Some Discovery West homes sit on the edge of a green space, a tree-lined ravine with a trail running through its center. Builder Aaron Salvesen and his wife Heather decided to build their family home on one of these prized lots. With interiors featuring walnut wood and a color palette of chocolate brown, gold and black, the modern home exudes warmth and richness.
“Aaron is the one who talked me into doing a dark wall color,” explained Heather, who often works with her husband to choose finshes in their projects, but was initially nervous about the deep beige with red undertones that covers ground-floor walls. “I thought it’d be moody, edgy and dramatic,” said Aaron. The risk ultimately paid off, setting it apart from the ubiquitous white walled interiors of other modern homes. It also inspired Heather to select bold finishes and fixtures, such as the cork wallcovering with gold leaf in the primary bedroom and the bird wing-shaped Guild Manor entry pendants above the floating staircase. Eye-catching natural Splendido Quartzite, with veins the color of single malt Scotch, covers many of the home’s surfaces.
Craftsmanship Meets “Moody Modern” Aesthetic
A third-generation builder who learned his trade in the Seattle area, Aaron founded Salvesen Homes in Bend in 2010. He designed the floor plan and built the two-story home with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. “Aaron knows all the components of building so well,” said Heather. “He is a perfectionist.”
His craftsmanship shines in the dining room hutch, where brass hardware gives the built-in piece a furniture-like feel. In the entryway and bathrooms, hand-placed fluted wood panels add rich, intentional texture. To soften the home’s linear architecture, the couple integrated round accents, starting with a glowing, 8-foot backlit mirror in the entry. This circular motif repeats in the powder bath’s half-moon mirror, the custom steel stair railing, and the etched pattern on the Thermador range hood.
Despite the home’s moodier finishes, it doesn’t feel dark. The living room—with a high, angled ceiling—features large picture windows that frame views of ponderosa pine trees and let in abundant natural light. The white brick fireplace and white oak floors add a touch of brightness.
Multiple windows are a Salvesen signature, and Aaron dreamed up the decorative balances throughout the home, concealing electronic shades that resemble crown molding and don’t detract from the view or aesthetic. “I wanted it to look intentional and not like an afterthought,” said Aaron.
Luxe Finishes and Meaningful Details in Discovery West
Heather loves to entertain. A large sliding glass door makes it easy to open the main living area, allowing people to mix and mingle on the patio with a fire-rock water feature. The jewel-box bar, backed with glittering gold mosaic Ann Sacks tile, is where she displays a dark green 100-year-old margarita set given to the couple by Aaron’s grandmother. “I believe in using the things that bring you joy and evoke memories, not tucking them away,” said Heather.
Other meaningful pieces are displayed throughout their home, such as a framed print of the Tower Theatre, which stokes memories for Heather, who was born and raised in Bend. Aaron created the floating shelves on the second floor, the kids’ zone with two bedrooms and a bonus room, specifically to display the family of five’s extensive collection of large-scale Lego sets, works of art in their own right.
The couple is proud that the home has both character but a feeling of cohesion.
“There’s this consistency to the whole house,” said Aaron.
Builder: Salvesen Homes | Architect: Jason Todd Home Design | Interior Design: Heather and Aaron Salvesen and KMR Interior Design | Landscape Design: LandEscapes
