Lafayette provides its residents with a suburban feel with retail and entertainment options like restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. It is a popular choice for retirees, and a significant portion of its population owns their own homes. Its local residential architecture scene depicts varying home styles, from predominant classic Spanish-Californian Colonials to the most modern homes. 

This list showcases ten of the area’s best custom home builders. They were chosen based not only on merit but also on their various accomplishments throughout their years in business and their special and unique skills. Several of these firms depict expertise for an excellent range of designs, in addition to some of Lafayette’s most famous architectural vernaculars. 

Benjamin D. Construction

3641 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549

Benjamin D. Construction specializes in every phase and aspect of the home remodeling and construction industry. It is also regarded for its superb interior design services and its expertise in an extensive range of architectural themes. The firm operates out of its office in Lafayette, with some of its best spaces found in the most sought-after neighborhoods of Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Alamo, Danville, Pleasanton, Berkeley, and Albany. At its helm is its owner, founder, and namesake, Benjamin Dumitrascuta. He is a second-generation builder who first learned the trade of the craft through his father, an experienced and talented professional. Under his supervision, the firm has secured a solid reputation for itself, in addition to an excellent clientele list. 

The firm is noted for its incredible attention to detail. Its team assists with things such as design cabinetry, looking for materials, and working on schedules. The bathroom remodel showcased in this article best depicts the company’s expertise. For this space, the firm’s team opted for various unique fixtures, a separate walk-in shower encased in glass, great lighting, and large windows. 

Diamond Construction

PO Box 477, Lafayette, CA 94549

Lafayette-based Diamond Construction is a general contractor that does not limit itself to a specific home style. Its strength lies in its ability to work with various architectural themes, from the most intricate Mediterranean styles to contemporary Craftsman designs. The firm offers its clients detailed budgeting, billing, and timelines analysis, all while maintaining a highly hands-on approach. Now in its second generation of builders, Diamond Construction specializes in building custom homes and estates. Since the firm’s inception, it has worked on over 500 residential and commercial projects. With more than three decades of industry experience to offer, the firm is led by its founder Keith Stone. He and his team continue to serve new and returning clients with these excellent services guaranteed to last for years to come. Their expertise is best embodied by the project displayed.

Completed in Danville, this project is the product of a collaboration with Dennis Giacovelli, Roger Tinsman, and Jeff Wortham. It challenged the firm with its extensive remodel and assisted its client with everything. This project had to frame the main structure in steel and concrete to achieve several open spaces better. It also worked on several outdoor entertainment areas and a pool. 

Douglah Designs

3535 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549

Douglah Designs is an expert in the design-build approach. This means that they keep the entire process in-house, lessening the homeowners’ challenge of looking for additional professionals and subcontractors. They specialize in luxury home remodeling and naturally has its in-house team of talented and experienced artisans. Aside from its whole house remodels, Douglah is also noted for its excellent home additions, kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, and facade improvements. The firm has been owned and operated by Leila Douglah since 1997 and extends its services throughout the Bay Area.  It employs over 25 professionals who also oversee the company’s showroom. In 2011, Douglah Designs was named Small Business of the Year by the Contra Costa Council. It has also been recognized for its green building efforts and is the proud recipient of the Environmental Award of Excellence for Local Business in 2015 by the City of Lafayette.

The project displayed best embodies the company’s expertise in bathrooms. For this space, its team worked on a separate walk-in shower encased in glass. The waterjet tile on the floor & wall niche coupled with the richness of the Calacatta Gold marble in the shower, on the tub deck, and on the vanity top, add a touch of class to this already elegant bathroom!

Gayler Design Build

390 Diablo Rd. Suite #210, Danville, CA 94526

Operating out of its office in Danville, Gayler Design Build services the Tri-Valley and Lamorinda regions’ entirety. It has been in business since 1961 and has secured a solid reputation for its excellent services. It takes great pride in the multitude of accolades it has won throughout the years and is the proud recipient of over 20 national and regional design awards. The firm has completed all of its homes and spaces on-time and within the agreed-upon budget, from completing whole house remodels, bath renovations, and additions to finishing outdoor living spaces. It is a family-owned and operated business that utilizes hands-on processes. Its work comes with a five-year written warranty rather than a standard one-year warranty, assuring clients of its work quality.

Gayler Design Build created this excellent kitchen remodel in Alamo. The project showcases a transitional design and challenged the company with working on a great blend of traditional and contemporary elements. Some of its best features include upper cabinets installed over its kitchen island with dual-sided cabinet doors and Delta Frost textured glass. It also installed maintenance-free Quartz countertops, a stainless steel Zephyr hood, and a great backsplash. 

Jetton Construction

1117-A Virginia St., Berkeley, CA 94702 

Jetton Construction is an award-winning firm that has completed over 500 projects since its founding in 1980. It draws inspiration from its decades of experience and cultivates an environment of constant growth and communication among its team members and clients. It also is growing an inclination towards contemporary designs and techniques. It collaborates with the area’s best and leading subcontractors and has secured excellent relationships with some of the Bay Area’s best artisans. To add to its credentials, the firm also assists its clients throughout the entire process, remaining engaged and attentive to the smallest details. It comes as no surprise that the firm is the proud recipient of many awards, especially from the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA).

The project above best depicts the firm’s expertise. It had the honor of being featured on the cover of ELLE Décor Magazine in April 2016. It entailed the large-scale transformation of an 1870s YMCA summer camp into an eclectic family home. Inside, it showcases high ceilings, intricate finishes, and state-of-the-art home systems. 

Kasten Builders

3419 Regatta Blvd., Richmond, CA 94804

Kasten Builders extends its services throughout the Bay Area. Its business is rooted in effective communication, quality control, and teamwork. It offers a complete range of custom home building and remodeling services and is experienced in every aspect and stage of the entire process. Its experienced team assists its clients from start to finish and has the skills, materials, and methods necessary to execute any project regardless of complexity. Denny Kasten leads the firm and serves as its president. He holds a degree in Architecture from Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan, and first gained experience working with general contractors during his time as a student. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to become one of the area’s most recognizable firms that have worked in some of the best neighborhoods in Marin, Sonoma, Napa counties, and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area.

This home remodel can be found in Vista Tiburon. It entailed a complete interior renovation along with the addition of a home theater in its former crawl space. The company also worked on expanding the home’s decks. The space primarily showcases a contemporary theme coupled with minimalist finishes and a neutral color palette. 

KW Builders

3381 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549

The featured project is an excellent new home that features great exteriors reminiscent of a classic farmhouse theme. It depicts a modern touch, given its minimalist features coupled with timeless traditional elements. This can be seen through its exposed beams, trellised windows, and high roofs. KW Builders crafted the project along with numerous other renovations and remodels. It is a licensed, bonded, and insured residential construction company that operates out of Lafayette. The company has worked on the construction and remodeling of numerous homes in the East Bay Area. It primarily specializes in traditional, contemporary, and Craftsman-style homes. It is also known for its outstanding team of carpenters and collaborations with some of the area’s leading subcontractors. 

For the extensive home renovation above, the company opted for a transitional theme. It features clean brick backsplashes, unique overhead lighting, and a breakfast bar that doubles as its kitchen island. The firm also installed custom cabinetry, as well as large trellised windows. 

McNamara Development and Construction

3356 Las Huertas Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549 

McNamara Development and Construction is a family-owned and operated business that works out of its office in Lafayette. It has been in business since 2004 and specializes in single-family homes. The firm primarily focuses on comprehensive construction and designs, which are all often infused with various green elements. This assures clients of the sustainability and high efficiency of its work. The McNamara team assists throughout the entire process and ensures that each of its work receives the benefit of their great collective experience. They also showcase talent for an extensive range of designs, with their skill best seen in this featured project. 

This quaint family home is located in Santa Maria. The firm was tasked with its extensive updating and remodel. It now features wonderful bamboo wood flooring with a kitchen containing a Caesar Stone island. It also designed and crafted a cozy breakfast nook. The home also showcases a great open floor plan, as well as great indoor-outdoor living spaces. 

MSK Design Build

37 Quail Court Suite #200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Founded in 2001, MSK Design Build specializes in comprehensive remodeling services and is regarded for its stellar work. It is manned by an award-winning team of experienced professionals, who together have successfully completed numerous lauded projects for the company. Some of its most noteworthy awards include several Contractor of the Year distinctions from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. It begins its process with a detailed initial consultation, allowing for its team to get an excellent idea of its client’s lifestyles and needs. Throughout the project duration, these clients can actively oversee their new homes or spaces via the firm’s very own software. This interactive application allows homeowners to keep track of selections, materials, as well as schedules. 

The modern Alamo project above was completed in just a span of roughly 15 weeks. It features an open floor plan, high gloss white laminate cabinets, and faux wood laminate cabinets for the island. Several handmade details can also be observed, along with wonderful backsplashes and clean countertops.