High-desert drama

When Mary Ellen and Wilf Pinfold built a home on a bluff 500 feet above the Deschutes River in Maupin, they wanted the views of the high desert landscape to determine the home’s design. “The house opens up to its surroundings,” says Mary Ellen. “After you come into the courtyard from the street, you move from a shady area to the house, which is oriented to a wide perspective on the landscape.”

The Pinfolds bought the lot in 2005 when they were visiting friends in the area. Mary Ellen, who was born in Texas, and Wilf, who was born in South Africa, wanted a home in a sunny, warm environment. “The climate change from the Coast to here is dramatic,” says Wilf. “Here, especially in winter, within two hours of Portland, we can get to the sun.” After buying the property, the Pinfolds waited a year before planning the home, a process that took two years. To design it, they hired Portland architects Garrett Martin of MASA and Dave Hurley of NorthWind Architects. 

Rob Miles, owner of the Imperial River Company in Maupin, Mary Ellen Pinfold and Early Ewing of NorthWind Architects spend a starry evening around the fire pit as the moon rises over the Deschutes River.	Wilf and Mary Ellen Pinfold. “Our time here usually involves a house project and entertaining friends,” says Mary Ellen. Photography by Susan Seubert