Written by: Noah Nelson
Total Home Solutions, a Bend-based contractor, was founded on the simple need for quality craftsmanship. When owner Ryan Freitas moved to Bend in 2012, the housing market was still recovering. He quickly noticed gaps in the local construction industry, particularly when it came to skilled contractors, and knew he had the skills and experience to step in and have an impact. In 2016, he founded Total Home Solutions with a commitment to high-quality workmanship, quickly finding a niche among high end residential renovations.
Craftsmanship & Thoughtful Design
“Bend was bouncing back in 2008, but it felt like all of the contractors were still gone,” he says. “I saw an opportunity to provide that quality craftsmanship and started with smaller kitchen and bath renovations.”
Ryan’s one-man operation has since grown into a team of skilled professionals specializing in complex remodels and custom work. Over the years, the business grew and expanded organically, mostly through person-to-person referrals.
“WORD OF MOUTH SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE HERE IN BEND. OUR ONE-MAN TEAM GREW AND ADDED MORE MEMBERS AS THE NEED AROSE. AS THE TEAM GREW, SO DID THE SERVICES WE COULD OFFER.”
“Word of mouth spreads like wildfire here in Bend,” Ryan says. “Our one-man team grew and added more members as the need arose. As the team grew, so did the services we could offer.”
Today, Total Home Solutions operates out of an 11,000-square-foot workshop that serves as the hub of their business, allowing them ample space to complete custom metal fabrication orders, sauna construction, and more. From here, Ryan and his team of professionals work on turning their clients’ renovation dreams into reality.
Total Home Solutions can transform any kitchen into a functional, modern space with thoughtful design that keeps real-life scenarios in mind. From daily meals to hosting parties and guests, any kitchen has the potential for well-executed design, beauty, and functionality.
When it comes to bathrooms, the team can turn almost any outdated space into something out of the owner’s dreams, such as a relaxing, spa-inspired retreat with sleek custom cabinetry and steel fabrication. From natural wood elements to dark industrial metal, Ryan says customers can trust his team to bring their ideas to life.
“BEND WAS BOUNCING BACK IN 2008, BUT IT FELT LIKE ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS WERE STILL GONE. I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THAT QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP AND STARTED WITH SMALLER KITCHEN AND BATH RENOVATIONS.”
Total Home Solutions also specializes in accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. With recent changes to Bend’s zoning laws to support Oregon’s statewide housing goals, Ryan says demand for ADUs has increased. His team offers their trademark functional design craftsmanship, increasing livability while guiding homeowners through local regulations.
Another defining service is the company’s metal fabrication. Ryan and his team can create elements that are both functional and artistic, often adding the finishing touch to a project.
In addition to construction and metal fabrication, Total Home Solutions is also a trusted source for high-end appliance installation. Their trained team understands that precision matters, especially when it comes to premium appliances. Many manufacturers require professional installation to maintain warranty coverage. Ryan says his team is trained to follow manufacturers’ guidelines, so his customers stay protected.
After years of completing quality renovations and prioritizing craftsmanship, Ryan and his wife, Melissa Rizzo-Freitas, expanded that philosophy with the creation of Ember Saunas. Offering handcrafted barrel saunas and cold plunge tubs, Ember Saunas adds a touch of luxury and relaxation, with some added health benefits. The saunas are made by hand in Bend, often in the Total Home Solutions workshop, but for tough-to-reach spots, the team offers on-site construction.
“TRUST IS EVERYTHING. FROM EARLY IN THE JOB WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS TRUSTING OUR CREW IN THEIR PERSONAL SPACE, TO BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT WITH EACH AND EVERY COST. OUR CUSTOMERS TRUST US TO BE PROFESSIONAL, POLITE, ON TIME, AND TO GET THINGS RIGHT. MORE THAN THAT, THEY TRUST US WITH THEIR HOMES AND TO BRING THEIR DREAMS TO LIFE.”
To Ryan, none of this would be possible without the trust he has built over the years in business and in each interaction with customers.
“Trust is everything,” he says. “From early in the job when the customer is trusting our crew in their personal space, to being fully transparent with each and every cost. Our customers trust us to be professional, polite, on time, and to get things right. More than that, they trust us with their homes and to bring their dreams to life.”
“I CAN’T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH. RYAN WAS WONDERFUL, THE PROJECT MANAGER WAS WONDERFUL, AND THE WORKERS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. I HAD EXTRA THINGS I WANTED TO ADD AT THE END AFTER I HAD SEEN THINGS FOR MYSELF, AND THEY WERE JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT.”
That trust and commitment shine brightly when speaking to many of Ryan’s customers, including Barbara Montgomery, who recently renovated her kitchen with Total Home Solutions.
“I can’t speak highly enough,” she says. “Ryan was wonderful, the project manager was wonderful, and the workers went above and beyond. I had extra things I wanted to add at the end after I had seen things for myself, and they were Johnny-on-the-spot.”
“One day I ask, and the next day, it’s done,” Barbara adds. “Their craftsmanship is outstanding, from the painting to the cabinetry and everything else. They are efficient, never missed a time, coming or going, and they end each day with a daily report with photos of everything going on. On a scale of one to five, I give them a ten.”
That trust is also reinforced by a strong commitment to the Bend community. While some may ponder the connection between Total Home Solutions’ logo—a snowboarder catching air on Mt. Bachelor—and their work, Ryan says it’s not just a homage to his local ski hill. He and his wife raised their family in Bend, and their child became a competitive snowboarder.
“THIS IS HOME TO US. WE’RE HERE TO BUILD, HERE TO LIVE, AND HERE TO HELP OUR CLIENTS AND NEIGHBORS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. THAT’S WHAT DRIVES EVERYTHING WE DO.”
For Ryan, that logo symbolizes home, family, and his commitment to the community.
“This is home to us,” Ryan says. “We’re here to build, here to live, and here to help our clients and neighbors achieve their dreams. That’s what drives everything we do.”
whj PROFILE
