Skip to main content
  • Home

  • Written by Teresa Ristow | Photos by Chris Murray Productions

Home Spotlight River Home: Above the Rapids

living room view outside

In a cozy neighborhood above Bend’s First Street Rapids Park, a 3,300-square-foot family home is tucked in, oriented to take advantage of river views and Central Oregon sunshine. Dubbed the River House by its designers, this family home overlooks the Deschutes River, which can be seen and heard from the living room when the sliding floor-to-ceiling glass walls are opened.

Inside a Peaceful, Functional Family Home on the Deschutes River

The design process kicked off in 2020 for the homeowners, who first selected Rea Company Homes as builders, and then began interviewing architects for the project. Central Oregon architect Jim Rozewski was a perfect fit, having already designed a previous home for the exact lot about 20 years prior, when the parents of one of the current owners had considered building on the parcel. The parents planned a cottagelike home but ended up not building it.

kitchen bar

“The vision of the current owners was to do something far more contemporary. With changes in building codes, a different design style and different room needs than the original plans, Rozewski started fresh. The plan would maximize space and the indoor-outdoor connection on this rare riverfront lot. “The thing about river home sites is that they aren’t making any more of them,” Rozewski said, “So having the opportunity to work on a project on the river is a real honor.”

living room fire place

Crafting a Home with Heart and Harmony

Rea Company Homes began to bring Rozewski’s plans to life, working closely with Iron Roots Design, which was hired for interior architecture and design. Principal Designer Celeste McGowan began to focus on the home’s interior, space planning for each room and choosing hard and soft finishes—everything from lighting, flooring, tile and cabinetry to furniture, textiles and paint colors. “We consider how each room is going to function,” McGowan said. “The architectural plan set us off on a great track, and then we were able to thoughtfully select materials and furniture pieces and design each unique detail throughout the home.”

living room with guitar

Visitors enter the home from a side entrance and head down three stairs to the living room, which is anchored by a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. Its wall is finished with a custom plaster using an ombre effect by Juanita Perdomo of WallsArt, Inc., whose work is featured throughout the home. Bend’s Cement Elegance crafted a floating hearth for fireside seating. The tile behind the built-in shelving carries over into the kitchen, matching the island seating, island countertop, sink and areas surrounding the upper cabinets. McGowan used the repetition of materials to create a cohesive, grounded feeling throughout the space.

The eight-seat family dining table is a custom live-edge solid wood piece designed by McGowan’s husband, Tim McGowan, her counterpart at Iron Roots Design, who offers both design and building services. Nearly two years after the project was completed and the family moved in, the dining room feels cozy and settled, ready for holiday celebrations.

living room

Upstairs, the Pacific Northwest modern design continues, with light and airy spaces and organic, nature-inspired accents. The primary bedroom opens up into a spacious primary bath, with Art Deco-inspired flooring along with sconces and green watercolor tile in the oversized walk-in shower. Off the primary bedroom is a home office and a small deck area, the perfect spaces from which to watch the river flow year-round.

The harmony felt in the design throughout the home is the result of a cohesive interior design plan, something McGowan said comes from hiring an interior designer specifically, which isn’t something all homeowners do when embarking on a new build project. “Your home is one of your largest investments, which makes hiring an interior designer a smart move. It eliminates a lot of the confusion and stress you might otherwise feel during construction. We take care of countless back-end tasks for our clients so that they can actually enjoy the process.”

back deck patio

Back in the home more than 18 months after construction and design wrapped up, McGowan was able to reflect on the project and experience, and reconnect with the homeowners, who she’d worked closely with during the two-year project. “I spent many hours with this family to determine their lifestyle needs and plan their home accordingly,” McGowan said.

“It’s amazing to stay connected with the families we work with because you really get to be a part of their lives.”

bathroom mirror and sinks

Crafting

Architect: Jim Rozewski, Rozewski & Co.   |  Builder: Rea Company Homes  |  Interior design: Celeste McGowan, Iron Roots Design  | Custom wall plaster: Juanita Perdomo, WallsArt, Inc.  |  Decorative architectural concrete: Cement Elegance


0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop