By Jennifer Walton
Family’s Enduring Craft in Homebuilding from California to Oregon
Dave Hall’s story doesn’t begin in Bend, Oregon, but in the sun drenched landscapes of Southern California, where his grandfather, Forrest Holly, accomplished the impossible. An athlete in his 20s, Holly’s life took a dramatic turn when a head injury led to the gradual loss of his sight over the course of year. But blindness did not define him it ignited an unshakable determination.
A cattle farmer by trade, Holly was living with his father when a friend sought his help with a construction project. Despite skepticism, and with no blueprints to guide his eyes, Holly proved his talent early on by developing innovative ways to visualize spaces by relying on his heightened sense of touch and spatial awareness. His answer to constructing his first home was to make adobe bricks and build a hayshed on his property before setting a single beam in place. So determined was he to do what he set out to accomplish, that he enlisted a helper to build a scale model out of balsa wood that lived on his desk and allowed him to ‘walk’ through the house with his fingers assessing door swings, light switch placements, and the natural and structural flow.
Once the house was completed, Holly earned widespread recognition, and what began as an act of resilience soon became a thriving construction business. The rest, they say, is history, and one that ultimately led to a book and television movie.
What Love Sees. However, beyond his professional success, it was Holly’s unyielding confidence, relentless work ethic, and ability to overcome limitations that shaped his future. His legacy didn’t just inspire—it built a foundation for his grandson, Dave Hall, whose own approach to homebuilding carries the same spirit.
Now, Dave Hall carries that tradition forward through his firm, DH Builders in Bend, Oregon, specializing in custom homes and remodels with an added bonus of a shop headed by a master carpenter whose focus is crafting purpose built heirloom furniture. With over 60 years of combined experience, his small and dedicated team is known for their depth of detail, encyclopedic building knowledge, and commitment to excellence, believing that every home should be aesthetically stunning and enduring, and represent their vision statement of “quality, sustainability, and innovation.”
Hall’s own home reflects these values, and his passion for building is ingrained and largely influenced by his grandfather. Holly’s ability to construct homes without sight speaks to a unique spatial intelligence, what some might call a “previsualization skill.” This intuitive understanding of space runs in the family, shaping Hall’s approach to every project. It’s not just about building homes, it’s about crafting spaces that resonate with energy and intention.
Designed to complement his family’s lifestyle in Bend, his 2,700 square foot home balances sleek modernity with inviting warmth. The three bedroom, 2.5 bath residence unites functionality with refinement, featuring a spacious mudroom for outdoor gear and a detached shop that doubles as a home gym and spa like retreat. Every element is intentionally designed to feel open and connected to its natural surroundings, infused with warm woods and a biophilic design that maximizes light, airflow, and organic textures for a seamless indoor outdoor experience. Pale blue kitchen tiles reflect the sky, while forest green bathroom tiles echo the evergreens. Voluminous rooms mirror the outdoors, and picture windows frame layered views of the landscape from every space in the home.
Hall optimized solar principles with strategic window placement and overhangs to capture the winter sun’s warmth. As Hall states, “the house employs ancient technology so that on a 40 degree winter day, I can open the sliders and still feel comfortable.” And for Bend’s stunning winters and golden summers, designing a home that engages with the elements is a request that DH Builders welcomes and executes with pleasure.
When working with clients, DH Builders prioritizes understanding their vision and lifestyle. Through an indepth discovery process, the team gathers insight into client ‘must haves,’ guiding them through details such as carpentry, bathroom layouts, and cabinetry, among other essentials, while also emphasizing sustainable material selections and the importance of systems like heating. Many clients focus on finishes over systems, but DH Builders ensures that they consider both, balancing aesthetics with purpose and performance. Hall works closely with clients to shape a style that feels authentic to them, whether traditional, contemporary, modern, or a unique mix, while ensuring it fits well with a home’s siting and enhances its presence within the neighborhood.
“If you give a job a high-end, detailed eye with care and positivity from beginning to end, that job will resonate in a way others won’t.”
–Dave Hall, Founder, DH Builders
DH Builders’ expertise is also in their ability to merge old and new. An example is a recent Mill House restoration, where they retained the historical exterior while completely transforming the interior into a contemporary masterpiece. Their expertise in remodeling and restoration means that clients looking for a home in Bend don’t necessarily have to build custom from the ground up because DH Builders can transform an existing property into a dream home. The team is also skilled at refurbishing materials, finding sustainable solutions in an industry affected by rising material costs.
But their cornerstone is collaboration. Their partnerships with toptier vendors, master fabricators, and designers enable them to execute projects with precision and artistry. From intricate trim work to custom furniture and fullscale home remodels, the team embraces teamwork as a vital ingredient in their success. At the heart of it all, Hall states, is a simple philosophy: “If you give a job a highend, detailed eye with care and positivity from beginning to end, that job will resonate in a way others won’t.” It’s a belief his grandfather would surely applaud, one rooted in craftsmanship, communication, and an unwavering attention to detail.
Holly, who built his legacy without the luxury of sight but with an extraordinary sense of spatial awareness and memory, could not have known that decades later and nearly a thousand miles away, his grandson would carry that legacy forward. Yet, here it stands, built on the same principles of design and excellence. Some would call it skill. Others, vision. In truth, it’s both.
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