As the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvania is known as the “Keystone State” for its central role in U.S. history. Due to its rich historical background, Pennsylvania features stately colonial homes, striking red brick houses, sprawling Victorian mansions, and dense rowhomes. Often located in Pennsylvania’s picturesque countryside, these historical estates were once the homes of presidents and other famous figures.

Responsible for building and remodeling these beautiful, timeless homes are talented general contractors. Although there are several contractors throughout Pennsylvania, 15 stand out for the quality of their projects, which have earned significant recognition and prestigious awards.

15) Carosella Design Build, Ltd.

17 Colonial Road Havertown, PA 19083

Carosella Design Build is a full-service remodeling and construction firm that specializes in renovating existing structures–from small projects, such as kitchen and bathroom remodeling, to more extensive work, such as whole-home renovations and basement finishing. The firm is led by Lino Carosella, who is a proud Certified Remodeler, Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler, and green builder. As the company is an active member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s DelChester Chapter, Carosella has served terms as the association’s Chairman of the Board and President.

The firm’s work often features colonial themes and showcases the company’s cabinetry and woodwork. Carosella Design Build is the proud recipient of various industry accolades from the DelChester Contractor of the Year Awards, including multiple Best Residential Kitchen and Best Residential Bathroom Awards.

14) Master’s Design Build Group

416 Derstine Road Hatfield, PA 19440

A full-service and award-winning design-build firm, Master’s Design Build Group provide both residential and commercial services. Led by owner Brian J. Martin, a Certified Remodeler, the firm specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, basement finishing, home additions, and outdoor living spaces. The firm is best known for its cherry cabinetry, maple accents, beautiful hardwood flooring, and sleek granite countertops.

Since its inception in 2003,  Master’s Design Build Group has had the honor of winning various Contractor of the Year (CoTY) awards from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). In 2015, it was the only firm in the northeastern United States to earn three regional CoTY accolades.

13) Hellings Builders

150 N. Radnor Chester Road Suite F-200 Radnor, PA 19087

Established in 1977, Hellings Builders was founded by Ross Hellings, who oversees each project with business partner and experienced remodeler Jay Thuer, who joined the company back in 2000.

A simple, timeless, and seamless combination of aesthetics and functionality, the firm’s signature work is the revival of a classic colonial home. Receiving the Best Renovation Award earlier this year, Hellings Builders has earned several accolades from the Home Builders Association.

12) Osborne Construction

6351 McCallum St. Philadelphia, PA 19144

Osborne Construction is a design-build firm based in Philadelphia that offers a seamless integration of architectural design and project management construction services. The brainchild of Brian Osborne, the company was established in 2005, when Osborne began working on custom homes and historic renovations all across Philadelphia in an effort to continue his family’s tradition of home building and remodeling on the East Coast.

The firm has since been known for its innovative reuse of existing buildings and creative restorations of historic homes. Some of the firm’s most notable projects include a renovation of a mid-century home designed by the late and well-respected architect Frank Weiss. Osborne Construction has also worked on a historic restoration of a George Woodward residence. The company’s work has been featured in Domino Magazine, Philly Magazine Insider, and Sprudge. Ensuring the quality of the firm’s designs is a team of experienced in-house architects, some of whose work has been featured in Architectural Record, Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Interior Design.

11) Calfayan Construction Associates

2528 Huntingdon Pike, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

With over 25 years of experience, Calfayan Construction Associates specializes in whole-house remodeling and in both residential and commercial work. Throughout its years in the industry,  the firm has won multiple regional and national CoTY awards, including Best Residential Addition, Residential Interior, and Best Historical Renovation/Restoration. The firm has also won various Chrysalis Awards, one of which was the Philadelphia State Remodeler of the Year Award.

Assuming leadership of the firm in 2000, Laura Calfayan has been the driving force behind the firm’s building and remodeling of stately colonial homes. Under her leadership, the company earned a spot on Remodeling Magazine’s prestigious Big 50 list.

10) Creative Contracting Inc.

PO Box 1475 North Wales, PA 19454

Creative Contracting is a locally owned and operated firm that has been in business since 1988. Its services include family spaces; specialized home features, such as expanded cabinet spacing; kitchen and bathroom remodeling; and home additions. The company’s rich portfolio showcases its specialty for building in colonial styles. From hardwood floors to beautiful wood beams, the firm’s excellent craftsmanship has earned them numerous industry awards.

The firm has received multiple CoTY awards and has been featured on Remodeler Magazine’s Big 50 list and Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list.

9) Billingham Built, LLC

 | 47 Perry Auger Road P.O. Box 86 Erwinna, PA 18920

With over four decades in the industry, Billingham Built is proudly one of the 47 Master Certified Remodelers throughout the nation. Throughout its years in the industry, the firm has been recognized various times for its superb work. The company has received over 18 CoTY Awards, a prestigious Big 50 Award, and a Chrysalis Award for being a Top Remodeler. Led by Joe Billingham, the firm provides kitchen and bathroom remodeling, home additions, and specialty building services. The firm often builds in colonial styles and consistently gives clients the option to build green.

For his continuous efforts to educate himself in various building techniques to improve his craft and better the construction industry, the Bucks Montgomery NARI chapter honored Joe by naming the Joseph Billingham Education Award after him.

8) Custom Craft Design Build Remodel

224 Bustard Road, Lansdale, PA 19446

Established in 1982, Custom Craft Design Build Remodel is an award-winning firm that provides a wide array of services, including interior design work, home additions, kitchen renovations, bathroom remodeling, and basement finishing. The firm also works on renovations to improve accessibility, which is also known as “aging-in-place” work. With a penchant for simple yet sleek and modern designs, the firm has received numerous CoTY Awards, some of which have recognized the firm’s efforts in aging-in-place work.

A consistent winner of the regional CoTY Award for the Entire House Under $250k category, the firm makes the most of the design-build approach.

7) Harth Builders

1021 N. Bethlehem Pike Spring House, PA 19477

An award-winning and full-service remodeling contractor, Harth Builders is a two-time recipient of the Chrysalis Award and has been a consistent winner at the annual CoTY Awards since 2004. The firm was recently recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of the fastest growing companies both locally and in the Greater Philadelphia region.

With an extensive portfolio consisting of contemporary and colonial designs, the firm takes pride in its design-build process and provides a vast range of services—from custom home building to whole-house remodeling.

6) Cherokee Construction

820 Paper Mill Road Wyndmoor, PA 19038

Cherokee Construction is a full-service contractor that specializes in high-end residential projects and commercial work. The firm’s services include large-scale home renovations, custom home building, construction management, office building, and shopping center construction. Located just outside Philadelphia,  Cherokee Construction serves the counties of Eastern Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester. The firm’s portfolio is a showcase of extravagant estates and contemporary art deco homes. The company has also experimented with traditional styles and has restored historic homes and farmhouses, thus demonstrating the versatility of its craft.

The firm was recognized with a Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and a Design Award of Excellence from the Pennsylvania Council Society of American Registered Architects. The company’s work has also graced the pages of several magazines, including Builder/Architect, Elle Decor, and Philadelphia Magazine.

5) Gehman Design Remodeling

355 Main Street Harleysville, PA 19438

Established in 1990 by Dennis and Glenda Gehman, Gehman Design Remodeling is an award-winning and full-service design-build firm that provides its services throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. The firm specializes in both contemporary and colonial designs and has worked on a vast array of home remodeling projects.

From kitchen and bathroom remodeling to sunroom construction, the firm has been honored with several CoTY Awards and has been featured in Professional Remodeler magazine. In addition, the firm is one of the few select firms in the country that can call itself a Master Certified Remodeler.

4) Brett King Builder

7843 Richlandtown Road, Quakertown, PA 18951

Founded by Brett King in 1982, Brett King Builder is an award-winning design-build firm that specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, deck and patio building, historic and farmhouse restoration, home addition construction, and whole-house renovation. The firm also provides assisted living alteration services and in-law suite construction. Brett King Builder’s designs are often characterized by their creative masonry and woodwork. Often,  the firm’s homes feature not only traditional and colonial styles but also modern and eclectic styles, as well as Cape Cod themes.

The firm has been a proud and consistent winner of numerous CoTY Awards since 1996, including Best Residential Addition, Best Residential Historical Remodel, and Best Entire House Remodel.  

3) J. Schwartz, LLC Remodeling & Fine Homebuilding

7 East King St., Malvern, PA 19355

Schwartz is an award-winning and full-service remodeling firm led by Joe Schwartz, an architectural civil engineer whose experience extends from small-scale to multimillion-dollar residential projects. Known for its colonial styles and rustic themes, the firm has been recognized on a national level in various publications, including Qualified Remodeler. The firm prides itself on its innovative approach to the building process. Utilizing the latest building science, J. Schwartz uses a unique procedure to determine the parameters of a particular home.

This procedure helps the firm’s team determine a house’s safety, efficiency, and even health. J. Schwartz’s clients receive their very own web-based management system to keep them posted about their home’s progress. Available 24 hours a day and accessible from any location, the system provides clients with progress photos, document files, and schedules.

2) Phillip Johnson Construction

728 Pine St Philadelphia, PA 19106

Founded in 1980, Philip Johnson Construction is known for its historic restoration work. From simple and small remodeling to full-scale multimillion-dollar restorations, the firm has had the honor of working on the historical reconstruction of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The firm was also commissioned to restore the office and “laboratory” of the famous architect, Frank Weise. Moreover, the firm works on high-end residential projects and specializes in art deco themes.

The company’s work has graced the pages of various publications, including Architectural Record and The Wall Street Journal. Constructed by a team of dedicated and skilled builders and architects, the firm’s homes are characterized by their high ceilings, eclectic themes, and clean lines.

1) Hanson General Contracting Inc.

86 West Johnson St. Philadelphia, PA 19144

Hanson General Contracting was founded in 2008 by John Hanson, who serves on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Preservation Alliance, and Christopher Hanson, a LEED-accredited professional, and Passive House Institute US Certified Builder. The firm’s homes are often characterized by their art deco styles, which are often infused with unique shapes and expansive windows. The rooms the firm builds and remodels not only emphasize natural elements, such as woodwork and stucco work but also highlight clean lines, which reflect the firm’s minimalist style. The firm also works on green building projects and makes efforts to construct more energy-efficient homes.

With a vast range of beautiful homes in its portfolio, the firm has caught the eye of multiple publications, including This Old House, the Pennsylvania Gazette, and the American Institute of Architects’ official website. The firm has also received various industry awards, such as a Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance and the Philadelphia American Institute of Architects’  Award of Excellence.

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