May 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 37
Tips to upgrade your Sunriver home
The moment you unlock the
door after time away, you notice
everything. The cabinet hinge
that needs tightening. The faucet that’s seen better days. The
deck chairs that didn’t survive
another winter. You make a
mental note and let it go.
Until checkout reviews start
mentioning the same things
your guests noticed first.
Owning a Sunriver property
means living a dual role as a
part landlord and a part guest
in your own home. The right
upgrades serve both. They
photograph well for your listing
and make your time there more
enjoyable. And you don’t have
to tackle everything at once.
Start with the punch list
Some of the most meaningful
upgrades are the ones hiding
on that mental checklist including the sticky sliding door,
the flickering light fixture or
the bathroom exhaust fan that
rattles all night.
“Most of this work isn’t complicated, it just gets put off.
When it’s all taken care of at
once, it’s a noticeable difference
the moment you return for a
visit or your guests arrive, and
you can just enjoy being there,”
Neil Kelly General Manager
Selah Ewert said.
Neil Kelly’s handyman ser-
vices in Bend are built for exactly this kind of work. A skilled
craftsman can tackle a backlog
in a day or two including fresh
paint, updated hardware, small
repairs and new fixtures. It’s the
kind of work that doesn’t make
a magazine spread but makes
an immediate difference when
you or your next guests walk in.
And once the small things are
handled, the bigger possibilities
become easier to see.
Kitchen checklist
Sunriver visitors come to slow
down. They want to linger over
breakfast or to cook together
after a day on the river. The
kitchen is where that happens,
and it shows its age faster than
anywhere else in the house.
The most impactful updates
improve durability and day-today use.These can include new
countertops in quartz, granite,
or butcher block; soft-close
cabinet hardware (guests mention it in reviews – and you'll
appreciate it every morning);
durable LVP flooring that’s
easier to clean and harder to
damage; and updated fixtures
that refresh the space without
changing the layout.
“You want materials that can
handle real life, guests, turnover,
cleaning, and still look good
over time. When you pair that
with more timeless selections,
the space holds up better and
continues to feel good to be in,”
Selah said.
If the kitchen needs more
than a refresh, Neil Kelly’s
design/build team can help
you determine what makes
sense for both the property
and the investment.
Update the bathroom
After a day on the trails or
the river, the bathroom is where
the day ends. It should earn
that role.
Bathrooms respond well to
targeted upgrades without a full
renovation. A rainfall showerhead is a small investment with
an outsized impact. Swapping
builder-grade vanity lighting
for something warmer changes
the mood entirely. A new vanity
solves the storage challenges.
And when a deeper update is
needed, thoughtful design can
make the space feel more like a
boutique retreat than a dated
cabin while still holding up
through seasons of use.
Comfort from a distance
Between visits, your property
is enduring Sunriver’s wide temperature swings throughout the
year. A smart thermostat is one
of the best investments a remote
owner can make. Guests can
Working with a professional is recommended for home projects.
manage their own comfort, and to linger, and good lighting
you can adjust settings remotely makes the evenings worth staywhen the house sits empty, ing up for.
adding up to savings over time.
Contact us
Outdoor living space
Whether you're ready to
The trails, the river, the address one nagging item or
pine-filtered light and the dark starting to imagine a larger renskies are what make Sunriver a ovation, Neil Kelly's Bend team
place people want to live and can help. As a local team backed
visit. A relaxing outdoor living by nearly 80 years of experispace is where people want to ence helping Pacific Northwest
spend their time in the warmer homeowners improve homes
months.
they love, we know what holds
A deck refresh, better outdoor up through rental seasons and
lighting or a pergola for shade what keeps owners coming
can transform how the space back. Visit neilkelly.com/bend
is used. Comfortable, well-ap- or call 541-382-7580 for addipointed furniture invites people tional information.
Sunriver Art Fair is Aug. 7-9.
Robert (Bob) Sheane Hann 8.12.1943 - 2.19.2026
Bob was born in Redlands, California, the oldest son of four children born to Ben and Eleanor Hann. Bob graduated
from Pacific High School in San Bernardino, CA. in 1961. He went on to attend the University of Southern California
on a N.R.O.T.C. scholarship. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in Chemistry. Bob served with distinction in the
U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1971. Having attended navy schools: US Nuclear Power School, Mare Island, CA., 6-65 to
11-65, US Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls, ID., 12-65 to 6-66, and Submarine School, New London,
CT., 6-66 to 12-66, he qualified for to the submarine service. Bob served on the USS Charr AGSS-328 followed by the
USS Benjamin Franklin SSBN-640 achieving the rank of lieutenant. While serving the US Navy, Bob was awarded the
Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. Upon leaving
the US Navy, Bob began a career that would span 38 years with Trane Pacific Service. Bob started as a sales
engineer and completed his tenure as the District Manager. He was married to Linda Bennington from 1971 to
1984. In 1987 Bob married Joan Dunn. Bob and Joan have two children: Michael (1988) and Claire (1991).
Bob was very active in his communities, church and professional organizations. Bob’s involvement in BSA began when he joined scouts in Boulder City, Nevada.
He transferred units when his family returned to California. He received his Eagle Scout award in 1959. His active participation in scouts resumed once his son,
Mike, joined Cub Scouts. That involvement spanned many years, in positions from den, troop, and district level in the Aloha, Crater Lake and Pacific Crest Councils.
He received many awards including but not limited to: Silver Beaver (Hawaii and Oregon), Order of the Arrow, Founders Award and Centurion Award. When Bob
retired, he became the unofficial photographer for Claire’s cross country team. This was a position he truly cherished. It was a perfect excuse to upgrade his
equipment. Church was an integral part of Bob’s life. He attended and served St. Clements in Honolulu and Trinity Episcopal Church in Bend, Oregon. He truly
believed in sharing of his time, talent and treasure. Citizen Patrol became part of his community once he moved to Sunriver, Oregon. He could be found on Friday
mornings on patrol with his partner, attending meetings or helping to write and re-write procedures. Bob was also active in professional organizations throughout
his career. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Plumbers-Fitters UA Local 675 in Honolulu were just
two. He served in various leadership roles. Bob demonstrated his skills in the projects he chose to undertake. He was quite the handy man. His projects included
digging out a basement in Honolulu, to sailing and refurbishing the boat (truth be told, he enjoyed working on the boat to sailing), to yard/gardening projects
and Pac 12 football. Bob was also our chief family historian and was deep into WWII history as his library will attest.
Bob is survived by his wife Joan, son Michael, daughter Claire, son-in-law Casey Cameron, sisters Pat Benke (Bruce) of Boulder City, NV. and Barbara Hann of
Bakersfield, CA., sister-in-law Tacy Hann of Sparks, NV. and many nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Eleanor Hann, brothers
Dave and Don.
Funeral Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 NW Wall Street in Bend, Oregon on Tuesday, July 28th, at 11:00am.
The family request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:
•
University of Washington Foundation, UW Medicine Advancement, Box 358045, Seattle, Washington, 98195-8045, Attention: Matthew Sobotta. (in the memo
section, please write IPF Research Fund).
•
Partners in Care Hospice House, 2611 Courtney Dr. Bend, OR. 97701
•
Sunriver Music Festival, 57100 Beaver Drive, Bldg. 13, Sunriver, OR. 97707
Arrangements handled by Autumn Funeral-Bend, www.autumnfunerals.com
MAY 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
Page 37