The city of Sammamish on the Greater Eastside has been considered one of the best places to live in the last decade. The reasons are no surprise: numerous parks, a lovely suburban environment, and access to one of the most exciting and innovative metro areas in the country.
If you are looking to build a home in the greater Puget Sound area, here is a list of some of the best general contractors in Sammamish. These contractors are well-versed in building for the Eastside. Most of them are members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and its local chapter, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS).
Higgason Homes
24846 SE 19th St. Sammamish, WA 98075
Higgason Homes completely remodeled this home in Sammamish with custom millwork throughout the structure. The entryway features cedar beams — a motif that carries on the further you go in. Sidelight and black-framed windows illuminate the gray herringbone floor. A few steps to the right, the kitchen features a large wood-top center island with storage space underneath. Granite countertops surround the undermount sink beneath the broad windows, with more storage in gray cabinets beneath them. The dining room features hardwood flooring, which lines most of the other interior spaces. Cedar shelves match the beams around the trimmed opening. Beautiful glass drop lights shine on the rustic wooden dining set. The living room on the upstairs landing features a stone fireplace embedded in a white shiplap wall. A wooden sliding door from the master’s bedroom opens to the double vanity-master bath that features muted blue-gray cabinets and a white tile glass-bordered shower. The guest bathroom also features a curbless shower with glass tiles.
Shannon Higgason started in residential construction over 20 years ago at the age of 17, learning every phase of building from start to finish. Since 2010, he and his team at Higgason Homes have delivered master craftsmanship throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Lux Design Builds
18388 Redmond Way Redmond, WA 98052
The lush greenery around this Sammamish home is the perfect backdrop for its sleek neutral interior. A white stone-clad wall takes center stage in the living room, housing the ribbon fireplace beneath a black mantel and mounted flat screen and flanked by custom white cabinets. Behind the room is the open plan kitchen, lined by the same white cabinetry and a floor lounge by the window. The dining room is more enclosed, with nude chairs and a rustic wooden table beneath the ornate chandelier. Upstairs, the master’s bedroom gets as much light as the common spaces through broad windows. A white barn door leads to the open shower master bath.
Raz Gunderman had customized more homes like this around Puget Sound even before he started Lux Design Builds in 2010. He is an NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) who brings as much care as he does expertise to his projects. Joining him is partner Vered Mizrahi, who draws from over 20 years of experience as a professional interior designer. Together with other well-established professionals on their team, they build and remodel throughout Seattle and the Eastside.
Better Builders
4800 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Industry veteran Walter “Bill” Babb started Better Builders in 2008 with a goal to create sustainable homes worthy of their clients’ investments and create a better place to work. Babb began in construction working summers with a remodeler in his hometown in Iowa at the age of 15. He went on to study Construction Engineering at Iowa State University and then worked in commercial construction before coming back to residential work. Co-Owner Pete Baughman is a fourth-generation builder, beginning working with his father as lead carpenter and project manager before moving to the Seattle area to join Better Builders. The two owners carry out the Better Builders mission by dedicating their efforts to being trusted advisors for their homeowners and always providing the highest level of service.
Opening the first-floor layout of this home required strengthening the support for the second-floor load all the way to the basement. The result is a kitchen that looks like it goes on forever — great for a family that loves to entertain. It features a 64-by-120-inch 789-pound single-slab countertop center island that required careful installation, serving both as prep and dining space. Light floods in through large windows all the way to the dining room off to one side through trimmed openings. On the other end, the space flows seamlessly to the muted palette living room. The project won the 2019 REX Award for Kitchen Excellence from the MBAKS. Better Builders has also recently been awarded the 2021 Guildmaster Award via GuildQuality for excellence in customer service.
Bender Custom Construction
1800 112th Ave. NE, Suite 210W, Bellevue, WA 98004
Bender Custom Construction has built more than 360 high-end homes throughout the Pacific Northwest. Father-and-son duo Steve and Don Bender have led the team for over 30 years, building strong relationships with tradesmen, architects, and clients alike. The firm has eight to ten projects underway at any given time, ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet.
Bender’s historic remodel of a 1911 home in Queen Anne retains the integrity of the original 20th-century structure while updating it for today’s environment. Electrical wiring was upgraded and portions of the foundation were strengthened. Through the perimeter hedges and past the front gate, the covered patio opens to a classic white balustrade and wainscoted staircase. To its left is the spacious U-shaped kitchen. Wooden stools line the concrete center island, which also houses an undermount sink fronting the range and its sleek hood. Deep brown cabinetry offers quite a bit of storage space beneath the white countertops and around the stainless steel appliances. On the far end is a wide couch banquette seat, flooded with light by the large windows.
Lochwood-Lozier Custom Homes
8708 152nd Ave. NE Redmond, WA 98052
This Sammamish home remodeled by Lochwood-Lozier Custom Homes features classic finishes throughout. A rustic wood mantel hangs above the stone-clad fireplace in the living room. Beside it is the custom TV rack, with wide cabinets and drawers on either side of the screen. Just behind the room is the large U-shaped kitchen. The marble-top center island offers some room to dine opposite the range built into it. The same white cabinetry lines the beige walls beneath granite tile backsplash. Off to the side is a four-seater dining area that offers great views of the outdoors through large windows. Carpeted wood-railed stairs lead to the second-floor spaces. The corner tub in the master bath juts slightly into the marble-tile glass-bordered shower, offering extra space for toiletries. Light streams in through the windows above the tub and skylights above the dark wood double vanity.
The Lozier family built its first home in 1776. Today, President Todd Lozier leads the firm, coming from a long line of builders, some of whom worked with the great Frank Lloyd Wright. Following Wright’s influence, the firm commits to having a holistic understanding of each project, meeting with clients once a week to keep them involved in the process — and in on the fun.
Tenhulzen Residential
13208 NE 20th St. Suite 300, Bellevue, WA 98005
This old rambler in Bellevue needed some updating as a father and daughter were to once again call it home. Tenhulzen Residential expanded the kitchen in the new great room layout. Its U-shape puts the undermount sink in one corner, offering a lot of prep and storage space in the white countertops and light gray cabinetry. The space extends to a bar area beyond its walls, fronting the living room. The same gray and white stone cladding also appears on the kitchen backsplash and around the living room fireplace, where it is flanked by custom white cabinetry. The gray and white theme also continues in the chairs in the dining room, which serves as the meeting point for the common spaces. The project won the 2018 Kitchen Excellence $90,000-$140,000 REX Award from the MBAKS.
Michael Tenhulzen founded the firm in 2012, after many years working alongside his father in his own company. Tenhulzen also served on the board of the MBAKS from 2007-2010. He now works with his talented team across the Greater Eastside.
Armada Design & Build Inc
12727 Northup Way #6, Bellevue, WA 98005
This kitchen and master bedroom remodel won Armada Design & Build the 2nd Place Residential Remodel Excellence (Major Remodel: $200,000-$500,000 category) as well as the Bath Excellence ($35,000-$60,000 category) Award from the MBAKS in 2019. The flowing layout kitchen and dining rooms are spacious beneath the steep-pitched ceiling. The massive center island also offers some space to dine. Deep, dark green cabinets line the white walls as well as the base of the white countertop island and there’s a matching green and white patterned backsplash. The room opens to the backyard through glass sliding doors, keeping the area bright, as does the window seat in the dining area. The bedroom is cozy beneath vaulted ceilings and features muted green tones and large windows for natural light. The master bath comes in black and white, with a double vanity fronting a glass-doored shower, and a freestanding tub beneath the sloped ceiling skylight.
Alexander Shikhanov brings over a decade of experience in the industry to Armada Design & Build, which he established in 2011. Shikhanov started out hands-on in flooring, tile, and countertop installation. He went on to manage projects such as apartment complex remodels and condominium conversions. Today, his firm builds throughout Greater Seattle.
Design Guild Homes
10001 NE 8th St. #201, Bellevue, WA 98004
Design Guild Homes builds luxury homes for some of the most discriminating homeowners in Belleview, Redmond, Sammamish, and Seattle. The firm was established in 1976 by George Glass. Today, George’s sons Joel, Steve, and Tom carry on his legacy of excellence, having grown up in the business. They now also bring specialized training in skills ranging from art and design to finance and operations.
Design Guild expanded this home in Kirkland with a new deck, terrace, and large windows that frame views of Lake Washington. These additions brighten the wood and brick interior of the open layout common spaces. The white-walled master bedroom also houses a loft area bound by a black metal railing and ladder — a great place to relax while connecting with nature through the clerestory windows. The guest bedroom also opens directly onto the new deck through glass sliding doors.
Urban Restoration
14250 NE 21st St. Bellevue, WA 98007
Reg Willing brings over two decades of experience building across the Greater Eastside to Urban Restoration (UR). The firm has built strong relationships within the industry and the community since its founding in 2011. Expanding to serve the high demand for custom remodels, Willing launched UR Remodel in 2015, where exteriors and siding veteran Victor Ruzhin joins him as principal.
UR remodeled this midcentury home in Medina with white shiplap ceilings and panoramic views of the surrounding woods beyond the wrapping outdoor deck. The white interior is brought to life by wood ceiling beams, rustic furniture, and dark wood flooring. A black hooded fireplace warms the living room and is mounted on an off-white stone-clad wall. Off in a corner is a two-seater dining space, leading to the L-shaped kitchen in a flowing layout, all on the upper floor. More dining space sits out on the deck. The master’s bedroom gets copious light through a broad window, as does the double vanity-master bath, which features a glass-bordered shower.
MacPherson Construction & Design
21626 SE 28th St. Sammamish, WA 98075
Roger MacPherson started MacPherson Construction & Design (MCD) in 1983 after earning his bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Washington State University. He is joined by a team of architects, interior designers, project managers, carpenters, and laborers — a blend of time-tested talent and new generation builders — in building throughout the Pacific Northwest. MCD specializes in waterfront design and construction.
This remodel in Pine Lake embraces its lakefront location through the various earth elements of stone and wood that interlace the structure. The neutral gray palette of the family room—with pops of color in red, green, and blue accents—frames the view of the water and the trees on the shoreline through the large arched window. Layered cement walls house the fireplace beside the grand piano in the corner. The living room takes on a warmer color tone, with more of the bright vases and glasswork displayed on a broad brown shelf behind the stone-clad fireplace. Photos of wildlife hang above the burlap couches and beige carpet of the home theater. Rustic cabinets lie below the L-shaped vanity in the freestanding tub-master bath. Natural wood finishes continue in the powder room’s textured walls and deep brown vessel sink vanity.
Rainier Custom Homes
306 Wells Ave S. Suite E, Renton, WA 98057
This Mercer Island renovation won Rainier Custom Homes the 2020 REX Award for Major Remodel: $350,000 to $500,000 from the MBAKS. French doors open to a shiplap entry wall in the foyer. On its other side, the TV hangs above the ribbon fireplace — the focal point of the living room. Concealed within the wall is some side-opening hanging storage. Adjacent is the eight-seater dining area—across another set of doors to the back outdoor area. The eat-in white marble kitchen island runs parallel to it, housing an undermount sink fronting the electric cooktop. White cabinets line the L-shaped space, and an additional wooden dining booth sits on one end. Rainier also remodeled the laundry room in a galley layout with a sprawling shelf for all sorts of supplies.
The firm was established in 1994 by Project Manager Jason G. Jarman after many years of experience in all facets of construction. His son, Chairman Jason CP Jarman, carries on the long legacy of craftsmanship, leading the firm since 2006 after running multi-million dollar projects with other local firms. Pre-Construction Manager Michael Jarman rounds out the team, joining his dad and brother in 2010 after earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management from Brigham Young University.
Riddle Construction and Design
13606 Woodinville Redmond Rd. NE Redmond, WA 98052
Adding approximately 1,110 square feet atop the existing garage, Riddle Construction and Design gave this home in Issaquah two new bedrooms, a ¾ bath, and a bonus loft. The dormer space was maximized with a kids’ nook that includes a custom built-in desk, shelves, and drawers. The loft is a cozy place to lounge, with great views of the surrounding area framed by the broad windows. The space connects to the main structure through a breezeway— where new lockers were installed—to the expanded laundry room and exercise area. A second phase led to Riddle overhauling the kitchen with an elegant new range and matching gold-braced custom hood flanked by white cabinets throughout the U-shaped layout. At its center, a massive marble-top island with dining space anchors the kitchen, illuminated by glass pendant lights.
The Riddle family has been building such homes on the Eastside since 1976. Curt Riddle has experience in every phase of construction from new-builds to remodels in his over four decades in the industry. His wife, Chris, has been designing interior spaces since 1988 and is a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Their son Josh grew up in the business and now serves as project manager.
