Despite the glitzy strip and towering casino resorts, Las Vegas isn’t exactly known for truly innovative architecture. Fortunately, one dreaming builder is looking to change all that. Tyler Jones, founder of Blue Heron, is developing a series of high-end luxury communities in Henderson that buck some too-familiar trends of Vegas architecture.
Tyler co-founded Blue Heron with his father over a decade ago, and the company has spent the last ten years revitalizing project sites that failed under previous owners. In the process, they’ve racked up numerous industry awards.
The problem is that many of Vegas’ luxury homes feel too samey – The city’s elite aren’t building comfortable homes with character, but are instead locked into a fierce game of luxury one-upmanship. Builders are stuffing homes with a ton of amenities – movie theaters, elevators, gyms, wine cellars, massage rooms, libraries – but not a ton of thought. Jones’ designs still feature many of the luxurious touches of other elite homes, but they are also beautifully and thoughtfully designed. He tries to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor space, while subtly including all of the latest electronics in a way that isn’t overbearing or obvious. He calls his design philosophy “Vegas Modern.”
His four-bedroom, 5,800-square-foot model home at Sky Terrace — a development off Sunridge Heights Parkway near Eastern Avenue — Is the physical embodiment of his design philosophy. It includes mostly automated doors that slide completely into the walls , several fire pits, and a skydeck that includes a wet bar. The house’s 20 flat screens are hidden in plain sight — often nestled behind mirrors — and many of the rooms blend into each other, creating a truly open feeling space.
Las Vegas’ luxury home market is on the rebound after the housing market collapsed, and more buyers are opting to build new homes over buying used ones. This all translates to more business for Blue Heron. The company was founded in 2004 and have sold around 150 homes. Their luxury homes range from 3,400 to 15,000 square feet and are priced between $1 million and $7 million.
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