlpool brand. The only thing we don’t like about it is that it hasn’t reached consumers yet—but the display is expected to be released by early 2020.

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool $500 →

A combination heater and fan that purifies the air, the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool is a three-for-one tech find. The Dyson 360° Glass HEPA filter removes allergens and pollutants you can’t see from the air, while keeping your home cozy or cooling it down. Its design also allows it to circulate purified air, instead of only purifying the air around the fan.

Backyard forests are behind the latest trends in interior decorating. Designers from all over the globe gathered recently at the largest furniture and decor industry trade show in the world, High Point Market in North Carolina.

Taking cues from Mother Nature, these contemporary interior design leaders pointed to our mountains, rivers and forests for nature inspired designs for the coming seasons. Coastal environments aren’t to be left out either. Right now, designers are wild about anything natural, whether derived from a branch, a rock or a seashell.   

The trend boils down to bringing the outdoors, indoors. Looking to natural materials means living more simply, and finding sustainable, organic, and environmentally friendly approaches to decorating and living in our spaces. Getting back to nature in one’s own home allows the homeowner to relax and feel peace and tranquility.

Even more upsides to using natural materials: eco-friendly materials found in nature really never go out of fashion. Natural materials are typically longer lasting and hold up better than man-made items, as well. Choosing natural materials almost always means a reduction in off-gassing of toxic chemical compounds that can pollute the air you breathe within your home.

Natural Touch

The warmth of wood and rocks gives a home a warm and cozy feel. In Central Oregon, we see many homes already with a natural stone accent wall or hearth, along with a rough-hewn exposed beam, which gives an earthy and comforting feel. Bringing in a river rock wall or a brick feature wall will add texture to any home. Also trending are wood paneled walls, and entire ceilings made of reclaimed barnwood. For a more minimalistic and Zen design, eco-friendly materials like bamboo and linen for interiors will create a similar atmosphere.

At the High Point Market this year, rattan, cane and wicker furnishings were the rage, coupled with rooms filled with tropical leaf print wallpaper or Audubon-like prints of colorful birds. The look of these natural materials is a historical glance back to British Colonialists in Africa and India, when nature played a significant role in design, and furniture was made with what was on hand in the region.

As the colonialists found then, it’s still true today that natural textures of rattan and wicker pieces pair well with vibrant colors coming from floral or botanical prints of that area, and so designers are bringing back that look once again, in various motifs. While the color wheel may surround the earthy taupe, tan and camel hues, pops of vibrant color from nature are also an inspiration; greens, saffron red, cinnamon and persimmon orange will warm up the space and add personality to any room.

Décor from the Earth

Anything nature inspired is on trend this year, from mirrors framed with seashells, sticks or rocks to seashell light fixtures. It’s as if Madison Avenue designers came to Bend and borrowed some of our ideas, because interior décor such as taxidermy and antlers are being installed in client’s homes, to give homeowners that rustic, down home appeal. Another hot trend are stones. Cut polished stones are placed as décor: think thundereggs, granite and marble.

Organic materials are popular for flooring, whether it’s hardwood floors, or rock slabs, or even sisal and jute floor coverings. To fit this design aesthetic, window treatments should be made with organic materials as well, such as bamboo blinds, linen shades, and cotton or silk drapes.

Because designers and homeowners seem to be embracing new environmental consciousness with green natural materials, the push to natural décor may not be an actual trend, but a movement that is here to stay. As they say, nature never goes out of style.

It was 1970. Bend’s population was just over 13,000 and St. Charles Medical Center’s current location wouldn’t open for another five years.

But the then-small upstart Brooks Resources had the foresight to predict the town’s growth, and took a bet on developing a hill west of downtown Bend called Awbrey Butte. Now fifty years later, that bet has more than paid off.

“We always viewed Bend as a desirable place,” said Brooks Resources chairman Mike Hollern. “We thought Awbrey Butte was a good investment, and it in fact turned out to be.”

Today, there are close to 800 homesites on the butte that sits about 500 feet in elevation above Bend’s west side. Developed with attention to how each site could have ample space and privacy as well as fantastic views of the surrounding region, Awbrey Butte has attracted homeowners who are looking for all the perks of living near the hustle and bustle of Bend without being squeezed into urban-sized lots.

It took almost two decades for Brooks Resources to develop the butte. But in the 1990s, once water service was delivered and roads were carved into the hill, with the intention that they blend into the landscape, Awbrey Butte took off as one of the most desirable places to be in Bend.

There are a wide range of homes on Awbrey Butte, named for the pioneer Marshall Awbrey who lived in the area during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Buyers can choose from mid-century modern homes to classic Northwest craftsman—though there is continuity among the homes, driven by the homeowners’ association guidelines for building, including outdoor paint colors that match the surrounding landscape in order to better blend into the hill.

North Rim is the newest neighborhood on the butte. The private community has 121 one-acre homesite with a collection of custom-built homes. Other exclusive amenities include a lodge and park available to homeowners and guests as well as private tennis court. Awbrey Butte’s two public parks include Sylvan Park and Summit Park, with tennis courts and ample green space to play. A small business park sits on the butte’s north side, as well.

Kristi Kaufman, a real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Bain with two decades of experience in the area, said that homes on Awbrey Butte have seen an appreciation in value that is following the trends of the region. Buyers can expect to spend between $700,000 and $1.5 million for a home on the butte. “There is a wide range of homes that work for retirees who are downsizing, as well as 7,000-square-foot homes for large families,” she said.

The large lots, location in Bend and quality of homes continue to draw more buyers to Awbrey Butte, said Kaufman. “It’s a huge draw for people wanting to be on the west side for access, but who want a little bit bigger lots,” she said. “Awbrey Butte gives a little more space, more elbow room. The homes are larger than what you would find in west Bend, and value seems to be pretty good.”

Jason Epple and his wife Trisha built their home on Awbrey Butte in 1998, selecting the lot for its privacy as well as space for a long driveway and yard for their future family. Today, they’ve raised four kids in the house and have built long-term friendships with their neighbors.

“It’s a place where there aren’t busy streets or cars driving fast,” he said. “Our kids grew up playing in the cul-de-sac and the yard. The most important thing for us is the neighborhood community we’ve had over the years. That’s what makes it for us.”

They also appreciate life on Awbrey Butte because of its location in town and how it’s become a retreat from the ever-growing construction and traffic. “Bend has been expanding and growing outward, and it helps me appreciate the butte even more. We drive down the butte and it’s busy with a lot more traffic and people,” he said. “It’s really nice to drive up on the butte and have a quiet neighborhood.” 

With kids in college, Epple has considered a move from Awbrey Butte, but they haven’t been able to find a place that matches everything they have in the neighborhood, including close access to trails, popular west side amenities and attractions, and of course, their neighbors.

“My wife and I would love to build a new house, now that life and circumstances have changed, but I don’t know where we would go,” he said. “I don’t think that there’s a place where we would go in Bend to be happier.”

After downsizing into a 1,180-square foot home, Kathi and Tom Denton have no regrets, although Kathi misses a walk-in closet, and Tom parks his car on the street because the single-car garage functions as their primary storage space. The residence is about half the size of their last home, but the couple says its location in NorthWest Crossing’s Farmstead 12 development and the thoughtful layout has made the transition smooth.

“This location is perfect,” said Kathi. “We can walk to Portello Wine Café or Discovery Park, meet our neighbors at the firepit or snip herbs from a small raised garden bed.” It’s also close to hiking and biking trails and Shevlin Park, where Tom goes to practice tenkara, a Japanese fly-fishing technique.

Farmhouse 12 is one of several small-scale cottage developments in the popular and growing Northwest Bend neighborhood that prides itself on sustainable building practices, where every home is required to be Earth Advantage certified. Eric Meloling Construction teamed up with Greg Welch Construction to form Farmstead 12 LLC, which recently finished its last dwelling.

“Our intent is to make small homes livable and not feel like a small home,” Meloling said. The project features farm-style cottages arrayed around a parklike setting with a common area and a small barn with picnic tables and a fire pit where residents can gather.

The philosophy of downsizing corresponds with a housing-market trend toward smaller, more affordable homes. A recent story in the Washington Post cites data from the National Association of Home Builders that shows the average size of new houses fell for the third straight year in 2018. (Data for 2019 is not yet available.)

The Dentons bought their residence less than two years ago after Kathi completed treatment for breast cancer, and they found themselves regarding their lives differently. “Life is short, and the new house gave us a fresh start,” she said. “I don’t think about having cancer all the time.”

The two have been married twenty-three years and feel strongly about reducing their environmental impact. Moving into a smaller, more energy-efficient home is a big step toward that goal. They’ve never had kids, although they parent two cats, Gus and Deud. The couple explored the idea of small-scale living and became obsessed with tiny-home TV shows but ultimately decided that 400 square feet of living space wasn’t for them.

Instead, they ended up with a home that relies on a “reverse living” design that features a kitchen and master bedroom on the second level. It may seem novel, but it’s a case of form following function.

The Dentons’ home is squeezed into a narrow lot that required their designer, the late Charlotte Van Valkenburg, to create a two-story home that captured views, sunlight and access to Farmstead 12’s common outdoor areas. “It’s the genius of the designer who is able to see a piece of dirt and imagine what is not there now, but will be there someday,” Meloling said.

By necessity, the ground-level had to include the garage, which currently sports a T@B teardrop camp trailer as a fun sleeping place for visiting nieces and nephews. Tom added tall storage cabinets for shoes and coats that they don’t have space for in their bedroom. Sports equipment hangs on racks from the ceiling, and plastic bins store everything from photo albums to holiday decorations.

Visitors enter the cottage on the first floor, where a sliding barn door opens into a den that functions as a guest bedroom, TV room and office. A guest bath with a soaking tub, a laundry room and a converted coat closet for the cats complete the first-level layout. 

But it’s the upstairs “reverse living” where the magic happens. A narrow staircase opens into a large, vaulted and contiguous space for the kitchen, dining and living rooms. One comfy chair and a sofa face the natural-gas fireplace and TV. The room is filled with plants (plastic because Kathi says she doesn’t have a green thumb), a large dining table with bench seating, an island and well-appointed kitchen with high-end appliances and hardwood floors. A deck off the living room is where the Dentons go to enjoy coffee with the sunrise or fresh air in the evening.

At the opposite end is the master suite with the bath, and one shared sink that they say is just fine. The bedroom has a view of Mount Bachelor and is large enough to accommodate a king-size bed and two nightstands, as well as a small nook with a view of Awbrey Butte. To add texture and character to the room, Tom built a floor-to-ceiling herringbone pattern on the wall behind the bed made of pre-cut barn wood.

When the Dentons moved into the residence, they left most of their previous furnishings behind and instead selected much of the cottage’s décor based on functionality, style and artistic preferences. “Living small forces you to choose the things that make you happy,” Tom said. “This fits our needs.”

Editor’s note: Designer Charlotte Van Valkenburg was killed along with her cousin in an automobile collision with a drunken driver in British Columbia this past summer. Bend Magazine featured Van Valkenburg previously for her work as a mentor and coach of the Summit High robotics team.

Some of us wouldn’t dare trade out our family’s heirloom holiday decor for something new and flashy. Grandma’s ornaments, auntie’s crystal and mother’s china are what make the holidays the holidays. But others crave a fresh, clean and new look to spruce up the winter season. For those intrepid decorators, we offer these contemporary solutions to tired old traditions.

Monochromatic Accesories ⇾

Ditch your relative’s complicated nativity for strikingly unusual accents that still speak to the warmth of the holiday season, and carry over easily into the new year.

⇽ One Accent Color

Choose light monochromatic shades like white, gold and silver, and contrast them with bold splashes of red or green accents for a modern take on your tree.

Natural Elements ⇾

Bring the outdoors in during the chilly days of winter with elements of nature like pinecones, branches and tiny accent boughs.

⇽ Winter White

White is clean, classy and contemporary. Choose the most basic color for linens, candles and china for a simple but striking look this season.

Light it Up ⇾

Rather than the multicolored tree lights of Christmases past, string a multitude of single shade lights for illuminated appeal.

A historical home renovation should honor the past while looking to the future. That’s exactly what Justin Brevoort accomplished in his recent makeover of Bend’s “Claypool House.”

The Craftsman-style bungalow was built in 1919 and typical for the time: living room in the front, small kitchen toward the back, one bath on the main floor and bedrooms upstairs. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the Drake Park area home, save the fact that for almost a century it was inhabited by one family.

Guy and Doris Claypool owned Claypool Furniture Store on Wall Street from 1936 to 1999. They bought their modest home on Congress Street in 1929 for $1,500. There they stayed for more than eighty years, according to their son, Dale.

“In the 1950s, Dad sold the place and bought another home on east Eighth Street where everyone was moving,” Dale recalled. “That lasted about two months—Dad wasn’t comfortable in his new neighborhood. He bought his old house back, which cost him a fortune.”

Dale said that after his parents got the house back, they built a two-story addition in the rear, which had a fireplace, bath and entrance. His mother occupied the original part of the house until her death in 2010 at the age of 103. Dale sold the house in 2011, and ownership passed through a couple of hands before Brevoort bought it in May 2018.

“The first thing that grabbed me was how unique its architecture was for Bend. It combined Craftsman with elements of Southern California style, plus I liked its location in the Drake Park Neighborhood District,” he said.

But signs of recent neglect were showing. The siding was peeling off, and the roof was sagging. At one point, doors and windows were boarded over in plywood. “It was an eyesore on a street where other homes around it had been remodeled,” Brevoort said. 

A native Oregonian who grew up in Keizer, Brevoort spent many family vacations in Sunriver and Bend. He attended Central Oregon Community College and was a “snowboard bum” in the ’90s. Brevoort now lives in Hermosa Beach where he has a design firm, Creative Labz. Buying the Claypool home was an opportunity to reconnect with Bend. But it was also a significant undertaking to manage remotely. As an experienced home builder and remodeler, Brevoort envisioned a restoration that would bring the residence into the 21st century.  Open spaces and modern finishes set the tone on the inside while the home’s exterior was renovated to meet the city’s historic preservation codes on the outside.

He assembled a team of designers, including his cousin Josh Brevoort of 0-plus, and Seth Ehlinger and Kadi Driver of Dos Designers. He selected Ryan Carroll Construction to handle the building phase, and Michelle Redo helped with the interior design. “We tried to balance modern building concepts with the home’s century-old roots while also adding creature comforts,” he said.

The first step was to gut much of the interior and pull out old wiring and plumbing. New walls, insulation and windows came next, along with a floor plan that preserved the 1950’s-era addition while transforming the main level into a great room that created a casual gathering space. While maintaining the ceiling height in the living room, the builder removed the attic over the kitchen, opening the area and bringing in more light.

A Japanese-inspired staircase with vertical, walnut slants beckons visitors upward to the second story. The front, east-facing bedroom features the original upper window visible from the street. At the other end is the west-facing master bedroom where the team replaced two windows with five, modernizing the back corner of the home and revealing a bird’s eye view. The master bath features a converted vintage credenza with two sinks in place of a traditional vanity.  Between the two bedrooms is what Brevoort calls a “flex” room with sleeper sofa, a closet housing the washer and dryer and space for storage. A second upstairs bathroom is just off the hallway and contains a sink from the original house and a front porch light repurposed for the vanity. All the baths have black and white natural stone hexagonal tiles, quartz countertops and subway tile in the showers.

The exterior also got a facelift. With approval from historical preservation groups, Brevoort’s team painted the entire home white, removed visual clutter, like overhead wires. They added sliding doors to the kitchen and rear addition, removed false window shutters and added pergolas on the west and south sides to blend with an existing open-porch pergola. The team also redid the entire yard with contemporary walkways and planting beds, and created a back patio with concrete pavers, a fire pit and outdoor seating and dining. It also preserved a curved, Roman-brick wall encasing a small veranda.

The interior décor and furnishings honor early 20th-century style trends, including art deco and post-war or mid-century modernism. A functioning RCA Victor record player stands beneath a wall covered in vinyl records that guests can enjoy. (He received city approval to use the home as a vacation rental and believes that this will allow him to share its history and location with Central Oregon visitors.) Most of the furniture is walnut, and an eclectic array of colorful artwork, including Shepherd Fairey prints, hang throughout the residence. 

In the case of the Claypool, he’s rescued a bit of Bend’s history and repackaged it for another generation. “I’m passionate about real estate,” he said. “By building or improving structures, a person can leave a mark or legacy.”

Offering a fresh take on the use of plants in decor, living walls provide the kind of striking feature that make a home or business stand out.

These vertical gardens come in a variety of types, shapes, colors and sizes, but are most often a wall of lush green in one form or another. In the past, you may have seen them on the exterior wall of a chic restaurant’s patio area, or in the lobby of a luxe hotel. But living walls are spreading their roots, moving beyond just large-scale installations and into people’s homes, with the same eye-catching effect.

Living walls, or green walls, encompass many different kinds of vertical gardens that are mounted to a wall to display a group of plants as you would a canvas. They come in such a range of styles, they can morph to fit almost any design approach. Tightly planted succulents inside a dark frame could add a hint of warmth to the clean lines of a contemporary room, while thick pouches sagging with plants may be the obvious choice for a modern farmhouse.

Spend any time scrolling Instagram or Houzz and you’ll see that green houseplants, from philodendrons to fiddle leaf figs, are in. Plants are lovely to look at and can freshen up the air in your home. But why are living walls the new thing? It may simply be part of the explosion in popularity of indoor gardens­­—sometimes more closely resembling small jungles—that have popped up in the design world in recent years. In a way, living walls are a new take on ivy-covered exteriors, brought indoors, making all of our secret garden dreams come true. They offer the same beauty and benefits of everyday houseplants, plus some added extras.

For one, they’re perfect for rooms or areas short on space. Whether your home is generally lacking in square footage or you’re looking for the right statement piece over your staircase, living walls can add texture and greenery to the most unlikely places. Up off the ground, vertical gardens put your prized plants out of reach of little hands, too. They can even improve a room’s acoustics by absorbing extra noise, providing an art solution that’s easy on the eyes and the ears.

In Bend, a green wall could be a wonderful way to add color to your home, especially during the long winter. Picture the whimsy of a wall of trailing vines in your living room set against the stark contrast of white outside your window. Living walls may also be the one foolproof way to protect your plants from nibbling deer in Central Oregon—by bringing them indoors.

Like any living thing, vertical gardens require at least a little maintenance. Many offer drip systems built into the set-up, and some living walls are even installed for you. But you’ll still likely have to do some pruning and trimming for perennials or changing out of annual plants.

Beyond plant care, there are some other logistics to consider. Depending on their size and makeup, living walls can be fairly heavy with the combined weight of the plants, soil and water. Pros can help you determine the set-up for your vertical garden, or build it for you. If you’re looking to DIY, make sure to do some research and planning ahead of time. Remember, you’ll need a spot with natural light unless you’re also willing to install a grow light.

With so many different types of living walls, the toughest part may be choosing the right one for your space. Luckily, there’s no shortage of examples out there to get inspired.

Last summer, my family moved out of our 4,000-plus square foot Bend home that we’d inhabited for fifteen years.

Oh my, did we accumulate a LOT of stuff during that time. The task at hand led me to the Marie Kondo method of tidying up. The author’s two books The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing both have been bestsellers.

Admittedly, when I read Kondo’s first book, I thought she was somewhat obsessive compulsive about cleaning and discarding. But I learned that by growing up in a tiny Japanese home, she taught herself out of trial and error how to not only tidy up, but how to not get in the habit of cluttering again. In short, Kondo has made a successful profession out of helping people like me. Her name has turned into a verb—it was time for me to “Kondo” my home.

Step 1
Clothing Clutter

For the uninitiated, the Kondo method goes like this. Supposedly, the easiest purge starts with clothes. Start discarding items by first piling every piece of clothing in the middle of the floor. It’s a psychological unloading. As I excavated my closets, I was horrified by dozens of pieces I never wore, many with tags still attached. I soon realized I had done some serious “retail therapy” for several years following my teenage daughter’s death. I could actually envision what shops the pieces of clothing had come from, and looking back I realized shopping was the one activity I could do, where shopkeepers didn’t know my sad story, and I could feel normal, at least in that moment. I had purchased a lot of unworn clothing, shoes, purses, even houseware items. Kondo advises mentally thanking each piece of clothing you’re giving away for sparking joy for the times you wore it. I thanked the items and put them in a box. In total, I took a half-dozen carloads of clothing to Goodwill, Opportunity Foundation and Bethlehem Inn. They were grateful and I was liberated, just as Marie Kondo predicted.

Step 2
Book Blowout

Next challenge to tackle, per Kondo, are books. I love books. I belong to two book clubs in Bend, and while I love the library here, I also love owning books. Books spark joy, at least for me, and we had a dedicated office/study with many bookcases. But even if you love a book, do you ever re-read it? For me, the answer is no; there are just too many splendid books to read in one’s lifetime.

I packed at least a dozen big boxes of books and sent them on their way to be donated, mainly to the library, where I hope another bibliophile will enjoy them as much as I did. Thank you, great books, for sparking joy and imagination.

Step 3
Komono Clash

The next area to tackle are things. In Japanese that’s “komono,” and yes, I love stuff, especially nice dinnerware and place settings. I had the Spode Christmas dinnerware, and there were my red Italian Ro Valentine plates, spring/Easter bird plates and bowls, summertime floral dishes, and three sets of formal china. In total I had eight sets of dinnerware, not including the china sets, along with dozens of chafing dishes, more than a dozen large bowls, thirteen serving trays and five crockpots.

To be fair, after my mom had to move into assisted living, I inherited more stuff, like another china set with a tea service, and LeCreuset pots and pans. It was all a sentimental journey, when I hauled that stuff into my house.

Step 4
Where Christmas Never Ends

Another huge sifting and discarding came with Christmas and holiday decorations. I swear there’s not a Christmas ornament or Nutcracker I didn’t love. I dragged almost a half-full attic into one pile in the entertainment room, and whittled it down to just six boxes of ornaments and Christmas stockings. Sadly, all six faux Christmas trees were donated, including a splendid twelve-footer.

As empty nesters downsizing, we realized there’s just no room to bring all the stuff with us. While some is sentimental, a lot, if you’re being honest, is emotional baggage. Kondo says things and possessions are holding you back. Only invite those things that spark joy. Only then will the things you hold onto bring you more happiness. That’s her basic philosophy.

I’m just a newbie at this, so the results are still pending. But so far, I haven’t missed a thing.

There was a time when you couldn’t open Instagram without seeing a line-up of interior design images that all looked the same.

White walls, mid-century modern furniture and perhaps a potted succulent were on every squared-up post. Five years ago, it felt refreshing, but today it seems inauthentic. Over the last year a noticeable shift in interior design has occurred, perhaps as a reaction against that aesthetic—a picture may be worth a thousand words, but spare walls don’t tell much of a story. Enter: maximalism.

The interior design trend is about embracing what you like, be it bold color on the walls, patterned furniture, art on every wall or shelves filled with tchotchkes that evoke memories, not social media likes. Maximalism will turn a house into a home. The best part is, you’re probably halfway there, because the trend is about putting your possessions on display and creating a space with things that you like, not with things that fit a mold.

One way to embrace the maximalist aesthetic in your home is to pick one room and start with color. In a living room, a fresh set of pillows in contrasting color to a chair or sofa can reinvigorate a space without costing much money. Mixing patterns also works when the color palettes align. In the kitchen, repainting cabinets is easier than repainting the whole space. Cool colors like blue or green are timeless and add depth to the room. Color is an easy way to create some interest in a room where there wasn’t any before.

Paint isn’t the only way to add interest to walls. In recent years, the variety of peel-and-stick wallpaper has grown to include designs that would suit any home and style. In lieu of a single paint color, consider wallpaper on one wall as an accent, or on all four as a way to create some texture and drama in a space.

There is a thin line between curated and cluttered. When it comes to objects, keep in mind the rule of three to avoid looking crowded. A lamp plus a plant plus a vintage clock on an end table. A piece of art plus a framed photo plus a textured wall hanging on a wall. Grouping objects into threes draws attention without overwhelming the eye. An exception should be made for shelves of books, because there can never be too many of those in a home.

Maximalism is a timeless design trend that can’t be done wrong because it’s all about living with your things and not trying to keep it all drawers and closets. What makes a home interesting is your mom’s old coffee canister on the counter that she gave you for your first apartment, the fly fishing rods that parallel your ceilings and are used almost daily or the guitar that hangs next to the sofa, easily in reach when the mood strikes. Maximalism tells the story of your home and your life, one room at a time.

If you’re ready to embrace more, might I suggest you start by browsing your local thrift store. There are hidden treasures galore there that could fill design voids in your home, probably donated from your neighbor’s latest design purge in an effort to fit in to the feed. Their loss—more is always more.

Sponsored Content

Central Peaks Construction customizes quality for homeowners.

When it comes to building a business, Scott Noveron believes in starting small and dreaming big. Four years ago, Noveron moved to Central Oregon and worked for friends before he and his wife Chelsie formed the family-owned Central Peaks Construction in 2018.

After seeing high quotes and hearing stories from homeowners who had been overcharged on projects, Noveron believed his company could do better. “For me, it’s not a typical kind of ‘make money quick and move on to the next project’ model,” he said. “We want to perform quality work at an affordable price for consumers.”

Licensed as a residential and light commercial contractor, Central Peaks Construction works on remodels as well as new construction projects across the region, including framing, roofing, flooring installation, painting, decking and fencing. “We do a touch of everything,” said Noveron, who sees even the smallest job as art. “Trustworthiness is really huge for us. I treat every project as if it were in my own house and expect the same kind of craftsmanship to go into someone else’s home.”

A Central Peaks Construction business card reads, “Where dreams become reality.” For Noveron, it’s a reminder of how small beginnings have led to bigger things. This year, his crew took on its biggest project to date: a 3,800 square-foot duplex in Redmond that the company oversaw from start to finish. Other favorite projects include an immaculate custom floor inlay that moved a homeowner to tears and the giant “O” he installed in a floor for an Oregon Duck fan.

Noveron said projects like these are what sets his company apart in the industry and keep the referrals coming. “If we can’t do it, we’ll figure out a way to do it—I think that’s one thing that makes us stand out and why we’ve been so busy is the fact that we think outside of the box and give a homeowner different options,” he said.

In Central Oregon’s competitive market, Noveron credits a lot of Central Peaks’ success to honest collaboration, with other contractors as well as homeowners. “Working with Scott is a positive experience,” said Noah Harvey, a plumbing contractor of Cascade Roots LLC. “Not only did the finished product turn out beautifully, but the project was managed appropriately and efficiently with minimal stall time.” Noveron also cites his company’s commitment to remaining affordable; sometimes charging less, he says, leads to more jobs in the future.

“I think it speaks volumes when you’re able to save money for a homeowner. For me, the secret is just being humble and honest about what we can do,” he said.

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At Century 21 Lifestyles Realty, Jenny Gregoriou is very much at home in her new role as Designated Principal Broker. That’s because for her, real estate runs in the family.

Starting in 1988, Gregoriou’s father Rich Hadley operated his own real estate company in Central Oregon for two decades before franchising with Century 21’s Sunriver satellite office in 2009. Two years later, he and Gregoriou purchased the franchise and expanded north into Bend. Today, the branch continues to grow and recently moved into new offices on 3rd Street. With a new location and new brand look, Gregoriou takes charge of her father’s company while carrying on his legacy of commitment to customer service.

Growing up, Gregoriou said she never intended to go into the family business. After college, she returned home for a year to help her father manage a property in Three Rivers South. Thrust into a world of permits and payrolls, she worked alongside her dad and obtained her realtor license in 2010.

“That one year turned into eighteen,” she said with a laugh. “Real estate became an evolution of me saying ‘I’m not a salesperson’ and Dad telling me ‘Someone is coming to you asking for help—we’re just solving problems.’ Sellers want to sell, buyers want to buy and there are a series of hurdles to remove in between to help both parties achieve their goals. I love that challenge and that all deals are different; I learn something new every day.”

Gregoriou said she considers herself lucky to work with a team of more than thirty brokers including two cousins, a brother, a nephew and his wife. “We are very much a family-focused company, she said. “The culture of ‘a rising tide raises all boats’ is so important to us, and my cousins Robbi and Chelsey support me daily.”

After thirty years of selling real estate in Central Oregon, Rich Hadley said he has been blessed to work with his daughter. “Jenny is a natural leader. Not only does she have good common sense, but she continues to research and study our industry. The most experienced agent knows they can come to her for information and help,” he said.

Looking ahead, Gregoriou said she is excited to grow a company that gives back to its community through local initiatives including the Relentless High School Student of the Week program and helping veterans find housing.

“We continue to build on the culture of our company and what we can do for the community,” said Gregoriou. “We strive to make ourselves a staple in Central Oregon for client-focused real estate solutions and are working toward that goal every day.”

CENTURY 21 Lifestyles Realty | (541) 382-3333 | C21Lifestyles.com

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Bend architect takes an innovative approach with a classic touch.

In any given Bend neighborhood, you’re likely to be near a home or building designed by local architect Neal Huston. There’s Worthy Brewing on the east side, the Ronald McDonald House off Purcell Boulevard, condos in NorthWest Crossing and custom homes in North Rim.

The long list of structures Huston has architected over his decades-long presence in Central Oregon range from mountain lodge-style to mid-century modern. But there is a common thread throughout. Huston takes a thoughtful approach to offer fluid layouts with timeless design.

“I believe one thing we try to think about is how some of these really starkly contemporary homes are going to feel and weather over time,” Huston said. “If someone wants contemporary, we try to follow that path, but also think more classic, so that it’s going to be appealing to the owner or future owner as time goes on.”

Huston has worked as an architect in Bend for well over forty years. An Oregonian raised in McMinnville, Huston started his career in Bend designing homes in Black Butte Ranch for Brooks Resources in 1970. By 1976 he’d finished his apprenticeship and partnered with two other fellows to start Waldron Huston Barber, which later became Huston Barber Barrett Turner, before opening up the enterprise we know him for today—Neal Huston & Associates.

Much of Huston’s work in recent years is on custom homes, though you’ll recognize his commercial work around town, too, like inside Jackson’s Corner eastside. With years of practice under his belt, Huston is an expert at integrating a client’s vision with a smooth user experience, architecting a design that will stand the test of time.

In his office of five, Huston is joined by his wife and business manager, an office coordinator, and two fellow architects, who have been with him for twenty-plus years. While Huston provides the design component, his colleagues provide support for other aspects of the project, including producing construction documents and communicating with contractors throughout the building process.

“The thing about our arrangement is that there’s continuity in design because I’m always doing it, where in a larger firm, this project may go to various staff,” Huston said.

Huston is known for crafting plans that speak to the style of the moment but remain ageless. For several local couples, Huston has architected an initial custom home, and designed for them again when they’ve downsized years later. “What a lot of people tell us is that we listen to what they want to achieve, but if we think they’re going down a path that may not be the best for them we offer them options,” Huston said.

He remembers coming to Bend years ago, noticing how so many homes and businesses had windows that were overly small and wood paneling that soaked up the light. Huston wanted to take advantage of Bend’s natural beauty and abundant sunlight by architecting plans that highlighted Bend’s best views while being beautiful in their own right.

In any of his designs, you’ll notice sweeping windows, plenty of natural light and a creative approach that incorporates the builder’s wishes and ideas into a classic form that will age well. One of Huston’s favorite projects is a home he designed in 1997. The home was in many ways ahead of its time—fitting the style of the moment but still holding up perfectly today.

The couple who originally built the home had Huston architect again for their next, smaller home. The young couple who recently bought the contemporary 1997 house couldn’t believe it was more than twenty years old. “Contemporary to us is very broad,” Huston said. He asks clients to share images that appeal to them so he can get an idea of their brand of “contemporary.” From there, he can draft a design that fits current style while maintaining classic elements.

Until about 2008, Neal Huston & Associates’s work was comprised of about 70 percent commercial and the rest residential projects, but as the nation started coming out of the recession Huston’s firm began doing more residential and less commercial.

“Whether it’s modest or larger commercial projects, I believe that the perception is often that a larger architectural firm is required to take on such work, while smaller firms usually provide the same level of technical expertise and design creativity while perhaps providing more personal attention,” Huston stated. “One would think, that if you’ve survived for decades, you must have something of value to offer.”

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Nancy Melrose of RE/MAX key properties brings experience to real estate brokering.

Nancy Melrose owned a classic French restaurant in West Germany for a decade, and then worked as the Director of Marketing for a prominent office building in San Francisco. Both experiences, she feels, prepared her for a career as a residential real estate broker. “I realized that I’m a people person, happy to speak with whoever walks in the door. I enjoy interacting with the public and providing customer service, and I’m good at handling details and managing timelines,” she said.

Family ties, a love of the high desert and a desire for a change from a busy urban lifestyle brought Melrose and her husband to Central Oregon nearly twenty-five years ago. Transitioning into residential real estate, she said, was a natural fit, and she earned her license and began selling real estate in 1996. She became a Principal Broker and opened a boutique brokerage on Bend’s Westside in the early 2000s, which she ran for almost a decade. Twenty-three years later, she’s earned her reputation as a top local real estate agent.

Melrose’s longstanding familiarity with the region and deep knowledge of the local real estate market past and present are great assets to her clients. “I have historical market knowledge,” she explained. “I really know the communities here and can help people understand their options. I have a more holistic approach to this business. I love to help clients make choices that translate into a happier life for them.”

For people coming from a metro or urban environment, Melrose’s approach may be quite different than what they are accustomed to. “I like to spend time with people.” She begins each encounter with what she calls a counseling session, during which she tries to determine a client’s true goals. “I also always ask, what do you see yourself doing when you are here? That can help guide where they might feel most at home. Bend has so many different vibes, from urban living to golf course communities to family neighborhoods.”

“Often people think they know what they want, but they don’t really,” she said. Sometimes that’s because a buyer simply doesn’t know what their options are in an unknown market. “They need a professional to guide them to what might be a better fit. It’s not just about selling them a house, it’s about finding a community that fits their personalities, and helping them to become a part of that community.”

For the first-time buyer, Melrose might suggest neighborhoods that have more opportunity for increased equity, if they plan to start a family and will need a bigger home in three to five years. For the investor client, the conversation is all about risk assessment and return on investment and identifying those options accordingly.

Melrose finds that what Bend buyers do have in common is that they truly want to be here. “So many people in Bend are here very purposefully,” she said. “I think of it as ‘choice’— for the most part, people move here by their own choice. That makes the community here very special and enthusiastic.”

Melrose works as a Principal Real Estate Broker full-time, handles all sorts of properties, and loves the rewarding career that she has found here in Central Oregon. She especially loves showing clients new to the area around town. “I think sometimes we take for granted all of the wonderful things that are around us in Bend. To be able to see the excitement and wonderment in my clients’ eyes as we tour the area, to be able to observe their discovery, it’s terrific to be a part of that. To hear a newcomer say that they can see the stars at night or smell the Ponderosa pine for the first time—that is wonderful.”

Cliffside Retreat by Timberline Construction

An aging ranch-style home, perched on a rocky outcropping with sweeping views of the Deschutes River and the Cascade Range started out with good bones, but was in need of major renovations. Timberline Construction of Bend, known for its custom homes, embraced the challenge. It gutted the old structure down to its wall studs and transformed the floor plan into spaces tailored to the homeowners’ lifestyle. For instance, the kitchen was reimagined with contemporary materials and appliances.

Timberline also built an entirely new wing with access to the main quarters through a breezeway. A key aspect of the redo was upgrading to energy-efficient elements throughout the home. Outside, a courtyard tucked between buildings allows inhabitants and guests to traverse terraced stairs and landings for stargazing or recounting active Central Oregon days around the barbeque and firepits.

Q&A: An interview with the owner of Timberline Construction, Kristian Willman

What was the existing home like when you started the remodel?

It was an old home with good bones, but it wasn’t energy efficient. There was no insulation in the roof, and ice dams formed during heavy snowfall. The homeowners were burning through electricity for warmth. It had exposed beams and tongue-and-groove ceilings, features that the owners loved but didn’t allow for insulation.

How did you remedy those issues and create a future-forward home?

We made it a higher-performing home by installing new windows and doors, sheetrock, spray insulation and blown-in blanket insulation. We were trying to build a well-functioning home, thinking about energy efficiency and finishes that match the upgrades.

What were the considerations of whether to raze the old house or remodel it?

The existing home was on a cliff overlooking the Deschutes River, a site that couldn’t be built on with today’s building codes. Instead, we built on the original footprint and constructed an additional wing accessed through a breezeway. The only thing that stayed true was the wood-burning fireplace and wood storage box.

How do you expand on a client’s goals to meet their needs?

We moved the primary bedroom to an entirely different location in the house and made a cool kitchen with more usable space and a bigger living room. The clients are a family of four with an active lifestyle and were originally from Seattle. The goal was to have a great place to spend time together when they had people in town.

What are other considerations for a remodel outside the scope of four walls?

Mike Szabo (landscape architect) did an amazing job transforming the outdoor spaces. A sizable portion of the remodel budget went to the outside hardscapes. The patios and terraced steps create inviting respites and, more than anything, peaceful spaces that take advantage of the river and mountain views.

You’ve mostly done custom homes rather than remodels. What drew you to this project?

I have a fondness for remodeling projects, particularly because many older homes are in need of revitalization. There’s a certain satisfaction in deconstructing and reconstructing these spaces, turning something dated into something modern and efficient. It’s a challenge I enjoy tackling. Working on remodels allows me to take old structures and breathe new life into them, enhancing both their efficiency and functionality. Brandon Olin, the architect on this project, played a pivotal role with his creative floor plan, further enhancing the transformation process.

RESOURCES

Architect: Brandon Olin
Olin Architecture | 541-508-9579 | olinarchitecture.myportfolio.com

Builder: Timberline Construction-Bend
541-388-3979 | timberlinebend.com

Interior Design: Anne Mastalir
Design Bar|  503-260-8661 | designbarbend.com

Landscape and Hardscape: SZABO Landscape Architecture
541-382-2059 | szabo-la.com

Sponsored Content Published October 2019

Timberline Construction brings communication and respect to the art of custom home building.

Jacquie Sebulsky and her husband hired Timberline Construction to build their Craftsman-style home in 2005. “Kristian Willman understands that people will create memories in those homes, and he and his team are very aware and respectful of that. They truly care about the people in the homes they build,” said Sebulsky. “He is very detailed and thorough, which I really appreciated.”

Timberline Construction, which has built more than 200 homes in a variety of styles and construction methods throughout Central Oregon since its inception in 2000, is based on Willman’s credos of communication, respect and experience. This trifecta influences every relationship that Timberline has—be it with clients, architects or subcontractors.

Even before meeting the team in person, interested homeowners, new clients and others who are interested in construction can experience Timberline’s ease and willingness to communicate just by visiting their website. In addition to the expected categories of About Us, Green Building and Portfolio, it has a large section entitled Client Resources that details the company’s approach to bidding and cost tracking, and it boasts a blog that shares information on design, home maintenance and other areas of interest to homeowners—any homeowners, not just clients.

“Our expertise is on managing trades and providing quality,” Willman explained. “Everyone on our team has worked in the trades. I started as a framer and together with my crew, we have more than forty years of experience. We know how to work and communicate with subcontractors. We can respect them and get our point across. We have a project manager on site every day so the subs can always get the information they need and have questions answered.”

Timberline project manager Kevin Lorda explained further. “How long a project manager spends on a site each day will depend on the amount of oversight that’s needed and where we are in the project,“ he said, “but it’s important that we maintain clear lines of communication—it’s a smoother building process, and it makes expectations clearer for both the subcontractors and the homeowners.”

“The biggest thing is to coordinate and manage time,” said Willman. “It’s a huge effort. You need to put together and build the project team around the finances, the time, and what the homeowners want and expect. We are primarily problem solvers and schedulers. We’re organized, and we need to keep the momentum going.”

“Working with Timberline is very collaborative,” said Bend-based architect Brandon Olin, who has been working with Timberline since he opened Olin Architecture in 2010. “It’s a triangular relationship with the homeowner, builder and architect. Timberline is very open about what they are doing. They offer suggestions and become a welcome part of the design team, and a homeowner can go to either of us to get information.” Olin continues, “Timberline defaults to a certain high level so the houses perform very well. It’s how they want to build a home, and how we want to do it, too. We are a good fit. Right now we are working on four or five homes together.”

While Timberline has most recently focused on projects that are modern in styling, the firm has also built Tuscan, Mountain Lodge, Northwest Contemporary (a hybrid of lodge and modern), and Craftsman homes. Nor have they shied away from different types of construction. In addition to traditional framing methods, the Timberline team is practiced in straw bale, insulated concrete forms (ICF), stress insulation panels (SIPs), post-and-beam and advanced framing techniques, the latter of which are designed to optimize material usage while also promoting energy efficiency. In fact, the firm is probably best known for building the Desert Rain home. Situated in western Bend, the LEED Platinum home was the first home to be certified by the Living Building Challenge.

Focusing on custom homes and remodels, the company never really builds the same thing twice. Yet despite the differences between the different projects, there are some commonalities: One is finances, and the other is energy efficiency.

“When I put together a bid,” explained Willman, who is very exacting and systematic about the cost estimating and budget processes, “I don’t just get one estimate from a trade, I get two to three bids per trade from several subcontractors so I can compare them and make sure that all are covering what I requested. I need to know what each one is including or not including in their figures. From that I can assess what work will be done and at what cost. I look to hire the most thoughtful bidder. When I have the estimates in from subcontractors I can put together my cost break down.

“Money is very emotional so I am very transparent with clients. We build the house twice on paper before we actually start construction. I breakdown the costs and itemize everything, and I also share everything. We don’t want any surprises. We want the client to be comfortable going into the process so we focus on communication, honesty and transparency.”

By Willman’s own admission this means Timberline probably won’t provide the least expensive cost estimate, but it may be the most accurate. The latter, according to Olin, is one of the great advantages of working with Timberline. “Based on their bid, we get the budget information early, and we know where it’s going to come in,” he explained. “Timberline is very good at staying on budget or even coming in a little bit lower than what was expected.”

In an area where people have flocked for its natural beauty and outdoor pursuits, energy efficiency in construction has been added to an increasing number of homeowner wish lists. “Getting a green home comes with a cost, but we still want to be responsible,” said Willman. “This is my playground, it’s our environment to protect. We always do our best within the budget and the homeowners’ wishes to build a tight envelope and use high efficiency heating, air conditioning and air exchange systems. We follow the Earth Advantage protocol even if an energy audit is not going to be performed.”

Sebulsky notes that the company’s commitment to quality goes beyond the actual construction. “They have the cleanest work sites I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Kristian takes great pride in the work. He even puts the company’s name with a small ‘T’ plaque discretely on each home they build.” Sebulsky, who is now a realtor with Cascade Sotheby’s, often recommends Timberline to clients.

The client is the most important part of what we do,” said Willman. “We need to build trust and we need to be compatible because we could have a three-to-five year relationship. I want them to feel comfortable to call me at any time even after the house is done and they have moved in. In the end I’m going to help someone as much as I can because Timberline built the house.”

Commitment to the excellence of their work has resulted in homeowners coming back to Timberline when it is time to build another or a second home and in the friendships that have been formed between Willman and his clients.

The site of a failed farming experiment blossomed into one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Bend.

Jackie Vance rented houses on Bend’s westside for twelve years, but when it came time to buy a home in Bend, she chose the Orchard District for her family.

Also known as Midtown, the Orchard District is the area that stretches from Hollinshead Park to Pilot Butte to Highway 20 and the Parkway. The name refers to an experiment that took place in the 1930s to test Central Oregon’s agricultural potential and grow apples. That experiment ultimately failed, but today it’s a part of Bend that has both large residential properties and prime commercial locations, quickly becoming the place to be in town.

Developed in the mid-twentieth century, the residential lots in the neighborhood district are larger than most you’ll find in Bend. That’s part of what drew Vance there. “There’s enough room to throw a football around,” said Vance, as well as enough room between homes that houses aren’t on top of each other.

That’s not to say the neighborhood isn’t close, though. “We have such great neighbors,” said Vance. “The kind of neighbors that take care of each other’s kids and borrow cups of sugar. Impromptu gatherings happen all the time. It reminds me of the neighborhood we grew up in.”

Families have settled in the Orchard District because of its close access to places like Hollinshead Park and Barn, which boasts a large grass park, off-leash dog area and the Franklin’s Corner Community Garden. “It’s probably the biggest draw for that neighborhood,” said LivBend realtor Jodell Born.

Other nearby outdoor areas include Stover Park and its baseball diamond as well as Al Moody Park and its play structure. “It’s all very walkable and safe—people drive slower,” said Born.

The Orchard District Neighborhood Association has a strong presence, creating programs that engage the residents and spearheading projects like the Laurel Pocket Park, a sustainable garden that was landscaped in a piece of property that would otherwise have gone undeveloped because of its smaller size.

Amenities in the area include drugstores and grocery stores within walking or biking distance of most residential streets, and easy access to Highway 97. Recent additions to the commercial centers include Backporch Coffee Roasters and Parrilla Grill—both popular westside destinations that bet on the growing interest in Midtown.

Most homes in the Orchard District were built between the 1950s and 1970s. There are a variety of ranch-style, single-level homes with large lots that help this almost-urban area retain its residential appeal. Vance and her family live in a 1950s-era home set back off the road, like many homes in the area. It was a fixer-upper when they bought the house five years ago, and today, with some updates and the growing popularity of that part of Bend, the home has significantly increased in value.

Realtor Born said that the single-level homes in the area are selling in the mid-to-upper 300s, and the values will only continue to increase. “It’s still a desirable area to be, and I think it will continue to be as more amenities come in,” she said.

Vance and her family host neighborhood gatherings at their home each year to cultivate the close relationships they have. “Every year it gets bigger and bigger,” she said. “There are a lot of connections, and it seems like in this area everyone is willing or wanting to make those connections. It’s a community.”

Get your garden ready for winter by planning for spring.

The growing season may be almost over, but now is not the time to get complacent. Autumn is a busy time in the garden, clearing out the decaying vegetation of the summer, and preparing the garden for the coming winter months. 

“In the fall, you want to clear out what’s brown and dead in the garden, and if your perennials are already declining, you’ll want to prune them back to a little above the ground; about one to two inches should be peeking out,” says Oregon State University Extension horticulturalist professor Amy Jo Detweiler.

By prepping your garden beds now and preparing them for the winter months you will save yourself a lot of time next spring, and help your plants survive the harsh winter months.

“The more you cut back, the greater encouragement for the plant to grow next spring,” said Detweiler, who’s been assisting Central Oregon gardeners for twenty years. “I also advise that home gardeners don’t tidy up too much, because you want to leave some places for little birds to shelter.”

For Central Oregon gardeners, Detweiler suggests fertilizing your garden beds and lawns when the leaves start falling. Well-timed fertilizing ensures your plants have time to replenish for the rigors of spring with new growth.

“Compost and mulch work well with organic fertilizers to restore life to the ground during the autumn rest,” says Detweiler.  “Don’t forget to water during this period.  In the high desert we have very sandy soil, and plants will dry out. We call this winter desiccation.”

Detweiler suggests “deep watering” to a depth of at least ten inches. You can check your work by digging with a trowel to see if moisture has made it down to the roots.

Fall is also the time of the year to plant your bulbs for showy spring and summer flowers. If you live in an area where deer or other critters think your tulips are too tasty to resist, Detweiler has suggestions for deer-resistant bulb flowers.

“Deer tend to stay away from the daffodils, and the grape hyacinth is also a good one for our area,” said Detweiler. “I think an underused bulb here, which is also deer resistant, is the scilla, and the galantus. When you purchase your bulbs, make sure they’re healthy with no soft or rotted spots, and most important of all, bulbs are planted pointy side up.”

Detweiler also suggests crocus bulbs, which are the first to emerge —even if there is late spring snow—and any of the ornamental onions, also known as alliums. Also on the bulb list is the fritillaria, which Detweiler says is quite hardy and deer resistant.

Covering bulbs with two to four inches of mulch now, will help protect them during a harsh winter by creating an extra layer of moisture and warmth.

Fall is the harvest time for late autumn vegetable crops, like broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, onions, Brussel sprouts and, of course, squashes.

After your last harvest, don’t forget to also fertilize and mulch your vegetable garden too, which Detweiler says will not only enrich the soil, but it will also loosen up the soil when it’s being turned over in the spring.

If you still have green tomatoes on your vine, and you hear a freeze is on its way, don’t despair. Detweiler says harvest them before the first heavy frost, and place them in a box with newspaper, and they will ripen in your garage at room temperature between sixty and seventy degrees within a few weeks.

The fall chill in the air is a reminder that the days are getting shorter and winter is around the corner. Put your garden to bed with a nice tuck-in of mulch and fertilizer. It will awaken in spring awash in colorful blooms, and your vegetable and fruit gardens will be ready to take root.

Gary Nolton allowed the land to inform his decision to build a compact, energy efficient showcase outside Terrebonne.

It might have been the sunset over the Cascades, or maybe the steep drive past junipers to a knoll overlooking lush farmland, or maybe it was a connection to something unseen and unexplainable. Whatever it was, from the moment Gary Nolton set foot on 10.75 acres listed for sale west of Terrebonne, he felt “right at home.” He came to a quick decision, called his real estate broker and told her, “I’m buying it.” He wrote an earnest money check the next day. And then he sat on the property for seven years.

“I had to figure out financing, and I wanted to get the lay of the land,” he recalled. “Siting is super critical. Where’s the best view and light? Where’s the wind coming from?” To answer those questions, he drove from Portland where he lived and worked, and camped on the property all four seasons for years. He often invited friends and family to join him to experience the property. They saw meteor showers in a sky with no light pollution and observed the 2017 total solar eclipse over Central Oregon.

In Portland, he went to Powell’s Books and began amassing reference materials on home design, construction and energy-efficient building practices. He took inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s approach to creating structures in harmony with their natural surroundings. And as a cinematographer at Limbo films, a company he founded in 1992 to produce digital media for commercial clients across the country, he applied his creative force to planning his future home. By 2017, he was ready to start the process. “I realized I could build something unique to me,” he said.

He took his ideas to Mike and Cindi O’Neil, owners of Solaire Homebuilders in Bend, who specialize in high-efficiency healthy homes. Among the many things Nolton had learned was that the summers “could be brutally hot.” He knew he’d have to mitigate heat and direct sunlight by building a home with as many energy efficiencies as possible.

“Gary came to us to wanting an efficient dream home that would perform well in the high desert climate,” Cindi said. “It was a perfect marriage for us. We loved his ideas for an open bright home that blended indoor and outdoor spaces. He also knew exactly where to place the home on his land.”

The design concept came next. Solaire recommended Bend architect Neal Huston whose firm has 30 years of experience in designing homes on the high desert. Because of Nolton’s busy travel schedule, he and Huston were never able to meet in person. “We exchanged emails, calls and images,” Nolton said. “Neal took all my materials, notes and ideas. It shocked me that he abbreviated the process without any push and pull. He hit the nail on the head right off the bat. What you see today is the result of his original ideas.”

Huston’s thoughts were similar. “I feel that from the beginning, Gary and I were on the same page for this story,” he said. “He understood the relationship between amount of square footage and cost, and that smaller can work if efficient and thoughtfully conceived.”

Solaire broke ground in May 2018 on a three-bedroom, two-bath home with 1,753 square feet. The orientation is toward the Cascade Mountains. “Taking advantage of his incredible view was paramount, both for indoor and outdoor living spaces,” Huston said.

“Low maintenance materials and energy conservation were both concerns of Gary’s,” he continued. Nolton had considered solar panels and wind turbines to be off grid. But rather than generate power, the more affordable solution was to incorporate energy efficiencies, such as 8-inch thick exterior walls, high-efficiency windows, blown-in fiberglass blankets in interior walls and ceilings to achieve insulation values 50 percent above code and large overhangs to shield west-facing rooms from the intense sun.

Solaire’s attention to efficiencies in the home shell combined with the installation of high- performance windows led to a nearly airtight dwelling. To maintain healthy air exchanges, the company installed a Lifebreath ventilation system to bring in fresh air and expel stale air. A filter system removes dust, pollen and smoke.

Cindi said that the home is certified Earth Advantage Platinum for its superior energy efficiency, healthy air quality and responsible use of natural materials. 

“It’s all about building a super-insulated home shell, creating a healthy indoor environment, conserving the earth’s resources and ensuring the home meets our client’s aesthetic goals,” she said.

The home’s architecture and view stand out immediately on arrival. Without blinds or curtains to impede the first impression, guests can gaze straight through the sliding doors, great room and out the backside to the mountains. Two of the three bedrooms also face the Cascades, and a covered outdoor eating area is perfect for gathering on a summer evening.

Nolton served as his own interior decorator, selecting mostly white walls, with a couple of accent walls. Tile colors, lighting fixtures and cabinets are contemporary but muted. The simplicity of the inside strongly complements the stunning views outside the home. Pieces of art punctuate the walls and fun Western touches are a nod to his inner cowboy.

After several seasons as a visitor on his own property, Nolton moved into his desert hilltop home in May and says he loved being an integral part of the design and all the steps along the way. “It’s been a big lifestyle change,” he said. “I’ve always lived in the ‘hoods. It’s amazing to walk to a stream and throw a fly rod in, but I can’t walk to restaurants.” All in all, he says it’s the right size for him. “I love the house so much,” he said. “It feels like a warm hug.”

Whether you live on a small lot downtown or on many acres in the country, an outside retreat adjacent to your home can be a place to rejuvenate and reduce life’s stresses.

From March to October—and sometimes through the winter months—Central Oregonians seek sanctuary in the outdoors. You don’t need to drive to the river or into the mountains to achieve the respite provided by a beautiful outdoor space. Cultivate a peaceful retreat right out your own back door.

Kathy DeGree and her husband, Butch, have spent three decades building and fine-tuning an outdoor oasis at their Awbrey Butte home. “We live a crazy life,” said Kathy, who co-owns two Black Bear Diners with Butch. “We wanted a place to sit outside and enjoy the calming effect of water going over rocks.”

Longtime Bend residents, the couple has incorporated into their yard many of the high desert’s most popular features for outdoor living, wildlife viewing, star gazing, listening to music and hosting small intimate gatherings of friends.

Here are a few ideas from the DeGrees’ yard, designed to regularly transport busy people from adrenalin-jazzed days to the calming zone of a private retreat.

Water

Humans naturally gravitate to water. Nearness to water can trigger feelings of tranquility, peacefulness and even happiness. Homeowners can incorporate a simple bird bath, a cascading waterfall, a meandering stream or a pond to reap these benefits. Water also connects us to the natural environment by attracting wildlife. The DeGrees installed a meandering creek that flows down a gentle slope into a small pond where Kathy says two goldfish they bought four years ago have grown into beautiful and large koi. Whether you do the work yourself or hire a local company, water features can be incorporated into both small and large spaces and on any budget.

Fire

The yin to water’s yang, fire creates warmth, security and recalls our prehistoric roots. In Central Oregon where wildfires are a constant threat, firepits and fire features can be safely added with thought and care. Many homeowners’ associations ban the use of open wood-burning firepits, but gas or propane-fueled features of every size, shape and cost create ambiance and an inviting place to unwind, share stories with friends and enjoy a warm spot to contemplate the universe.

Kitchen

A major trend in new homes, outdoor kitchens can involve elaborate features such as built-in cabinets, stoves, drink coolers, refrigeration, counter space and sinks, plus furniture for sitting and eating meals. Or they can be simple additions, such as a BBQ, casual seating and a portable drink caddy. The DeGrees created a covered cabana-style bar with a mini-fridge for drinks and snack food with stools arrayed around the bar for conversation. They also built a brick-and-mortar wood-fire oven that bakes a perfect pizza and roasts meats, including the Thanksgiving turkey.

Furniture

Furniture can be a major part of any backyard retreat and also serve to partition space. For example, a homeowner may wish to have more formal furniture near sliding doors to enhance flow between the home’s interior and exterior, with a more casual bench strategically placed some distance away under a shade tree or near a water feature. Side tables, ottomans, pillows and cushions add functionality and comfort. The DeGrees placed an adult-friendly swing near the bar with cushions and seating for two. It’s one of the first places Kathy heads to after work. From there she can observe wildlife, including a pair of owls that return each year to raise their young.

Gardens

What’s an oasis without a garden or attractive landscaping? It’s almost a given that homeowners will want to incorporate living things into their Eden, whether that means native plants of the natural desertscape, potted plants, hanging flower baskets, special gardens for attracting butterflies, or trees and shrubs that create shade on hot summer days. With proper placement, taller plants and trees can double as privacy screens from adjacent properties. Newcomers to the high desert, though, might heed this warning: deer love roses, tulips, day lilies, dahlias and just about anything that costs a lot of money. So check with garden stores or the Oregon State University Extension Service for advice and a list of deer-resistant plants.

Life in Sunriver is quiet and surrounded by amenities.

If there was ever an idyllic place to grow up, Sunriver may be it. Consider biking and walking trails right outside the front door, acres of forests to play in and explore, and, of course, the Deschutes River meandering and winding through. Sunriver has drawn families for decades who are looking for a little bit more space than a city offers. Part mountain village, outdoors mecca and arts hub, Sunriver has become so much more than a resort town. For many, it’s a place to put down roots.

Carolyn Pearson has lived in Sunriver for thirty years. She and her husband, Rob, brought their three kids to Sunriver after she took on a teaching job at Three Rivers K-8 School. “We both wanted a calm environment where we could be in nature on a daily basis,” said Pearson.

Today, Sunriver, about twenty miles south of Bend, has about 1,400 full-time residents, according to the latest census information. Built around Sunriver Resort, here families find plenty of amenities, including grocery stores, gas stations and the ever-growing Village at Sunriver. Local businesses like Goody’s ice cream shop, Sunriver Sports, The Hook Fly Shop and Sunriver Books & Music have kept the small-town atmosphere alive and the local economy thriving.

Other draws to Sunriver include the Sunriver Nature Center and the Oregon Observatory, which has eleven telescopes and an outstanding view of the night sky. There’s also a growing arts scene, with small galleries featuring local artists and artwork. Local restaurants include the award-winning brewery Sunriver Brewing Company, South Bend Bistro and Marcello’s Italian Cuisine.

“Moving to a small community was not an issue for us,” said Pearson. “You know each other, you have frequent contact with each other, and if you stay, you build a history with each other. Not everybody loves that, but we do.”

Pearson and her husband, who worked at a local church, have been longtime active members of the community, developing scholarship programs for students at Three Rivers as well as the Sunriver Music Festival. “It helps you stay connected, so you invest in each other and the needs of the people around you,” said Pearson.

Despite a consistent tourist population, the town has retained its community atmosphere. “There’s always the downside and the upside,” said Pearson. “It gets noisier, and tourists are less respectful of the environment. You take it in stride when you decide to live here.”

For Pearson and others, living within easy access to natural areas makes up for the extra visitors. “There’s a sense of gratitude that comes from being in a setting that Sunriver offers,” she said. “It’s a place that we have access to on a daily basis, so I just personally thrive on that.”

Courtney Equall and her family are a new addition to the area. A few years ago, they moved from Texas back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family. “We landed on Bend, and looked at the market, but knew we wanted a little more room for our kids. We didn’t seek out Sunriver, but we are really happy we landed here.”

Equall runs a popular interior design blog Girl & Grey. Her home is in a growing neighborhood that has lots of room for her three kids to play. “We have a half-acre, and we’re on one of the canals on the Deschutes. It’s so much fun for the kids. We put kayaks in the water in our backyard and float to the river.” She took advantage of the short drive to Mt. Bachelor and put her kids in ski school in the winter. Her kids also “go crazy” for SHARC, the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center that features indoor and outdoor pools.

Equall said that they were pleasantly surprised at how many young families live in their neighborhood, including a lot of transplants like them. “Everyone comes from somewhere else, and everyone who’s here wants to be here.”

Keep the outdoors cozy until late in the evening this summer.

Summer in Central Oregon is our time to bask, play and even dine in the sun. But when the sun starts to set, the high desert air gets chilly and the sky gets dark fast. We asked Bend resident Patrick Howard, master host for outdoor entertaining, for a few tips to illuminate and warm up your outdoor areas to extend your summer days well into the night.

Make it Hot

At home in  his backyard, Howard has a built-in gas fire pit, which delivers not only warmth but also ambiance for guests, who gather around the fire while sipping wine at the NorthWest Crossing residence.

Fire pits come in various shapes, sizes, and fuel sources, from gas-powered to wood-burning. Growing in popularity are table fire pits, which ensure your guests stay warm at dinner time, as the flames are centered in the middle of a patio table. Other popular alternatives to a fire pit are outdoor fireplaces and outdoor heating towers.

Many families prefer the outdoor fireplaces, as they’re self-contained units which are generally safer for young children, but because they are a built-in part of an outdoor patio they tend to be pricier than a fire pit or a heating tower. Others prefer heating towers, as they’re portable and can be moved from deck to patio with relative ease, many brands come with base wheels, making it more portable.  These outdoor heaters are either gas or electric powered, and most newer models have an automatic anti-tilt shut-off for safety reasons.

Heating towers generate a good amount of radiant heat to a specific area, from a 6-foot to 20-foot radius depending on the model you buy. Similarly, radiant heaters can be mounted onto outdoor patio ceilings or walls.

Before you make a decision, check your city or neighborhood’s regulations. Some cities, like Bend, do not allow outdoor wood-fueled fire pits.

Outside Lighting

We’re fortunate here at the 44th parallel, because the summer sun stays high in the sky late into the evening. But when the sun does set, you want your guests to be safe as they wander your backyard area, especially if you have stairs.

Howard has a three-tiered outdoor entertaining area, and as a retired engineer he planned low profile lighting on all the walkways and stairs. The lighting blends in with the landscape, so during the day, the units are barely noticeable, but at night they illuminate areas where guests may gather.

“I worked with my landscaper on illuminating the backyard area,” explains Howard. Lighting needs vary, and direct lighting to provide illumination on a pathway was varied with more decorative lights to cast a glow on a landscaped feature. “We even illuminated the tree area, so you can see it at night.” Decorative lights are generally not as bright, as those used for illumination, so keep this in mind when selecting your outdoor lighting.

Most recent outdoor lighting fixtures use LED lights, which not only illuminate brighter, but also are more energy and cost efficient. Solar outdoor lighting has improved over the years, but generally is not as strong or reliable enough to provide adequate illumination for walkways.

String lights in a patio area are used primarily for decorative use, and can set the mood for a sparkling night.

Don’t Forget the Music

As an engineer, Howard believes every party needs a good sound system. He placed 30 speakers throughout his home, with another 15 speakers outside on all three tiers of his yard. He can control and stream his music from his Iphone or his Ipad, and have different music playing inside than outside. Howard is happy to deliver advice on music selection too. “Make sure your music playlist matches your guests’ taste,” says Howard. “My party playlist usually includes older and newer songs, to please my friends and their teenage children.”

For an amazing outdoor space this summer, don’t forget about keeping your guests warm and safe when the sun goes down.  This is our time, when the snow is but just a distant memory.

In the modern era, it’s difficult to ignore the call for sustainability.

Everywhere we look, we can find tips on how to incorporate ways to be easy on the planet into our lives, and even into our gardens and landscapes. Bend Home + Design sat down with Denise Rowcroft, School Gardens Program Manager with The Environmental Center in Bend, to gather a few tips on making your own personal outdoor space a little better for you, our earth and everyone else that we share this planet with.

Planting for Pollinators

Pollinators like butterflies help keep an ecosystem healthy and in balance. How can we help our winged friends do so? Plant milkweed seeds. “Flowers are the runway that attracts pollinators to your yard,” said Rowcroft. Butterflies love the delicious milkweek nectar, and will pick up pollens to spread in the process.

Composting

Composting takes stuff you already have—organic matter from your kitchen or garden—and decomposes it to return it to the soil, enriching that soil in the process. Plus, composting means you don’t have to pay the trash man to take away your kitchen scraps. Consider a backyard composting bin or a worm bin for your yard or garage. “If you live within the city limits of Bend or Redmond, you can toss fruit and veggie scraps into your yard debris bin,” said Rowcroft. Then the trash man WILL take it away to recycle it into compost for you.

Get to Know Your Irrigation System

Even if you have landscapers who take care of most of the complicated stuff, it’s a good idea to understand your watering system. Does the forecast call for rain for the next five days? Consider shutting the irrigation down for a while. Is your system watering in the middle of a hot summer’s day? Check out the City of Bend website for regulations and advice about watering when it makes the most sense in terms of time of day, as well as when it will have the least demand on the city’s water system.

Seek out alternatives to chemicals

A quick google search will deliver recipes using common—and harmless—substances to keep pests away from your yard. Ants hate coffee grounds; aphids will avoid banana peels. Staying away from deadly chemicals is healthier for the beneficial insects and animals that like to visit your yard, and for the humans that live there too.

Be nice to the weeds

Well, you don’t have to be nice to all of the weeds. But consider this—the very first dandelions of the season might look like bad news to you, but they are great news for the bees. “Those early yellow blooms are the first food the bees find after a long winter,” said Rowcroft. “Consider leaving the first few alone. You can pull up the ones that come later.”

An American lawn revolution.

When it comes to our yards, the vast expanse of green we call “lawn” is under close scrutiny. Especially in the arid high desert, costs associated with water bills and the time and energy it takes to maintain a lawn draw questions as to whether or not it’s worth it. Throw in the cost of mowers, edgers, thatchers and sprayers, as well as products to control weeds, insects and disease, and it amounts to a significant investment. Many of us who don’t really use our lawns are considering making a change to the overall design of our landscapes.

Let’s consider fun and creative ideas for eliminating or reducing your lawn.

Lawn Begone

Tired of your lawn? Get rid of it! This may sound good to many, but you will be immediately confronted with another problem. What to do with all that space that was once your lawn?

Try a rock garden. Across America, a growing number of folks are pioneering a new look for the traditional front yard—a design that eliminates green grass and replaces it with winding paths, dry stream beds, and rocks or stones.

Or consider xeriscaping, the term used for choosing native plants, and fewer of them, that require little water or maintenance for your landscape. Let native rabbit brush, manzanita and sagebrush work their way back into your environment.

There are also many great groundcover plants appropriate to the high desert which can fill in the space once filled with lawn grass. White clover is not only very drought tolerant but requires little water at all. Sheep’s fescue is a great naturalizing grass that looks good with minimal watering and never needs mowing. Both of these choices can be established simply by sowing seed, thus reducing the cost dramatically. Once established they will give you that lawn-like appearance, minus the burdening costs of traditional maintenance.

Low growing groundcovers such as Wiltoni and Bar Harbor juniper offer an evergreen low maintenance alternative. Groundcovers such as Ajuga, Lamium (Dead Nettle) and Sweet Woodruff offer a similar low-growing look, but will grow very well in shady areas. Areas with poor soil can be filled with hardy perennials like yarrow or unique succulent colorful sedums. Creeping thyme is among the most popular, with white, pink or blue vibrant springtime blooms. Creeping Jenny, Potentilla Verna and Vinca vine also make great selections for your lawn-less project.

A Little Lawn

Okay—so the kids have picnics and the dog still likes to roll on the grass. You don’t have to eliminate your lawn entirely. Eliminate some, reserve what lawn you actually use, and consider “grasscycling” with the saved section.

Grasscycling means letting your lawn grow a little longer than you might normally in-between cuttings. The longer grass shades itself and the soil, reducing evaporation, making your water go further, and keeping the soil moister and healthier.

When you do cut, let the “haircut” fall back into the yard, also protecting the soil and preventing moisture loss. Regular mulching is another way to conserve water. The mulch covers the soil and keeps it moist, preventing evaporation. The end result is better living for the lawn you can’t live without.

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North Star-Property Management protects valuable rental real estate investments.

As Central Oregon’s population grows, so does the need for quality housing. In a tight rental market, North Star Property Management, in Bend since 2012, fills a niche in the industry.

North Star was founded in 2008 and focused on working with high-end properties and creating exceptional relationships with homeowners, considering itself more of a real estate investment management company. Founded on relationships with local corporations and investors, North Star operates with the idea that properties are an important investment, and who manages that investment matters. The company has a strict screening process for tenants, ensuring better-than-average leasing lifespans, minimal legal intervention and an overall profitable investment.

Faith Lauray is in charge of the Central Oregon operations in Bend, the second office for North Star. She grew up in Central Oregon and had been working in property management for more than three years when she met the owner of North Star last fall at Podski, a food truck pod in Bend. She joined the company and has helped grow the Central Oregon office with a team that is supported by the Lake Oswego headquarters. This connection to a larger Oregon market helps drive executive-level Bay Area, Portland and Seattle tenants to their rental properties.

Lauray is utilizing her seasoned connections in the area to grow the business. “I have a lot of roots here in the community, including relationships with other agencies and real estate brokerages,” she said. “I consider myself a resource for the agents and investors that don’t have the rental market knowledge and experience we do.” Lauray is focused on building good relationships in the Central Oregon community, finding the right owners to work with and managing relationships with tenants.

The brand has taken off since landing in Central Oregon, where the market was ready for high-end investments that match with North Star’s business model. “The caliber of business we do is at another level,” said Lauray. “We view ourselves as asset managers instead of just property managers.”

Seth Lufkowitz has been working with North Star for five years. They manage three long-term rentals for him. “There are many property management companies in Central Oregon, but North Star has earned my trust and have my business,” said Lufkowitz. He cited the personal approach to management and how the staff responds quickly and efficiently to any issues that arise. “They’re great people,” he said.

North Star utilizes professional photographers for all the listings and has strict income requirements for tenants. Appealing to a tenant base that is looking for upscale and luxury homes to rent, North Star plans to expand to Redmond and Sunriver. “If it’s the right fit with the owner, location isn’t an issue,” said Lauray. If current market trends persist, North Star will only continue to grow in the Pacific Northwest.

“The connections we make and the work we do are at another level,” said Lauray. “We’re managing a lifetime asset. These aren’t just doors to us. They’re homes, family homes, where people make memories.”

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For Jake Woodruff, a job isn’t worth doing unless it’s done right. That mantra is what drove him to start Northwest Quality Roofing a decade ago.

Woodruff moved to Bend and started working at a roofing company when he was 19 years old. He followed the roofing career path and honed his skills, then moved onto the business side of the industry.

After working for roofing companies that would cut corners to save costs, or wouldn’t keep the customers’ best interests in mind, Woodruff wanted his company to be different. “I just wanted to service customers better and hire high-quality individuals to represent the company on the job site,” he said. He formed Northwest Quality Roofing with his wife, Gretchen. “She’s the organizer and driver of the company,” he said.

There’s a sign above their shop door with a quote from Henry Ford that reads, “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” It’s a daily reminder for the company and its employees to always put service above costs.

Northwest Quality Roofing primarily works with residential homeowners. They work on custom and new construction projects as well as re-roofing projects for Central Oregon homes. “Customer satisfaction is our number one goal,” said Woodruff. “It’s a huge purchase, and no one is excited about it. We try to navigate people through the process.”

Woodruff said that not sacrificing quality is what sets them apart in the industry. “It’s important to us to make sure clients are getting the best project for their budget. We sometimes take hits on price at our end, but we want to make sure the customer is getting the best possible job they can get.”

In Central Oregon, Woodruff said that the biggest trend in roofing is that customers are making sure they are protected from snow damage and ice dams. Northwest Quality Roofing has taken on those projects head-on to prevent that problem in the future for customers. “We don’t do things we know aren’t right for this climate,” said Woodruff. They have a shop where they can create all the custom flashings that customers may need for their roof. “We offer the overall package when it comes to water-proofing the roof,” he said.

They’re also committed to giving back to the community that has supported the company in its growth. Each year, they hold the annual “Raise the Roof” contest to give away a free roof to someone in need in the region. Community members can nominate themselves or someone they know, and Northwest Quality Roofing employees, about 35 in all, vote to choose the winner. The company also sponsors local youth sports and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.

“We just want to be the company that does the right thing, no matter what,” said Woodruff.

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Waterfront Old Mill District homes capture iconic Central Oregon city living.

Imagine sitting on your private rooftop deck, watching paddleboarders navigate the Deschutes River, seeing birds catch an upward draft, the full array of Cascade Mountains spread before you and live music drifting over from the Les Schwab Amphitheater. Those are among the many benefits of owning a townhouse at the heart of Bend in the Old Mill District.

High Plateau Development, a regional company based in Bend, has developed several luxury residential properties along the Deschutes River. Its current development includes four townhomes being built by Stillwater Construction. “People who buy these townhomes want to be in the middle of everything, all the activities that draw people to Central Oregon,” said Bart Mitchell, a lifelong Central Oregon resident who started Stillwater in 2007.

That aspect was among the selling points that drew a Portland couple to the first townhome finished by Stillwater. “We know a lot of people who have moved to Bend and wanted to be more remote and more chill, but we loved the idea of being right in the hub of things,” the homeowner said. The couple moved into the home in March after a good building experience with Stillwater.

“We’d never built a house before and were kind of skeptical about how things would go,” the homeowner said. “Bart gave us a date, and he came through with everything. The home design was wonderful. Because we got in at the ground floor, we were able to make a few changes and customize our home to us.”

Mitchell said his company spends extra time up-front on planning and budget forecasting. “We provide clients with daily progress reports, photos and updates on what comes next,” he said. “We have constant communication, and a consistent and loyal group of subcontractors.”

A key team member is Melanie Buccola, owner of Inside Buccola Design, who took the lead on interior design decisions. “When we started working with the architect, we had the challenge of a tall, narrow space,” she said. “One of the coolest things is how the townhome expands space and integrates indoor and outdoor living.”

The townhomes face west and are a few feet back from the walking path that meanders between Farewell Bend Park and the Old Mill shopping and dining district. The patio with its retaining walls, native grasses, water features and firepit provides a nice transition to the home’s interior. Because of foot traffic on the path, especially during summer days, the architects designed the patio to be ten to twelve feet higher than the trail for privacy if an owner wants it.

Each unit contains about 3,000-square-feet of space, spread over three vertical floors, with maximum orientation toward the views. Access is either through the one-car garage with a convenient entrance into the mud and laundry room or through the front door. Both entrances are off Theater Drive.

Designed by the architectural firm, Ascent, the townhomes have the unusual feature of two large sliding glass doors by LaCantina in the great room that open onto the patio with no post between them. “The inside corner, zero-post doors are a major trend right now and are on everyone’s hot list,” Mitchell said, adding that they seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living spaces. In addition to the main floor sliding doors, the second and third stories have multi-slide doors onto outside decks.

The first-level great room is open and light filled, with the kitchen separated from the dining room by a quartz-topped island that allows someone preparing food to enjoy the view and be part of the room’s activities. Harvest Moon Woodworks custom made the kitchen cabinets in a mix of styles—dark woodgrain and high-gloss white to create an ultra-modern feeling. All appliances are professional grade made by Dacor.

A gas fireplace is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling black concrete, created by Cement Elegance, and provides warmth on cold winter days and ambiance for entertaining or reading a book.

A “floating” staircase of steel construction and white oak steps connects the three stories. The floating part refers to a style of construction in which the vertical rise or back of the stair is eliminated, creating an open space between steps. Each step is fused to a massive steel beam for support and the creation of a modern, industrial feeling. The bottom of each step has a strip of soft LED lights for safety and ambiance.

Four large skylights at the top of the staircase beam natural light downward and onto the middle of each floor.

Each townhome has three bedrooms, four baths, a powder room, an office and a family or bonus room. Although the floor plans can vary between units, the second and recently completed townhome has three bedrooms on the middle floor. Two bedrooms, including the master, have full west views. The third bedroom has its own bath and small east-facing deck. The master bedroom has a private bath with a vessel tub, large shower enclosure and closet space for two.

The family or bonus room on the third floor has a built-in wet bar with an icemaker, mini-frig, bar, sink, dishwasher and wood-grain cabinets for storage. It also has a bathroom, a large wall for a big-screen TV and lovely Turkish, textured mosaic tile from Ann Sacks. Sliding doors lead to a deck for dining, entertaining or sitting under the stars.

The three remaining townhomes are being marketed by Ryan Buccola of RE/MAX Key Properties. One of these was finished in May, and the developer hopes to have the other two townhomes ready for sale in early 2020, with an asking price of between $1.9 million and $2.l million. “This is a unique location,” Buccola said. “We’re selling waterfront homes in the desert in the heart of the Old Mill.”

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An alpine-view home inspired by the wings of a bird of prey.

It’s hard not to notice the large lava rock boulder embedded in the concrete floor just inside the entryway of Glenn and Suzanne Walker’s home near Sisters. But at the same time, the rock blends into the new home the way it once blended into the land on which the property sits, overlooking a sage-hued meadow and gentle bend in Wychus Creek.

The rugged landscape is Central Oregon to the core, with majestic mountain views and abundant wildlife—including a resident Red-tailed Hawk that appeared each time designer and architect Wendy von Kalinowski visited the property. That hawk, in fact, became the inspiration for the project, with the floorplan of the modern home reflecting the outline of a hawk’s wing extended for flight and the design taking on the name, “Hawk’s Wing.”

It’s all just part of the vision of Studio von Kalinowski Design, a partnership with Wendy’s husband, master craftsman and builder Mark Smeltzer. The unique setting was a perfect match for the studio’s mission to work hand-in-hand with clients on creating a holistic design that brings daily inspiration to their lives. “Each project is a design journey and working with the Walkers became a creative collaboration of expressing the design concept all the way through in every detail,” von Kalinowski said.

Along with the lava boulders, the home’s interior is styled with raw materials and elements befitting the landscape. Custom pine planks milled into bench seats and bedroom side tables were both made from wood harvested on site. Hot rolled steel panels with matching flame effects, sculptural pendant lighting and built-in niches for personal treasures are unique and reflect the home’s surroundings.

Massive, charred beams above the main living area represent the wings of that Red-tailed Hawk. “Wendy never stopped revisiting her ideas with us to be sure it was what we wanted,” Suzanne said. “The entire process was inclusive, and we so appreciated that—and her eye for detail—at every turn.”

The single-level home sits on a rimrock cliff overlooking Willow Springs Preserve, a 130-acre protected area along Wychus Creek managed by the Deschutes Land Trust. Views of the meadows and the mountains beyond dominate the living room, dining area and kitchen thanks to massive windows and bi-folding doors. With light pouring through every corner of the home, it’s as though the design brings the wilderness inside.

“We love the way our home captures the expansive views,” Suzanne said. “The careful placement of the windows frames the different peaks from the Three Sisters to Mt. Jefferson. It gives each living space its unique perspective.

The home is actually a little larger than the Walkers initially wanted, but von Kalinowski was able to create a coziness within the 2,700-square-foot layout. With a home office “wing” for Glenn, and dedicated spare bedroom for visitors, it serves the family’s desired multi-functional needs.

“My goal is always to design spaces that support, nurture and inspire those that will live in their home,” von Kalinowski said. “For me, this home captures not only the physical elements and aesthetics that define its unique setting, character and richness, but also the holistic side of my clients’ lifestyle.”

For the Walkers, yoga and meditation are central to that lifestyle so von Kalinowski designed a space in the master bedroom for yoga and a small, inviting alcove off the living room that doubles as an extra sleeping space. “We start every morning “sitting” together, be it in meditation or contemplation and study,” Suzanne said, “so we wanted a cozy east-facing sacred space where we could wake with the sun and welcome the day in our way.”

Glenn is also a musician. A separate music room showcases several of his beloved bass guitars and gives him a creative retreat of his own within the home.

Outside, the home is both striking and remarkably unassuming considering the exterior is much darker than the other homes in the area near Aspen Lakes Golf Course. von Kalinowski said the color palette for the home’s finishes are “all visible within the soft plumage of the hawk if one could get so close, but more easily found on the surface of the site itself.” The burnished color of lava rock, the soft grays of juniper trees, the charred charcoal color of trees once struck by lightning help the home once again both stand out and blend in.

Bryan Rhodes, the design team’s official “rock guru,” was able to create lava rock steps that look like they appeared naturally, leading from the wrap-around back deck to a pebbled sitting area and fire pit. Lava rock berms are extending arms from the rocky ridge, built up in front to add to the topography and create additional separation from the home to the road. And a septic system is virtually unnoticeable thanks to strategically placed trees and rocks.

The Walkers selected plant materials used both inside and out that were either native to the area or would further enhance the native landscape. “From plan to finish, the concept stays within the site’s natural elements that inhabit the immediate and surrounding environment,” von Kalinowski said. “The design focuses on the uniqueness of the property.”

Suzanne said the home turned out exactly as they hoped. “It’s challenging to explain and express what you dream your home to be,” Glenn said. “You use feelings and words that your designer has to interpret into physical spaces and Wendy did just that.”