In the burgeoning Shevlin West neighborhood, Malace Homes has completed eight of 15 homes, making it the largest single builder in the development. This recently completed Mid-Century Modern home features many of the hallmarks of a high-end Malace residence, such as heated hardwood floors, quartz and slate on the counters and the island, eight-foot-high doors, 10- to 19-foot-high ceilings, prewired solar capabilities, surround sound system throughout and an epoxy-finished floor in the two-car garage.
One of the main advantages of living in Shevlin West is its easy access to Shevlin Park, a prime destination for dog walking, mountain biking, hiking and exploring the natural beauty along Tumalo Creek Trail. As a resident himself of the neighborhood, Tom Malace, founder of Malace Homes, understands the needs of fellow homeowners and builds homes that cater to every need, from seniors who prefer single-level living to young families eager to be immersed in a close-knit community.
How did Malace Homes begin?
I founded Malace Homes in 2015, hoping to change the way home design and home buying were done. I knew I could make a simple shift: building spaces that reflect homeowners’ lifestyles and tastes without neglecting quality artisanship or customer experience. The Malace Homes team is approaching its 10-year anniversary, and we only feel more motivated to continue creating homes that serve the people living in them.
Tell us about your approach to working with clients.
Our job begins with understanding each client’s lifestyle and personal values so that we can create a home that supports them. I believe that building and buying a home should be a process of being listened to, prioritized and respected; this is why people choose to customize their home in the first place.
Before founding Malace Homes, I spent 20 years managing large banking teams that worked directly with homebuyers. These teams quickly noticed a common theme: Buyers were constantly dissatisfied with their home-buying process. The problem was that counteroffers, low-quality construction and generic living spaces neglected too many people’s needs. I wanted to turn the home design and buying marketplace on its head, so that’s exactly what Malace Homes has set out to do.
The motto of Malace Homes is “Expect More.” What do you mean by that?
Expecting more is a process of restoring faith in home design and buying. We never cut corners when it comes to sustainability and quality. We are all about making the American Dream accessible to our clients. Nothing is off the table during the design process with Malace Homes. Our clients work directly with our interior design team to hand-pick each finish to meet their needs. Designing and purchasing a home should be treated like the milestone it is.
How do you explain the concept of building a dream home to your clients?
The dream of home ownership for me as a builder is to design and build rooms, spaces and finishes that please our clients in a way that represents the home they envision. When it comes to home building, Malace Homes works to utilize the abundant resources and artisanship in our community to create an environment our clients are proud to call home. I know our customers have worked hard, and saved long, to be ready to build their dream home. We want to show people what luxury feels like when their needs, lifestyle and finances are put first. It’s fulfilling work, and it’s what homebuilding is all about.
This article was originally featured in our Summer 2024 issue of Bend Home + Design Magazine, view the issue here. Learn more about Malace Homes here, or visit MalaceHomes.com.
