Bend Home + Design - Spring 2023

Spring Living

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Forestbrook Phase II Priority List Now

On the heels of an incredibly successful year featuring over 100 real estate sales, Caldera Springs is approaching the launch of Forestbrook Phase II featuring 3- to 4-bedroom floor plans — including the largest layout yet. Beyond exciting new real estate releases, construction of Caldera Springs’ forthcoming aquatics and recreation space, Forest House, is also making significant progress, with completion expected the summer of 2024.

Artist’s rendering of new amenity core, Forest House.

Artist’s rendering of Forestbrook Vacation Home

Spring Rebirth

pring is a time of rebirth, and I find that I’ve been reborn as an editor—after 25 years of freelance writing from home. Freelancing has been a cool job. I could work in PJs till noon writing about redwood forests in Brookings, wines of the Willamette Valley, haunted places, pioneering nurse educators at Oregon Health & Science University, eminent Oregon women, our state’s oyster industry and robotic milking machines for dairy cows. Who gets to dig into that many diverse subjects?

Two of my favorite topics are art and architecture. A degree in, and love of, fine arts combined with 40 years of marriage to a man who owns rental property make my new job as editor of Bend Home + Design a good fit.

When our kids were little, we spent weekends fixing up rental property. Despite laws against child labor, they grew up with mops, paint brushes and hammers in their hands. In the four homes we’ve lived in, we’ve recast all in the image of what we needed and liked at the time. Eight years ago, we found the perfect solution by building a home exactly as we wanted it. We turned our attention instead to a 1907 beach house my husband inherited. It was built with lumber that washed ashore near Otter Rock from a ship that was taking on water, drowning 11 sailors. We’ve remodeled every inch of the cottage except the second-story Crow’s Nest—it could be haunted. This issue of Bend Home + Design has undergone its own rebirth with a fresh redesign by Creative Director Kelly Alexander. Future issues will draw from the wealth of creative, innovative and forward-thinking individuals and businesses in Central Oregon, especially in the fast growing housing market.

From Your Local Experts

LYNNANNE LIKENS BUILDER SPOTLIGHT

SOwner of Visionary Homes, Likens works with a team to create dwellings that flow with classic lines and designs. Page 42

KRISTIAN THORDARSON BUSINESS Q&A

The new owner of The Hardware Floor Company provides everything customers need from flooring material to full installation. Page 58

KARISTA BENNETT CHEF’S KITCHEN

A chef and cookbook author takes us into her no-fuss kitchen for great meal preparation, plus shares a few of her favorite recipes. Page 77

JUANITA PERDOMO FINE FINISHES

Lee Lewis Husk, Editor

Her skills transform ordinary walls and fireplace surrounds into works of art with decorative plaster and paint. Page 84

CONTRIBUTORS

STEPHANIE BOYLE MAYS

WRITER

Originally from the Northeast, Stephanie lived, wrote and edited in New York, Santa Fe and Hot Springs, Arkansas, before finally landing in Bend. She is a copy editor/proof reader for Oregon Media. When not writing for Bend Home + Design, she works as a senior regulatory affairs specialist for a Central Oregon medical device company. Page 44

MIGUEL EDWARDS

PHOTOGRAPHER

Miguel is a nationally recognized sculptor and creator of public art as well as an editorial and architectural photographer. His “Cauldron, Hope Rising” sculpture was presented at the Special Olympics in Seattle, Washington. He lives in Bend with his wife and serves as co-chair commissioner of the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund.

Pages 58 & 76

TAMBI LANE

PHOTOGRAPHER

Tambi loves collaborating with and supporting other artists. Currently, she is focused on food photography. Her work has been published in Sunset Magazine, and she has photographed two nationally published celebrity cookbooks. When she’s not cooking, eating or photographing food, you can find her in the garden, doing something outdoors or creating something new and fun. Page 83

CHERYL MCINTOSH

PHOTOGRAPHER

Cheryl, with Quanta Collectiv, is an architectural photographer who helps architects, builders and engineers differentiate themselves from the competition. She is an entrepreneur who loves helping people launch and grow businesses they’re passionate about. She’s also the part time marketing director for a small Seattle architecture firm, Rhodes Architecture + Light.

Page 30

AMY S. MORFAS

WRITER

After many years in marketing and communications roles, Amy took a short sabbatical in 2019 which led to 18 months of travel, starting her own business and relocating her firm from Boulder to Bend. She helps nonprofits tell their story, engage audiences and secure funding, while creating lifestyle and travel pieces for corporate entities and publications.

Page 76

EXPECT MORE FROM MALACE HOMES

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LOCAL PULSE

LODGE AT BLACK BUTTE RANCH

NEW

The new lodge at Black Butte Ranch, which replaces its 50-year-old predecessor, is nearing completion. It aims to connect guests to the surrounding landscape with panoramic views, natural design and regional materials. The new state-of-the-art structure boasts two floors and 27,000 square feet, doubling the size of the original lodge with 21,000 square feet of interior space and a 6,000-square-foot exterior deck. Hacker, the architecture studio that previously worked on the ranch’s completed Lakeside complex, General Store and a private residence, led the design. While beloved for generations, the old lodge had become outdated with accessibility issues and aging mechanical systems, making a renovation impractical. The team from Hacker began an extensive outreach process to understand the community’s

expectations and priorities for the new lodge and to maintain the original aesthetic language while making modern updates. Inside, guests will find a restaurant and bar, fireside lounge, second-floor lounge, commercial kitchen and private event space. The exterior will be clad in shou sugi ban charred cedar with an interior blanketed in warm wood finishes, a gesture toward a traditional ranch-style ambiance. See blackbutteranch.com.

Bend Vision Project Plans for the Future

Envision Bend is taking action to ensure that Central Oregon evolves into the future with intention. The nonprofit organization recently completed a year of in-depth community outreach work, interviewing more than 2,000 residents to capture current mindsets on life in Bend and concerns and expectations for the future. Findings from this effort were compiled in a recent report which cited the area’s biggest perceived challenges—managing growth, affordable housing, equity and inclusion, and protection of environmental resources. In the next phase of the project underway this spring, Vision Action Teams will collaborate with the broader Bend community to strategize projects that would address areas of concern and finalize a five-year plan to support the community as it continues to grow and evolve. Four focus areas include guiding growth, creating an economy for everyone, ensuring a safe environment and cultivating a more inclusive community. See envisionbend.org.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE WESTSIDE IN THE WORKS

Kôr Community Land Trust and Housing Works plan on bringing innovative, affordable housing to Bend’s westside in the coming years. The project is the first affordable housing development in Central Oregon and the state that proposes to build ownership and rental units side-by-side. Kôr will construct 40 singlefamily homes available for purchase, all designed with a goal to meet net-zero energy standards; Housing Works has proposed 52 rental units for the site. The design includes onsite parking, electric vehicle charging stations, community gardens, green spaces with walking and biking paths, and improved sidewalks on Simpson Avenue. Both organizations believe this innovative approach will help address the community’s housing needs. See korlandtrust.org.

Bend Fashion Designer Gains National Recognition

Mother the Studio is a sustainable fashion brand based in Bend that is gaining national recognition for its commitment to eco-friendly design and production practices. Lex Baker founded the brand in 2020 after feeling discouraged by much of the fashion industry’s environmental and humanitarian missteps. She sews all of the clothing in-house using natural materials that she sources from mills with ethical production practices, with strong workers’ rights laws. Her designs have been featured in the United Kingdom and in Vogue, Vanity Fair and Glamour. Those interested in wearing pieces from Mother the Studio can find them at local maker fairs or online, with the option to commission custom pieces. See motherthestudio.com

LOCAL PULSE

Indigenous Arts Day at the High Desert Museum

Take a trip to the High Desert Museum on May 6 to attend Indigenous Arts Day and celebrate the region’s Native art forms. Artists from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will share their artwork and offer demonstrations on basket weaving, cornhusk weaving and other techniques. Take a day to learn about how these artists are carrying on these meaningful traditions and how to support their work. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is free with museum admission; tribal members receive free museum admission daily. The “Creations of Spirit’’ exhibition features the work of Joe Feddersen, RYAN! Feddersen, Natalie Kirk, H’Klumaiyat Roberta Joy Kirk, Phillip Cash Cash, Jefferson Greene, and Kelli Palmer. See highdesertmuseum.org.

ITALIAN HOME GOODS STORE NOW OPEN IN THE BOX FACTORY

Find high-quality home goods at Borgo Rosati, the newest addition at The Box Factory. The shop opened its doors in late December and boasts furniture, art, home decor, food and apparel sourced worldwide. Owner Domenico Rosati is an purveyor and curator of home goods with more than 40 years of experience working with factories and retailers. After fine-tuning his knowledge of production, supply chain and quality assurance processes, Rosati was ready to create his own space. He handpicked a collection of merchandise for guests to admire while sipping a glass of privatelabel prosecco or a cappuccino. See borgorosati.com

TWO BEND HOMES ON THE MARKET FROM RENOWNED ARCHITECT

Two multimillion-dollar Bend homes recently went to market designed by award-winning, Madrid-based architect Fernando Rodriguez for Malaspina design studio. The luxury Malaspina homes are sculptural on the exterior, while the interiors are warm and inviting. Jennifer Stewart, the properties’ real estate broker from Cascade Sotheby’s and interior designer of one of the homes, said, “I used a restrained and warm neutral palette ensuring visual continuity from room to room, inviting the owner to furnish in their own individual style.” One of the homes features a series of three courtyards, a rooftop deck and a contemporary ambiance. The other home features plentiful glass windows and creates a large central courtyard with a tall pine tree growing from its center. More homes from Malaspina are slated to be built in Bend soon. See malaspinadesign.com.

Oregon Arts and Culture Caucus Continues to Grow

The Oregon Arts and Culture Caucus has grown from 13 to 23 members following its launch event in Salem in February, making it one of Oregon’s largest bipartisan caucuses. “The interest in this caucus, and its rapid growth, just shows how much people value the arts and culture organizations in Oregon and how important it is that we support this sector,” said Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland) in a recent press release. The caucus was established to recognize and perpetuate the positive impact of arts and culture on community well-being. It advises the Oregon Legislature on arts and culture issues, partnering with groups such as the Oregon Arts Commission and the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon to prioritize arts and culture initiatives. See oregonartscommission.org

Market TRENDS

Statistics represent combined closed transactions for residential homes in Bend, Redmond, Sisters and Sunriver for the 12-month period prior to publication. AVERAGE SALES PRICE $ 708,689

4,952

SOLD LISTINGS FROM MARCH 2022-FEBRUARY 2023

30% CHANGE OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2022

MONTHS OF INVENTORY

Riverside Home

Terracing a Bend lifestyle

WRITTEN BY LEE LEWIS HUSK

PHOTOGRAPHY CHERYL MCINTOSH

The façade of the modern home facing a busy Bend street may garner an appreciative glance at its angled roofs, wide walkways, attractive plantings, an overarching Russian olive tree and a Zen-like enclosure near the front door. Yet a second glance could make a curious person wonder what’s on the side that overlooks the Deschutes River because that’s where the home unfurls its remarkable layout. Let’s go there for a moment.

It’s a warm summer evening with the low hum of voices rising off the river. Inside, a person tending bar passes drinks through a large kitchen window hinged at the top. The window opens out over a covered bar where guests converse with those inside. Around the corner is a covered patio where someone asks about a South African-inspired wood-burning oven known as a braai which can roast chickens or even a whole pig on a spit.

The kids are hanging out in the family room. The home’s only TV is silent. Who wants to watch TV when friends are over to play shuffleboard, listen to tunes and lounge on the daybed? Outside below the family room window is a large warm-water spa where parents enjoy a soak after kayaking the river or hiking in the Cascade high lakes. A cedar-enclosed outdoor shower is a few steps away for a quick rinse off before dinner. After the meal, people gather around a firepit to relax and recount the day’s adventures. A couple takes the stairs to the river for a last look before sunset and to be sure the kayaks are secured on the river’s edge.

OLD MAKES WAY FOR THE NEW

Until 2019, a 1920s-era cottage stood on the site. A family moving to Bend from overseas fell in love with the home’s riverside location, proximity to downtown and safe river access for their children. They bought the property and hired Bend architect Karen Smuland to determine whether it was possible to remodel and expand the existing structure. A feasibility study revealed that only a fraction of the home was supported by a foundation, and retrofitting a second story would be prohibitively expensive. The owners made the

tough decision to dismantle the cottage and build a two-story home with modern energy efficiencies.

Trevin Duey of Trevin Duey Construction, who was brought in as the builder, said “a conscious effort was made to recycle and repurpose rather than throw everything in the landfill.” Doors, windows, cabinets, appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures went to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and others who would repurpose them. “It took a little extra time to do the right thing,” he said. In the end, they were able to recycle about half the original structure.

“A conscious effort was made to recycle and repurpose rather than throw everything in the landfill.”

Two other professionals were hired, Mike Szabo of SZABO Landscape Architecture and interior designer Lucy Roland of Harper House Design. The group, which formed a tight design and building pod, felt it was important to preserve some elements of the former home, such as mature trees, including the Russian olive and heritage crabapple trees. Incorporating native features such as rock outcroppings, juniper trees and riparian vegetation was also important. The site presented challenges—proximity to the Deschutes River required extensive storm-water management to prevent river contamination; a popular park and playground next door called for privacy screens; and a 20-foot right of way in the front couldn’t be encroached. To avoid having handrails throughout the property’s sloping grade, Szabo said the strategy was to create a series of terraces starting at the house all the way to the river. Each level would create a different zone for a different use. The

“There’s a place for everything and everything is in its place.”

upper terrace was for cooking, dining and entertaining, the middle terrace for playing lawn games and the lower terrace with a firepit cupped by a huge boulder was for enjoying a night cap or a morning coffee break. He noted the use of board-formed concrete imprinted with a natural cedar pattern adds organic texture to landscape walls and harmonizes with the cedar-siding clad house.

DESIGNING INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING

The design group’s overarching goals included using sustainable building practices to create a home that flowed seamlessly from inside to outside, and that would accommodate the family’s active sports and outdoor pursuits, their love of music and entertaining family and friends from around the world.

Smuland designed a 3,800-square-foot, four-bedroom home with two stories and river views from most rooms.

The structure is covered by a series of shed roofs, including one that supports solar photovoltaic panels for renewable energy. The couple’s preference for Scandinavian design lends a sense of minimalism with sleek, unfussy lines throughout the home’s interior.

“Karen created a house that isn’t enormous, but every square foot of the house has a function so it works well for a family of four,” said interior designer Roland. “There’s a place for everything and everything is in its place.”

The initial inspiration was a casual and family friendly home that was chic, timeless and sophisticated, Roland said. “Placement of the home within its environment was important so we were careful not to compete with the gorgeous views around the house,” she said. “We didn’t lean heavily on pops of color but rather chose layers of textures, neutrals, earthtones, crisp white walls and cement accents.

“The kitchen is the showstopper for most people who see the home,” she said. “It comes down to a mix of materials—Cement Elegance-crafted countertops, white oak and white cabinetry and handmade Heath Ceramics tile backsplash. The openplan kitchen, dining room and great room spill onto the multilevel patios through a large folding glass door.

The built-in bar at the awning window marries the interior kitchen to the patio while celebrating the spirit of hospitality and whimsy true to the home’s vacation cottage legacy, Smuland said. The outdoor kitchen with the braai oven also includes a gas grill, sink, refrigerator and cabinets.

“The built-in cabinetry is topped with concrete counters which play with the concrete board-formed patio walls to create a soft-organic feel consistent with the interior’s concrete theme,” Smuland said.

The inside contains a myriad of spaces designed to hide and tuck away appliances, sporting equipment,

“It was enjoyable to create something so unique in a high visibility area to be enjoyed for generations.”

laundry and other clutter that would compete with the Scandinavian aesthetic. A large butler’s pantry stores kids’ snacks, canned and dry foods, toasters and other appliances, undercounter beverage coolers and anything that the owners want to keep out of sight. The mudroom, accessible from the garage and side of the home, allows individuals to wash off muddy feet and hang wetsuits to dry.

Upstairs is where the family sleeps. The primary suite’s unusual configuration includes a galley hallway that connects a built-in daybed as a reading nook, a shared office with built-in bookshelves, a small bedroom, large walk-in closet and bathroom with a stand-alone bathtub and skylight. The other upstairs wing contains two kid’s rooms, each with its own bathroom.

“It was enjoyable to create something so unique in a high visibility area to be enjoyed for generations,” builder Duey said.

“It’s mind blowing when you stand back and see how well the home was designed and built. It looks like it’s always been there. It blends into the environment,” Roland said.

Architect: Karen Smuland, Karen Smuland

Architect Builder: Trevin Duey, Trevin

Duey Construction Interior Designer: Lucy Roland, Harper House Design

Landscaping: Mike Szabo, SZABO

Landscape Architecture

DESIGN SPOTLIGHT In the Details

A sophisticated home in Old Bend

WRITTEN BY LYDIA HAGEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEE WENDELL

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.

"It was a 'kidzone' before, I wanted to take it to a more sophisticated adult-haven."

The project began with planning in 2020, building and renovating started in 2021, and the renovation was finished in August of 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 seamlessfeeling 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

"I want people to feel welcomed. We're going to create our own joy in this space."

Classic with a Twist of Trend

Speculating on the future with Visionary Homes

WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE BOYLE MAYS

The only female member of Bend’s Discovery West Builders Guild, Lynnanne Likens of Visionary Homes, likes a plan. Be it a house plan, a plan for the order of construction or the finished plan after a project has all come together. She is also good at looking after people whether it be in her first career as a registered nurse or in her current career putting a roof over a family’s head.

Likens did not take the usual route to becoming a builder. She was working as an R.N. in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when she and her husband at the time built a home for their family in the late 1990s. Following that

project, they started building custom and speculative homes throughout Central Oregon as Visionary Homes. When the two parted, she took over the company. These days, she prefers to build speculative rather than custom homes. “I put so much thought into it,” she said. “I have a whole vision, and I know where to spend money and where it should be saved.”

While Likens works with an architect to choose a project, she looks for homes that have good flow and are classic in design. Once a lot is purchased and plans are in hand, though not necessarily in that order, Likens divides the work into three phases: the first phase includes ground

Wolfe, PrincipalDesigner

Angela Newell-Mozingo, LeadDesigner

breaking, foundation construction and framing; the second phase encompasses rough-ins for electrical plumbing and drywall; and the third consists of all the finishes. She relies on a set group of subcontractors whom she trusts and respects. That feeling is mutual according to Bibo Fowler, an electrician who has worked with Likens on numerous projects. “Her personality and expectations of quality meet mine,” he said. “She always has the customer in mind.”

While her builds are often geared toward family living, she has noticed several highly requested features. “In Bend, people want room for their toys and belongings so garages and closets are important. They want to have open areas but also opportunities for privacy, which have become particularly important since the start of the pandemic. And everyone wants a little bit of yard.”

As the interior designer on her projects, Likens’ goal is to pull in trends but maintain a timeless design. To achieve this feat, she concentrates the use of currently fashionable decor in such areas as light fixtures or wallpaper that could be easily replaced in the future.

Pete and Allison Stein bought one of Visionary Homes’ Tetherow properties in 2021. The Steins saw the house before it was completely finished and were immediately taken by the flow of the rooms, the smart use of space and the quality of construction.

“She always has the customer in mind.”

“It has a custom feel even though it was a spec,” said Allison Stein. “Everyone who comes in here notices the doors and the textures, like around the fireplace and the wood floor. My daughter visits and wants our fixtures. There are different colors and textures, but they all go together. It takes a certain eye, which I never could have done. How could anybody not like it?”

Likens prefers to have no more than three projects going at once, but all in different stages. One could be in planning, another could be in stage two of construction, while the third could have just been

listed. Visionary Homes stays involved with the home even after it has been sold. Either Likens or her superintendent, Hugh Clevenger, are available for several months following the sale. “We’re not done just because the homeowners have the keys,” she said.

Likens is now concentrating her vision on Bend’s Discovery West neighborhood located west of Northwest Crossing. She has already built several homes there. “I want to stay in one neighborhood,” she said. “I can get to know it and know what the people who live there want and value.” While Discovery West is currently developing phases three and four, there are at least 10 more phases to go before the neighborhood is completed. That schedule leaves time for Likens to further get to know the area and bring her Visionary eye to the homes in Discovery West.

“We’re not done just because the homeowners have the keys.”

• Built in dining nook, luxury vinyl plank floors.

• Indoor/Outdoor living with bifold doors. Fenced and cross fenced, 4 stall barn.

• Multiple patios, plenty of parking with a wrap-around driveway. There is an additional 440 sq ft building that would easily convert into an ADU. $1,425,000

WRITTEN BY LEE LEWIS HUSK

Before there was NorthWest Crossing and Broken Top, or Mount Washington Drive to connect westside neighborhoods; before any homes existed on Shevlin Park Road and before northwest Bend became a highly sought after place to live, there was Valhalla Heights. The people who bought or built homes in Valhalla Heights in the late 1970s and early ‘80s were the vanguard of Bend’s future.

“We were way out in the sticks,” said Kim Jackson. It was 1980 when she and her husband Jerry built a home in Valhalla Heights. Heading home on Newport Avenue was like leaving town, she said. Only forests and empty land existed between College Way and Central Oregon Community College’s western edge, which was across a dirt road from them. Bend was a mill town about to head into a recession. Buildable lots were rare, but they found one in Valhalla for $14,000. Another $37,000 went into building a home, which they completed in two months with help from their family. Five years later, they sold their home for $87,000—a 70 percent increase in value that foreshadowed the coming building boom.

Steve LaCross, a realtor at the Ladd Group with Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty, has sold

five homes in Valhalla in the past year and a half and said today’s average selling price is right around $1 million. He said the neighborhood offers buyers both ends of the price spectrum with established older homes, some due for updates, and more than 30 newer homes in higher price ranges.

“It’s a super location with a mountain town feel,” he said. He said historically five to 10 homes turnover every year. “During the pandemic, people were more drawn to homes that were new or updated and didn’t require a lot of effort, but those move-in-ready homes were on smaller lots. As things slow down, people are looking for value and to put their own stamp on a house. Older homes in Valhalla have larger lots and mature trees and give people the feeling of being in the mountains. I think Valhalla will be increasingly attractive over the next couple of years.”

“It’s a super location with a mountain town feel.”

The wooded nature of the neighborhood inspired one resident to post a sign that reads, “Slow Down. Entering Valhalla National Forest.” In another playful gesture and nod to the Nordic-themed enclave, residents have made T-shirts with a Viking ship that the kids wear to school one day a year.

Megan Boone and her husband Andrew, who was born and raised in Bend, moved to his hometown in 2007 from Boston where the couple met in college. She said Andrew remembers Valhalla as being an island in the forest. “It has a smaller community feel within larger Bend,” she said. They bought a newer home in 2014. “We caught a dip in the real estate market,” she said, adding that the home will “fit us over the decades as we raise our children and into retirement. It’s a place where welcoming neighbors come outside to talk with you. We feel comfortable letting the kids out to play.”

Valhalla is located at the roundabout on Mount Washington Drive and Shevlin Park Road. Privacy fencing encircles three-quarters of the neighborhood, with the north end soon to be connected to a development off Shevlin Park Road and to Quail Park. The main entrances off Mount Washington are Northwest Polarstar Avenue and Northwest Nordic Avenue, the latter serving as an informal dividing line between new and old sections. The development has many winding, hilly roads and numerous cul-de-sacs so visitors would be well advised to carry a map or GPS.

No longer an outpost on Bend’s northwest quadrant, Valhalla Heights and all the surrounding developments have placed it more in the center of walkable, bikeable and hikable places such as Phil’s Trail and Shevlin Park, Awbrey Glen Golf Course and NorthWest Crossing’s many restaurants, shops and farmers’ market. Summit High School, Pacific Crest Middle School, and High Lakes and Miller elementary schools are nearby. The Boones’ fifthgrade daughter loves walking to Roundabout Books and The Grove. “We love the location, the neighbors and the ability to walk places,” Megan said.

Quail Park

The Grove Market Hall

Central Oregon Community Center

PHOTO TOP TO BOTTOM: COURTESY BEND PARKS AND REC, MIDDLE KEVIN PRIETO, BOTTOM TAMBI LANE

Wellness-focused Interior Design

Bend-based designer avoids off-gassing, focuses on clean materials

WRITTEN BY KAILEY FISICARO

Interior designers help their clients create spaces that look as wonderful as they feel. Kymberlea Earnshaw of the eponymous firm Kymberlea Earnshaw Design focuses on “wellness-driven interior design” not only as the company’s motto but stemming from her point of view as an advocate for a healthy and holistic lifestyle.

Earnshaw offers design services for homes and businesses that can incorporate feng shui, sustainable materials, clean materials and green design. In their work sourcing finishes and furnishings, Earnshaw and her team consider what is good for the client and the planet and envision spaces they will love to look at and live in. When working with a client, she asks questions beyond a client’s personal style, such as “What type of environment

would support your health?” and “What kind of design would bring harmony to your life?” In fact, she is also studying to become an integrative health practitioner.

“We’re going to ask a lot more questions in regard to health and your lifestyle,” Earnshaw said. “We’re going to dig into, first of all, what is the soul of your project? What vibe do you want to feel when you’re walking in here? How do you want it to support you?” Her services include architectural review, interior design, space planning, builder collaboration for remodels and new construction and overseeing the process from finishes to furniture.

Earnshaw started her business around 2007, took a break while raising her two daughters, then dug back into it in 2013. She and her family moved to Bend from

DESIGN SPOTLIGHT

San Diego two years ago. From the time she was young, she had a creative side. Once in college, she considered studying interior design, but practicality stood in the way. The interior design studio time conflicted with the many hours Earnshaw spent in the pool training for swimming competitions as part of her scholarship.

After studying communications instead, Earnshaw knew she hadn’t yet found her career path. “I had this dilemma. Would I go into health, like a naturopath, or would I go into design?” Earnshaw said. “At that point, the creative side really called to me, but in my spare time I was always reading health and fitness stuff.”

Earnshaw felt even more drawn to researching what’s in our environments and the effects of off-gassing as she became a mother. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, off-gassing is the release of chemicals into the air from any material, including furniture, flooring, paint and more.

“I think that was a really pivotal moment,” Earnshaw said. “You’re pregnant, [asking] what can I put on or in my body? So then this whole new awareness just erupted for me. I started looking at things with new eyes and realizing

just how much stuff there is out there that’s really not beneficial for us,” she said.

Early on, not everyone understood Earnshaw’s intention with wellness-inspired interior design. Now, more people are considering what fills their homes and how that affects their mood and health. For example, she tries to maximize natural light, bring in plants when possible, select organic bedding, clean and natural materials and choose Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods—all with sustainability and the carbon footprint in mind.

“We typically do new construction or full remodels, so we’ll start from the beginning. We work really closely with the architect and the builder,” Earnshaw said. “We are the ones who do all the specifications of the tile, the

“We’re kind of infusing wellness in everyday life and design.”

hardwood, the paint, so we try to keep the VOCs or anything that can off-gas as clean as possible.”

VOCs are volatile organic compounds, many of which are human-made chemicals used in the manufacture of paints and more, according to the EPA. Breathing in VOCs for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. VOCs refer to a group of chemicals, but each individual chemical has its own potential effects.

Whatever the project, Earnshaw’s goal is to pick furniture with cleaner materials, whether it’s recycled or certified by the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

“Even though we are navigating this, there are a lot of things that aren’t 100 percent clean. We do the best that we can with what we have, but just the knowledge is the power to make better decisions in this industry,” Earnshaw said.

Earnshaw has seen wellness-focused interior design begin to trend in hospitality, and she expects the practice will eventually trickle down to more private homes, just as her business has spread by word of mouth.

KITCHEN

Pressed-wood cabinets contain formaldehyde, a carcinogenic which offgasses into your home. Many cleaning products also contain VOCs.

GARAGE

Epoxy coating is found on many garage floors and releases VOCs unless adequately cured. Cars also release VOCs—that new car smell comes from off-gassing.

BEDROOM

Many mattresses are guilty of sloughing off chemicals while you sleep. Vinyl and carpet flooring can also contain VOCs, as well as the paint used in your room.

LIVING AREAS

Decorating your home with new couches, rugs or curtains might come with some risk as they often contain VOCs that off-gas into your space. Also, be mindful of the chemicals your electronics can release.

BATHROOM

The bathroom can contain many potentially harmful objects. For example, makeup, skincare, air fresheners and household cleaners can all have VOCs.

Q&A

PHOTO BY MIGUEL EDWARDS

Inspiration to Installation

New owners preserve reputation for quality products and service

WRITTEN BY CHLOE GREEN

Kristian Thordarson spent eight years as a general contractor in Portland before moving to Bend with his family in 2020. Thordarson took the move as an opportunity to zoom in on a construction niche and purchased The Hardwood Floor Company, which has been installing high-quality floors in Bend homes since its founding in 2012 and continues striving to provide the Central Oregon community with excellent service under its new ownership. Thordarson chatted with Bend Home + Design about his latest venture, and flooring trends.

QCan you tell us about The Hardwood Floor Company?

AWe’re a small, family owned flooring company specializing in mid- to high-end solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl plank and carpet. We also sand and finish solid flooring. We pride ourselves in offering customers a range of services from material-only sales to a complete, turn-key installation.

The Hardwood Floor Company switched ownership recently; how has that transition been?

The transition has been great. My background in the contracting world has helped me relate to the needs of general contractors and also really helped in the transition to working with homeowners. I find myself assisting customers with questions outside of flooring because of

my background, which helps us offer a more well-rounded and customer-focused solution.

What are the elements of high-quality wood that you look for, and where do you source your materials?

When looking to source high-quality materials, we look for something that isn’t mass-produced. The smaller mills tend to pay more attention to the milling quality and take better care of their customers if there are issues. We source all of our solid hardwoods from North America, either the United States or Canada. Our engineered

floors come from multiple countries, including the United States, Canada and Italy, and our luxury vinyl plank is generally sourced from Asia.

Can you walk us through the process when a client comes to you for flooring?

Most of our clients set up a site walk to evaluate the existing flooring and discuss options. We measure the home and then produce a quote for the customer to review. We encourage customers to visit our showroom to see the many options available or to take sample boards home to ensure they fit their aesthetic. Once the customer approves the estimate, we get them on the schedule for installation.

Are there any trends in flooring that you’ve noticed are popular now?

A lot of customers are leaning toward engineered-wood flooring so they can get that wider plank and not be as

worried about the gapping that sometimes occurs with solid wood. Our customers are currently selecting colors in natural tones, either light brown or warm gray. A few years back, the hand-scraped look was popular, but that seems to have pretty much gone away, and we’re tearing more out than installing.

Can you expand on the three pillars of quality that include honesty, service and expertise in your work?

We ensure that our employees provide the most accurate information to our customers from the sales process through to completion. Even if it’s not good news, we know that being honest about the situation and working with the customer is the best solution.

Our staff members live and breathe service. We aren’t here to sell floors; we are here to educate our customers on the many options they have and allow them to make a selection that best fits them. Our field staff continues that level of service from start to finish.

We want to make the experience as enjoyable as possible because we know it’s a huge investment. Both our sales and field staff take training courses through the National Wood Flooring Association to ensure they are as up to date as possible with the current installation standards. We also have sales representatives from the companies we work with come by our showroom for product knowledge meetings to discuss product construction, finishes and installation techniques.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

We want to make sure that our potential customers know how much effort we put in from start to finish to provide the best experience possible. We consider our employees part of the family, and it’s part of what makes us successful. We love working in Central Oregon and look forward to many more years serving such a wonderful community.

“We want to make sure that our potential customers know how much effort we put in from start to finish.”

From Darkness to Light

Inside a Bend couple’s DIY kitchen remodel

WRITTEN BY CHLOE GREEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLA MCKENZIE

Kayla McKenzie’s work as an architectural photographer and Matt Reilly’s background in construction made them a well-qualified team for remodeling their kitchen. When they first toured their eastside Bend home in 2017, McKenzie admits to feeling apprehensive, unable to make out its potential. But after a little creative thinking and hard work, the home’s potential is now on full display. The kitchen’s once dark, uninviting ambiance has successfully transformed into one of warmth and light.

THE BEFORE

The kitchen is the first thing a person sees when walking through the front door, making it a focal point of the home and a high-priority project for the couple. The original kitchen was cloaked in dark hues. “Dark browns and navy blues, low ceilings and big cabinets that took up a lot of space. It just felt really claustrophobic,” said McKenzie. The home, built in 1997, was a rental for most of its life, with each new landlord giving it a surface-level makeover but never a full update. When the couple moved in, they could touch the kitchen ceiling due to the three layers of floor that each new owner had installed over the previous one. The tiles were cracked, the appliances were outdated, and the doors were drafty. There was a lot to be done, but McKenzie and Reilly got to work giving the kitchen all the care and aesthetic updates it needed.

THE VISION

McKenzie pulled a lot of inspiration from her extensive experience photographing beautiful Bend homes, collecting different elements from each and collaging them together to create her vision. The couple’s main intention was to create a luminous and open space, a kitchen people want to spend time in.

THE PROCESS

They tackled the remodel one project at a time, spreading them out across a couple of years. For those who want to take on their own remodel, McKenzie points to teamwork as the foundation of the project’s success. “Just tag team everything as much as you can,” she said. “We had our designated roles. I’d paint during the day, and then he’d do installs at night.”

The first and most urgent task for them was replacing the doors to the backyard that weren’t adequately sealed. From there, they refreshed the cabinetry, covering its wood with 10 coats of thick white paint and updating the hardware.

To create more space, they replaced one wall of cumbersome cabinets with beautiful floating shelves, now their favorite part of the kitchen. They found the natural wood planks on Craigslist, finished them and installed them. Reilly says it was both the most challenging and rewarding part of the remodel because of the creativity and craftsmanship needed to create a clean, sturdy and functional look.

Next on the to-do list was updating the floor, which was a more significant undertaking than they initially thought.

What was supposed to be a two-week-long project turned into a couple of months due to the multiple layers of floor and sneaky black mold found growing in the baseboards. Today, where there once was dark marble-patterned tile, is light Lanier Hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring from SmartCore.

The final large-scale project to complete the kitchen was to replace the navy marble laminate countertops with sleek Mystic White quartz slabs from EleMar, the only project that necessitated bringing in external contractors. JMC Stoneworks in Redmond cut and installed the countertops. The couple finished the kitchen with a white tile backsplash and a spacious Kraus sink.

Walking into the kitchen now feels like walking into a patch of sunlight, and their goal of making it a central gathering space has since come to fruition. “It’s now the place we hang out whenever we have our friends over,” McKenzie said. “I honestly don’t think a single person has ever sat on our couch,” she joked.

"It’s now the place we hang out whenever we have our friends over."

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GARDEN & LANDSCAPE

Making a Splash

Swimming pools in Central Oregon

WRITTEN BY GRANT WOODS

well-maintained pool can be an oasis in the high desert of Central Oregon. In the spring and summer, long days allow the sun to linger in the sky later into the evening. Coupled with the dry climate, the allure of a home pool is ever-present. To translate the allure to a tangible addition for a Bend home, the first question to ask is how the pool is envisioned to flow into the lifestyle of a homeowner. Today, pool designs take into consideration whether the water will be used for a workout, such as lap swimming, or as a soothing aesthetic addition to a landscape. Perhaps the goal is multi-faceted recreation.

“One comment that we hear often from families with children is that parents want to have the place where other kids come to play,” said Stephani Nash, marketing director at Emerald Pool and Patio. While there are responsibilities in being the social epicenter, homeowners can take comfort in knowing that they’re able to provide a safe place for not only children, but for all types of social interaction.

FROM ALLURE TO ENVIRONMENT

Regardless of the goal, when thinking of building or looking to purchase a home already equipped with a pool, it’s important for a homeowner to connect with the appropriate professionals. “Pools take up a lot of space, as does the mechanical equipment, so start the planning early in the design process so you don’t miss anything,” said Mike Szabo, principal architect at SZABO Landscape Architecture in Bend. A reputable pool builder or design team will not only give homeowners a rundown on the features, styles and

design options of a pool, they can customize advice according to property, climate and lifestyle.

Nash understands the intimidation especially for firsttime pool owners. “Many people, whether buying a home with a pool, or considering building one, wonder if it’s too big of an endeavor. It can be intimidating initially,” he said. However, the benefits of a pool can outweigh the drawbacks with good planning.

THE BUILDING PROCESS

The pool-building process is one of many phases. An experienced team of professionals can set homeowners up for success, and a strong build team will ensure that the project not only looks immaculate, but functions well and suits the lifestyle of the homeowner. Central Oregon’s freeze-thaw conditions require design teams and pool builders to consider such aspects as solar orientation, opportunities for spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains and adjacent features such as hot tubs and firepits. A custom in-ground pool build may

PHOTO LEFT RILEY VISUALS, MIDDLE & RIGHT KAYLA MCKENZIE PHOTOGRAPHY

begin with a form consisting of a dry-mix concrete gunite. After excavation and rebar framing, the gunite offers high tensile strength and flexibility – optimal qualities in the high desert climate. The time frame for a pool build generally requires between two and three months for completion.

The SZABO Landscape Architecture team has worked on state-of-the-art pools at Tetherow Resort, Brasada Ranch and a pool area renovation project for Mount Bachelor Village. “One of the things we strive to do is more seamlessly integrate some of the required health, safety and accessibility components in the design rather than making them afterthoughts and obstacles,” said Brian Nierman, a landscape architect with SZABO Landscape Architecture. Despite frigid winter temperatures, a well-designed swimming pool can be enjoyed year-round. Beyond the recreational appeal of lounging poolside on a summer afternoon, many people seek pools out for low-impact fitness, rehabilitation and rejuvenation. Having a place

"One of the things we strive to do is more seamlessly integrate some of the required health, safety and accessibility components in the design..."

to swim laps, exercise or decompress on your own property is a luxury that most people pay a premium for, and costs can start at $75,000 for that addition. It is important to note that completion of the process will often require multiple contractors. Deck work, landscaping, electrical necessities and plumbing are additional costs to factor into the tab.

BUYING A HOME WITH A POOL

Another option is to buy a home with a pool. If a property has a pool, it’s important to hire a savvy pool inspector. On top of leak detection and assessing the quality of construction, a professional inspector can point out potential problems as well as recommend updates, improvements and areas where things can be made more efficient. Even if it’s a pool built by a previous owner, it’s possible to add upgrades to personalize an aesthetic. “There are many things people can do to make their pools more energy efficient. In terms of updating the look, the sky’s the limit,” Nash said. Incorporating colored lighting, automating existing systems, replacing old or outdated tiles and adding new

features are among the options that can transform an existing pool into a personalized haven.

UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE

Once a pool is part of home life, connecting with a professional pool service for periodic maintenance and advice ensures clean and safe fun. Today’s technology can help automate most of what in the past were laborious processes. Considering the fluctuating Central Oregon climate, pool owners will want to seek out products and processes that boost energy efficiency, allowing them to spend less time fussing with equipment and more in and around their high desert pool oasis.

"...parents want to have the place where other kids come to play."

FINE FINISHES

Textural Design

Custom finishes bring walls to life

WRITTEN BY AMY S. MORFAS

Bend has seen a surge in custom home builds in recent years, bringing a new level of design sophistication to Central Oregon. One way to personalize and upgrade a high-end build or remodel is to incorporate custom wall finishes in the home, including lime and Venetian plasters and a wide array of decorative finishes. Juanita Perdomo, owner of WallsArt, Inc., has mastered the craft of turning walls into works of art. She launched her company in 2000 after working for years as both an interior designer and in industrial design.

“I walked into a building where Juanita hand-applied plaster on a two-story wall and my jaw dropped,” said Bend interior designer PJ Hurst. “It looked like brick and had so much depth and movement. It was the most beautiful thing. I feel that whatever Juanita touches turns into gold.”

A native of Colombia, Perdomo has worked across the United States and in Central and South America. While most of her work is residential, she still does some commercial design, including several luxury brand cosmetic shops on the Eastern Seaboard. She relocated to Oregon from Florida and settled in Bend during the pandemic after spending a few years in Hood River. “My market is custom homes, so the growth of that market in Bend is a good fit for my services,” she said. “Plus, it’s obviously an amazing place to live.”

PHOTO MIGUEL EDWARDS

THE DESCHUTES HOUSE

$4,150,000 I 334 NW Columbia Street Bend, Oregon

Come visit this flawlessly designed home that perfectly fits its iconic Deschutes River location. The 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,945 square foot home, designed by FINNE Architects, is located in the heart of downtown Bend – within walking distance of Bend’s best restaurants and shops. When you return home and step back through the pivot-hinged front door – the luxuriant natural light, stunning river views, and private tranquil spaces will immediately reconnect you with nature.

The main living area is completely transparent to the river on one side and to a quiet courtyard on the other. The master suite and study are cantilevered toward the river, providing unmatched bird’s-eye views of the ever-changing river and its wildlife. If you

get bored with admiring the stunning views, you can sunbathe in the courtyard, enjoy a campfire by the river, fish, go for a swim, or step onto your paddleboard to explore over 1.5 miles of the Deschutes River as it passes through the city.

Crafted with locally sourced materials and artful finishes - the rooms are exquisitely detailed with wide plank oak floors, travertine, solid-surface counters, porcelain and glass tilework, Sapele cabinetry, ledgestone, artisanal glass panels, burnished steel, and trim that was hand-crafted from native Pacific Northwest timber.

Seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own and enjoy this expertly crafted, stunning landmark property.

BRINGING WALLS TO LIFE

Perdomo uses a variety of techniques and materials including Italian plasters and an array of specialized materials to create trendsetting decorative finishes. Perdomo’s work can be nuanced for subtle, elevated sophistication or bold for impactful designs. Finishes range from fun to formal, or from modern to traditional. As an inhabitant of the high desert, she finds ample inspiration from Central Oregon’s natural environment for bringing the outside themes into each home. Decorative plaster is a favorite material of Perdomo’s for making an upscale, sophisticated statement. Walls and fireplace features can be made to look like concrete, stone and even wallpaper. She can also create accent work in places such as a primary bedroom or fireplace surround. Her work is best showcased when a homeowner incorporates custom walls throughout. “It takes the home to a whole new level,” she said, adding that it allows both her and her clients to get more playful with smaller spaces, such as a powder room or an accent wall. Unconventional designs are some of her favorites, because

“It takes the home to a whole new level.”

they allow her to showcase her artistic skills and create visual impact for her clients.

More typical projects take anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks, or up to a month for a whole-house custom plaster finish.

Beyond custom decorative plaster work with an infinite number of finishes, she can create any design with paint, including murals. She mocks up samples to guarantee she has captured the client’s vision. Once she and her client finalize design and finishes, it’s a matter of getting to work and making magic happen.

Perdomo made magic happen in the Bend westside home of Ann Peck who hired her to finish two fireplace surrounds, two bathrooms, a laundry room and a stairwell feature. “She’s a plaster worker who can do anything with color and texture,” Peck said. “The wallpaper design she put in the bathroom was so intricate and detailed that everyone assumes it’s wallpaper. You’d never guess someone could do that by hand.”

For Perdomo, walls are like a blank canvas, and the possibilities are endless.

“The wallpaper design she put in the bathroom was so intricate and detailed that everyone assumes it’s wallpaper. You’d never guess someone could do that by hand.”

CHEF SPOTLIGHT

Gathering inspiration in chef Karista Bennett's kitchen

WRITTEN BY LYDIA HAGEN

TAMBI LANE

PHOTOGRAPHY

chef’s home kitchen is often where innovative culinary ideas and gastronomic advancements occur. The newest, cutting-edge design isn’t always necessary in developing or even making delightful and full-flavored dishes. For chef Karista Bennett, she noted that her kitchen is really all she needs: “It’s efficient, and that’s the way I like it,” she said.

FINDING THE PASSION

After constructing a career in many areas of the culinary world, including teaching and having her own private chef business, Bennett and her husband moved to Oregon. She said that she had always developed recipes for her cooking classes and for clients, so she began pitching recipe ideas to, and freelance writing for, magazines, working with brands such as Cuisinart and working as an on-air recipe expert. Eventually, she decided to write her first book, The Oregon Farm Table Cookbook. As for the recipe development, Bennett said her creative process can be sparked by anything. “It could be a word or a phrase that someone says,” she said. However, she said that most of her inspiration comes from an ingredient and wondering what flavors would go best with it.

IN THE KITCHEN

When Bennett is cooking, the two things she finds herself reaching for the most are tongs and “a really good fish spatula” for its versatility. “If I don’t have my favorites nearby, I’m not happy,” she said. Bennett said that her previous home had a bigger kitchen, but she appreciates her new kitchen because it is more efficient than the last, and everything is within reach. “I like a kitchen to be usable. I want to be able to walk in and start cooking,” she said. Aside from her own favorite kitchen utensils, Bennett said that for any chef, it is essential to have really good knives—she tries to sharpen hers once a week. “[My kitchen] is really all I need,” she said. “You don’t need a lot to make a great meal.”

"I like a kitchen to be usable. I want to be able to walk in and start cooking."

SMOKY & SAVORY

SMOKED SALMON LOX WITH CRÈME FRAÎCHE ON MINI CORNCAKES

1 cup yellow cornmeal

½ cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons oil

1 large egg, whisked

⅔ to ¾ cup buttermilk

½ cup creme fraîche

4 to 6 ounces smoked salmon or salmon lox

2 tablespoons fresh dill

TO ASSEMBLE

1.Mix together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a medium bowl.

2. Whisk together the oil, egg and ⅔ cup buttermilk in a separate bowl. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients just until smooth, and it feels like pancake batter. Add additional buttermilk, if needed. Don’t over whisk.

3. Heat the stovetop griddle or nonstick skillet over medium to medium-low heat. Form small cakes with dollops of batter. Once the edges turn golden brown, and the center is bubbly, flip the corncakes and cook the other side. Transfer them to another platter and let cool.

4. To serve, place the corncakes on a platter and top with creme fraîche. Top each corncake with a piece of smoked salmon and fresh dill. Serve immediately.

When she's just cooking for herself and others, Bennett often gathers inspiration from the weather. For example, if it’s snowing outside, you can expect Bennett to be preparing one of her recipes such as a warm green curry. However, Bennett says she also cooks for the pleasure of her palate. Afterall, that’s what drove her to go to culinary school in the first place—she wanted something that would excite her taste buds. Today, Bennett lives in Bend and has most recently released her second cookbook, For the Love of Seafood. The book is written in connection with her past career as a culinary teacher. “I wanted to keep it simple so the home cook can master these techniques…and it will build their confidence,” she said. The cookbook is just an example of the chef’s adaptable talents in the culinary world, as she has brought her wide range of knowledge to her home kitchen where she can innovate and apply her knowledge in teachable, relatable ways.

"You don't need a lot to make a great meal."

FLAKY & LIGHT

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED FISH TACOS WITH MANDARIN-RADISH SLAW

FISH

1 cup buttermilk

1 pound mild flavored, medium-firm, white fish, patted dry with a paper towel and cut into 2-inch pieces

1 cup cornmeal

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

High-heat oil for frying

CREMA

½ cup sour cream

½ cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon sugar

Juice of one lime

Dash of hot sauce

Salt and freshly ground pepper

SLAW

2 to 3 cups shredded napa cabbage

1 cup mandarin oranges

½ cup shredded watermelon radish

½ cup sliced green onion

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

FOR SERVING

8 to 10 corn tortillas

Thinly sliced red onion, avocado and lime wedges (optional)

1.Soak the fish: Pour the buttermilk into a medium bowl and add the fish to the buttermilk. Set aside.

2. Crema: Combine the ingredients for crema above. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

3. Slaw: Combine the above ingredients for slaw in a separate bowl. Set aside.

4. Tortillas: Line a plate or platter with paper towels and set it aside. Add enough high-heat oil to cover the surface of a skillet. Place the skillet over medium heat. Adjust heat while frying tortillas, if needed.

5. When the oil is hot and slightly smoking, add one tortilla, using tongs. Let it brown slightly, and then flip to the other side to brown slightly, adjusting the heat lower or higher as needed. Transfer the tortilla to the paper towel-lined plate and fold it in half like a taco. Do this with as many tortillas as you like.

6. Fish: Combine the cornmeal, flour, cayenne, salt and pepper in another medium bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

7. Take each piece of fish out of the buttermilk, shake off any excess and dredge through the cornmeal mixture until coated. Place the breaded fish on the prepared baking sheet.

8. When all the fish are coated, add highheat oil to a large skillet to a depth of one inch.

9. Heat the pan over medium heat, and when the oil is hot and shimmering, add the fish. You may need to do this in small batches.

10. Cook the fish until the bottom is golden brown and then gently flip to the other side. This should take two to three minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the fish. If the fish brown too quickly, adjust the heat.

11. Transfer the cooked fish to a papertowel-lined plate.

12. To assemble the tacos, add the slaw to the bottom half of each tortilla, top with fish, drizzle with crema and then garnish with sliced red onion and avocado, if using. Serve immediately with lime wedges, if using, and extra crema.

LAYERED & FRESH

SPICY SALMON POKE BOWL

SALMON

⅓ cup tamari

1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1 ½ tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Juice of one lime

¼ cup finely sliced or chopped green onion

1 pound sushi-grade salmon, cut into ½ inch cubes

SAUCE

½ cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce

1 tablespoon seasoned rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon of lime juice

Sriracha to taste (optional)

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS

2 cups cooked sticky rice, jasmine rice or ramen noodles

1 cup steamed or pan-cooked edamame

1 large cucumber, sliced or quartered

1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced Handful baby spinach

½ cup sliced green onion

Lime wedges and avocado slices for serving

Toasted sesame seeds for garnish

TO ASSEMBLE

1.Salmon: Combine the tamari, vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, ginger, sweet chili sauce, toasted sesame seeds, lime juice and green onion in a large nonreactive or glass bowl.

2. Toss the salmon with the marinade and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to an hour.

3. Sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, vinegar, lime juice and sriracha (if using) to taste in a small bowl.

4. Assemble: Place the rice in a bowl and top with the salmon poke and additional toppings as desired. Drizzle with a little sauce and serve immediately.

ARTS + EXHIBITS

WRITTEN BY CHLOE GREEN

Peterson Contemporary Art

The featured May show, “Setting New Standards,” will highlight the paintings of Rebecca Haines, Sandra Pratt, Edmond Praybe and Tyler Swain. Haines’ work depicting wildlife reflects her awe and reverence for wild animals. “They help us relate to our world, often acting as intermediaries between the civilized and the wild,

between the known and the mysterious,” said Haines. Pratt’s landscape pieces often include historical landmarks, old barns, fences and homes. “I love the sense of history, fragility and secrets they exude,” Pratt said. The still-life paintings of Praybe combine the natural with the ordinary objects of suburban life. The inspiration behind Swain’s paintings is observing simple, often natural, objects from his everyday life.

Rebecca Haines’ “This Beautiful Mystery”

Tumalo Art Co.

The Tumalo Art Co. features fine art at its Old Mill District gallery. This spring, pop in each month to see a new exhibition of work from regional artists.

APRIL

Artist David Kinker showcases beautiful imagery of rivers in the April exhibition, “Great Escapes.” These large-scale landscape paintings depict Kinker’s adventures down the Grand Canyon, the Rio Grande in Argentina, and his various other river rafting and guiding expeditions. While on the river, Kinker records each trip with many plein-air

paintings, which later, back at the studio, become the foundation for these larger works of art.

MAY

Visit the gallery to see “The Spectrum of Birthstones,” an exhibition that utilizes the calendar’s various birthstones to study color. Helen Brown created 12 new watercolor paintings, each exploring the color of one gemstone. “I like the idea of examining color as a gem because each stone reflects many variations of its color through facets and light,” said Brown. She’s been a member of Tumalo Art Co. since 2010. Her subject matter is broad, including landscapes, flowers and even automobiles.

JUNE

The word “incanto” is defined as the act of enchanting or the state of being enchanted and is the name of artist Dee McBrien-Lee’s June exhibition. “Incanto” features figurative and abstract works with crisp acrylic colors. Each painting in the series aims to enchant its viewers to linger a little longer in front of a piece and see it with a bit more depth. McBrienLee, who co-founded Red Chair Gallery in 2008, has been in the art world fulltime for more than 15 years and painting recreationally for even longer. Her work combines the surrounding Northwest landscape with abstract influences of a more emotional landscape.

From Dee McBrien-Lee’s June exhibition, “Incanto”

Scalehouse

The upcoming exhibit, “In Praise of the Fragment,” by Heidi Schwegler at Scalehouse Gallery, recontextualizes broken objects as the basis for new works—investigating the culture of breakage and its implications. Schwegler’s work provides commentary on the impact of planned obsolescence in our global economy and fragmented landscape. Her process blurs distinctions between manufactured and crafted, industrial and handmade. Schwegler’s work, utilizing a wide range of materials, and incorporating found objects with traditional craft and sculpture media, has earned her accolades and exhibitions across the country, “When [an object] is no longer contextualized by function and ownership, the discarded thing’s anonymity and ambiguity render it previous to the imagination,” Schwegler said. “I consider its formal qualities as raw material—but a very particular raw material that is both new and an indicator of past use, past value and past purpose.”

Join Schwegler for the opening reception and artist talk at 6:30 p.m., May 4. This show runs from May to the end of June.

Mockingbird Gallery

Mockingbird Gallery has been an integral part of the art scene in Bend for more than 25 years and remains a source for premier regional painting and sculpture work. Visit three shows this spring.

APRIL

In April, the gallery features three award-winning artists. Jack Braman, who has more than 30 years of professional art experience, will display his acrylic and oil paintings that capture the light and detail of Oregon waterways. Also featured is painter and sculptor Dan Chen, whose deep admiration for wildlife and nature shines through in his work. Barbara Jaenicke’s impressionist-style oil and pastel paintings of natural landscapes round out the show.

MAY

Enjoy the work of three more artists featured in a May exhibition. Eric G. Thompson invites viewers to slow down and appreciate stillness with his haunting still-life paintings that capture the beauty of quiet moments. The paintings of Steven Lee Adams, which depict beautiful natural scenery, prompt viewers to notice the subtleties of nature. Joseph Alleman uses watercolor paint to capture the picturesque barns, hilly vistas and peaceful farm animals found around his home in northern Utah’s Cache Valley.

JUNE

In June, the realist paintings of Delbert Gish will be exhibited at the gallery. His work in landscape, still life and figure painting aims to capture an observable truth. He emphasizes a scene’s objective qualities, such as light, detail and color.

Barbara Jaenicke’s “Rushing Around”

Jack Branman’s “Magical Autumn”

BUILDING

Bend Craftsmen Company 541-728-8214 bendcraftsmencompany.com

Central Oregon Cedar Homes 541-316-0540 lindal.com/ealer/CentralOregon

Deschutes Custom Homes 541-408-820 deschuteshomes.com

Greenlee Construction 541-316-9567 greenleeroofing.com

JD Neel Construction Inc. 541-508-8444 jdneelconstruction.com

Malace Homes 541-418-2178 malacehomes.com

Neil Kelly Company 541-382-7580 neilkelly.com

Norman Building & Design 866-389-4245 normanbuilding.com

Northwest Quality Roofing 541-647-1060 nwqualityroofing.com

Sun Forest Construction 541-385-8522 sforest.com

Timberline Construction 541-388-3979 timberlinebend.com

Total Home Solutions 541-647-0213 mytotalhomesolutions.com

DESIGN

Amejko Aristry amejkoartistry.com

Sourcebook

For information about products or services please contact these sources.

Arrange 541-678-5162 arrangespacebend.com

Baldhead Cabinets 877-966-2253 baldheadcabinets.com

Baptista Tile & Stone Gallery 541-919-6560 baptistatile.com

Bend Glass & Mirror 541-388-7571 bendglassandmirror.com

California Closets 503-885-8211 californiaclosets.com

Dovetails Furniture 541-382-3006 dovetailsfurniture.com

Emily Cathcart Designs 541-508-9204 emilycathcartdesigns.com

Hollyman Design 541-390-8209 hollyman.design

Johnson Brothers Appliances 541-382-6223 jbbend.com

Kirsti Wolfe Designs 541-389-1429 kirstiwolfedesigns.com

Khul Frames + Arts 541-782-2422 khulframes.com

La-Z-Boy Furniture Stores in Bend 541-617-1717 la-z-boy.com/bend

Mockingbird Gallery 541-388-2107 mockingbird-gallery.com

Neal Huston & Associates 541-389-0991 nealhuston.com

Nelson Tile & Stone 541-389-2759 nelsontileandstone.com

Patio World 541-388-0022 patioworldbend.com

Pomegranate 541-383-3713 pomegranate-home.com

Powder House Ski Shop 801-987-3005 powderhouseskishop.com

Standard TV & Appliance 541-388-0088 standardtvandappliance.com

Scott Edwards Architecture 503-226-3617 seallp.com

FINANCIAL

Caliber Home LoansSteve Mora 541-550-9411 caliberhomeloans.com

REAL ESTATE

Caldera Springs 541-593-4850 calderaprings.com

DeLay and Billings 541-678-3290 delayandbillings.com

Duke Warner 541-382-8262 dukewarner.com

Eagle Crest Properties 541-923-9625

eaglecrestproperties.com

The Agency Bend 541-508-7430

theagencyre.com/region/Bend

Total Real Estate Group 541-330-0588

totalbendrealestate.com

SERVICES

Athletic Club of Bend 541-385-3062

athleticclubofbend.com

Cascade Heating & Specialties 541-382-8483 cascadeheat.com

Central Oregon Garage Door 541-593-5700

centraloregongaragedoor.com

Einstein Pros 541-420-8888

einsteinpros.com

John’s Waterproofing 503-873-5650

johnswaterproofing.com

Knife River 541-388-0445 kniferiver.com

National Solar 541-213-8062 nationalsolarusa.com

TRANSPORTATION

Land Rover 503-230-7700

landroverportland.com

Volvo Bend 877-726-8491

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“A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.”

—MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO

Builder: Timberline Construction of Bend

Designer: Tebbs Design Group