Listen to our Spotify podcast about this article:
Written By: Cassidy Mantor
In March 2020, Otter.ai polled remote workers in the US and the UK and found that 11% admitted to not wearing pants on Zoom. While it was the height of the pandemic and humanity was struggling to find a “new normal,” 30% of workers said they had also Zoomed in pajamas in the past year.
How does this pants problem relate to living in Bend? The founder of Deschutes Custom Homes, luxury home builder Kenneth Sunzeri, believes more thoughtful sartorial selections lead to more enjoyment of life. As Karl Lagerfeld, the late creative director of Chanel and Fendi, notoriously said, “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You’ve lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.”
architect: GEOFF APRIL , REVERIE ARCHITECTURE
interior designer: JUL ANDA SHANNON
A certain effort in how one presents oneself to the world lays the foundation for the potential to experience life more richly. Studies have found the effect of clothing and environments on productivity dressing for success correlates to actually succeeding. In similar fashion, Sunzeri’s appreciation for curating an intentional lifestyle translates to custom homes beautifully tailored to their owners’ lifestyles. “I believe your home should be a source of transformation. It is a conduit that enables you to experience the life you want through it,” he says.
“SWEATPANTS ARE A SIGN OF DEFEAT. YOU’ VE LOST CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE SO YOU BOUGHT SOME SWEATPANTS.”
–Karl Lagerfeld, Creative Director, Chanel & Fendi
THE POTENTIALITY OF GOOD DESIGN
While most builders are earthy, concrete types, Sunzeri has a streak of tortured artist within. Equally comfortable on a job site predawn snapping 2x4s in the cold as he is in a tweed jacket playing jazz piano, he brings a unique sensibility to his work. Luckily for his clients, building custom homes helps him channel that Renaissance energy. Sunzeri’s creativity is expressed functionally in luxurious homes that have a tangible purpose and capture his clients’ intent to live in a certain way. In addition to obvious craftsmanship, he builds a unique experience into each of his homes.
“I’m very interested in compartmentalizing my homes and trying to give a different feeling in each room you’re in,” Sunzeri shares. “A workout area will be curated to that aesthetic, and a task oriented library or study space will be conducive to grabbing a cup of coffee at 5am and hammering out some work on your Mac. Our homes should be sources of energy so that when we go out in the real world we feel rejuvenated and ready to perform at our best.”
Deschutes is breaking ground this spring on a new home that will be shown on the 2026 Tour of Homes. Located in Westgate, this five bedroom masterpiece is the collaboration of architect Geoff April founder of Reverie Architecture, and Sunzeri’s vision for life in Bend. Instead of being on the rim overlooking the mountains offering the traditional view commonly seen in Westgate, this property is on the other side of the community. The back patio looks directly at Pilot Butte, offering an ideal location for a 4th of July party and fireworks viewing party.
“This is an organic home that has a natural flow that harmonizes with an intentional moodiness,” Sunzeri explains. Not too modern but still smartly designed, the house reminds its owner to delight in the special moments that weave together the totality of one’s life experience. “It encourages you to throw on a brown corduroy suit, have a cocktail, and procure a fun and special evening,” Sunzeri muses. Get your hipster on.
“I’M VERY INTERESTED IN COMPARTMENTALIZING MY HOMES AND TRYING TO GIVE A DIFFERENT FEELING IN EACH ROOM YOU’RE IN. A WORKOUT AREA WILL BE CURATED TO THAT AESTHETIC, AND A TASK ORIENTED LIBRARY OR STUDY SPACE WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO GRABBING A CUP OF COFFEE AT 5AM AND HAMMERING OUT SOME WORK ON YOUR MAC. OUR HOMES SHOULD BE SOURCES OF ENERGY SO THAT WHEN WE GO OUT IN THE REAL WORLD WE FEEL REJUVENATED AND READY TO PERFORM AT OUR BEST.”
– Kenneth Sunzeri, Deschutes Custom Homes
“ THIS IS AN ORGANIC HOME THAT HAS A NATURAL FLOW THAT HARMONIZES WITH AN INTENTIONAL MOODINESS. IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO THROW ON A BROWN CORDUROY SUIT, HAVE A COCKTAIL , AND PROCURE A FUN AND SPECIAL EVENING.
– Kenneth Sunzeri, Deschutes Custom Homes
Built in the shape of a letter H, this house bridges the gap between the mountain and modern aesthetics, resulting in an organic space that balances hygge coziness with contemporary Scandinavian design. The statuesque entertaining wing with 12 foot pass through doors and extensive glazing makes a warm and welcoming first impression. Bleached wood siding and dark metals convey masculine energy for the home’s exterior that is complemented by an airy and breathable entry.
A glass bridge between the massing creates an immediate sense of place. Looking through it, the eye immediately sees a meticulously designed Japanese style Zen garden in the courtyard behind the house. Farther in the distance, Horse Butte and Cline Butte are visible, reminding guests that in the mix of worldly design and a well curated home, they are in Central Oregon.
Across the glass bridge, the private bedroom wing offers a deeply restorative experience. This side of the house cantilevers out on a natural grade that gives a sense of elevation over town. “With an oversized bath and closet, the primary bedroom feels secure and creates a sense of tranquility,” Sunzeri shares.
All sides of the H from the kitchen and great room to the bedrooms and hallways offer pass through doors that open up to the back courtyard. This indoor/outdoor flow creates a delightful gathering destination beyond the walls of the home, a nod to Bend’s iconic outdoor lifestyle.
ALL SIDES OF THE H OFFER PASS THROUGH DOORS THAT OPEN UP TO THE BACK COURTYARD. THIS INDOOR/OUTDOOR FLOW CREATES A DELIGHTFUL GATHERING DESTINATION BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE HOME, A NOD TO BEND’S ICONIC OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE.
“ WE’RE SO FOCUSED ON WHAT CHEMICALS ARE IN OUR COOKWARE OR THE PL ASTICS WE’RE INGESTING BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOME ENVIRONMENT? ”
– Kenneth Sunzeri, Deschutes Custom Homes
WELLNESS AT HOME
Beyond the attractive architecture and craftsmanship of the home, a wellness room constructed of a natural cedar sauna, ice bath, and a trifecta of Peloton tread/cycle/rowing machines round out the home gym. A builtin smoothie and coffee bar creates the atmosphere of a private health club. Sunzeri notes this area can be converted into an ADU, although the current plan is so lovely that one hopes the owner will continue to use it for selfcare.
Elsewhere, wellness is incorporated behind the scenes (and walls) to create the healthiest structure that building technology allows. “We’re so focused on what chemicals are in our cookware or the plastics we’re ingesting, but what about the home environment?” asks Sunzeri.
While sustainability has become a buzzword in building, Deschutes looks at building total wellness. “What kind of air are you getting in your HVAC? Are there chemicals from the finish on your wood flooring that are transferring to your body when you’re walking barefoot through your house?” The company selects materials and finishes based on their overall health impacts, opting for low VOC sealants and finishes instead of oil based urethane ones.
In the walls, Deschutes uses spray foam insulation and eco friendly bats that don’t introduce fiberglass into the air. From In the walls, Deschutes uses spray foam insulation and eco friendly bats that don’t introduce fiberglass into the air. From HEPA filters that create hospital grade air and efficient, low carbon footprint, high function utility and plumbing connections, every inch of the home is designed to enhance its owners’ health. “Healthy living in this comprehensive way is the way of the future,” Sunzeri says. This enlightened approach will position Deschutes to be one of the preeminent luxury builders in Bend.
“I don’t want to build a white house with white cabinets and agreeable gray on the walls,” Sunzeri says. “I have a soul and deep down I have to build in a way that I feel good about.” The result is an organic, high performance home with a unique aesthetic that is not seen in the Magnolia catalog.
“ WHETHER EXISTING OR MIGRATING HERE, EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE FOR THE QUALIT Y OF LIFE AND PACE THEY WANT AND IT LENDS ITSELF TO A DIFFERENT, MORE COOPERATIVE PROCESS AND TEAMWORK THAT I DEEPLY APPRECIATE.”
– Kenneth Sunzeri, Deschutes Custom Homes
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VA LUE OF A WELL-BUILT HOME
“It’s a home for a cool family,” Sunzeri says. Envisioning an upscale cocktail night with dirty martinis in vintage 1920s pink glassware, this house embodies tasteful living. It encourages its occupants to playfully engage with their potential. Within its beautiful walls, an intentionally curated space sets the tone for living well.
Expanding the idea beyond putting on a more formal outfit for a cocktail party, the effect of choosing to live in a home designed and built to embody one’s highest potential is similarly delightful. Above the functional ease of the architecture, a Deschutes custom home invites its occupants to curate the life they seek in Central Oregon.
Outdoor adventure is synonymous with living in Central Oregon. A lot of people figured that out in 2020 and uprooted from major West Coast cities for the potential of a healthier lifestyle in Bend. Sunzeri was one of those people, moving his family from the Bay Area to Bend in pursuit of a more organic life. With approximately 15 years of experience building in California, he has spent the past five years cultivating a five acre farm with livestock and exposing his daughters to a different pace of life that lends itself to a deeper connection to the place.
Many of Deschutes’ clients are excited by the new architecture trends they see in Bend. “They may have spent time here sparingly, but they’ve realized they want a different life,” Sunzeri acknowledges. “Whether existing or migrating here, everyone is on the same page for the quality of life and pace they want and it lends itself to a different, more cooperative process and teamwork that I deeply appreciate,” he says.
With projects in Awbrey Butte, Saddleback, and two in Tumalo, Deschutes has spent the past five years building unique luxury homes in Bend. Their team of inhouse project managers oversees the construction logistics, and they partner with several preferred architects, including Chris Kummerer, founder of CKA Architects, and Geoff April, founder of Reverie Architects. On the design side, Deschutes partners with Julanda Shannon Design, Alexa Scholz of Match Design, and Sarah Vanstelten of Spruce & Taylor.
“I SUBSCRIBE TO ICHI- GO ICHI-E, THE JAPANESE PRINCIPLE THAT THERE’S ART IN EVERY EXPERIENCE. IN THE TEMPORALITY OF LIFE YOU HAVE TO GRASP THOSE FLEETING MOMENTS. I TRY TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THROUGH MY BUILDINGS THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BECOME AWARE OF THOSE SPECIAL TIMES AND PERHAPS MAKE THEM L AST A LITTLE LONGER.”
– Kenneth Sunzeri, Deschutes Custom Homes
The firm painstakingly works on one or two houses each year, focusing on craftsmanship and making exceptional homes that offer clients access to the best that Bend has to offer. In keeping with that philosophy, the Westgate house is the expression of Sunzeri’s ideals. It offers a family seeking a deeper connection to their experiences the potential to enjoy a richer, organic journey of life.
“I subscribe to ichi-go ichi-e, the Japanese principle that there’s art in every experience. In the temporality of life you have to grasp those fleeting moments,” Sunzeri says. “I try to create an environment through my buildings that allows people to become aware of those special times and perhaps make them last a little longer.” True to that sentiment, Deschutes Custom Homes offers clients the opportunity to build their once in a lifetime homes and savor the fullest experience of life in Bend.
whj COVER FEATURE
