Late May Update!

Aw yeah, our metal roof is in!

One of our outdoor living spaces.

Beautiful stone exterior adds a natural organic feel to the home.

Get that roof in boys!!

This home is on it's way to becoming Earth Advantage Platinum.

House #3, remember everyone!

When those trees grow out one day, it will be a great sight!

Mid-April Development Photos

 

Troy Fowler: Designing "The Oregon Dream"

By PHIL FAVORITE

The designer of "The Oregon Dream" House #3 brings a Northwest pedigree and contemporary style to this year's NW Natural Street of Dreams.

Troy Fowler, president of Skyline Homes & Design, is Oregon born and raised and likes to put a Northwest flair on the homes he designs. That's why he's the perfect choice as designer of Stone Bridge Homes NW's entry for this year's Street of Dreams.

www.skylineplans.com

Sitting in his office space in Southeast Portland, it's easy to get a feel for what Fowler likes to design. A large stone fireplace and an open steel staircase dominate the main floor of the office, which is walled by windows that bring the heavily treed exterior landscapes into view. The space has the feel of a modern cottage in the woods.

"Our specialty is a Northwest contemporary style," Fowler said. "We use a lot of glass, lots of stone and lots of natural elements. Stone, steel, water."

It's a formula that's worked for Fowler in the past at Street of Dreams. He entered the 2007 Street of Dreams show — remembered for it's massive view homes built on five-acre lots off Redland Road near Oregon City — and turned heads with his stunning contemporary design.

"In 2007, we did one in that style and it turned out really well," Fowler said. "It was a really contemporary house and we ended up winning for Best Architecture and Best of Show."

This year's Street of Dreams — to be held July 28 through Aug. 26 at The Vineyard in West Linn — offers Fowler an opportunity to show what he can design for a smaller footprint.

Adjacent greenspace.

The lot for "The Oregon Dream" House #3 —adjacent to a greenspace allows Fowler to show his talent for connecting a home and its residents to their natural surroundings.


A highlight of the design is a covered outdoor living room with a nearby fire pit that is an extension of a glass-walled family room.

"One of the reasons we picked the lot we did is because it has some outdoor space," said Kelly Ritz, president of Stone Bridge Homes NW. "There has been a big movement toward that extended living space. It effectively expanded the livable square footage of the house."

Green highlight indicates outdoor living space. Click to enlarge.

"It's a nice option not to be staring at another house, to have that view looking out," Fowler said. "It kind of opens up the home more so we can use a lot of glass on the side and the back to make it kind of panoramic."

Fowler describes the exterior look of the two-story house as "Prairie style with contemporary edges."

"It's not really trendy," he said.  "It seems everybody's still leaning toward the Old World, French country design. We're doing some funkier stuff."

Rendering of "The Oregon Dream House."

"It's definitely not the same old, same old," Ritz said. "Troy's pretty laid back and very accessible as a designer. His designs aren't overly fussy. I really respect the stuff he does."

More Development Photos of "The Oregon Dream" House #3

2012 Street of Dreams | “The Oregon Dream” House Built by Stone Bridge

Stone Bridge Homes NW entry at 2012 NW Natural Street of Dreams will reflect a keen understanding of its customers

By PHIL FAVORITE

What does the Oregon Dream look like?

The folks at Stone Bridge Homes NW have wrestled with that question for years, continually refining and evolving the homes they build to best reflect the values of their customers.

"The thing about Oregonians is we're not showy people," said Kelly Ritz, president of Stone Bridge Homes NW. "We're sensible, thoughtful, pragmatic."

Now the builders at Stone Bridge Homes NW are ready to display their best ideas on a grand scale when they make their first foray into the Portland area's top luxury home show, the 2012 NW Natural Street of Dreams.

The show — to be held July 28 through Aug. 26 at The Vineyard in West Linn — will feature seven new luxury homes designed and built to show the latest innovations and best ideas in homebuilding.

Stone Bridge Homes NW's entry, dubbed "The Oregon Dream," also identified as House #3 in the show will be light and livable, Ritz said. It will feature high ceilings, large windows and outdoor living spaces designed to connect residents with the home's natural surroundings.

"We have teamed up with Troy Fowler and Skyline Homes on a design I would call Northwest Contemporary," Ritz said. "We wanted to start fresh — clean lines, more open spaces and more light."

The exterior of the home will feature a mix of stone elements with cedar siding that will be stained instead of painted for a natural look. Stone, wood and tile on the interior will add to the organic feel of the home.

Ritz describes the look as a "less complicated architecture. But it's not going to be sterile. It will have a warm, light, livable feel," she said.

Being a showcase for the type of high quality construction Stone Bridge Homes NW is well known for, “The Oregon Dream” also will show off the builder's dedication to energy efficiency and customizability.

Every home by Stone Bridge Homes NW is built to Earth Advantage standards, a certification given to less than 20 percent of the new homes built in Oregon.

The company's new homes are also semi-customizable. Stone Bridge Homes NW works with buyers to make sure their new home fits their lifestyle needs as best as possible.

Ritz said her team's ability to listen to what its customers want helped keep Stone Bridge Homes NW buzzing during recently tough economic times.

"You can't do the same old same old," she said. "You have to evolve."

This year's NW Natural Street of Dreams presents an opportunity for Stone Bridge Homes NW to let show goers see just how far the company has come since its founding in 2006.

"The Street of Dreams is more than just seven homes for seven people to buy," Ritz said. "It's a place to get building ideas, a place to get energy-efficiency ideas, a place to get decorating ideas.

"We want them to know about “The Oregon Dream” House #3 and get them thinking about Stone Bridge Homes, our neighborhoods and the quality of the houses we build."

The Beginning of the Dream...

Here she is! Not much of a looker right now but rest assured this will be a beautiful home! Stay tuned and follow up via e-mail or RSS to the right!