Today we’d like to introduce you to James Dolenc and Thomas Riker.
James is a Chicago native, raised on the North Shore and attended both Loyola Academy and Loyola University. He also has a BA in interior design from Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago. He has been in the design industry for over 20 years initially working in commercial interiors.
Tom grew up in Birmingham, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan. He completed a Masters degree in architecture at the University of Illinois, Chicago and worked in architecture for seven years before joining forces with James to create JamesThomas Interiors.
Responding to the growing requests for interior design assistance from friends and family, James and Tom launched their eponymous firm in 2003 and quickly became known for sophisticated, classic, and generously appointed homes that serve their owners with an easy elegance that is both beautiful and welcoming.
The ebb and the flow of their partnership serves clients with two unique points of view that work in harmony; James is the storyteller – overseeing technical design, the flow of the space, and ensuring that every detail add up to tell a cohesive story. Tom is the editor – specializing in design details and one-of-a-kind notes that turn a home into a personal statement.
While JamesThomas focuses on serving clients in Chicago and its elite North Shore, they have also worked on projects in Sun Valley, Idaho, Park City, Utah, Sonoma, California, The Turks and Caicos Islands, and New York City. Their work has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Luxe Magazine, Mountain Living, Decor and Midwest Living.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We have been incredibly fortunate to have had a successful journey over the course of our 15-year tenure. From originally working with just the two of us we are now a happy firm of 11. We’ve built our firm and brand slowly always focusing on superior customer service paired with a design acumen that centers around each client’s specific aesthetic. Working in many styles has allowed our firm to remain fresh and vibrant but initially posed a challenge for us to communicate our point of view. It took a bit of time for us to understand what unified all of these projects of varying styles: the homes we design exude a sense of effortless elegance. We want our interiors to be the backdrop for our client’s life story – they should be uniquely authentic. Our style recommendations will always echo the needs and wants of our clients, but there are consistent tones of
affection, joy, and hospitality in our portfolio.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck? Or hard work and dedication? We were honored to be featured very early in our career in Chicago Tribune Magazine – this set the groundwork for more projects and recognition. We’re about building relationships. We pride ourselves on great customer service and creating an atmosphere where clients and coworkers are valued and cherished. Perhaps true luck was us meeting each other 20 years ago at a party – because if we hadn’t who knows where our lives would have taken us?
Contact Info:
- Address: JamesThomas Interiors
2401 W. Ohio St. Chicago, IL 60612 - Website: www.jamesthomaschicago.com
- Phone: 312-738-7300
- Email: info@jamesthomaschicago.com
- Instagram: jamesthomaschicago
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesthomas-LLC-344982025134/
Image Credit:
Scott Shigley
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
