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A Bend Patio is Tansformed into an Outdoor Oasis

Soaking in afternoon backyard bliss is a favorite pastime for Central Oregonians. Outfitting an outdoor space conducive to both solo R & R and family time often makes the top of a wishlist for a high desert homeowner. Luckily, carving out such a space in one’s backyard is perhaps the most accessible and approachable do-it-yourself home-build project of remodeling dreams.

Just take Allison and Derrick Clouser’s recent deck make-over for example. As owners of a home design company called Clouz-Houz, the couple had a leg up on their own DIY project. Allison has been guiding clients on interior design journeys for almost two decades. Derrick is a licensed general contractor and real estate agent. To glow-up a deck, follow the Clousers’ inspiring how-to tips below.

Upcycle and Reuse

It’s less expensive and good practice to reduce the ever-growing carbon footprint and reuse materials. The couple used this approach in their DIY deck project by reusing existing deck boards. “We flipped them over and planed the side that hadn’t been exposed to the elements,” Derrick said. “Once planed, we stained the boards with a dark espresso water-based stain to give the deck a more updated and fresh look. The railing style existed with the original deck. We sanded and restained it black to tie into the new stain on the deck boards.”

Reflecting the inhabitants

Because Allison wanted to stick with the coziness of the existing deck footprint, she made a point to enlist every inch of it. “The BBQ is used every week all summer long, so we needed that to be accessible. We chose a large sectional, perfect for our family to hang out on. Two of our three children are in college but come home in the summers,” she said. “I wanted the ambiance to feel like a quaint patio with bold prints and comfy furniture, thus creating a little outdoor oasis that coordinates with the interior of the home as well.”

DIY deck remodel before photo — The before photo

Maximizing with Minimal

Needing to maximize on seating, storage and space in general, Allison chose a modular sectional, then strung cafe lights way up high and hung hooks to house necessary items accessed from the deck frequently. “The modular sectional is an awesome way to build seating which can literally fit into any space,” she said. “The sectional is the perfect spot for enjoying cocktails while Derrick barbecues. Many nights we turn on the white lights and just sit outside under the stars. The hooks outside the back door are spot on for holding warm throw blankets to curl up with as it gets late and leashes for our two other family members, golden retrievers Max and Lucy.”

A collection of baskets, an end table and a coffee table that doubles as an ottoman also help store and organize keys, drinks, games, homework and other odds and ends.

Tips for Selecting Economical Goods

Allison found her sectional pillows on Etsy and says there are numerous vendors and operations for customizing with outdoor fabrics. The indoor-outdoor area rug came from the Studio McGee Collection at Target. “This is a nice way to keep the deck soft underfoot, preserve the boards from the wear-and-tear of weather and make for a comfy nap spot for our golden retrievers,” she said. For the finishing touches, Allison added small terracotta pots for fresh herbs such as basil, mint, rosemary and lavender for use in the indoor kitchen or outdoors on the barbeque and pizza oven, creating a welcoming space for warm summer days.

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Designer Heylen Thienes Elevates a Space with Intention and Artistry

For Heylen Thienes, principal designer at Tricorn Black in Bend, designing a space is much more than a marriage of function and form. It’s about getting to know her clients, building a foundation of trust and working to create a feeling that reflects their unique energy. For the utility room and half bathroom remodel of an Awbrey Butte 2001 Craftsman, Thienes seamlessly wove in meaningful and functional elements to create an accessible, refreshing and appealing space that makes even the most tedious daily chores feel inspired.

To begin the design process, Thienes took the time to learn about her clients’ lifestyle, experiences and personal tastes. She inquired about a favorite vacation, a collection or hobby and a beloved movie, asking whether the set design or the costuming spoke to them. “These bits of seemingly mundane information tell me so much about my clients’ energy and about what makes them tick. These answers are the core of their design language, and I use it all as inspiration as I am envisioning their space,” Thienes shared.

What began as a tight, dark mudroom, laundry room and half bath, an area that lacked adequate storage and functional accessibility, was transformed into a visually- cohesive space, addressing her clients’ interests, lifestyle and goals while staying true to the integrity of the home’s architectural details. Inspired by her clients’ love of the colors, shapes and patterns of the Mediterranean, Thienes wove in elements and hues that evoke the vibrance and warmth of the Andalusian region. A collection of art hanging in the home formed the inspiration for the patterns and tonal range in the selected finishes, further grounding the space in her clients’ specific taste and interests.

Heylen Thienes, Tricorn Black — Heylen Thienes, principal designer at Tricorn Black in Bend

The challenge of making a small, darker area feel lighter and more spacious requires creative design expertise and carefully selected materials. Thienes chose recessed lighting to illuminate the utility room and half bath and a door with a glass panel to allow extra light to flood in. Using a variety of reflective and matte materials in different hues, Thienes arranged them in a visual hierarchy, starting with lighter and brighter ones at the top to attract the eye upward, adding wallpaper and bright paint above the chair rail to capitalize on their high reflective value. Taking advantage of the light coming in through the new door, Thienes selected polished countertops and balanced them with wallpaper in a matte finish. The millwork was painted the deep blue of Still Water by Sherwin Williams in a semi-gloss sheen to bounce light and further enlarge the feeling of the space.

While these design features add sophistication and depth, the first element to grab the eye is the patterned tile on the floor. Thienes selected the polished finish and motif of the tile, “not just to reflect light, but to create visual interest so you focus on its beauty rather than the size of the space it is covering.” The tile choice has layers of functional dimension beyond its aesthetic appeal. As a laundry room and mudroom, the reality of the day-to-day life of the mudroom was carefully considered. This is a lively space where laundry is done, dogs come and go from their time outside, kids drop their backpacks and sports gear, and the hustle and bustle of life doesn’t stop for constant cleaning and organizing. A continuous four-inch-by-four-inch patterned tile throughout the entire floor not only eliminates the need for transitions and chances of tripping, but the small-scale tiles also provide grip for an activity-filled room and serve to hide life’s daily dirt by distracting the eye with visual appeal.

For the plumbing fixtures, Thienes chose contemporary brass to balance the millwork details and the adjacent patterns and colors. Considering all the different ages and stages of life represented in her clients’ families, Thienes selected a floating vanity and lever-style handles for operational ease, creating a functional and elegant design. When choosing finish details, Thienes explained, “We used finishes that either add to the character of the home, such as the crystal handle for the closet, or blend in seamlessly, such as the new pocket door added between the mudroom and laundry room.”

This small project reflects a larger design sensibility. As a child growing up admiring the intricate architectural details and artistry of the buildings and museums of London, Thienes brings a historical depth of knowledge and appreciation that informs her designs every day. “I believe that our experiences, and nostalgia, shape our design language,” she said. “This information serves my design process as I work on each client’s unique needs and style.”

She shared how thinking about the way people want to feel and what they may want to achieve in a particular room became the impetus behind her career path. “This is what drew me to interior design in the first place, the opportunity to create spaces that meet both our physical and emotional needs, affecting our mood and even attitude toward mundane chores like laundry.”

Thienes believes in respecting the architectural bones of a home and making design choices to create longevity, save costs in the long run and build attainable sustainability into the project goals. The remodel achieved its vision on every level, resulting in a re-imagined space that makes a utility room an inviting and vibrant place to be, bringing beauty to life’s everyday functional details. See tricornblack.com.

Contractor: Darrell Wruck, Black Diamond Builders | Cabinets: Bauhaus Craftsman, Inc. | Wallpaper: Hygge & West, installed by Central Oregon Wall Covering | Counters & Tile: Contract Furnishings Mart | Plumbing Fixtures: Fixture Gallery

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Renovating a Home with Sophisticated Style in Old Bend

There is an immediate vibe of tranquility when walking into the home of Beth Davies, managing principal broker for LivOregon Real Estate. The renovation project began after her youngest daughter went to college. “It was ‘kid-zone’ before,” Davies said. “I wanted to take it to a more sophisticated adult-haven.” The entire downstairs portion of the 2009-era home located in the historic Old Bend neighborhood near the Deschutes River was torn down to the studs, Davies said. Her longtime friend Anne Mastalir, owner and principal designer of Design Bar in Bend, and a team of experts brought Davies’ vision to life, creating a space that felt like her own and welcoming to guests.

The Build

Davies didn’t start out with a specific goal and said she knew what she liked, but didn’t know how to achieve it. She enlisted Mastalir, who began the Design Bar three and a half years ago. The company has worked on a wide range of projects in Central Oregon where Mastalir has found that the Design Bar’s signature ‘organically modern’ style is gaining traction in the community. “Authenticity in design is a core value at Design Bar,” Mastalir said. “Beth is the most authentic person I’ve ever met, so [this project] was easy in her case.”

Davies said there was a synergy between herself, Mastalir and the builder, Bobby Stenrose at Bend Home Company.

The project began with planning in 2020, building and renovating started in 2021, and the renovation was finished in August 2022. Among the major renovations, including new drywall, floors, cabinets, and nearly everything in between, Davies said that she was encouraged to have larger doors and eight-foot windows to make the space feel bigger. The end result is a sleek and seamless-feeling home, where one bright, fresh room flows into the other. There’s a mix of fresh white paint, glass, metal, tile and herringbone-style flooring. Davies said that she wanted dark floors, and Malastir suggested a herringbone style as a nod to the historic neighborhood.

The Result

“When I was [renovating], I wasn’t thinking about how anyone else was going to perceive it; I was just doing what I wanted to do,” Davies said. “But many, many people who come in here are like, ‘It’s so beautiful. It looks just like you’.”

Davies’ art collection, which she has personally curated from friends and many local artists, adds pops of color to the home, which is adorned in mostly neutrals, and the details and personalization don’t end with the art. Many cabinets contain space to mask appliances, including one that hides the coffee maker behind the kitchen island. Tucked off the kitchen, floor tile chosen at Design Bar smoothly transitions from the dark kitchen floor into the laundry room. There, custom cabinets by Andrea’s Cabinetry discretely conceal the pantry and washer-dryer units. Even the television which is mounted on the painted white brick fireplace (another ode to the historical neighborhood) is cleverly covered by a large painting that Davies can easily remove and hang back up when she is finished using the television.

Intentional and inventive subtleties of the design are often unseen, but give way to the personality and uniqueness of the home. For example, before the flooring was set during the renovation, Davies buried cleansing crystals in the ground below. She said the purpose of the crystals beneath the floorboards is their “clearing” and “grounding” properties, which allows negative energy to be moved away from the space. Above ground, there are still crystals placed strategically around the living room and dining area, adding to the character of Davies’ style. Beyond the living room, an accordion-style glass door by Art Glass Millwork opens to the front porch, reflecting the sense of serenity from the home’s interior.

The project is still fresh, and Davies said she’s still soaking it all in. She said that not a week has gone by where she hasn’t hosted people at her home. “I want people to feel welcomed,” Davies said. “We’re going to create our own joy in this space.”

Designer: Anne Mastalir, Design Bar, Builder: Bobby Stenrose, Bend Home Company, Contractors: Generations Tile, Stone Hill Granite, Art Glass Millwork, Andrea’s Cabinetry, Sun Desert Drywall, DB Flooring, Ranieri Plumbing, Coalesce Concrete

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