Our Team
Duality is the difference. James is the Storyteller. He oversees the technical design flow. Tom is the Editor. He specializes in details and one-of-a-kind notes.
Our design teams are formed with this balance in mind: technical insight and unbridled creativity.
JAMES DOLENC
“I love beautiful, curated spaces that have one foot in history and one foot in today.”
Raised in the quaint North Shore suburb of Libertyville, Illinois, James describes his personal aesthetic as based in classic architecture and interiors executed with an open brightness and airiness inspired by his childhood summers spent out West.
“My eye is inspired by East Coast sensibilities – places like Nantucket, the Hamptons, and Charleston. But my heart and soul are rooted in the open air and big sky of places like Flathead Lake in Montana. These two sources of inspiration – from opposite sides of the country and the design spectrum – dovetail and inspire me every day to design spaces that are at once classic, airy, and warm.”
James holds a B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago and a B.A. from Harrington Institute of Interior Design.

JAMES DOLENC
“I love beautiful, curated spaces that have one foot in history and one foot in today.”

Raised in the quaint North Shore suburb of Libertyville, Illinois, James describes his personal aesthetic as based in classic architecture and interiors executed with an open brightness and airiness inspired by his childhood summers spent out West.
“My eye is inspired by East Coast sensibilities – places like Nantucket, the Hamptons, and Charleston. But my heart and soul are rooted in the open air and big sky of places like Flathead Lake in Montana. These two sources of inspiration – from opposite sides of the country and the design spectrum – dovetail and inspire me every day to design spaces that are at once classic, airy, and warm.”
James holds a B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago and a B.A. from Harrington Institute of Interior Design.
“We believe in rooms filled with family, friends, warmth, and love – the best design choice of all.”

TOM RIKER
“I love to listen to our clients, to really connect and know them is to be a better designer.”
“I grew up in Birmingham, Michigan and our house was filled with antiques…family heirlooms, Oriental rugs–so different from many of my friends’ homes. That’s where my education began. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I would draw house plans and send them to my Uncle, who was an aspiring architect, to critique, or I would dig through estate sales and flea markets on weekends – always looking for that next great piece.”
“When we started, my design eye was drawn to contemporary design with clean lines, but lately, I’ve been returning to the nostalgia and the design nuances of my youth with a more traditional approach, heavy in textures and layering.”
Tom earned his BA from the University of Michigan and his Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
TOM RIKER
“I love to listen to our clients, to really connect and know them is to be a better designer.”

I grew up in Birmingham, Michigan and our house was filled with antiques…family heirlooms, Oriental rugs–so different from many of my friends’ homes. That’s where my education began. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I would draw house plans and send them to my Uncle, who was an aspiring architect, to critique, or I would dig through estate sales and flea markets on weekends – always looking for that next great piece.”
“When we started, my design eye was drawn to contemporary design with clean lines, but lately, I’ve been returning to the nostalgia and the design nuances of my youth with a more traditional approach, heavy in textures and layering.”
Tom earned his BA from the University of Michigan and his Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jamie oversees the day-to-day business and bustle in the offices of JamesThomas. She handles a variety of matters including accounting, organization, human resources, all while also serving as James and Tom’s right hand woman. And, as with a diverse, decades-long background in both fashion and retail management, she’s a natural. Jamie thrives when she is an active member of a team, “That’s the nicest thing someone could say to me: that I am fair, and that I am a valuable member of the group.”
When she is not at work, Jamie is taking full advantage of the diverse cultural offerings that city living brings with it, she is traveling around the country with her handsome boyfriend, and visiting her college-aged son at Miami University in Ohio.
Jamie Pack
Business Manager

Quality is the centerpiece of Jim’s design philosophy. “I like design that is honest and simple and not overwraught. If you find an amazing piece of well-made antique furniture –don’t even refinish it. Have the courage to let a piece like that show its age. Authenticity is beautiful.”
Jim Josephson
Project Lead

Anne’s life outside of the office is hardly lacking excitement. She is the mother of two pre-teens, Charlotte and Jack. Born and raised in Chicago, Anne’s growing family lives in Chicago’s Edgebroook neighborhood and during the summer months, they escape to a family cottage off of Lake Michigan.
Anne Kopis
Project Lead

Lauren’s favorite days at work are spent at the Merchandise Mart. “I love going to the Mart showrooms and getting to see and touch everything. The perfect day at the Mart culminates in finding that perfect thing that will bring the room that you’ve been working on together.”
Lauren Heath
Designer

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 two young children.
Emily Gerow
Project Lead

When not at work, Erin and her husband pour their energy into being parents to their two energetic young sons.
Erin Humphrey
Project Lead

When Julia isn’t at work, she loves time spent outdoors, specifically, in the mountains of Park City, Utah. There, she spends time with her niece, nephew, and extended family…skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Julia Fischer
Senior Designer

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.”
Tyson Lamm
Designer

Jamie oversees the day-to-day business and bustle in the offices of JamesThomas. She handles a variety of matters including accounting, organization, human resources, all while also serving as James and Tom’s right hand woman. And, as with a diverse, decades-long background in both fashion and retail management, she’s a natural. Jamie thrives when she is an active member of a team, “That’s the nicest thing someone could say to me: that I am fair, and that I am a valuable member of the group.”
When she is not at work, Jamie is taking full advantage of the diverse cultural offerings that city living brings with it, she is traveling around the country with her handsome boyfriend, and visiting her college-aged son at Miami University in Ohio.
Jamie Pack
Business Manager

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 two young children.
Emily Gerow
Project Lead

Quality is the centerpiece of Jim’s design philosophy. “I like design that is honest and simple and not overwraught. If you find an amazing piece of well-made antique furniture –don’t even refinish it. Have the courage to let a piece like that show its age. Authenticity is beautiful.”
Jim Josephson
Project Lead

When not at work, Erin and her husband pour their energy into being parents to their two energetic young sons.
Erin Humphrey
Project Lead

Anne’s life outside of the office is hardly lacking excitement. She is the mother of two pre-teens, Charlotte and Jack. Born and raised in Chicago, Anne’s growing family lives in Chicago’s Edgebroook neighborhood and during the summer months, they escape to a family cottage off of Lake Michigan.
Anne Kopis
Project Lead

When Julia isn’t at work, she loves time spent outdoors, specifically, in the mountains of Park City, Utah. There, she spends time with her niece, nephew, and extended family…skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Julia Fischer
Senior Designer

Lauren’s favorite days at work are spent at the Merchandise Mart. “I love going to the Mart showrooms and getting to see and touch everything. The perfect day at the Mart culminates in finding that perfect thing that will bring the room that you’ve been working on together.”
Lauren Heath
Designer

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.”
Tyson Lamm
Designer
At JamesThomas, we specialize in designing your perfect welcome home. Let’s get started.
LOCATIONS
2401 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60612
1380 Wildflower Ln, Glenn, MI 49416
312.738.7300
info@jamesthomasinteriors.com
LOCATIONS
2401 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60612
1380 Wildflower Ln, Glenn, MI 49416
312.738.7300
info@jamesthomasinteriors.com