For more than three decades, Eastside families have trusted Tennyson Homes to build the home they have always pictured. We specialize in custom homes, remodels, and ADUs across Kirkland, Bellevue, and Mercer Island. We guide you through every step, from securing the right lot to the day we hand you the keys. Together, we create distinctive homes that are as unique as the families who live in them.
Mercer Island Custom Home Builder
Custom Luxury. Timeless Quality.
Fully Customized Experience
High Touch Customer Service
Seamless Process
Decades of Experience
Our Services
Custom Home Building
Tennyson Homes manages your custom home from initial concept through final walkthrough, coordinating closely with the architect. Having spent years as a spec builder funding his own projects, Jim knows exactly what drives cost and quality. He runs a transparent, collaborative process, so you always know where your project and your budget stand. Every home is built to your specifications, with no compromises on materials or craftsmanship.
Whole-Home Remodels
Our background as spec builders gives us an uncommon ability to manage whole-home renovations on a defined budget. Whether you’re updating a mid-century Mercer Island rambler or reconfiguring a dated split-level, we handle the full scope, from design and permitting to construction, as one integrated team. Because we understand how every part of a home works together, we can reimagine layouts, add square footage, and elevate finishes while maintaining a cohesive vision from concept through completion.
ADU & DADU Construction
Tennyson Homes designs and builds accessory dwelling units, both attached ADUs and detached backyard cottages (DADUs), that expand usable space and add value to your Mercer Island property. The team handles design, zoning, and permitting, accounting for the Island’s slopes, shoreline rules, and tree retention standards. Whether you envision a rental, a guest suite, or a multigenerational living space, we build an ADU that fits seamlessly with your home and your goals.
Land Acquisition
Finding the right lot on Mercer Island is genuinely difficult. Inventory is low, waterfront parcels move quickly, and zoning and critical-area overlays add complexity that catches many buyers off guard. Tennyson Homes draws on a trusted network of broker relationships to help clients identify and evaluate sites before they hit the open market. Just as important, we assess each parcel for what it can actually support, from slope and shoreline setbacks to tree-retention rules, so you understand the real building potential and likely cost before you commit.
TENNYSON HOMES
34 Years of Experience Building on Mercer Island
Tennyson Homes was founded by Jim Tennyson, who has spent over 34 years building custom homes across the Eastside. It is a family-owned builder whose reputation is built on referrals and repeat clients, backed by deep roots in the local community and long-standing relationships across the area’s subcontractor and supplier network.
Jim’s background as a spec builder brings real cost discipline to every project. That matters on Mercer Island, where limited lot inventory, shoreline rules near the waterfront, and critical-area permitting for slopes and tree canopy all reward a builder who knows the local approval process firsthand.
WHERE QUALITY MEETS LUXURY
Our Project Gallery
Our portfolio spans several stunning projects across the Eastside, from clean-lined contemporary builds to full transformations of established mid-century homes. Every project reflects the same fully customized approach and uncompromising standard of craftsmanship.
Building Across Mercer Island’s Unique Market
Mercer Island sits entirely within King County, connected to Seattle and Bellevue by I-90, yet defined by its own distinct character. The island is served exclusively by the highly regarded Mercer Island School District, a consistent draw for families, and it offers a rare combination of in-city convenience and quiet, established neighborhoods that keep demand strong and lots scarce.
Building on Mercer Island is genuinely different from other Eastside markets, driven by the combination of limited land supply and layered regulatory requirements. The state’s Shoreline Management Act, which regulates development within 200 feet of the ordinary high-water mark, applies to properties near the Lake Washington waterfront. Critical-area ordinances govern steep slopes, wetlands, and tree canopies across much of the island, and tree-retention standards limit what can be cleared on a given lot. Because the lot inventory is small, most new custom homes involve either a teardown-rebuild or a significant addition on an existing parcel, which makes early site evaluation and a clear permitting strategy essential before design begins. Getting those steps right at the outset is often the difference between a project that moves smoothly and one that stalls in review.
Tennyson Homes has built across the full range of these properties, from waterfront sites and hillside lots with protected view corridors to interior parcels where privacy is the primary design driver. If you’re exploring nearby options, we also build throughout Kirkland and Bellevue.
Mercer Island neighborhoods and areas we serve:
- North Mercer Island (waterfront and hillside lots)
- South Mercer Island
- Mercer Island Town Center area
- East and West shoreline parcels
- Interior wooded and private-lot sites
THE TENNYSON DIFFERENCE
Why Mercer Island Homeowners Choose Tennyson Homes
Deep Mercer Island Knowledge
We understand the island’s permitting environment, its critical-area overlays, and the specific conditions that affect construction timelines and costs here. That local experience directly reduces risk for our clients.
High-Touch Customer Service
You will have direct access to Jim and the project team throughout your build. We provide consistent status reports and real-time updates so you are never left wondering where things stand.
Seamless Process
One team, one contract, one point of accountability. We coordinate your architect, designers, and trade partners directly, closing the gaps between disconnected parties that so often drive delays and cost overruns.
Decades of Experience
Thirty-four years of Eastside building means established trade relationships, reliable subcontractors, and a track record of delivering on time and on budget across a wide range of project types and price points.
Our Custom Home Building Process
Every custom home we build follows the same proven path, refined over decades on the Eastside to keep your project on schedule, on budget, and moving forward without surprises. See the full process breakdown.
Step 1: Land Acquisition
Don’t own a lot yet? We help you find and secure the right one for your vision and budget, drawing on our broker network and handling the early zoning review.
Step 2: Lot Inspections
A thorough on-site review of soil conditions, slope, access, utilities, and any environmental constraints before you commit to the parcel.
Step 3: Pre-Design Meetings
We align on your priorities, budget, and design direction before any drawings are produced, so the process moves efficiently.
Step 4: Ongoing Plan Review
As the architectural and design plans develop, we keep them aligned with your budget in real time, so there are no surprises when the project starts.
Step 5: Pre-Construction Reviews
Final scope confirmation, specification sign-off, permit submission, and subcontractor selection are completed before we break ground on your home.
Step 6: Construction Management
Active site management with transparent, real-time cost tracking and regular updates, so you always know exactly where your project stands.
Step 7: Enjoy Your Forever Home
Move in and enjoy the home you always imagined. With the final walkthrough and punchlist complete, we stay available for anything you need down the road.
Tennyson Homes FAQs
How long does it take to build a custom home on Mercer Island?
Most custom home projects on Mercer Island take between 12 and 18 months from groundbreaking to move-in. Pre-construction (permitting, design finalization, and site preparation) typically adds several more months, and Mercer Island’s critical-area review process can extend that window further depending on the site.
How much does it cost to build a custom home on Mercer Island?
Custom home construction on Mercer Island generally ranges from $500 to $900 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the design, site conditions, and level of finish. Waterfront and hillside properties that require significant grading or structural work tend to fall toward the higher end of that range. We give every client a detailed budget early, so the number reflects your specific site and plans rather than a rough average.
Do you handle permits and zoning on Mercer Island?
Yes. Tennyson Homes manages the full permitting process, including applications to the City of Mercer Island, Shoreline Management Act compliance for waterfront properties, and critical-area reviews where applicable. We coordinate directly with the city and relevant agencies so clients are not stuck navigating this complex process on their own.
Can I build an ADU or DADU on Mercer Island?
Yes. Under Mercer Island’s current standards, most single-family lots can have up to two accessory dwelling units, attached or detached, generally up to 1,000 square feet each, subject to the city’s rules on height, setbacks, and lot coverage. Because many Island properties involve slopes, shoreline proximity, or significant tree coverage, your site’s specific conditions will shape what’s feasible. We handle the zoning review and permitting with the City of Mercer Island, so your project starts on solid footing.
Do I need to own land before contacting Tennyson Homes?
No. Our residential land acquisition service is specifically designed for clients who haven’t yet secured a lot. We can help you identify suitable parcels on Mercer Island through our broker network, evaluate them for buildability, and guide you through the purchase before design work begins.
Should I remodel my existing home or tear it down and rebuild?
It depends on your goals, your budget, and the condition of the existing home. On Mercer Island, where lots are scarce and many homes are several decades old, a major remodel can make the most of an excellent location, while a teardown-rebuild is often the better path when the existing layout or foundation no longer fits how you want to live. We walk you through the trade-offs early, including cost, timeline, and permitting, so you can make the decision with clear information.
Start Building Your Mercer Island Custom Home Today
Mercer Island’s lot inventory is limited, and the permitting process rewards builders who know it well. The sooner you begin, the more options you have. Tennyson Homes is ready to walk you through every step, from finding the right site to handing over the keys. Call us at (206) 914-5970 or fill out the form below to get started.
