JAMES THOMAS - Key Persons
"I love that our clients are getting braver and choosing to be bold with color."
"As interior designers, we have the ability to make our clients fall more in love with their home each step of the way!"
Ellyn's favorite aspect of working in design is to be part of the life-changing transformation that clients experience from the start to the completion of a project.
Ellyn graduated from Miami University in 2021 with a B.F.A in Interior Design. She grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and always loved the architecture that filled the city. Ellyn knew she wanted to go into design ever since taking interior design and architecture classes in high school. Her favorite aspect of working in design is to be part of the life-changing transformation that clients experience from the start to the completion of a project.
In her free time Ellyn likes to spend time with her friends and family. She loves to travel, visiting her family all over the country and world! A favorite spot is northern California where she and her family love to hike and paddleboard.
"I love a mid-century modern aesthetic. I like clean, minimal, neat, and organized."
"Interior design is personal. The best work is inspired by the authentic, intuitive relationships that we share with our clients."
Emily has flourished at James Thomas for over a decade. "I lean towards classic and traditional design and enjoy mixing textures while layering high and low influences. It's the accessories in a room that tell the story and make it personal. The true art is in the details, those small touches that take a room and make it undeniably yours."
Having flourished at James Thomas for over a decade, Emily's star shines bright within the organization. "Long before I worked here, I loved the unique approach to interior design that James and Tom share. My own sensibilities are similar…I lean towards classic and traditional design and enjoy mixing textures while layering high and low influences. That said, it's the accessories in a room that tell the story and make it personal. The true art is in the details, those small touches that take a room and make it undeniably yours."
Emily has a soft spot for renovation projects. "Site visits are my favorite. Seeing a room transform piece by piece is so gratifying." When she is not sharing her vision for beautiful living with her clients, Emily is making a lovely life of her own in Hinsdale, IL with her husband and three young children.
"I like giving our clients exactly what they want, perhaps in a way that they may not have expected."
"I love that our clients are getting braver and choosing to be bold with color."
Jim has been a key member of the James Thomas team since his arrival in 2013. His energy and enthusiasm for culture, design, and the arts are apparent to everyone he meets. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When he isn't traveling, he is gardening, cooking, collecting antique copper cookware and tending to his partner and their two Border Terriers.
"I like giving our clients exactly what they want, perhaps in a way that they may not have expected."
"Your home is where you remember who you are after a long day of sharing yourself with the world. It's where your story is told."
This worldly point of view started with the pink and green polka-dot bedroom of Sarah's girlhood, and has culminated today in her design work. "I want to really know my clients; to get into their heads and innately understand their lives. I want to get to that ‘how did you know!?' moment. The design stories I tell are very personal.
This worldly point of view started with the pink and green polka-dot bedroom of Sarah's girlhood, and has culminated today in her design work. "I want to really know my clients; to get into their heads and innately understand their lives. I want to get to that ‘how did you know!?' moment. The design stories I tell are very personal."
Sarah spends her free time taking it all in - trying - and rating - the Ethiopian restaurants of the North Side, spending lazy days on the lakefront, and sampling the city's music scene at night.
"I love spaces that promote a balanced lifestyle. Light, open spaces make people happier."
Tyson graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2017 with a B.F.A, in Interior Architecture and his position at JamesThomas is his first since graduation. "I have always been interested in using interior design to affect health and joy. I believe that one's surroundings have everything to do with how they see the world."
Tyson graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2017 with a B.F.A, in Interior Architecture and his position at JamesThomas is his first since graduation. "I have always been interested in using interior design to affect health and joy. I believe that one's surroundings have everything to do with how they see the world." If that's true, then the JT offices are the perfect place for Tyson. "The warm vibes here are inspiring. The designers here approach their work with an open heart."
Above all else, Tyson hopes that his dedication to his clients shines through. "I have a point of view design-wise, sure, but what's paramount to me is that our clients are getting the creative work that will enhance their every day lives. That's why I am here."
Job Titles:
- Director of Interior Architecture
"Interior design is personal. The best work is inspired by the authentic, intuitive relationships that we share with our clients."
Emily has flourished at James Thomas for over a decade. "I lean towards classic and traditional design and enjoy mixing textures while layering high and low influences. It's the accessories in a room that tell the story and make it personal. The true art is in the details, those small touches that take a room and make it undeniably yours."
Having flourished at James Thomas for over a decade, Emily's star shines bright within the organization. "Long before I worked here, I loved the unique approach to interior design that James and Tom share. My own sensibilities are similar…I lean towards classic and traditional design and enjoy mixing textures while layering high and low influences. That said, it's the accessories in a room that tell the story and make it personal. The true art is in the details, those small touches that take a room and make it undeniably yours."
Emily has a soft spot for renovation projects. "Site visits are my favorite. Seeing a room transform piece by piece is so gratifying." When she is not sharing her vision for beautiful living with her clients, Emily is making a lovely life of her own in Hinsdale, IL with her husband and three young children.
"I love spaces that promote a balanced lifestyle. Light, open spaces make people happier."
Tyson graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2017 with a B.F.A, in Interior Architecture and his position at JamesThomas is his first since graduation. "I have always been interested in using interior design to affect health and joy. I believe that one's surroundings have everything to do with how they see the world."
Tyson graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2017 with a B.F.A, in Interior Architecture and his position at JamesThomas is his first since graduation. "I have always been interested in using interior design to affect health and joy. I believe that one's surroundings have everything to do with how they see the world." If that's true, then the JT offices are the perfect place for Tyson. "The warm vibes here are inspiring. The designers here approach their work with an open heart."
Above all else, Tyson hopes that his dedication to his clients shines through. "I have a point of view design-wise, sure, but what's paramount to me is that our clients are getting the creative work that will enhance their every day lives. That's why I am here."
"As a young child I loved exploring old homes. I knew early on that interior design was my passion."
Maria has always loved historic homes, especially those found in Detroit's Indian Village neighborhood. She loves digging into AutoCAD drawings, developing space plans, and creating architectural details.
A Detroit, Michigan native, Maria has always loved historic homes, especially those found in Detroit's Indian Village neighborhood. It was the exposure and interest in those homes that led her to explore a career in interior design. With a degree from Michigan State University (go Spartans!), Maria has over 12 years of experience working in high end residential design. Her experience in kitchen and bath design allowed her to hone her technical skills. Maria loves digging into AutoCAD drawings, developing space plans, and creating architectural details.
Outside of the office, Maria spends her time fixing up her new home, gardening and spending the weekends going on outdoor adventures with her husband, Matt, and rescue pup, Montee.
"As interior designers, we have the ability to make our clients fall more in love with their home each step of the way!"
Ellyn's favorite aspect of working in design is to be part of the life-changing transformation that clients experience from the start to the completion of a project.
Ellyn graduated from Miami University in 2021 with a B.F.A in Interior Design. She grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and always loved the architecture that filled the city. Ellyn knew she wanted to go into design ever since taking interior design and architecture classes in high school. Her favorite aspect of working in design is to be part of the life-changing transformation that clients experience from the start to the completion of a project.
In her free time Ellyn likes to spend time with her friends and family. She loves to travel, visiting her family all over the country and world! A favorite spot is northern California where she and her family love to hike and paddleboard.
"The spaces that we live and breathe in make all the difference in how we communicate with one another. A well-designed space makes living easy."
Caroline grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and returned to the city after graduating from Miami University with a degree in Interior Design in 2020. Her passion for interior design started while she was in high school, when her family hired a designer to assist them with designing their newly built home. "I was enthralled by the process and mesmerized by the countless options of furniture, fabrics, and lighting. It was so exciting to see my home come to life."
Caroline grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and returned to the city after graduating from Miami University with a degree in Interior Design in 2020. Her passion for interior design started while she was in high school, when her family hired a designer to assist them with designing their newly built home. "I was enthralled by the process and mesmerized by the countless options of furniture, fabrics, and lighting. It was so exciting to see my home come to life."
When Caroline isn't in the studio, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She appreciates trying new restaurants around the city, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and gardening in the summer.
"The spaces that we live and breathe in make all the difference in how we communicate with one another. A well-designed space makes living easy."
Caroline grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and returned to the city after graduating from Miami University with a degree in Interior Design in 2020. Her passion for interior design started while she was in high school, when her family hired a designer to assist them with designing their newly built home. "I was enthralled by the process and mesmerized by the countless options of furniture, fabrics, and lighting. It was so exciting to see my home come to life."
Caroline grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and returned to the city after graduating from Miami University with a degree in Interior Design in 2020. Her passion for interior design started while she was in high school, when her family hired a designer to assist them with designing their newly built home. "I was enthralled by the process and mesmerized by the countless options of furniture, fabrics, and lighting. It was so exciting to see my home come to life."
When Caroline isn't in the studio, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She appreciates trying new restaurants around the city, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and gardening in the summer.
"Your home is where you remember who you are after a long day of sharing yourself with the world. It's where your story is told."
This worldly point of view started with the pink and green polka-dot bedroom of Sarah's girlhood, and has culminated today in her design work. "I want to really know my clients; to get into their heads and innately understand their lives. I want to get to that ‘how did you know!?' moment. The design stories I tell are very personal.
This worldly point of view started with the pink and green polka-dot bedroom of Sarah's girlhood, and has culminated today in her design work. "I want to really know my clients; to get into their heads and innately understand their lives. I want to get to that ‘how did you know!?' moment. The design stories I tell are very personal."
Sarah spends her free time taking it all in - trying - and rating - the Ethiopian restaurants of the North Side, spending lazy days on the lakefront, and sampling the city's music scene at night.