On March 7, 2016, John Merrill Homes officially became a corporation. I actually pulled up the paperwork recently to double-check the date. It says, “Effective date of March 7th, 2016.” That’s when the IRS said we were real.
Ten years later, we’re still here.
When I think about everything that’s happened in between—the homes, the mistakes, the growth, the people—that alone feels like something worth celebrating. Looking back on the last 10 years, I think beyond square footage or budgets to the projects that moved us forward, forced us to grow up as a company, and helped us figure out who we actually are.
Here are 10 that stand out.
1. Reed Island
The first completed home we built as John Merrill Homes was on Reed Island. It was for a young flight nurse. It’s a tough job, and she’s a really impressive person. She was an awesome first client to have, and I still keep in contact with her.
We built a white, one-story home with blue shutters and a dark front door. They’ve added on since, and they’re still there, still happy.
That house was proof to me that I could step out on my own and build something solid—physically and literally. Within about a year and a half, we had seven homes going. And I don’t know if that happens without that first “yes”.
2. The Riverside community
Early on, I partnered with an investor friend who was buying older homes in Jacksonville, tearing them down, splitting the lots, and selling new construction. We ended up building 23 homes in a small Riverside community.
Those weren’t the type of homes we build today; they were smaller and less customized, but we built them well.
That project gave us structure and a solid backing to get the business going. It forced me to start thinking about systems and allowed me to hire our first superintendent, so I wasn’t trying to be in the field and in the office at the same time.
3. Ashdale
The Ashdale home will always be one of the most memorable homes we’ve built. It was our first true model home in Waterman’s Bluff, and it was featured in the Parade of Homes. Up until that point, people had seen photos, but this was the first time they could walk through a John Merrill home and experience it.
We built the house during COVID, which meant material delays, supply issues, and constant uncertainty. We were pushing hard to get it finished in time for the Parade, and it was stressful!
But it marked a turning point. It increased our visibility and, in turn, our sales. It also marked the moment Dana stepped fully into the design side. She selected everything in that house, from finishes to furnishings and styling. She bought every item, down to buying books and taking the jackets off to make the shelves look right.
That house changed how we approached design and how people saw us.
4. Building our cul-de-sac
One of the more personal milestones for us was building three homes on our own cul-de-sac, including the house we live in now.
We don’t typically build full neighborhoods, as we’re usually doing one custom home here, another there. So being able to drive down our own street and say, “We built that one, and that one, and that one,” is pretty neat. Those houses are now part of our family’s story. And we couldn’t have handpicked better neighbors.
5. The Roscoe renovation
The Roscoe renovation stands out because it wasn’t easy. The clients came to us with plans that didn’t work structurally or financially. We reworked the entire project and transformed the house.
Then came a rainy summer and some unexpected issues we needed to work through, but the clients were patient and trusted us, and we got it across the finish line.
6. The 45-acre farm
Right now, we’re building one of the most complex projects we’ve ever taken on—a massive home (and more) on a 45-acre farm.
We were referred by a retired builder who had worked with the client for over 20 years, and that trust in us meant a lot.
There’s so much planning involved in a project like this. I spent an hour one morning figuring out how to properly vent a 7×7 sauna. We spent two hours discussing four windows (yup, just four), figuring out how to trim and finish them correctly.
We’re also building horse shelters, modifying a donkey barn, and working on docks as the project evolves. It’s an honor to be trusted with something like that.
7. The Marsh to River Estate
One of my favorite creative details we’ve ever done was embedding a brick Clemson paw in a driveway at the Marsh to River Estate. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that.
I enjoy it when clients bring us something personal and say, “Can we do this?” And then we get to figure out how.
8. The California Coastal kitchen
There’s a kitchen we built in the California Coastal home that has gotten a lot of attention over the years.
When we built it, minimalism was trending hard. Everyone said they wanted all white and simple. This kitchen is anything but: it’s layered, detailed, and traditional in a way that feels timeless.
Now, design trends are shifting back toward more detail, thoughtfulness, trim, and paneling. To be honest, we’re excited to move away from white subway tiles, so bring it on!
9. The Beach Farmhouse
The Beach Farmhouse is another one that stands out. What’s funny is that it’s now owned by the family of one of our daughter’s friends. She recently had a sleepover there.
That’s why we love the community we’re building in. We’ve become friends with many of our clients over the years. When you’re working with someone for 18 months to two years, it becomes more than a transaction.
10. Our own home
We’ve built a lot of homes over the last decade, and we always tell people, “There’s a season of disruption before there’s the reward.” Well, this time we’re the ones living in that disruption.
We’re in the final stages of adding spaces that reflect how our family lives now, with older kids, more entertaining, time at home, gathering space, and also separation space.
But what’s been most interesting for me is living through the construction side of it—the mud, the temporary walls, the cold showers, the furniture shoved into corners. There was a week when we didn’t have hot water. There was a stretch where half the house felt like a maze of plastic barriers and insulation. And I’ll say this: it’s given me even more empathy for what our clients go through.
At the same time, it’s been incredibly rewarding to watch the slab go down, see framing take shape, and stand in a space that used to exist only on paper and say, “Okay. This is going to work.”
It’s reminded me why we do what we do. And in a lot of ways, this addition feels symbolic of where we are as a company after 10 years. We’re not starting from scratch anymore, but we’re building onto something solid, refining it, improving it, and making it work better for the next season.
You can follow Our Home Addition Diaries here.
Want to be our next highlight?
We’d love to hear from you as we kick off the next decade of John Merrill Homes. Let’s have a chat.
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