Search results

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.

Sponsored Content

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.”

Sponsored Content

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.

Sponsored Content

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.”

Sponsored Content

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.”

Sponsored Content

Northwest Woodlands a new neighborhood that offers homes made by a custom-home builder starting at $400,000.

Across the street from Bend’s recently opened Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, just a short drive to downtown Bend, is Northwest Woodlands, a new northwest Bend neighborhood that offers rustic modern homes with attractive finishes at an affordable price point. The neighborhood features large trees, spacious lots and a friendly layout near the new North Star Elementary School, making it a perfect location for families.

Angie Mombert and Brent Landels of The Cascadia Group at RE/MAX Key Properties represent the neighborhood, which has sixteen sites available. Buyers may choose to engage the talents of neighborhood builder R.D. Building & Design, or purchase a home site and bring in their own builder.

R.D. Building & Design owner Ryan Duble brings twenty years of Central Oregon construction experience to the Northwest Woodlands project. Duble is well-known for his custom home building work in Bend. For the homes in Northwest Woodlands, Duble developed home designs that are elevated by custom touches, without the custom price tag. “Buyers get to have the same type of feel as a custom build, without the same cost that is typically entailed in a custom build,” explained broker Brent Landels. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

Home designs in Northwest Woodlands include desirable features such as tall ceilings, engineered wood flooring, quality cabinets, beautiful appliances, a gas fireplace, as well as artfully selected tile work and decorative light fixtures. Details like tall doors, lower-pitched roofs and stacked windows that reach to the floor add a luxury feel to each of the homes. The garage also offers ample storage for cars and gear, while front-yard drought-tolerant landscaping maintains the natural look of Bend’s terrain.

For those buyers wishing to add on even more accoutrements to their home, Duble’s experience in custom home building makes him well suited to the task. “Duble is a hands-on builder who brings attention to the little details,” said Landels. “He is involved at every stage to ensure a finished product that meets both his and the homeowners’ expectations.”

Duble will be at each home site throughout the building process. “I want to make sure the homeowners are truly getting what they want,” said Duble.

Working alongside Duble is project manager and interior designer Tia Hanson, who has a master’s degree in interior architecture and design. Hanson designs the interior and exterior of the homes, creates custom features the clients can choose from and keeps a consistent design stamp across the homes, ensuring the neighborhood’s future value. Her designs bring a custom aesthetic to the neighborhood.

Each buyer will get to work directly with Duble and Hanson to put their own touches into the home. “Each house will have unique character,” said Hanson. Clients may choose to upgrade features like windows, light fixtures, tile, and appliances, or even make small adjustments to the floor plan.

Homes in the neighborhood offer a blend of contemporary and rustic design. “While there is a contemporary feel, it’s still very much a Bend neighborhood,” said Hanson. Warm elements inspired by the Pacific Northwest soften otherwise clean, modern lines to nurture the sense that this neighborhood belongs just minutes from the forested banks of the Deschutes River. “Expect bold but comfortable designs,” added Mombert.

With only sixteen homes in the neighborhood, the lots have ample space . Homesites are defined by large trees with space for drought-tolerant landscaping suitable for the high desert aridity.

Northwest Woodlands home are designed in three-bedroom layouts. Some homes offer bonus rooms, or the master bedroom on the main level, and there are both single-story and two-story layouts. Prices for the homes range from $400,000 to $600,000, depending on the custom design features in each home. “Northwest Woodlands will be a terrific family neighborhood with beautiful homes full of custom touches,” said Landels.

[rl_gallery id=”15293″]

This home kitchen in Southeast Bend is an example of this cross between modern and rustic, with touches of industrial hardware.

Baby boomers may recall the popular television show “The Jetsons” and the futuristic family’s ultra-modern lifestyle, which included a household helper named Rosie the Robot. That once-fantastical lifestyle is trending towards reality as kitchens evolve towards high-technological centers.

While high technology is popping up more and more in the kitchen, styles are going back in time. Ultra-white kitchens have been trending the last few years, but designers are now seeing a return to a cross between rustic and modern styles. Contrasting different textures like woods and metals to create a rich and nuanced look, while at the same time incorporating high technology into the kitchen, is all the rage.

The Coupar-Marina home kitchen in Southeast Bend is an example of this cross between modern and rustic, with touches of industrial hardware. Kristin Coupar and her partner Sonia Marina wanted a warm and inviting look for their new home. Pops of color in matte finishes, like their grey kitchen cabinetry, adds depth and warmth, while clean lines of the cabinet design keep the style minimalist. Matte finishes also reduce the appearance of fingerprints and dirt. All the while, the kitchen is designed for high-performance, with the finest in technology and appliances.

A fourteen-foot, single-level black matte quartz island stretches the length of this rectangular kitchen, serving as the center of activity. In the center is a six-burner Thermador stove and double oven, with an inset griddle. As an avid chef, Coupar insisted this arrangement be set into the island, so that the chef at work faces out towards the living room. “When we have guests and I’m cooking, I want to be part of the party and conversation,” says Coupar, a retired law enforcement officer.

The biggest conversation piece in the kitchen is above Coupar as she’s cooking for friends. The custom-made hood/vent is comprised of texturized powder-coated iron around stained wood. This statement piece matches a wall surrounding a wood burning stove in the living room. The layered look that incorporates different metals and woods, provides a laid-back rustic look, and yet has an elegant touch.

To go with this bold industrial style, the couple installed black metal hanging caged pendant lamps that drop over the island. While recessed lighting has been the norm in the past decade in kitchens, pendant lighting is making a comeback. On the cabinetry, they installed the perfect pulls for their cupboards and drawers, with the industrial, gun metal patina look they were going for.

The backsplash for the sink wall is the latest take on subway tiles. Instead of plain white and one dimensional, these tiles are in different hues of grey with angled surface cuts. The couple opted for white granite countertops with veins of grey and black. Sonia Marina demonstrates her smart kitchen faucet that automatically turns on the water with a simple wave of the hand.

Another high-tech built-in appliance the couple installed is the steam oven. Coupar demonstrates how her new steam oven works, pointing out a special section that holds the water for the steam to permeate food as it bakes. The steam keeps foods moist, reducing the need to add extra fats to baked goods.

A weathered grey barn door next to the kitchen slides away to reveal the butler pantry, where they hide their appliances like the toaster and microwave oven. In this pantry, Coupar shows off her appliance with the most whimsy—a retro Smeg brand refrigerator decorated in the U.S. flag motif.

Handling heating and cooling needs for the couple’s kitchen is a Nest system. This learning thermostat handles home temperatures with efficiency, as well as remotely from computers and phones.

Even with all the newest trends and technological advances that continue to evolve in the modern kitchen, some things like a good old-fashioned meal with family and friends will still remain the same. Whether a quiet night home for two, or with a house full of guests, the Coupar-Marina kitchen shines.

[rl_gallery id=”15283″]

How to update your kitchen with open shelving, a trend that’s not so new after all.

Popularized by reality remodeling TV and expertly curated Instagram feeds, open shelving is the current darling of kitchen updates. But open shelving isn’t really a new trend after all. Before all of our chipped dishware, best-dad-ever mugs and mismatched wine glasses were hidden behind cabinet doors, it was common for dishware to be displayed and easily accessed. It was only into the 20th century that everything went behind cabinet doors.

Open shelving is an affordable and easy way to update a kitchen. It can also bring some needed personality into the most used room in the house, allowing knickknacks, art, plants and more to be displayed alongside coffee mugs.

In a small kitchen, open shelving that is painted the same color as the walls can provide the illusion of a larger space. Conversely, installing shelving that stands out, especially if it is used in just one area, can have a big impact on the look of the kitchen—white lacquered shelves can turn a kitchen into something Joanna Gaines would approve of, while steel or copper on top of a brick wall can make a kitchen look like it came straight from an urban loft.

There are some risks to be considered before unscrewing hinges or tearing down a cabinet.

One factor to consider is if mismatched plates, glasses and mugs fit the kitchen’s aesthetic. Those nostalgic mugs that have been in use since college might be sentimental, but in the open air they may not compare to a crisp set of new dishes that are often shown in glossy magazines and home tours with open shelving. It can be tempting to want to update everything from water glasses to flatware when it’s in full-view of every day—and that update does not always come cheap.

One trick to ease in to open shelving is to start by just taking off the cabinet doors. That, plus a fresh coat of paint on the remaining cabinet shelves, can help remodelers decide if open shelving suits their lifestyle. That built-in look also adds a new element to the trend that is reminiscent of the 19th century farm kitchens, and it won’t break the bank or require a demo day.

When it comes to styling the shelves, less is more. This part of the process may require one to channel their inner Marie Kondo (of the now ubiquitous “Konmarie” method. Does this platter spark joy? If not, and it hasn’t been used since in a few years, maybe it’s time to donate.) Leave out only the number of dishes that need to be used each day. The rest can be stored in a pantry or bottom cabinets.

Consider pairing dishware with something green to liven up the space, like a houseplant that does well in a variety of temperatures and environments. A favorite keepsake or tsotchke could also be used here to contrast a collection of monochrome dishware. A canister of coffee could be set next to mugs; a set of cookbooks could be displayed alongside plates—get creative with the infinite possibilities for adding some character into the kitchen.

The best plants for your bathroom that can withstand a range of temperatures and humidity.

A pop of green can liven up one of the smallest and perhaps most overlooked spaces in your home when it comes to design, the bathroom. Houseplants keep the air around you fresh and add life to a room, but choosing a plant that will thrive can be difficult. In a bathroom, which can have wide temperature fluctuations, low light and varied degrees of humidity, choosing the right plant for the space is necessary. Here are a few options of plants that would work well in any contemporary bathroom design and space.

Asparagus Fern
asparagus aethiopicus

The asparagus fern is a low maintenance plant that is neither a fern nor a vegetable, but its needle-like leaves are soft and airy and will provide a magical quality to this greenery. The plant should be kept moist as well as in varied shade, which makes the bathroom the perfect place to decorate with this plant in your home. Place it on a shelf and let the needles hang for a dreamy effect.

Air Plants
tillandsia

Air plants come in hundreds of shapes and sizes and require much less attention than other house plants. If they are submerged in water every two to three weeks and misted every few days, given enough bright filtered light and allowed to dry before placed in a glass terrarium, the plants should thrive in a bathroom setting. Each air plant can look unique and is an affordable addition to bathroom greenery.

Aloe Vera
aloe barbadensis miller

These hardy succulents will do well in a bathroom with bright, indirect light and humidity—just be sure to keep the plant in a pot with a hole in the bottom so that it can drain any excess water. The serrated leaves, which contain that cooling elixir you can your use on your skin after a day in the sun, will grow up and out. Place your aloe on a wooden bench in an underutilized corner for a spa-like atmosphere.

Viper’s Bowstring Hemp
sansevieria trifasciata

Commonly known as the snake plant, Viper’s Bowstring Hemp is a plant that comes with the added wow factor of height that will elevate any bathroom design. A benefit to the snake plant is that it can be forgotten about for weeks at a time and continue to thrive in your home, while still helping cleanse the air of toxins. The blend of green and yellow in the plant will complement many different design aesthetics.

Real estate in Tumalo is a gem of a find in this small community just outside of Bend.

Tumalo sits on the outskirts of Bend, west of the city en route to Sisters. Known for wide open spaces and a western vibe, the unincorporated area with a small town center has long been a favorite alternative for those looking for acreage, views, privacy and maybe a barn or horse arena. For residents, Tumalo is one of the growing communities of Central Oregon that has also maintained its small-town charm and a balanced lifestyle.

Putting down roots in Tumalo is exactly what Marie Timm and her family did almost fifteen years ago. Like others before, Timm was drawn to the landscape and the lifestyle, but mostly the chance to escape the rain.

“We lived in Portland and Seattle,” said Timm. “When you live on the wet side, all you want to do is dry out.” So they’d come to Central Oregon, and in 2003 found the small, quiet town of Tumalo.

Timm and her husband bought five acres, and the first thing they did was build a barn among the sagebrush and juniper trees that drew them to the region.

“Tumalo, the town itself, was pretty much just the gas station and the little store across the street that sells produce and a small Mexican restaurant and Lodgepole,” she said. “Now, there are speed limit signs,” she said, adding, “With all the population increase comes some good things.”

Tumalo, originally called Laidlaw, was planned to be the hub of Central Oregon. But when the Southern Railroad was diverted to Bend in 1910 and the Tumalo Irrigation Project failed to deliver water as promised, the people and the post office migrated to Bend, which became the center of the region. But Tumalo never died; the post office reopened in 1923, and the town changed its name to Tumalo.

Throughout its life, Tumalo has kept a population of just a few hundred people. Agriculture is still the backbone of the town, but small businesses are the heart of it. Today, Tumalo is home to more than a handful of locally owned businesses. Tumalo Feed Co. Steakhouse, a longstanding restaurant on the highway, has become recently managed by a young couple eager to keep the family-friendly atmosphere alive. Across the highway, The Bite is a popular food cart pod that serves some of the best dishes in the region.

Places like Tumalo Garden Market and Beyond the Ranch Antiques offer personal expertise to homeowners. Other local businesses include Tumalo Coffeehouse and Pisano’s Woodfired Pizza. Nearby, Bendistillery is a local spirit maker that is open for tours and tastings.

As Bend has become a popular tourist destination on the West Coast, Tumalo has drawn visitors as well. Recreation opportunities include camping at Tumalo State Park, floating the Deschutes River and riding the horse trails.

For Timm and her husband, a software project and engineering manager, living in Tumalo suits their lifestyle. The couple has run marathons and participated in triathlons. They spend their free time on bikes in the mountains, and they often ride their bikes into downtown Bend.

“It just fits who we are,” said Timm.

Timm said she and her husband have loved their location on the west side of Tumalo because it feels like they live in the foothills of the mountains. The area has attracted others who are looking to build on land, with more space between homes, and unparalleled views of the Cascade Mountain Range and Deschutes River.

Real estate in Tumalo is a gem of a find. Most parcels have significant space, around twenty acres, because of the farmland zoning. The median home price is around $500,000, with houses and land selling in a range of price points.

With just around 500 people, the town has maintained its charm even in the region’s growth. It’s also become a sought-after area for telecommuters, or even people who work in Bend or Redmond but are looking for a more rural lifestyle. For families, Tumalo sits in the Redmond School District.

As Central Oregon continues its rapid growth, expect to hear more about Tumalo, the little town that has become more than just a stopover on the way to the dry side of the mountains. Its location, scenery and lifestyle have driven people to the town for almost a century, for good reason.

Sponsored Content

Award-winning Hollyman Design makes a strong entrance into the Central Oregon design market.

In 2018, the Central Oregon Builder’s Association honored Darrin Hollyman with the Home Designer of the Year award. Hollyman has drawn hundreds of homes in his twenty-five-year career, met amazing people and been rewarded with many happy clients. But winning this award, he said, was his highest honor to date. “It’s so humbling, and such a high tribute, to be honored by your peers.”

Hollyman’s career began in the early 1990s with an associate’s degree in architectural design from a building design school in Arizona. A native Oregonian, Hollyman returned home and worked for an architect on the Oregon Coast and a structural engineering firm in Eugene before moving to Bend, where for twenty years he worked for a high-end custom home design/build firm, designing homes under a lead designer.

Last year, Hollyman hung up his own shingle and launched a new business, Hollyman Design. “I was ready to be more directly involved with clients, to have more creativity and autonomy,” he explained.

With two decades of experience living and working in Central Oregon, Hollyman understands—and respects— the natural environment and the land on which he designs homes.

“I believe strongly in respecting and working within the existing environment, by carefully designing and placing homes that blend into the natural landscape of the desired community,” he said. “Preserving the natural beauty of Central Oregon is key to my design.”

Recent Hollyman Design projects include a 3000-square-foot, large-scale Craftsman bungalow on Awbrey Butte, a high desert lodge home and an addition to a home near Mirror Pond which required a historic review. With each project, Hollyman connects with the future homeowners to achieve their intentions.

“I spend significant time with the client, to come up with a list of their wishes,” he said.

To achieve the synchrony with the land that he intends, Hollyman spends time on the lot, understanding where the views are, where the sun comes up, where are good areas to spend time both inside and out.

“I believe Central Oregon provides beautiful and unprecedented outdoor living and my designs are carefully thought out so that the flow is natural going both in and out,” he said. “I want the home to look like it belongs there—like it’s supposed to be there.”

Hollyman has designed multi-family and single-family dwellings as well as ADUs and additions since opening his own business last year. In the length of his career, he’s designed homes for many local high-end communities and neighborhoods, including Pronghorn, Broken Top, Crosswater, Sunriver, North Rim and Tetherow, often being the designer of contact for design review and submittals. Hollyman has recently been approved as a Professional Designer in Brasada Ranch.

With so many years of experience and so many homes designed under his belt, and even a major award won, one reward remains the same for Hollyman— designing a home that a new owner will love. “I like making people happy,” he said.

[rl_gallery id=”15178″]

Take a tour inside a mid-century modern masterpiece in the high desert that is built around indoor-outdoor living.

If you’ve stayed in an open-air home in the tropics with birds and breezes flowing through, then you’ll have a sense of what Maya Moon and her husband Brian have accomplished in the high desert outside Bend. The mid-century modern home with Frank Lloyd Wright influences sits on twenty-nine acres of junipers, scrub brush and rock and invokes indoor-outdoor living.

“The homeowners will be able to open sliding-glass walls and large windows in their great room and be outside at the same time,” said Al Tozer, an architectural designer with Tozer Design. The home is built around the concept of “biophilia,” the human tendency to seek connection with nature and other living things, he explained.

Tozer and his design colleague, Cecile Cuddihy, spent many hours at the site evaluating elevations that would capture views of the Cascades, from Mount Hood to Mount Bachelor, and create multi-levels embedded into the natural landscape. “Walking through the home is like walking where the landscape originally rose and fell,” Tozer said.

To maximize the mountain views and have the connectivity with the outside through sliding doors and large windows, the home has more glass than solid walls, meeting one of Maya’s dreams to live in a glass house. The desertscape and the absence of nearby neighbors matched Brian’s desire for privacy.

With the high desert’s changing seasons and temperatures, capturing sunlight in the winter and shading it in the summer was important, especially with so much glass. The design team used strategic placement of overhangs, orientation of the home and operable windows to allow cross ventilation. The upstairs bonus room has five-foot high, fifteen-foot-long stacking windows on two sides that, when open, give the sense of being outside with unobstructed, clear mountain views, the scent of juniper and perhaps the possibility of a butterfly fluttering through.

Maya Makes Magic Inside

To fashion a home for themselves and their two boys, the couple sold the house where Maya grew up, a converted 1915 schoolhouse in Olema (Marin County), California, which she inherited from her mother. Both parents were artists, her mother a puzzle maker and her father a wood carver of artisanal furniture and other pieces (and the road manager for the Youngbloods rock band). The proceeds of the sale helped fund the desert dwelling the family moved into in September 2018, a legacy to her mother’s memory.

A well-known local designer of high-end, handmade leather goods, Maya brought her distinct sense and quirky aesthetics to the project. During construction, Brian says that some of his wife’s choices “pushed my boundaries.” He said they had an agreement upfront about each having veto power. “I only used my veto card once,” he said laughing. “I couldn’t do a pink slab on the island.”

With so much emphasis on bringing the outside in, she chose clean, uncluttered lines that wouldn’t compete with nature. The walls are white, windows black, and the floors are concrete slabs.

“It’s a spacious home but still feels intimate,” said Jeannie Legum of Legum Design who helped select materials for hard surfaces, such as counter slabs, tiles and hardwood. “Maya’s modern design aesthetic worked well with her eclectic artistic flair,” Legum said.

The white walls feel like gallery space where the couple can display original artwork from Maya’s childhood and items they’ve collected more recently. Some of the pieces serve as the “wow” statement that Maya wanted for each room, such as the recently acquired Valerie Winterholler painting in the living room, the red front door and orange Vola faucets in the powder rooms.

The kitchen island and backsplash above the stove are black and white leather quartzite with the pattern “Skyfall” that feels like water swirling across the surface. Her eye for the unusual landed her a rare and expensive olivewood burl Milo Baughman dining table that she found on Craigslist. The mid-century wire Bertoia dining chairs are covered with sheep skin.

Her father, John Bauer, hand carved a hardwood “tree” chair and the wood-framed, animal mirrors for the home’s décor.

Cow hides and animal furs bring warmth and texture to the concrete floors throughout. Lighting fixtures include numerous large, ball-shaped hanging pendants that add pop to the dining room, island and entryway, and soften the square lines and corners in the house.

The focal point of the living room is the wood-burning fireplace constructed of black brick. “We’re all attracted to the romance of wood-burning fireplaces,” Tozer said, adding that fires elicit feelings of hominess, comfort and security. Underscoring that point, Brian said he loves sitting in the living room because it’s peaceful and zen-like.

The perfect union of the home’s design and aesthetics is found in the master suite that reaches west and is a quiet place for retreating. A hallway leads past the couple’s closets and bathroom to a cozy bedroom where they can lie in bed to see the occasional shooting star or step out to an alcove with comfy chairs for a nightcap.