Bend Furniture & Design Home as Sanctuary

by SONDRA HOLTZMAN
A&E Editor

Northwest mod’ ern: Essentially clean lines with warm colors and earthy textures. Modern but warm.

Wisconsin’s loss is Bend’s gain. Veterans in the furniture business for the past 15 years, Heather and John Cashman brought their expertise to Central Oregon, opening Bend Furniture & Design in March. “We like to describe what we sell as Northwest modern,” says Heather. “It’s modern but also emanates warm textures and clean lines. We didn’t feel there was anything quite like this in Bend and wanted to do something different.”

At Bend Furniture & Design, you won’t find rolled arms or overstuffed frames. What you will discover is a stellar collection of furniture and accessories that fit easily into any home or office. “The other thing that is nice about this furniture is that while many people have large rooms with open spaces, other spaces are smaller, so it’s always possible to make any space look larger with this furniture,” says co-owner John Cashman. “While much of the furniture industry has moved its production to China, leaving consumers with fewer choices, we carry mostly North American made furniture from the United States and Canada. And we’re establishing relationships with smaller, more unique companies.”

Cashman points out an exquisite standing lamp with a red silk shade, all made by hand in Michigan. “The shades are silk and are produced individually,” he says. “If a customer wants the shade in a neutral tone, they’ll build one to match those specifics. This is not only one of our signature lamps, but doubles as a piece of art. The base is stainless steel and the shades are available in about 140 different fabrics.”

Heather Cashman describes their customer as a discerning buyer who wants something unique while of the highest quality. “We want to encourage our clientele to use their imagination and not be afraid to order custom,” she says. “People have choices. If someone sees something they like here in our showroom, they can buy it right off the floor. Because we work with North American suppliers, most of the time we can get anything built within six weeks. You’re not going to order an imported sofa from China and get it in six weeks and it can show up in pieces.”

The Cashmans are available for private consulting on anything that is required for a home or office space. They stress the importance of having a designer work on a project from start to finish, encompassing the flow, color and use of materials along with the scale of the furniture. “Aside from teaming up with other designers, we’re a resource center for those professionals as well,” says Heather Cashman. “We compliment what they do and we’re here to service them.” One has only to walk into the space to see what they mean – high ceilings and wide open spaces are the perfect backdrop to a spectacular inventory in a space that conveys a warm and friendly ambiance.

The Cashmans stress one of the most important things about their business is a thorough understanding of scale and proportion. “The space and furniture need to be in proportion and scale,” says John Cashman. “There’s something about a nice flow that makes a room work. It’s also about relationships. Our aim is to build vital connections with our customers and our community while offering an exceptional product.”

Information: 541/633-7250 and www.bendfurnitureanddesign.com