The main goal of this house was to make “magic” on a limited budget knowing that it wasn’t the client’s main house, so we held back on going too custom, but did add little details here and there that we thought would give it that personal touch. 

One Bay Area family started regularly traveling to Bend, Oregon when their children were young. Year after year, it was their place to escape and have grand adventures, soon realizing it was a place they’d want to eventually live part time. They purchased an expansive property with plans to create a “private vacation compound” they could share with friends and extended family. But, due to a lengthy planning and design process, they opted to first build a smaller guest house, allowing them to utilize the process sooner. They called on Julie Hawkins of Hawkins Interiors for the job, who got to work creating “magic” on a limited budget. Nothing too custom, but plenty of charming details here and there to bring in a personal touch. Julie tells us more. 

We’d love to know more about this cottage! How did the landscape and long term plans influence the design?
This home is located in the outskirts of Bend Oregon, in a rural area consisting mainly of pastures & family farms. The rural landscape definitely influenced the architecture, but the homeowners tended toward a modern & clean aesthetic in terms of the architectural details & furnishings. The home itself is situated to capitalize on the amazing views of the surrounding volcanic mountain ranges. So, for the interiors, we used that as inspiration & mixed a Pacific Northwest “hip” style with a more modern farmhouse feel.

This building nicknamed “The Orchard House” is where the family can live and gather while the main house and other buildings are under construction. The finished plan for the “compound” will consist of a Main House, which will be where the owners reside when on the property. A Recreation Barn, which will be a family gathering area which can be utilized to host larger dinner’s & gatherings, as well as a central place for guests to hang-out, play games, watch movies, etc. There will also be outdoor recreation such a swimming pool, sports courts, upper and lower ponds connected by a stream, hiking trails, and orchard, and a working hayfield.

When designing a cottage that is a part of a larger compound / community, what considerations do you take into account? Did you want the space to blend in, or be a unique gem?
In this instance, the owners wanted it to blend in, since in their eyes this was just a means to utilize the space sooner, and since not as much time went into the architectural design for that reason – they wanted to keep it very simple and straightforward

How long did the cottage take, and what did the client say when they saw the finished space?
The whole process took 18 months from conception to installation. It had been a bumpy road with the majority of construction & of design taking place during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, so upon seeing the completed space – I think it was just a huge weight off of their shoulders. Having a home that was so complete and move-in ready for them really allowed them to rest knowing that they had a place to escape from the current realities.

Snag design details in the slideshow.