Massachusetts has a diverse range of neighborhoods, each with a unique character. The state offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with various housing options, amenities, and attractions to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you are looking for a vibrant city center, a quiet suburb, or a diverse community, there is a perfect neighborhood for everyone in Massachusetts.
The homes that line up the city’s charming streets are built by the best custom home builders in Massachusetts, featured in the list below. These firms have continuously raised the standards in the residential building sector and have proven themselves to be trustworthy partners. They were evaluated and selected based on their expertise, proven track records, and portfolios of exceptional homes.
Howell Custom Building Group
The Riverwalk Complex, 370 Merrimack St. Suite 405, Lawrence, MA 01843
Established in 1997 by Steve and Susan Howell, Howell Custom Building Group has redefined the residential construction experience on Massachusetts’ North Shore. With over 25 years of expertise and 800+ successfully completed projects, the firm has earned the trust of countless homeowners. Its disciplined planning guarantees that projects are delivered on time and within budget, ensuring a seamless experience for homeowners and design partners. The Howell team continues to lead the industry with unwavering professionalism and innovation, offering a range of styles, including craftsman, transitional, traditional, and contemporary, all of which are tailored to meet its clients’ unique visions and preferences.
This expansive Adirondack-style custom home perfectly blends style and functionality. The open floor plan and dark wood finishes create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while the unique features, such as the three-story indoor climbing wall, make it a truly one-of-a-kind home. Its exterior features monumental stonework and large chimneys with hand-carved granite caps, anchoring the home to its surroundings. Howell Custom Building Group successfully met the homeowners’ challenges to align millwork lines, construct multiple intersecting curved forms around the front entrance, and create a flanged base at the bottom of the shingles, resulting in a truly stunning home.
Merz Construction Inc.
168 Bingham Rd, Carlisle, MA 01741
Merz Construction, a distinguished custom home builder with 37 years of industry expertise, specializes in high-end residential projects across Greater Boston. Founded by Jonathan Merz in 1986, the firm has garnered numerous accolades for its exceptional craftsmanship and the creation of exquisite homes. It cultivates robust partnerships, uniting everyone involved to materialize the vision of each home. Embracing a culture of collaboration and teamwork, the Merz team values every stakeholder’s input, with clients always occupying a central position. As dedicated advocates, the team consistently prioritizes their clients’ interests, offering expert advice and recommendations to clients and the design team. Merz Construction focuses on pushing the envelope on energy efficiency, sustainable building practices and MEP systems and solutions that are balanced with the building envelope. Detailed care is taken selecting the products being used in the construction of the home to protect indoor air quality to meet the goals of each client.
Evergreen Gallery is a 7,000-square-foot custom home built on the site of a former Christmas tree farm and surrounded by towering pines and wildflower meadows. The house, created by Merz Construction, incorporates beautiful gathering spaces for entertaining, as well as private quarters for daily living. Visitors cross a bridge to enter the second floor and proceed through intriguing passageways, revealing a series of courtyards, skylights, and an impressive art collection. In recognition of its excellence, this home was awarded the Honor Award for Design Excellence from the BSA Design Awards and was featured in Designing the Dream and Boston Globe Magazine.
Brookes + HIll Custom Builders
187 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02452
With over 28 years of experience serving New England and the surrounding areas, Brookes + Hill offers a fresh perspective on delivering high-end custom homes to local homeowners. The firm is deeply passionate about its work, viewing it as a privilege to create homes that profoundly impact the lives of families. Recognizing the complexity and emotional investment involved in custom home projects, the team assures clients of uncompromised quality and timely delivery. It also values collaboration with architects, designers, and craftspeople, forming a dedicated team that transforms clients’ visions into one-of-a-kind homes.
Nestled along the picturesque Barnes Hill Road, this remarkable residence overlooks the serene beauty of Long Island Sound in Fairfield County, a region steeped in history with numerous Revolutionary War sites nearby. The homeowners, avid collectors of contemporary art from their global adventures, needed a spacious canvas. The result, designed by Brookes + Hill, is a modern barn surrounded by meadows and trees. Inside, a gallery corridor that showcases the homeowners’ art leads to a bright living and dining area featuring vaulted ceilings and dormered windows. Sunshine also cascades into the kitchen, where a large skylight illuminates the space, emphasizing the twin quartz-topped islands. The finished house is a standing masterpiece in both art and architecture.
C.H. Newton Builders, Inc.
549 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA 02574
C.H. Newton Builders (CHN) was founded in 1958 with a visionary plan to create a community of top-tier custom homes on thirty acres of land in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Now in its fourth generation, this family-owned custom homebuilding company has expanded its presence across New England. With a team of over 40 industry experts and a loyal client base spanning more than five decades, the firm remains dedicated to expertise, customization, and uncompromising quality in every project. Its team considers each house not just a home, but an enduring heirloom, exemplifying its unwavering commitment to excellence.
CHN partnered with Hutker Architects to create Sampson’s Retreat, a brand new, gambrel-style estate overlooking Sampson’s Island in Cotuit. The home features distinctive custom features throughout, including flooring with dark stain hues, rift and quartered white oak casework and millwork, and a tailor-made kitchen area equipped with a built-in wine rack. Its gambrel roof creates a unique silhouette and expresses spaciousness and grandeur. This home’s distinctive features, custom design, and stunning location make it the perfect place to relax, entertain, and enjoy the beauty of Cape Cod.
Concept Building
337 Boston Post Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
Established in 2009 by Jeff Capello, Concept Building operates on the core principles of fostering lasting client relationships and building a robust in-house team supported by skilled subcontractors. With a B.S. in Field Journalism and Public Relations from Emerson College, along with 12 years of construction expertise, Jeff Capello values creative collaboration in custom home building.
The company’s commitment to aligning construction with client and architect visions is evident in its focus on large-scale renovations, historic preservation, and whole-house remodels throughout Massachusetts, including Martha’s Vineyard.
Saltsman Brenzel, Inc.
535 Albany St, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02118
Established in 1999, Saltsman Brenzel, Inc. is renowned for its excellence in Boston’s architectural landscape. Thomas Saltsman founded the firm, having previously honed his skills as a fine woodworker in the U.S. and abroad. Concurrently, Jason Brenzel, with a background in Philosophy, began his journey on the East Coast, balancing family life and involvement in Boston’s homebuilding and renovation projects before co-founding Saltsman Brenzel. Together, their unwavering commitment to quality and meticulous attention to detail has earned them esteemed recognition as Best of Boston’s Custom Home Design/Build firm. Saltsman Brenzel is skilled in various architectural styles and designs, including modern contemporary and tudor, and it is an expert in seamlessly blending timeless elements with modern innovation.
Perched elegantly on Foster Street, with a commanding view of Marblehead Harbor in Massachusetts, this newly constructed home is a testament to Saltsman Brenzel’s thoughtful design. The unique curvature of its plan artfully directs the interior spaces toward the dramatic waterfront. Meanwhile, the entry side of the residence offers a delightful contrast, providing a sense of shelter and privacy amidst the lush, verdant landscape that envelops it. Inside, the interior is a vision of tasteful elegance, a testament to the skillful touch of Molly Frey Interiors. This harmonious blend of architecture and interior design ensures that every facet of this home celebrates the picturesque location it calls home.
Youngblood Builders
830 Moody St., Waltham, MA 02453
Youngblood Builders, led by Principal Jim Youngblood, has provided Massachusetts and Northern California a luxury home building experience for over 13 years. It is recognized for bringing clients’ unique visions to life, tackling even the most intricate designs with a sense of accomplishment. With an adept team of construction managers and supervisors, the firm meticulously selects top-tier subcontractors and suppliers to partner with, and demonstrates the proficiency to implement technical refinements during construction. Its commitment to exemplary practices encompasses transparent construction schedules and comprehensive financial reports, ensuring clients are consistently well-informed. Client engagement is also enthusiastically embraced; the firm operates with an eagerness to receive questions and input. Nurturing robust relationships among builders, clients, architects, and design professionals is also core to its approach, in order to yield exceptional project outcomes.
Reflective of the firm’s expertise in producing a classic and elegant home is this shingle-style residence. The home, which is surrounded by lush green flora, is seemingly tucked away in nature, offering privacy and a serene ambiance. The home’s exterior features a monochromatic light-toned palette, with matching dark gray shutters, a matching roof, and stunning front porch columns. Large windows cover the house, bringing in ample light and doubling as a sustainable feature. The interior, meanwhile, features a spectacular center staircase that stands as the home’s most striking custom architectural detail.
