Justin Reynolds bought his first home when he was 23. It was not long before he began remodeling it, learning through trial and error what worked and what did not. The changes caught attention. Neighbors started knocking on the door, asking if the house was for sale. “People kept asking to buy it,” he recalls. “I guess I did a good job.” What began as a personal project soon became something more serious.
That early experience led Reynolds toward building homes rather than simply owning them. Today, through Sunrise Development LLC and Moderna Design + Build, he focuses on custom residential projects shaped less by trends and more by the realities of everyday life. His approach begins with how clients move through their homes, how they work, gather, rest, and adapt over time. Design decisions grow out of those conversations rather than a fixed template.
Each home reflects different priorities. Some clients want open layouts that encourage entertaining and connection. Others need quiet separation for remote work, or spaces that accommodate multigenerational living. Reynolds pays close attention to transitions between rooms, natural light, and how spaces feel throughout the day. He describes the work as a balance between flexibility and intention, where no square footage exists without purpose.
Location, however, remains the most challenging variable. Reynolds evaluates sites through the same lens as his clients. Proximity to schools, work, and services matters, but so does access to trails, rivers, and open land. Boise’s appeal, he says, lies in that intersection. The city offers urban convenience without losing touch with the outdoors, a quality that continues to shape both his projects and his long-term commitment to Idaho.
Reynolds moved to Idaho in 2002 after years of research and has never reconsidered the decision. He points to the pace of life, access to recreation, and sense of community as defining characteristics. “There are not many places where you can ski and golf in the same day,” he says. “Or raft in the morning and be back for a meeting in the afternoon.” That closeness between commerce and wild land, he believes, will continue to draw people and businesses to the region.
Outside of work, Reynolds spends time exploring the Treasure Valley with his wife Christine, their children, and grandchildren. The family often builds entire afternoons around small discoveries. “It could be a waterfall, a trail, or a restaurant we had not tried,” he says. “It is all close enough that it does not feel planned.”
Community involvement remains an understated but consistent part of his work. Whenever possible, materials are sourced locally or regionally. Excess building supplies are donated rather than discarded, supporting organizations that redirect materials back into housing and community projects. Reynolds has also tied his work to a broader humanitarian effort. For every custom home completed, he funds the installation of a water well in Africa, extending the idea of shelter and access beyond local boundaries.
Looking forward, Reynolds is developing a new residential community influenced by the modernist desert architecture of Palm Springs. The project will feature clean lines, airy interiors, and strong indoor-outdoor connections through expansive windows and minimalist forms. Rather than representing a shift, the project builds on themes that have defined his work from the start. Design, for Reynolds, remains rooted in place, people, and the quiet details that shape how a home is actually lived in.