Thom O & Associates is a multifaceted design firm focusing on the re-design of existing homes, re-purposing existing structures, and the crafting of new dwellings and habitable spaces. Our firm works with individual clients on projects both large and small, meeting the individual’s needs through form and function, and excelling at finding cost effective solutions.
In our designs, we are sensitive to the existing structure and its surroundings, for we believe the design, construction components, and methods should be sustainable, as well as earth friendly, with reverence to its natural surroundings. Our goal for each project is to be the owner’s advocate, ensuring that what is designed will be realized through close scrutiny of the construction process.
Thom’s career started at age 13 working for and through his family in the construction trades. By age 18 he was a carpenter contractor, built spec home’s, historical remodels, and restorations to put himself through college.
Thom’s formal education was in Architectural Design at Lawrence Tech, Detroit Michigan. In 1978, he founded Concept II Bldg Corp. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Concept II was a design build firm specializing in major additions and remodels of period style homes, some of which were historical restorations.
Over the course of the next twenty years the company grew to be quite diverse, creating anything from minor alterations to complete transformations including new home and light commercial. As owner and lead designer, Thom won a multitude of local, regional, state, and national awards in many different styles and venues. During this time he was appointed to the editorial advisory board of Qualified Remodeler Magazine.
However the company grew to a point that Thom found himself consumed in the role of management rather than designing. Making a life course-correction, he dissolved the company and returned to design.
In 1999, Thom was approached by Neil Kelly Company of Portland, Oregon, with whom he had previously competed on the national level; one of their principals was on the same editorial advisory board for Qualified Remodeler Magazine. NK invited Thom to the Pacific Northwest, and after experiencing the Columbia River Gorge he accepted their offer and relocated. Over the next five years, he designed many complex and diverse projects for their clients, and won several regional, state and national awards as a result.
In 2005, Thom started a Design-Only firm (Imagine Design Works) in the Columbia Gorge. Over the course of the next three years, the firm designed a dozen site-specific and site-sensitive homes in the gorge, as well as redesigning six condominium complexes at the Oregon and Washington Coast. During this same time, they were also a dealer of Kraft-Maid Cabinetry designing, and selling cabinetry to builders, and homeowners throughout the Gorge and the Pacific Coast.
In 2008, the firm became involved in a joint venture with Maritime Services Corp. of Hood River, OR, with a cabinetry showroom called Craft and Design. As this relationship progressed, Thom was asked to join the Maritime organization, as was the rest of his staff. At Maritime, he continued to design projects throughout the Gorge, as well as design and build a flagship cabinetry showroom in Portland’s Pearl District. During this time he also created a complete bamboo cabinetry line produced by Maritime in their Hood River facility known as KORU (korucabinetry.com) and sold through Craft and Design showrooms. Also at this same time, Maritime (mscor.com) – a cruise ship Remodeler – wanted to start a land-based construction company, so partnering with Peter Nance as general manager, Pro Build Construction was born.
The new company built a site-specific contemporary home in Stevenson, WA. As a model of the quality, sustainability, and attention to detail the company stands for, it won great accolades from the press and local residents. The kitchen is featured as the centerpiece of Caesarstone’s current international marketing brochure (caesarstoneus.com).
Presently, Thom is working as an independent designer thru the Craft and Design Collaborative Showroom in the Pearl (where I work with a diverse group of independent designers), as well as his own office in the Columbia River Gorge along with another independent designer, Jeff Carlson. 424 Wa-Na-Pa suite C, Cascade Locks, OR. (Watch for upcoming awards)
