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.”
“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.”

“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
“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

“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. 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.”
Jamie Klumpp
Director of Operations

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.
Emily Gerow
Project Lead

Anne’s life outside of the office is hardly lacking excitement. She is the mother of two teenagers, 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

Honest materials, hand-crafted quality, and a touch of time-worn comfort are central themes for Mollie. In 2019, she spent three months traveling through Western Europe and met many artists practicing their craft. “Something that is carefully made by hand is at once perfect and imperfect, and I have come to realize that that juxtaposition is what makes something truly beautiful.”
Mollie O’Shea
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

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.
Caroline McCarthy
Design Associate

He believes in a space that fosters love, values, and sparks fun. “There is never a dull moment when you fill yourself with love and a home should feel that way. They're like cravings, you keep coming back for more.” As he embarks on this new chapter of his life, he feels excited and nervous, much like an adventure. He looks forward to unraveling and enlivening his potential, embracing the gracious knowledge extended by the team at James Thomas.
Kent Ocupe
Librarian

He explains, "What I love about the work we do at James Thomas is there’s precedence for everything. Every design has a meaningful rationale. The work we do is beautiful and satisfying.”
When not working, Michael loves to visit museums, practice his hobby of photography, and watch Chicago’s famed neighborhoods evolve during his long walks throughout the city.
Michael Nicolson
Director of Interior Architecture

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 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
Project Lead

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.
Maria Kulesa
Senior Designer

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.
Sarah Lakew
Designer

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.
Ellyn Harmon
Design Associate

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. 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.”
Jamie Klumpp
Director of Operations

He explains, "What I love about the work we do at James Thomas is there’s precedence for everything. Every design has a meaningful rationale. The work we do is beautiful and satisfying.”
When not working, Michael loves to visit museums, practice his hobby of photography, and watch Chicago’s famed neighborhoods evolve during his long walks throughout the city.
Michael Nicolson
Director of Interior Architecture

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.
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

Anne’s life outside of the office is hardly lacking excitement. She is the mother of two teenagers, 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
Project Lead

Honest materials, hand-crafted quality, and a touch of time-worn comfort are central themes for Mollie. In 2019, she spent three months traveling through Western Europe and met many artists practicing their craft. “Something that is carefully made by hand is at once perfect and imperfect, and I have come to realize that that juxtaposition is what makes something truly beautiful.”
Mollie O’Shea
Senior Designer

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.
Maria Kulesa
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

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.
Sarah Lakew
Designer

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.
Caroline McCarthy
Design Associate

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.
Ellyn Harmon
Design Associate

He believes in a space that fosters love, values, and sparks fun. “There is never a dull moment when you fill yourself with love and a home should feel that way. They're like cravings, you keep coming back for more.” As he embarks on this new chapter of his life, he feels excited and nervous, much like an adventure. He looks forward to unraveling and enlivening his potential, embracing the gracious knowledge extended by the team at James Thomas.
Kent Ocupe
Librarian
At James Thomas, we specialize in designing your perfect welcome home. Let’s get started.

LOCATIONS
900 N. Franklin St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60610
1380 Wildflower Ln, Glenn, MI 49416
312.738.7300
info@jamesthomasinteriors.com
LOCATIONS
900 N. Franklin St, Ste 800, Chicago, IL 60610
1380 Wildflower Ln, Glenn, MI 49416
312.738.7300
info@jamesthomasinteriors.com