Rick Bernard of Bernard Custom Homes was a featured story in the 1996 Street of Dreams event magazine in an article by Marnie McPhee titled “Street Wise.”

The article interviewed Rick Bernard about his long-time involvement with the Portland Street of Dreams, including naming one of his collector’s cars after the event.

The license plat on his turquoise Corvette may say “DREMIN,” but Rick Bernard’s hardly an impractical guy.

Rather, the plate celebrates another career record for this Portland custom builder: participation in his 15th Street of Dreams. That’s more than any other builder.

Bernard believes in the Street of Dreams so much that he’s made it his primary marketing tool. “The Street lets customers touch the products and see what’s possible,” he says, “and their comments truly influence what I do.”

That approach yields the six to ten clients for whom he builds luxury homes each year. The owners of those homes join the extended family of Rick Bernard custom home owners.

…As he shows visitors around this year’s 5,000-square foot “Oregon Sunset” home, he savors their delight with the quality workmanship, wrap-around deck with the 180-degree view of the Tualatin Valley and Coast Range, desk-with-view in the lower level study and the stunning master retreat, with its warm-you-on-those-gray-days steam room. The look is contemporary but comfortable. Gracious but not stuff. Impressive but not overwhelming. It’s a home to come home to.

In the article, Jim Goodrich, executive vice president of the Home Builder’s Association of Metropolitan Portland, gave this testimonial.

“Rick is a class act, truly a professional builder…He’s also a mentor to many Street of Dreams builders. He knows where he’s going and is respected by the entire building community.”