Bear Creek, Transitional Custom Home in Cleves, Ohio

Nestled on 11 scenic acres backing up to a wooded landscape, Bear Creek is a beautifully crafted custom home by Wieland Builders, designed for a young and growing family. Blending timeless transitional architecture with modern elements, this 4,804 sq. ft. home offers four bedrooms, four full baths, and one half bath. Every space has been carefully curated to balance function, comfort, and understated elegance.

Two Story Custom Home Cleaves Stone Dark Green Siding Stone and Cedar Accents — Bear Creek front exterior has green Hardie board siding and a mix of stone and cedar accents.

Exterior: Rooted in Nature with Timeless Appeal

From the very beginning, the vision for Bear Creek was clear. When the architect introduced a green exterior palette, the homeowners immediately connected with it, and the result is both bold and timeless. The home’s exterior features Fox Hill Green siding, complemented by a thoughtful mix of Hardie Board, natural stone, and light cedar accents. The warmth of the cedar pairs beautifully with the rich green tones, creating a look that feels grounded in nature while still refined. Architectural details such as the canted three-car garage, a welcoming covered front porch, and a striking arched wood front door enhance the home’s presence. A charming arched mudroom door, often referred to as the “friends” entrance, is tucked between the front porch and garage, adding both character and everyday functionality.

Exterior Photos coming soon to website.

A Challenging Homesite with Incredible Potential

When the homeowners first came to Wieland Builders, they shared the story of discovering this unique piece of land. The property was a leftover parcel from the development of a neighboring community and came with several significant site challenges. Sewer main easements and a creek running along portions of the property created additional complexity, while the land itself was heavily overgrown with brush and covered with leftover spoils piled high from previous development work.

At first glance, it was difficult to fully visualize the potential of the property, including the elevation changes and how the home could best sit within the landscape. Together, the homeowners and Wieland Builders began laying out ideas for how the home could be positioned on the lot to maximize both function and views. Once the architect joined the process, the team collaborated further to refine the placement and overall vision for the site.

Because of the challenging elevations, the home was strategically designed into the hillside. This allowed portions of the foundation walls to remain above grade while utilizing the backside of the garage as a retaining wall solution. Careful planning and engineering were critical in making the site both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

As permitting began, another unexpected hurdle surfaced. Hamilton County required a land buffer around the perimeter of the property to be donated to the HOA of the existing neighborhood. Navigating this requirement demanded extensive engineering, coordination, time, and effort from the Wieland Builders team to successfully move the project forward.

Once construction began, the site work proved to be just as complex as anticipated. Significant grading operations were necessary, along with the installation of culverts, sewer manhole risers, and utility line extensions to service the property properly. Despite the obstacles, the result is a successful build that transformed a difficult homesite into a beautiful forever home for this family.

Kitchen: A Seamless Blend of Beauty and Function

The kitchen serves as the heart of the home, combining sophistication with everyday usability. A hidden pantry door blends seamlessly with the surrounding stained cabinetry, creating a clean and cohesive look. Inside the pantry, floating wood shelves provide a dedicated space for a coffee and baking station. The pantry also includes a built-in shelf for a KitchenAid mixer, allowing for easy access without sacrificing storage. Valor White Quartz countertops in a matte finish and a Urban Bronze stained island anchor the space, while under-cabinet lighting highlights the quartz slab backsplash. The adjacent dining area is finished with a statement chandelier, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for gathering.

Custom Kitchen With Stained Cabinetry, Quartz Countertops and Hidden Pantry — The kitchen at Bear Creek has stained cabinetry with an Urban Bronze stained island and hidden pantry.

Interior: Neutral, Simple, and Intentional

Inside, Bear Creek embraces a neutral and simplified design aesthetic, allowing textures, materials, and craftsmanship to take center stage. Engineered hardwood flooring runs throughout the home, creating continuity while offering durability for an active family lifestyle. The overall palette is calm and inviting, providing a perfect backdrop for both everyday living and special moments.

Mudroom & Laundry: Designed for Everyday Living

The mudroom and laundry area were designed with real life in mind. The mudroom provides a custom built-ins bench for daily use by the garage and friend’s door. The laundry space includes stained cabinetry and thoughtfully designed tiled areas for a dog bed and feeding station, making it as practical as it is beautiful. An exterior door with a doggy door offers easy access to the outdoors, and a conveniently located family powder room enhances the functionality of this hardworking space.

Wood Stained Cabinetry In Laundry with Pet Spaces — The laundry room was designed with family pets in mind with tile backsplash feeding and cage areas.

Great Room & Outdoor Living: Connected and Inviting

The great room flows effortlessly into both the kitchen and the outdoor living spaces, reinforcing the home’s open and connected design. Built-ins flank a stone linear fireplace, while floating wood shelves that match the kitchen island add warmth and visual interest. A vaulted ceiling elevates the space and continues out onto the covered porch, creating a seamless transition between indoors and out. The screened-in porch features its own stone wood burning fireplace and a cathedral ceiling with exposed beams, offering a comfortable space to enjoy the outdoors in every season. Just beyond, a custom grilling station provides an ideal setup for entertaining.

Great Room With Stone Fireplace and Access To Covered Screened-In Porch Built-ins — The outdoors are brought in and the indoors out between the great room and covered porch areas.

Staircase & Entry: A Statement of Light and Design

One of the home’s most striking features is the staircase, which serves as both a functional element and a design statement. The waterfall edge detail, combined with fully stained treads and risers, creates a cohesive and modern look. A large two-story window fills the area with natural light, enhancing the openness of the space. The entryway continues this sense of thoughtful design with its arched wood door and a nearby powder room accented by elegant wall sconces.

An arched entry door and two story window in the staircase fill the entry with natural light.

Primary Suite: A Private Retreat

The primary suite is designed to be a relaxing retreat. The bedroom ceiling features wainscoting, adding architectural interest and warmth. In the bathroom, an oversized zero entry shower includes a bench and niches for convenience. Large 24×48″ Alustra, Imperial Gold Matte tiles are used on the shower walls and bathroom floor providing less grout cleaning. A window was placed between the dual vanities brings in natural light and is framed by wall sconces. The suite also includes a spacious custom California Closet system and a private water closet with a Toto toilet, providing both luxury and privacy.

Dark Wood Stain Custom Walk-in California Closet with window with black trim — There is a spacious his and her custom California Closet system in the primary suite at Bear Creek.

Second Floor: Personalized Spaces for Family Living

Upstairs, the home continues to reflect the needs and personality of the family. A loft overlooks the great room, creating a connected and open feel between levels. Each of the three bedrooms includes custom closets, while two of the bedrooms are designed for the family’s daughters feature wainscoting accent walls and personalized touches in their favorite colors of pink and purple. The shared hall bathroom incorporates playful design elements, including hexagon floor tile with subtle pops of color and a colorful accent tile band within the shower. The third bedroom serves as a flexible space for guests and a home office, with a full bathroom and a discreet access to the home’s mechanical system in a closet.

Second Floor Balcony Loft Overlooking Great Room — A second floor loft overlooks the great room and covered porch.

Lower Level: Versatile and Creative Living

The lower level expands the home’s versatility and provides space for both relaxation and creativity. A great room with a wainscoted TV feature wall offers an additional gathering area. This space has a walk-out to the outdoor covered patio area. A dedicated office also serves as a music room for the homeowner, complete with a built-in desk and acoustical panels to manage sound. This space is color drenched in SW Dried Thyme, creating a bold and inspiring environment. An exercise room with cushioned flooring and built-in shelving supports an active lifestyle, while a full bathroom with a shower adds convenience.

Lower Level Office With Acoustical Wood Panels and Butcher Block Built-in Desk — The lower level office and music room has a custom built-in desk and acoustic panels.

A Home Designed for Real Life

Every detail of Bear Creek reflects intentional design and a deep understanding of how this family lives day to day. From the natural materials and calming color palette to the thoughtfully designed spaces for pets, hobbies, and entertaining, this home is a true reflection of its homeowners. Bear Creek is more than just a house. It is a place where thoughtful design meets real life, set against the peaceful backdrop of nature in Cleves, Ohio.

See more photos, floor plans and Matterport of this home here.

At Wieland Builders, that’s what custom is all about: designing a home around your life, your land, and your story.

If you’re ready to bring your own vision to life, we’d love to help you build it.

Wieland Builders Can Bring Your Custom Home Dreams to Life

As you embark on the journey of building your dream home, remember that at Wieland Builders, we’re more than just builders – we’re partners dedicated to bringing your vision to life. With over 65 years of family tradition, values guiding us and a meticulous process for every step of your home-building journey we take together.

From the initial consultation where we dive deep into understanding your vision to the careful planning and execution led by our experienced builders Jeff and Mike, we’re committed to excellence every step of the way. Our transparent and collaborative approach means you’re involved and informed at every stage of the process, ensuring that the end result is nothing short of extraordinary.

Whether you’re ready to break ground or simply exploring your options, let us be your trusted guides in crafting the home of your dreams. Reach out to us today at (513) 801-0860, and let’s start building something extraordinary together.

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