Bespoke
Beauty.
Sophisticated
Sanctuary.
Distinct
Destination.
Deschutes Custom Homes Award-Winning Process
by Jennifer Walton
What makes a home spectacular? The beauty of its curated design? What makes a home feel like a sanctuary? Is it its tailored tranquility and access to light, space, and high-quality amenities? What makes a home feel like its own destination? The potential for enjoyment, entertainment, and exclusivity? Or is it an intangible combination of those aspects that determines why a home feels beautiful and mirrors that sensation the moment one enters? It is all that and more, and Deschutes Custom Homes prioritized and constructed this experience while highlighting exceptional architecture and superlative craftsmanship. This stunning residence swept the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) 2024 Awards, winning accolades for Architectural Design, Interior Finish, Best of Show, Kitchen, and Landscaping, which set Bend’s luxury home market in a new direction.
“Along with nature and siting for critical viewpoints, I think about the flow and how I think the homeowner will want to use the property.
It’s a balance between envisioning who the client might be and understanding how the property will benefit their lifestyle.”–Ken Sunzeri, Founder, Deschutes Custom Homes
Ken Sunzeri, the visionary behind Deschutes Custom Homes, brings a unique perspective to homebuilding. His approach is deeply rooted in the connection between nature and client desires. “Along with nature and siting for critical viewpoints, I think about the flow and how I think the homeowner will want to use the property. It’s a balance between envisioning who the client might be and understanding how the property will benefit their lifestyle,” he says. For this project, Sunzeri considered a dual-use case: a young entrepreneur or business owner seeking an extraordinary property and a multi-generational family who loves to entertain with spaces for adults and kids to enjoy. This dual-use concept shaped the design and the functionality of the home, creating a space that serves both as a luxurious retreat and a family-friendly sanctuary.
Further, Sunzeri’s philosophy in homebuilding is to ensure that there is a feeling that resonates when people are in a Deschutes Custom Home. “I want to create homes that speak for themselves. We do not spare any expense. I have always had the mantra in my career that spending money, even at times when it might be counterintuitive, is a representation of my commitment to excellence. I want to build art, so I’m not inclined to look for or purchase less-than-superior materials. If I want to add an idea that lends itself to the beauty of the house, I’m going to do it,” he adds. And art he has produced in this five-bedroom, five-bath, 5,400-square-foot home on 2.5 acres where his dedication to using the finest materials and innovative design elements ensures that every Deschutes Custom Home is a cut above the rest.
However, Sunzeri is quick to attribute Deschutes Custom Homes’ success to his recent collaborative experiences. He values the input of his vendors and subcontractors because it creates a synergistic environment that fosters creativity and expertise. “Coming from the high-end luxury building market in the Bay Area to working in Central Oregon was a refreshing change from the competitive and often cutthroat market where I honed my skills,” he shares. “Everyone gets along here, and it feels like a family, and that is what is exciting to me.”
“Coming from the high-end luxury building market in the Bay Area to working in Central Oregon was a refreshing change from the competitive and often cutthroat market where I honed my skills. Everyone gets along here, and it feels like a family, and that is what is exciting to me.”
–Ken Sunzeri
Case in point—working with landscape architect Tim Schmidt from Land Effects Inc. As Sunzeri thoughtfully considered nature’s influence on the property, his vision aligned well with Schmidt’s. “The creation of outdoor living spaces impacted this house. The home has a strong connection to indoor/outdoor living and the open concept that it portrays. Creating a space that invites and encourages you to enter was among the primary goals. Large patios, outdoor kitchens, and an oversized fire pit encourage homeowners to enjoy outdoor living that is distinctly Bend,” says Schmidt.
Utilizing the gift of nature was dominant, as was the definitive representation of architecture that is resoundingly restorative, sumptuous, and personal. Sunzeri and his interior designer, Julanda Shannon of Julanda Shannon Design, have observed and understand the shift toward more personalized and vibrant design. That is evident in the natural-toned wood combined with wall paneling or hand-applied plaster and the use of rich color to create a significant impact, transforming each room into a distinct destination. Shannon says, “It was important to us to have the interior complement the architecture of the home. We designed it to be clean-lined and cohesive throughout to ensure the home would appeal to a broad group of people. However, we emphasized the beautiful architectural features and focused on incorporating unique details, textures, and layers to create a feeling of luxury and custom design for the future homeowner.” Sunzeri adds, “You should be able to walk through your home and feel a different feeling from room to room. For example, when you walk into the library, you want to grab a cigar and a glass of whiskey, but that feeling is different when you’re walking up the stairs with the neutral-toned textured plaster because it elicits a calmer feel on the way to the fun and airy loft space.” Shannon agrees, adding, “Dedicated areas provide more opportunities for bolder design choices and personality. The architects incorporated this direction, and we used this design flexibility while working on the interior design selection.” The result of this direction is apparent in the library. “I loved how the mirror tile ceiling, the custom mantle, and the wine rack wall came together,” she states.
“We designed it to be clean-lined and cohesive throughout to ensure the home would appeal to a broad group of people. However, we emphasized the beautiful architectural features and focused on incorporating unique details, textures, and layers to create a feeling of luxury and custom design for the future homeowner.”
–Julanda Shannon, Julanda Shannon Design
This approach of embracing bold design choices is shared by Sunzeri. “I gravitate to the natural woods right now, and yet I love gutsy choices, and I engage my clients in that conversation of juxtaposition by encouraging them to give me their wild ideas. Sometimes, they get caught in the Pinterest-Instagram cycle because it’s popular, but I say, ‘Bring me your crazy idea, and let’s explore it!’ If they have a vision of bronze cabinets with black tops, then let’s see what that looks like; maybe not the entire kitchen, but how about a gorgeous, masculine, cool bar? Let’s put a personal touch into it—that’s what design is!” And a true expression of collaboration.
Just as Sunzeri and Schmidt were specific about the exterior, Sunzeri and Shannon were specific about the interior. “I didn’t want to stage the home. We felt the furnishings were just as important as the counter, tile, lighting design, and everything else that makes a house a home, so we purchased every single piece of furniture with the hope that the future buyer would purchase it as seen and experienced. Every piece of artwork and a diverse collection of objects were curated to fit the home,” says Shannon. This curated design elevates the home’s visual appeal and also enhances the daily living experience, making each moment spent within its spaces a gift.
Collaborations worked so well that any challenges were seen as inspiring opportunities. Schmidt states, “Creating a multitude of individual living spaces within one project is always fun. From a design concept, the house is large and sits proudly on the site. To address this, we added layers of retaining/planter walls, patios on multiple levels, a wide inviting staircase, foreground lawns, overlapping plant textures, as well as tall trees to soften the vertical lines of the house. This created a design that provides curb appeal and also a sense of space and usability for the homeowners to enjoy year-round.”
“We pride ourselves on being a boutique builder, creating amazing luxury homes while maintaining a personal touch. Our goal is to remain boutique in the sense that when you call, I answer the phone. We are not three layers in to speak to me or my partner, John Knaus, We want the experience to feel personal and to ensure that every client feels valued and heard through-out the process. And, we want to be the top-tier builder in Bend, known for our beautiful luxury homes.”
–Ken Sunzeri, Deschutes Custom Homes
Indoor/outdoor living is still the most essential element in homes that integrate nature into their design, and this home makes a statement that provides purpose and meaning. The scale and proportion of the great room with its picturesque views of the Cascade Mountains. The access from there to the firepit and surrounding landscape. The way in which the spaces interact with each other and also the spaces between them. All of this adds intimacy to the home. From the glass-enclosed, see-through fireplace to the open glass-shelved bar area to the subtle pops of brass on the blue-gray Zellige-tiled shower to the primary bedroom’s delicate wrought-iron balcony railing, each detail adds an element of grace and effortlessness. These elements are harmonious and amplify the feeling of sanctuary and, ultimately, wellness, and have the potential to transform how its inhabitants live.
This Deschutes Custom Home speaks its own language with a savvy eye for design, innovation, and respect for nature. Sunzeri believes in producing beauty within the exterior and interior and in capturing the essence of the home’s personality, which reinforces his belief in its value. This home is more than just a residence; it’s an experience.
“We pride ourselves on being a boutique builder, creating amazing luxury homes while maintaining a personal touch. Our goal is to remain boutique in the sense that when you call, I answer the phone. We are not three layers in to speak to me or my partner, John Knauss,” says Sunzeri. “We want the experience to feel personal and to ensure that every client feels valued and heard throughout the process. And, we want to be the top-tier builder in Bend, known for our beautiful luxury homes.”
With plenty of interior and exterior space for extended family, epic celebrations, or exquisite memory-making by choosing to vacation at home, this dynamic property is the purest definition of a dream destination.
