California is a state of endless possibilities and known for its natural beauty, diverse culture, and booming economy. From the golden beaches of the coast to the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, California is where you can find anything you want. The state is home to many of the world’s most vibrant cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. It offers residents a wide range of entertainment, recreation, and cultural opportunities.

If you want to build a custom home in California, the list below features the leading custom home builders to consider. Our team handpicked the firms after evaluating their portfolios, backgrounds, awards, industry affiliations, and press features. 

Marmol Radziner

12210 Nebraska Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Launched in 1989, Marmol Radziner is a unique design-build firm led by architects. Since its inception, the company has developed a strong reputation for innovative design and precision in applying construction standards. The firm offers interior design services, custom furniture design, and fabrication. The company’s in-house designers and master artisans can create environments at any level of customization.

By taking the traditional “master builder” role, Marmol Radziner uses various design services with construction capabilities. The studio employs over 200 people in its office, shops, and field.

The many honors of the firm include being named to Architectural Digest’s prestigious AD100 and being ranked one of the 15 Best Architects In Los Angeles. The firm also maintains affiliations with the American Institute of Architects California and the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Patterson Custom Homes

15 Corporate Plaza Drive, Suite 150, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Specializing exclusively in building custom homes and luxury estates in Coastal Orange County, Patterson Custom Homes is not your typical general contractor. As the largest independent custom home builder in Orange County, the firm has wowed nearly 300 families in the past two decades, transforming their visions into beautifully appointed dream homes built to stand the test of time, both structurally and conceptually.

Patterson Custom Homes is run by certified California Real Estate Broker Andrew Patterson as its founder and president. Andrew holds a degree from Colorado State University in construction management with a minor in real estate finance. Under his watch, the studio has been awarded the 2022 Best in American Living Awards Platinum and in 2021 the firm won The Nationals Awards Gold and Silver, both from the National Association of Home Builders.

Tourmaline Builders

400 S Sierra Avenue, Suite 201, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Tourmaline Builders, headquartered in San Diego, specializes in building exceptional homes in coastal communities. Launched in 2011, the studio is led by president Ben Ryan who earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Harvard Business School and Yale University, respectively. Under Ben’s watch, some of the firm’s works have been featured in San Diego Business Journal, Modern Architecture + Design, and La Jolla Light.

Tourmaline has also won numerous design awards, including five Icon Awards for custom home design, and is a past finalist for the National Association of Home Builders’ nationwide award for Best Design of a Custom Home. The company built the first spec home in San Diego to earn the prestigious LEED certification for sustainable building practices and has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in San Diego.”

Jackson Design & Remodeling

4797 Mercury Street, San Diego, CA 92111

Jackson Design and Remodeling has offered residential general contracting and new home construction services to the San Diego area since 1989. Todd Jackson, President and CEO, has built a lasting reputation in the remodeling industry for quality and service. JDR has been acknowledged nationally for its exceptional design work on multiple occasions. It won the national HGTV Fresh Faces of Design awards in the Kitchen + Dining category, the Master Design awards, a number of CotY awards, and it has received numerous local and regional recognitions.

Todd Jackson is a Certified Green Professional and Certified Aging in Place Specialist taking the lead for the firm. Under his supervision, Jackson Design and Remodeling holds affiliations with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

Hill Construction Company

4626 Albuquerque Street, 2nd Floor, San Diego, CA 92109

Hill Construction Company is a leading residential builder specializing in high-end technical construction and thoughtfully crafted luxury homes. For over 45 years, its award-winning team has made challenging projects look effortless, from historic preservation to cutting-edge contemporary designs. 

Adept in modern technologies and sophisticated modeling systems, the company has mastered complexities beyond other builders’ scope. Hill Construction partners with nationally acclaimed architects to create extraordinary, enduring homes throughout the Western United States.

Hill Construction’s most recent honors include being the 2022 Spotlight Honors Winner for Best Custom Home of the Year. It was also given the Merit Award during the 2022 Gold Nugget Awards.

Timeline Design + Build

14401 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070

Timeline Design + Build is a custom home builder with 30 years of background designing and building forever homes for Silicon Valley executives, engineers, tech workers, and venture capitalists. The firm provides architecture, design, construction, custom home, and remodeling services, always with the goal to be the “most trusted builder in Silicon Valley.” When working with the studio, clients can trust that its in-house architects, interior designers, and builders can provide one point of contact for every custom home build.

Perry Residence for Timeline Design by Dean Birinyi

Timeline Design + Build was launched in 1990 and currently runs under the leadership and supervision of founder and CEO Matthew Harrigan. Matthew has 30 years of experience in construction and holds degrees in civil engineering from Santa Clara University and electrical and electronics engineering from UC San Diego’s Computer Science and Engineering Department.

Stonehurst Group

11271 Ventura Boulevard, #107, Studio City, CA 91604

Led by president and CEO Justin Krzyston, Stonehurst Group provides its clients with a single point of contact for all their property management needs. Its clients benefit from the expertise of a licensed general contractor overseeing every aspect of their property maintenance and seasonal upkeep. The company specializes in design-build and custom homes, and it has the reputation of providing the highest level of professional services while maintaining long-term relationships with its clients.

Stonehurst Group’s property management division was formed after its clients’ continuous requests to oversee their properties’ daily operations, even after general construction had been completed. The firm consults its clients on design and construction and assists in the new home buying and inspection process.

Some of Stonehurst’s works have appeared on the pages of Forbes, Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, Dwell, and Luxe Magazine.

Root Construction

17216 Saticoy Street #180, Van Nuys, CA 91406

Launched in 2006, Root Construction is among Los Angeles’ leading providers of design-build, residential remodeling, ground-up and commercial construction, project management, consultation, and construction investigation services. Working with the firm gives homeowners more than a contractor: they get a partner who is as invested in the outcome of their project as they are.

In his 20 years of experience in construction, founder Matt Myers has done it all and seen it all. Today, he is passionate about doing things differently and right, every time. Matt is a Certified Green Builder Professional who graduated from the University of California Berkeley Extension with a degree in construction project scheduling and control.

Some of Root Construction’s works have been featured by Traditional Home, 100 More of the World’s Best Houses, Contemporary Houses, Southern Bell, Architectural Digest, and Malibu Magazine.

CMF Homebuilders

9903 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 626, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

CMF Homebuilders is proud to bring over 40 years of experience to every project it undertakes. It specializes in general construction and custom home builds for homeowners across Southern California. Although the company has grown over the years, its mission of building quality homes that exceed the expectations of its clients remains the same.

Run by its founder Barry Chase, the entire CMF team stands by its mission and lasting business principles of quality, efficiency, and integrity in all it does. Its unique experience allows the studio to provide unmatched operational and project excellence on all of its custom home projects, always embracing the values of accountability and reliability.

CMF Homebuilders has piqued the press’s interest and has been featured in Architect Magazine, Home World Design, Los Angeles Business Journal, Harmonies Magazine, and Contemporist.

Dugally Oberfeld

484 S San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Built in 1998, Dugally Oberfeld specializes in custom luxury homes in styles that range from traditional villas to modern estates. Its mission is to create the finest homes with uncompromised quality while providing outstanding service with transparency and integrity. Whether clients are gathering inspiration or breaking ground for their dream home, the company is always ready to help.

Matthew Dugally and Mauricio Oberfield are the studio’s principals. Matthew earned his urban planning and land development degree from the University of Southern California; Mauricio is an architecture graduate of the same university. Under their watch, some of Dugally Oberfeld’s works can be seen on the pages of DesignBiz Survival Guide, Evertalk TV, LA Confidential, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, and The Showroom.