By Hanna Heiss
Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, Thomas James Homes is a single-lot homebuilder that has divisions in Southern and Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Colorado and Arizona. Founded in 2006 and led by Chief Executive Officer James Mead, the homebuilder produces more than 500 homes annually, building design-driven builds in major metro areas where new construction is rare and in demand.
Thomas James Homes’ process is customer-centric, offering new home solutions including options to build a new home on an existing homesite, customize a pre-construction home or buy a built home fully customized by their in-house design team.
“At Thomas James Homes, we do more than build homes. We give homebuyers access to lifestyles as vibrant and varied as the communities in which we build. Our homes are really the entry point to the lives our clients want to live,” said Mead.
One of Thomas James Homes’ endeavors was 79th Avenue, a new construction home located in the Seattle suburb of Medina, Washington. In addition to Thomas James Homes, the design/build team is comprised of architect McCullough Architects, structural engineer Mulhern & Kulp Structural Engineering, Inc. and landscape designer Cramer Design Consultants. Permits to build the residence were obtained in May 2021, with construction completed in October 2022. The home was sold in November 2022.
Built with the Medina buyer in mind, the home caters to the area’s demographics. The City of Medina is known for its affluent residents, many of which are technology executives, and quiet atmosphere, which created the basis for the design process. Medina is nestled on the shores of Lake Washington, directly across from the heart of Seattle. In its proximity to the urban energy of Seattle and the City of Bellevue, Medina has become a magnet for affluent professionals and retirees. Residents of the area come seeking a balance between quietude and urban access.
79th Avenue was built on a 10,755-square-foot lot and was inspired by its geographical location. Washington is home to an abundance of trees and wildlife and the residence embraces these natural elements, as the team incorporated wood features and cool tones. Through textures, tile, wood and wall treatment, Seattle characteristics were brought into the interior spaces of the home. The architectural style is clean, modern and minimalist, offering luxurious living spaces.
This two-story home’s layout is expansive, boasting four bedrooms all equipped with ensuite bathrooms, an additional powder room, an office, a recreation room with a wet bar, gym with a sauna and bathroom, wine storage and a mud room. This multilevel living also allows for private workspaces, a coveted homebuyer trend that is only to grow.
The chef’s kitchen flows into the dining area, leading with the kitchen island, with a seamless transition to the covered deck allowing for effortless entertaining. Along with the flow, the kitchen also features an extra-large eat-in island, dedicated informal dining space and abundant counter space for easy meal preparation.
The team also emphasized luxurious outdoor living. The home is equipped with a variety of integrated indoor/outdoor spaces to enjoy the surrounding nature.
The home’s open floorplan is accentuated by generous floor-to-ceiling stackable windows and interior metal glass doors, enviable designer finishes and more. The home also features a daylight basement and a two-car garage with an oversized storage/gear room.
As with any project, challenges do come. Washington, known for its gloom, was experiencing plenty of rain, causing weather delays. The team also experienced materials delays, with an emphasis on the appliances.
These small setbacks didn’t prevent the team from earning a top industry honor. 79th Avenue took home a Silver Award in the category of Best Single-Family Detached Model Homes over 4,000 square feet at the 2023 National Association of Home Builders’ The Nationals awards competition.
Just this past September, Thomas James Homes announced that the company is building eight new luxury homes in Washington. This small collection of homes, known as Grace, is located in a private cul-de-sac that is within walking distance of Downtown Bellevue, giving residents a suburban feel in a desired urban location. Scheduled to be completed in late 2024, the homes are up to 6,500 square feet with prices starting at $4.8 million.
Madison by Thomas James Homes is another boutique collection of new single-family homes but in uptown Phoenix. This enclave was recently announced in November 2023 with a completion date slated for December 2023 at the time of print.
“This boutique collection is a testament to the TJH approach, providing design-driven homes with the buyer’s lifestyle in mind. We are thrilled to bring these homes to market, offering the chance to own a private and luxurious single-family home within a desirable location,” said Thomas James Homes Arizona Division Sales Manager Lindsey Jordan.
Hanna Heiss is the senior editor for Builder and Developer magazine. She may be reached at hanna@builder.media.
