Jay Mezistrano (left) and Marc Rousso (right) | Contributed image
If you’re a reader of Seattle Metropolitan magazine, you may have noticed the appearance Jay Mezistrano and Marc Rousso of JayMarc Homes, in a special “Faces of Seattle” section, showcasing the two as game-changers in the luxury home-building industry.
But let’s be geographically precise. As local residents and active community members, Jay and Marc are truly faces of Mercer Island.
Maybe you’ve met Jay and Marc, but if you’re an MI resident, you’ve most certainly seen their custom and move-in-ready homes around the island, distinguishable by their Northwest Contemporary and Craftsman styles.
Now JayMarc has added a new style to the mix – modern.
JayMarc Homes Modern Collection | Left to right: The Singapore, the Taipei, and the Seoul | Contributed image
Celebrating their new Modern Collection, JayMarc Homes held a special Grand Opening last weekend, which included an all-day Open House at two new-on-the-market homes, the Seoul and the Taipei. A third home, the Singapore, is being finalized.
The three homes are perched on Mercer Island’s First Hill neighborhood, on the North end of the island. The homes are 4 bedrooms, 4.5+ bath, with square footage ranging between 3,571 to 4,327 square feet. The Seoul and the Taipei have views of Bellevue, Lake Washington, and downtown Mercer Island. Prices range from $2,199,990 to $2,699,990.
I stopped by on Saturday to check out the Grand Opening and chatted with Marc Rousso about the new direction in home style his company is taking.
“The modern collection is an expansion of our current repertoire and range as a luxury homebuilder,” Marc said. “Even though they are modern, they still have a warm feeling, such as dark European-style cabinetry, wide-plank wood flooring, and extensive moulding, that help create that inviting feel.”
Grand Opening visitors in the “Great Room” of The Seoul
There was a steady flow of visitors exploring the homes during my visit. The vibe was welcoming. The color palettes of the homes added warmth to the simple, clean aesthetic characteristic of modern-style homes. Determining those design details took some leg work for Marc and his team.
“Before we decided to build modern, Aimee Upper, Bill Jones, our interior designers, and I toured a dozen modern homes throughout the Northwest to ultimately create the vision for what we wanted our homes to look, but more importantly, feel like,” he said. “Warm, open, luxurious, and built for families.”
Clearly some of the Grand Opening visitors liked both the look and the feel of the new moderns. JayMarc already has offers on the homes.
JayMarc Homes new construction growth on Mercer Island
The Seoul | Contributed image
JayMarc started building on Mercer Island in 2011. They have built approximately 30 homes and expect to complete another 20 in the next 15 months. At least a few of those will also be modern.
“We have about five other lots in Bellevue and Mercer Island that we feel would be appropriate in the neighborhood,” Marc said. “We’re selective as to where we will build modern homes, since there has to be a feel for the neighborhood and exact street to make it work. With three side by side lots on First Hill, we felt we could create our own little extension of First Hill. We invited all the neighbors for our exclusive grand opening as a thank you for their support, with great response,” Marc said.
