One of the challenges of remodeling interior and exterior spaces is to introduce new designs that do not deviate from the home’s existing architectural context. The best general contractors in Santa Ynez Valley understand the importance of aesthetic unity and their decades of experience has allowed them to approach every project with a detail-oriented design and thoughtful building perspective.

These professionals made it to this list thanks to their focus on client satisfaction and unique, carefully curated, and efficiently delivered projects for the custom home, remodeling, renovations, and home improvement markets. These firms have been recognized by leading industry institutions through the awards and publications that have highlighted their consistent work.

Allen Construction

201 N Milpas St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103

For almost four decades, Allen Construction has been providing California’s diverse industries with one of the most comprehensive construction approaches: the firm relies on old-world craftsmanship and modern technologies. The firm also highlights an extensive scope for its residential services. The firm’s portfolio includes construction projects for estate homes and luxury custom homes, residential remodels, kitchen and bath renovations, and remodeling works, as well as maintenance and repairs. Many of the firm’s projects have been featured in Architectural Digest, Food + Home Magazine, and Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine. 

One of its most notable projects can be found in Santa Ynez. The company constructed a contemporary-inspired vacation home designed by leading architectural firm Ferguson-Ettinger. This collaboration delivered an abode that brings forward the concept of integration between the indoors and its outdoors. The home, set in a grassy terrain and dotted with trees, features floor-to-ceiling walls and windows. Doing so allowed the main areas of the house to have an unobstructed view of the outdoors. At the same time, these transparencies give access to natural daylight that flows through the interiors. Set in a beige façade, using natural materials like wood and stone as well as thin lines of metalworks and framing, the home’s earth-tone palettes easily blend in with the natural environment. 

DD Ford Construction

303 Palm Ave. Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Renovation, custom remodels, finish carpentry, and maintenance works complete DD Ford Construction’s scope of services for the residential and commercial sectors. The firm serves the Santa Barbara area and provides a comprehensive approach to every project they take on, from conceptualization, construction, to completion. The delivery method is a product of its over 40 years of multi-awarded practice. The same approach helped the firm earn the 2020 2020 – Residential Interior Over $300,000 – Chrysalis National Award as well as landed its rank among Remodeling Magazine’s 2019 – Remodeling 550 listing. Other recognitions in historic renovation, remodeling, and residential construction highlight the firm’s range as a residential general contractor.

An example of a project that exemplifies its quality as a builder was an interior remodeling project. The company was commissioned to transform a living room into a ranch-inspired space. The choice of dominantly white palette and soft tones of textiles and light wood textures breathe comfort and homey ambiance to the entire interior. The same elements of wood and fabric emphasize the style’s farmhouse origins. These details are complemented by the exposed beams on its tall ceiling. The full glass walls and entrances bring in natural light that further illuminates the space. At night, warm and softened lights introduce a nostalgic, cozy feel. 

Mark Trabucco Builder

PO Box 428 Los Olivos, CA 93441

Established in 1999, Mark Trabucco Builder introduced a general contracting practice that has been commended for boldness and creativity, especially in transforming luxury residential interiors and exteriors. The firm’s detail-oriented approach to general contracting is exemplified by its portfolio of luxury residential spaces for clients across Montecito, Santa Barabara, and the Valley. Some of these homes have been celebrated in industry publications, including Veranda Magazine. 

One of its most recent projects was for the Alisal Ranch residence. The firm was tasked with the challenge of remodeling a number of interior spaces. One highlight of this commission was to design a living area that explores the allure of contrasts and textures. The full-white color palette for the walls, the stone masonry for the main fireplace, the furniture and carpet—everything serves as an elegant canvas to the bold lines, tones, and patterns. Neutralizing this intense yet visually appealing contrast is the flooring’s light brown wood tone. The result is an expansive, airy space that takes advantage of the right combination of light, shapes, lines, and textures to deliver a clean, comfortable, and relaxing space. 

Mitch Williams Construction

2963 Grand Avenue, Suite D, PO Box 776 Los Olivos, CA 93441

Mitch Williams Construction opened its doors to the region’s residential market in 1985. As a member of the Santa Barbara Contractors Association, the firm’s quality work has been recognized by its peers in the building community. From its Los Olivos office, the firm helps homeowners across Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, and Montecito to build, transform, and revitalize interiors, exterior, and whole residences. One example of its work is a complete remodel of a contemporary-inspired Toumayan Residence. The firm redefined the home’s architecture and interiors by incorporating new palettes and materials into the design. 

The home’s redesigned and rebuilt kitchen space highlights contemporary details, including the bold rectangular forms, clean horizontal and vertical lines, and smooth wall and material textures set in neutral tones. The design of the new space also combines wood, natural stone, and metallic details to reemphasize its style inspiration. A large, full glass window provides unobstructed views of its picturesque landscape and a wide opening to an extended outdoor seating area further defines its contemporary inspiration of structures connecting with the surrounding environment.

Ashton & Hope Construction

133 E De La Guerra St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Ashton & Hope Construction is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited building company commended for its stellar customer services and business practice. The firm was founded in 2013. Kyle Asthon and Robert Hope lead the firm’s everyday practice as its president and managing partner, respectively. Their combined experience in general contracting and custom home construction has allowed the firm to take on complex and high-value projects over the years. Under their leadership, the firm also established lifelong relationships and project partnerships with members of the industry’s building and design community. In recent years, the firm collaborated with leading designing studio Jessica Risko Smith Design to transform the main interior spaces of an old and outdated residence. 

The resulting work produced elegant and eclectic designs for the home’s kitchen, bath, dining, living room. The remodel also breathed new life into its master bedroom. The muted wall and floor palette provided a blank canvas where the coolness of blue patterns and gray textiles blend together to create a relaxing atmosphere. Clean frames and dark shades provide an exciting yet not too imposing contrast against the surrounding calmness. Additional accents of natural seating and nature wall art add character to the space. White curtains soften the natural daylight as it enters the from through its full glass windows.

Anacapa Builders Inc.

1187 Coast Village Rd. #109, Montecito, CA 93108

For over 15 years, Anacapa Builders Inc. has delivered residential spaces that celebrate the dialog between structure and landscape by introducing materials, color tones, and forms that encourage the integration of the indoors to its outdoors. One of the firm’s most unforgettable remodeling projects is the Rincon Residence. The primary goal of the remodel was to curate and transform the home’s interiors and take advantage of its impressive geographic features. 

The home enjoys ocean views: the homeowners wanted the kitchen to take advantage of the waterscape. The result is a new, contemporary kitchen that directs the focus on the large, full-glass windows and the sublime sight outside. The same windows bring in daylight to illuminate the clean, bright interiors that feature a centerpiece of caesar stone countertops, a Miele Hood, teak lower cabinets, white cabinetry and tiled backsplashes, and minimalist fixtures. Similar projects can be found in the firm’s portfolio and Hope Ranch Living Magazine has featured some of these masterpieces.

Rigg Contracting, Inc.

475 Quail Run Rd. Buellton, CA 93427

Rigg Contracting was founded over a decade ago as an answer to the growing need for custom home builders and commercial general contractors that balance old-world craftsmanship with modern-day methods. Evan Rigg leads the company’s multidisciplinary team of construction and management experts. This in-house crew allows the company to cater to a wide variety of projects and services: preconstruction work, project management, budgeting and estimations, owner representation, and quality assurance. 

The firm’s breadth of experience enables it to take on high-value and complex projects for the luxury residential sector. One of its most interesting projects was the remodel of a master bedroom and bath for this Spanish-inspired residence. The challenge was to stay faithful to the home’s existing architectural context while introducing new and updated details into the design. The result is a bedroom space that highlights the timeless appeal of stained wood materials, exposed beams and ceilings, custom light fixtures, and an overall bright and warm palette combination.