Palo Alto means “tall tree,” and the town’s roadways are lined with approximately 36,000 trees. It is located in sunny Silicon Valley and is home to major technology businesses such as Google and Hewlett-Packard. It is secure, has many parks and open areas, and some of the country’s top schools. Palo Alto is an excellent place to raise a family.

If you’re a Palo Alto resident looking for the best remodeling contractor to give your space a refreshed look, below is a list of firms to consider. Our team chose each contractor after examining their portfolio, affiliations, awards, and press features.

Harrell Design + Build

944 Industrial Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94303

Designing stunning and highly functional homes that reflect the homeowners’ style is the work that has inspired Harrell Design + Build’s team of employee-owners for 35 years. Established in 1985, it is an employee-owned company and a full-service design-build firm specializing in residential interior and exterior design. The studio’s projects range from remodeling condominiums to larger estate homes. It also has boutique projects that focus on a few impactful elements of design change or more expansive eco-efficient interior spaces. 

If desired, Harrell Design + Build can create homes its clients’ will enjoy well into their “sunset years,” made possible through its aging-in-place capability. The company currently runs under the direction of CEO Lisa Sten. Under her watch, the studio has developed affiliations with industry organizations, including the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, the National Kitchen & Bath Association, The California Council for Interior Design Certification, The National Association of Women in Construction, and GuildQuality.

Next Stage Design + Build

2157 O’Toole Ave. Suite #70, San Jose, CA 95131

Next Stage Design + Build has provided homeowners with a seamless, predictable, and transparent remodeling experience since 2004. Whether a simple bath update or a whole-house remodel, the firm creates beautiful and functional living spaces with guaranteed quality for its clients. The studio’s design-build experts team includes certified designers equipped to help homeowners achieve the design vision of their new space. The firm guides clients through the many decisions in the design process so that when they are ready to build the project, all the details have already been carefully reviewed. 

Next Stage Design + Build’s carpenters are highly skilled craftsmen with extensive experience in framing, electrical, and finish work. The firm is led by Master Certified Remodeler and Certified Remodeling Project Manager Jim Kabel as president. It also holds affiliations with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, the National Kitchen & Bath Association, and GuildQuality.

Bill Fry Construction – WM H. Fry Const. Co.

10351 San Fernando Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014

Bill Fry Construction, also known as WM. H. Fry Construction Company, founded by Bill Fry, is an award-winning Bay Area home remodeling contractor and custom home builder on the Peninsula. Established in 1987, the firm’s home improvement services cover home remodeling, additions, custom home building, kitchen and bath remodeling, outdoor living spaces, and artisanal custom cabinets. 

As a Certified Green Building Professional and EPA Lead-Safe Certified firm with a passive house and net-zero energy home background, the studio offers informed choices for a healthy, energy- and resource-efficient home and can expedite the home improvement project through green building codes. Bill Fry Construction is also acknowledged by industry organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the National Association of Home Builders, and the California Building Industry Association.

Some of the firm’s previous works have piqued the interest of the press and have appeared on the pages of publications like Palo Alto Weekly Home + Design, San Jose Mercury News, HGTV, Columbia Forest Products, and Native Trails.

NorthWall Builders, Inc.

664 Gilman St., Palo Alto, CA 94301

NorthWall Builders, Inc. (NWB) was established in Palo Alto in 1996 by Mark Moragne and Stephen Reller. It specializes in new homes and major remodels in and around the mid-Peninsula, Northern California. The firm brings a profound appreciation for the art and science of fine homebuilding, a deep understanding of the construction business, and an unwavering commitment to service. 

NWB is led by principal architects Brad Bennigson and Wakefield Mist, who both have decades of experience in the business. Under their watch, the company believes that its relationships with clients form the cornerstone to delivering projects of excellent quality, on schedule, and within budget.

NWB has gained the attention of the press and appeared on the pages of renowned publications like Dwell, Luxe, Architectural Digest, California Home & Design, San Francisco Magazine, Maru Magazine, and Coastal Living.

Timeline Design + Build

14401 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070

Timeline Design + Build is a custom home builder with 30 years of experience 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 with a mission 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.

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.

Hammerschmidt Construction, Inc.

1574 Country Club Dr., Los Altos, CA 94024

Hammerschmidt Construction, Inc. is a design-build residential remodeling firm providing creative design and remodeling services to homeowners in Silicon Valley and surrounding communities. Since 1996, it has created value for its customers by providing creative design solutions, accurate fixed-price quotations, exceptional project management, and exemplary service and warranty support.

John Hammerschmidt leads the company as CEO, a landscaping and construction graduate from California Polytechnic State University. John is an EPA Contractor, a Certified Green Building Professional, and a Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler. Under his watch, Hammerschmidt Construction is acknowledged by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Build it Green, Better Business Bureau, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Los Altos Chamber, and California Garden & Landscape History Society.

Supple Homes Inc

​2087 Avy Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025

Supple Homes, Inc. is a small, family-owned residential construction company focused on providing homeowners with mid-peninsula quality craftsmanship at an exceptional value. Exceeding its clients’ expectations is the firm’s primary goal. In 2005, Sean Supple founded the studio with a vision that with a dedication to quality, customer service, and accountability, Supple Homes could grow into one of the most renowned and preferred custom residential builders in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

In 15 years, Supple Homes has become what Sean envisioned. Some of the honors it was given are the 2022 Best Custom Home Builder & Award for Excellence in Client Communications, Best Luxury Residential Construction Company, and Custom Home Builder of The Year, all given during the Global 100 Awards. Supple Homes is also an NAHB Certified Graduate Builder recognized by the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area.

Greenberg Construction

904 Industrial Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94303

Greenberg Construction is a full-service design-build construction company, a sister company of Greenberg Design Gallery, Inc. Based in Palo Alto, the studio is an inventive leader with 13 years of specialized experience in construction in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its full-service and technology-forward approach allow the team to be an effective “one-stop-shop,” offering its clients top-of-the-line residential and commercial architecture, design, and construction services to provide transparency and peace of mind to its clients.

Greenberg Construction was founded by Maor Greenberg in 2013, and he remains the company’s CEO today. Maor is a structural engineering graduate with nine years of experience in the business. He is a Certified Green Professional and is a licensed general contractor in the state of California. Under his watch, the firm has been recognized by industry organizations, including the National Association of the Remodeling Industry San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, the National Kitchen and Bath Association of Southern California, the National Association of Home Builders, the California Building Industry Association, and the Better Business Bureau.

De Mattei Construction

1794 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126

Since 1985, De Mattei Construction has produced award-winning custom homes, residential remodels, and commercial construction throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Its strong commitment to building only the finest for its clients is reflected in its meticulous attention to detail, use of top-grade products, and collaboration with a strong partner network of the best architects, interior designers, subcontractors, and suppliers in California. 

De Mattei operates under the ownership and leadership of Mark De Mattei and has been repeatedly selected by Sunset Magazine to build numerous Sunset Design Houses that showcase exceptional design and build solutions. It was also recognized through the 2021 Palo Alto Stanford Heritage Award, 2019 NARI Award for Remodeling, and the 2022 Grand Award for Best Custom Home Over 8,000 Square Feet during the Gold Nugget Awards.

if you want to know more check out their website here.

Ammirato Construction

1330 White Oaks Rd., Campbell, CA 95008

Headquartered in Campbell, California, Ammirato Construction, Inc. is an award-winning design-build construction firm serving the greater San Francisco Bay area. Its passion is providing homeowners with honest, meticulous craftsmanship and personalized customer service. At Ammirato Construction, unrelenting attention to detail is a hallmark of every project it does. These are all made possible through the seasoned pool of experts behind the team and the leadership of John Ammirato. John is acknowledged by Build It Green as a Certified Green Building Professional with 20 years of experience in the business.

Ammirato Construction has been recognized with multiple local and national awards for remodeling excellence since it entered the business in 2007. Some of these are the 2020 Guildmaster Award Honors from GuildQuality and the 2012 2012 Meta Award and Judges Choice for Green Remodeling.

Starburst Construction Company, Inc.

1207 Redcliff Dr., San Jose, CA 95118

Launched in 1976, Starburst Construction provides design and construction of new luxury homes and renovation projects. Whether it is a new kitchen, bath, addition, landscaping, or a new home, the company uses time-tested systems and strategies that make the process easier for homeowners. Leading Starburst with 46 years of experience is Phil Carey, a San Jose City College construction graduate.

Under Phil’s guidance, some of Starburst’s many honors include the 2016 Multi-award Winner of META National Association of the Remodeling Industry, the 2013 Gold Award for Custom Home over $1 million, and the 2012 Gold Award for Home Remodel from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. It has also appeared on the pages of publications like California Modern Home Magazine, Gentry Home Magazine, Mercury News Silicon Valley’s Best of 2012, and Eichler Network Article.

Harwood Construction

2905 Carolina Ave., Redwood City, CA 94061

As a full-service general contractor, Harwood Construction provides a full-time on-site superintendent and a part-time project manager to update homeowners on budget and schedule, its finish carpenters, and a stable of quality subcontractors. Ideally, it is involved with the clients and their architects at the inception of the design so that it may make recommendations regarding cost, quality, and green construction. Since it is a mid-size company, clients can also receive ongoing personal attention from the owners of Harwood Construction.

Smitty and Tambi Harwood co-own the company and serve as Harwood Construction’s general contractor and project manager. Under their guidance, the studio is acknowledged by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. It is also a Certified Green Building Professional and a recipient of San Mateo’s Green Business Certificate.