Building a new home from the ground up isn’t for the faint of heart. Learning new skills to turn a dream home into a reality may be even more daunting. Mike and McKenna* dove headfirst into a building project with Timberline Construction of Bend to create a coastal-cottage meets Pacific Northwest Craftsman home on the Deschutes River in Bend’s Whiskey Flats neighborhood.

Avid surfers who met living and working in Southern California, their time on the water during a visit to Central Oregon left an impression.

“I thought, ‘I can surf, but [also] live in the mountains and be surrounded by nature. I want to live here,” said McKenna. “The fact that we can live on the river and literally paddle up [stream] to surf here is very cool,” added Mike.

They put in an offer on the property with three structures, including a dilapidated main house, even though it wasn’t on the market. When it was eventually accepted, the couple decided to replace the older home with a slightly elevated residence because of the property’s flood plain designation.

Mike took on the role of home architect and learned Chief Architect software to create technical drawings and blueprints. McKenna, whose mom had a career in interior design, took on the bulk of interior design duties, researching and selecting furniture, fixtures and lighting.

Nature Inside and Out

Rather than building a more modern home, the couple, who are both originally from the East Coast, sought a timeless aesthetic that felt like it had always been part of the neighborhood. Using Mike’s family Cape Cod home as inspiration, they worked with architects and Timberline owner Kristian Willman to create a coastal-influenced abode with an earthy color palette.

“The exterior is dominated by cedar shingles, which deliver the classic, weathered texture the owners wanted,” Willman said.

The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home was positioned to maximize connection to the outdoors and river views. “We want [visitors] to see the river when [they] walk up,” said Mike.

The main living area has a 24-foot folding glass door that opens fully to a covered deck with a Cement Elegance firepit and landscaped yard. The homeowners preserved as many trees on the property as possible. Second-story rooms—including the primary bedroom, where oversized doors lead to a calming, light-filled space with a vaulted ceiling and a balcony—feel connected to nature with views of the river and mature oak and cedar trees. Plants serve as the main pop of color in many of the rooms. “I wanted it to feel like a greenhouse,” said McKenna.

The front yard, designed and installed by Land Effects, is one of the homeowners’ favorite features; in summer it bursts with sunflowers, hydrangeas and cornflowers.

Going the Extra Mile

In the living room, with decorative beams and a see-through fireplace with Montana Moss natural stone veneer, McKenna chose a deep sectional sofa by Crate & Barrel that invites gathering and lounging, and a distressed Artisanse Long Amalfi Console Table that feels plucked from a chic beach house.

Mike and McKenna fell in love with the farmhouse-style communal dining table at Viaggio Wine Merchant and ordered a custom, reclaimed-wood table from the same maker, Aragon Signature Designs in Medford. The bouclé and oak dining chairs are delicate yet functional. The library-like nook and window seat between the dining room and kitchen is one of McKenna’s favorite spaces.

“It came together very cohesively, everything from the wood floors that we picked and the cabinets to the colors,” she said. “And I loved doing the lighting.”

Favoring a mix of metals to avoid a matchy-matchy look, McKenna had fun picking out unique pieces for every room, like the sculptural McGee & Co. Elliott Pendants with a gray cement finish in the kitchen.

Riverside Living

Just as much care was extended to outbuildings and outdoor spaces. The double-sided fireplace warms not just the living room, but also the sunken hot tub outside, where the homeowners created an outdoor spa with a cold plunge and an outdoor shower. “We’re in the river, into the hot tub, then into the shower,” said McKenna. The construction project also included a light remodel of an existing ADU into a sunny guesthouse with a kitchenette stocked with antique glassware, and the conversion of a standalone garage into a flexible office space.

Mike and McKenna have turned their attention to putting the finishing touches on one last room, the nursery, with a starry skies rug and a whimsical hot air balloon light fixture by Leanne Ford. The couple is welcoming their first child soon.

“We want to live here forever,” said McKenna.

Architect: Jason Todd Home Design | Builder: Kristian Willman, Timberline Construction of Bend | Interior Designer: Ronda Fitton, Cascade Design Center | Landscape Designer: Land Effects, Chris Hart-Henderson, Heart Springs Design | Cabinets: Tom Rupp, Brian’s Cabinets