Planning a Build with Transparency
by Jenn Rein
Oregon native Rob Kelleher has seen the growth of Bend from the perspective of a builder. He is the owner and founder of Kellcon, a residential and commercial contractor, and the demand for his services continues to expand. “The homes we are building keep getting larger, and the contracts involve more investment,” he explains. “People want to own a home here, and it’s easy to see why.”
Although summer in Bend offers an enticing combination of views, topography, and outdoor adventure, Kelleher helps inform clients of what to expect with regard to the realities of a Bend winter. “A new homeowner in the Bend area may have only seen their new neighborhood in the summer, and so they may not yet understand how long our winters can be,” he says.
Visiting Bend during the summer months and trying to conjure a dream home may not bring thoughts of heated walkways or snow removal, but Kellcon delights in helping acclimate new residents to the area. He adds, “We build homes that are winterized – we typically see snowfall from November to March.”
“When I moved here in 2007, it was the small-town feel and the friendliness that I liked. There are certain places that have a balance, and Bend is one of those places.”
–Rob Kelleher, Founder, Kellcon
A Boom in Bend
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bend, Oregon, saw a population increase of just over 30 percent from 2010 to 2020. This follows a current national trend of populace targeting the West for new opportunity and abandoning larger urban areas. In many cases, this type of activity could affect quality of life in certain places. As Kelleher describes it, the charm of Bend is still very much intact.
“When I moved here in 2007, it was the small-town feel and the friendliness that I liked. There are certain places that have a balance, and Bend is one of those places. Even now as this place is growing, it’s a certain kind of human that’s attracted to it. It still has that friendly small-town feeling,” he explains.
This connected community is easily seen when one understands that although Kellcon Inc. was founded in 2015, they have yet to roll out a website. This builder has summoned success by word of mouth and repeat business. Kelleher keeps his work within a 75-mile radius of Bend, and currently, his firm is running 2-3 home builds at a time along with 5-7 commercial projects.
It’s important to note as well that Bend has its fair share of remote builds, or properties that require work to be done but are not so easy to access. Kellcon has seen this situation before while on the job. This firm is able to adapt to the construction needs of those homeowners who are a few more steps removed from the community.
The Mountain Aesthetic
When Kellcon is in the throes of aiding its clients by helping to achieve a vision, one consideration is the ubiquitous outdoor living area. This is no longer a trend in the mountain home, but an expectation. The current movement in design surpasses a fire pit or barbecue area that stands as the only choice for outdoor comfort.
The arrangement for eating al fresco in these outdoor living spaces has taken some shifts over the past few years. Instead of trying to duplicate a kitchen outside, a main indoor kitchen now features more pass-through areas where food can simply be handed outside. Even a trend in home culinary habits can find its efficiencies.
Kelleher explains that there are now multiple seating areas that surround a home. “One side of the home, due to its views, could have a larger seating area. And then on another side that hosts more shade, the option for seating isn’t as big,” he says. “We see a lot of overhead heating options, and we give thought to how wind or other noise might be baffled.”
For his own home, when trying to solve for privacy and manmade noise surrounding a hot tub, Kelleher added a water feature to an existing concrete wall. What might seem like an afterthought is actually a thoughtful solution that aids in the comfort of the occupants and their guests. This builder’s understanding for what a homeowner might need, especially within the mountain aesthetic of Bend, serves in his vocation on both a small and large scale.
“I’m amazed at what landscape architects are achieving now with the integration of areas around the home that seem naturalized,” he shares. “But what you’re really getting is a beautiful addition of a water feature that makes your environment feel special and seamless with nature.” Knowing that the builder on a project can appreciate what the other disciplines are bringing to the table can make deadlines feel a little less intimidating.
Dropping Roots in Bend
Whether or not the Bend area has just been introduced into your life, or you are looking to build after long consideration over this special part of the Pacific Northwest, consulting with Kellcon and owner Rob Kelleher will reveal the deeper needs of a project. With an aim to understand both his client and the structure they hope to call home, he brings a sense of familiarity through his long-term love of the area.
“We like to say that we pick good clients because good clients make good projects. We don’t chase the project, we chase the client.”
–Rob Kelleher, Founder, Kellcon Homes
The lure of Bend and its special place near the Cascade Range does draw a certain kind of human. This seems to be true for Rob Kelleher as well. As a business owner, he likes to say that it’s easy to get the job done when working with the client feels like a positive partnership. “We like to say that we pick good clients because good clients make good projects,” he says. “We don’t chase the project, we chase the client.”
