Once you choose to create a custom home, it may feel like you have a hundred decisions to make: Where should it be? How large? What style? Who do I hire? The list goes on and on. One increasingly popular way to make the custom home process a lot easier is to hire a design/build firm. Rather than hiring a separate architect and builder, you can hire one company that integrates all of these services under one roof. And in many instances, interior design services are offered as well. By eliminating the separation between the design and construction professionals, not only are you reducing the number of decisions you have to make, but you are likely reducing your overall custom home costs and timeline. And to help make your life even easier, we even did the research for you. Shifting through companies across the region, we found the ten best custom home design/build companies working in Connecticut today.
These CT custom home design/build firms, or master builders, are located from Greenwich to New Haven, and everywhere in between. So whether you are building in Fairfield or Litchfield County, along the rocky Atlantic coastline, or anywhere else in the state, these companies are a great option for a stress-free custom home project. They have rightfully earned a name for themselves not just within in state, but around New England and across the border in New York. They employ the best subcontractors and their in-house architect and design teams will work with you to give you a floor plan and home style that suits your lifestyle, needs, and budget. They are experts in everything from sustainable design and green building techniques to helping you select the right home furnishings. From contemporary townhomes to sprawling country estates, these design/build companies use the newest technologies, pay incredible attention to detail, and offer top-of-the-line customer service.
About our methodology: We considered hundreds of professionals while making this list of the 10 best design/build companies in Connecticut. In addition to professional associations, we heavily weighed recognition the firm has received in the form of awards and press, any prestigious clientele they have worked with, whether or not they collaborate with other top industry professionals, such as interior designers, and what areas they work in, the more exclusive and high-end neighborhoods having greater influence. We also took into account the value of the projects they undertake, years in the business, customer reviews for quality and service, and range of services offered.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
10) Design Builders & Remodeling
904 Ethan Allen Highway, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Where they work: Connecticut
Design Builders & Remodeling is highly respected in the area for their excellent customer service, elite and comprehensive team of employees, and gorgeous, well-built homes. The company really “does it all.” They do renovations, additions, demolition, and gorgeous new construction. Regardless of the size of the project through, the company’s team handles every step of the process from start to finish with precision and an obsession with quality. Awards for Design Builders & Remodeling include being selected by Remodeling magazine as the winner of its 2006 “Big 50” and has been named as “Remodeler of the Year” by The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. Their work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Kitchen and Bath Ideas.
Run by owner David Adams, whose own architectural background has aided his “big picture view” of the custom home process, the practice is unique in its comprehensive approach to custom home building. Adams took the unusual decision to put subcontractors on his payroll to have greater control over quality and timelines than the traditional model of general contracting. The approach has clearly paid off and Design Builders & Remodeling now has separate divisions for painting, plumbing and heating, excavation and landscaping, masonry, roofing, drywall, carpentry, cabinetry, roofing, architecture, and interior design. Design Builders & Remodelers even runs a kitchen showroom in Ridgefield. This means that customers have to wait less time for each step of their home to be started and can rest assured that only the most qualified and trustworthy professionals are involved in their important investment.
9) Milton Development
1046 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880
Where they work: Connecticut
Milton Development is a leading crafter of distinctive luxury homes. They have earned an excellent reputation based on their eye for sophisticated interior and exterior design, a commitment to uncompromising quality in construction, and the unparalleled service they deliver to their clients. The design/build company is known for not cutting corners and for exceeding industry standards for craftsmanship. They value simplicity over complexity and ensure that clients know what to expect throughout the design and construction process — and what everything will cost. Their custom homes are truly of an artisan character, with a timeless quality that will last throughout the years. As a sign of their commitment to clients, they offer a comprehensive in-house service team which is made available to homeowners well after move-in day. Milton Development’s wonderful custom homes have been featured in industry publications, such as athome Magazine.
8) The RAM Group, LLC
10 Glenville St, 3rd Floor, Greenwich, CT 068631, USA
Whey they work: Connecticut and New York
The RAM Group, a Greenwich company specializing in the design and construction of quality custom homes, has become a sought-after custom home firm in the region. Established by Andrew Moore in 1989, the company has gained a solid reputation among clients and peers alike for their quality craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to using only the finest and most durable materials in their homes. Moore opted towards the design/build process for his practice in order to simplify the custom home process for clients, taking a project “from inspiration to completion with a single point of contact.” By giving clients a single point of responsibility for their project, they can reduce the overall timeline and reduce conflicts of ideas and personalities. To best serve their clients and ensure a high-quality product, The RAM Group designs and builds of all of their millwork out of their 4,000 square foot millwork shop, which is staffed with European craftsmen who have been formally trained as cabinetmakers and finishers. And as an added bonus to their clients, the company is also made up of real estate developers. They use their knowledge of local market conditions to make recommendations on each project to protect a client’s important investment.
7) Acadia Design + Build
Monroe, CT
Where they work: Fairfield County
Acadia is a luxury home design/build company serving all of Fairfield County. The high-end practice has built their company on three core principles: Vision, Communication, and Trust. They understand that these three elements are necessary to guide homeowners through the complicated custom home experience. Knowing that building a new home is one of the most significant investments a person makes in their lifetime, they do everything they can to make the design and building process as flawless and rewarding as possible. Owners and Partners Brian Burdo and Brian Burdo take the time to understand what each client wants and needs for their home and tailors their service to deliver what is necessary to turn it into a reality. The pair personally oversees every project and guide clients through each step, from initial concept and planning stages to construction completion. They work with the best artisans and subcontractors to ensure that every material put into their homes is of as high-quality as the initial design and craftsmanship with which it is built.
6) Country Club Homes
462 Danbury Rd, Wilton, CT 06897
Where they work: Fairfield County and surrounding areas
Country Club Homes is one of the most successful and longest-running family-owned residential building firms and general contractors in Connecticut. With at least 18 awards from the Home Builders Association of Connecticut, for a diverse portfolio of projects including custom homes and residential remodeling, Country Club Homes have rightfully become a premier custom home design/build firm in Connecticut. They have built more than 200 homes in and around Fairfield County and their gorgeous houses and luxury estates are regularly featured in local and national publications, including athome, New Canaan/Darien/Wilton/Greenwich Magazines, New England Home Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, and CT Cottages and Gardens. As a sign of the trust they have earned among the home building community, Country Club Homes was selected in 2000 by ‘This Old House’ to be the home builders of their “Dream House Project” designed by world-renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern.
Country Club Homes is today run by President Walter Cromwell, one of the leading custom home builders in Fairfield County since 1955. A native of New Canaan, Cromwell has a wealth of knowledge of the local vernacular to infuse into his homes and extensive connections to the best subcontractors and craftsman in the region. Under his direction, the company has successfully built homes in dozens of different architectural styles that are built to please even those clients with the most discerning of lifestyles.
5) Classic Construction Group
155 Post Rd E Suite 8A, Westport, CT 06880
Where they work: Connecticut
Classic Construction Group is a Westport, Connecticut-based design/build general contracting firm that is known for creating the finest custom homes. They have earned a place at the top of a particular niche of sustainably designed homes and waterfront properties in particular. In addition to ground-up custom homes, Classic Construction Group also is available for extensive residential renovations. Their team of expert craftsmen have been working together for over 15 years and have proven successful at creatively solving even the toughest of design and/or building challenges. In addition to new home construction and custom design, they also offer custom millwork and cabinetry as well as stonework for their clients. The company has longstanding relationships with award-winning millworkers to ensure that every piece of product that enters their homes it of the highest qualities. And they use only the best materials to ensure your home stands the test of time. In addition to their top-quality designs and construction, the company has earned a reputation for their outstanding customer service.
4) The Corbo Group
30 Grassy Hill Rd, Roxbury, CT 06783
Where they work: Connecticut
The Corbo Group was founded in 1977 with the goal of helping others realize their dreams of having the perfect custom home. The design/build company strives to create homes that enhance their overall natural surroundings and community. As former educators, founders Ralph and Natalie Corbo have made thorough and inquisitive research a staple of their home building services. This deep-rooted mentality means The Corbo Group provides clients with the latest technology and ideas to create innovative and intelligently-made homes, as well as efficient and smooth customer service and project management.” Their commitment to innovation can be seen in the more than 15 Passive Solar buildings they created in the 1980s and the 21st-century technology packages offered for their residences today.
“The Corbo Group firmly believes that builders have a responsibility to construct homes that enhance the total community. We do not support building homes that overpower the neighborhood or building site. Profit should not be at the expense of the land, the community or the homeowner. The Corbo Group cares. We recognize that each home carries our signature upon the landscape — and we build every one of our homes with integrity.” – The Corbo Group
The Corbo Group has constructed hundreds of homes, commercial buildings, and extensive historic restorations across the state. Their award-winning homes have a reputation for being comfortable and suited for family-oriented lifestyles. With four decades of award-winning artistic design experience, the Corbo team carefully turns a client’s needs, wishes, and budget into unique and creative homes.
3) Atlas Construction Services
30 Northeast Industrial Road, Branford, CT 06405
Where they work: Connecticut shoreline
Atlas Construction Services has over 15 years of experience successfully designing and building gorgeous custom homes and specialty commercial projects along the Connecticut shoreline. They have earned an exceptional reputation among their loyal client base and professional peers for their commitment to excellent design, high-quality and responsible building practices, and top-notch customer service. Their in-house design team walks clients through every step of the design-build process to ensure peace of mind during an often stressful time. From concept through construction, to the finishing touches of each of project, Atlas Construction ensures that clients are delivered a personal environment and approach tailored for them and their site and home. This personalized service is also designed to ensure that the final product fully realizes a client’s vision, no matter how specific or complicated. The outcome is entirely unique homes crafted especially for each client. Atlas Construction Services are also experts at building on difficult sites that demand innovative design and construction solutions, harnessing the possibilities of each unique piece of land while effortlessly overcoming any challenges it presents.
2) Mattera Construction
Westport, Connecticut
Where they work: Fairfield County, Westchester County, and the Hamptons
For over 25 years, Mattera Construction has been designing and building luxury custom homes throughout Fairfield and Westchester County and the Hamptons. From grand family compounds to classic country estates, Mattera Construction has rightfully become a go-to practice for elite clientele who want the peace of mind knowing that every detail of their homes has been thoroughly considered for the site, client need, and overall comprehensive aesthetic impact. Their carefully selected team of in=house professionals works intimately with clients to create uniquely conceived and beautifully built homes that are known to exceed expectations. Regardless of the style home they are undertaking — they have expertly executed classic estates, modern farmhouses, and contemporary beach homes… and everything in between — Mattera Construction approaches it with the latest innovations and building techniques and high-end technology to deliver a timeless result.
1) Cornerstone Contracting
200 Pemberwick Road, Greenwich, CT 06831
Where they work: Connecticut and New York
Founded in 1993 and run by owner and President George Pusser, Cornerstone Contracting is a dynamic construction company and elite builder in Westchester, Fairfield and New York City. They have built a reputation for their ultra-high-end residential projects. Working with successful, sophisticated, and discerning clients, Cornerstone Contracting loves the challenge of a complex projects. In addition to custom home services, the company offers grand landscaping services, including designing and building lakes, gardens, sports courts, terraces, orchards, pools, putting greens, and stone walls, along with many other accessory features and buildings. And they are known for creating exceptional ‘special rooms’, such as wine cellars, elegant libraries, and home theaters. Cornerstone Contracting works with only the best professionals, whether that be their in-house architects and construction crews, or interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, consultants, and craftsmen. The practice received a Best of the United States 2016 Award, was 2012 Best Of Year Finalist I.D. Magazine, and has earned multiple CT Cottages & Gardens Innovation in Design Awards. Not surprisingly, their award-winning homes have been featured in publications like Architectural Digest, Beautiful Homes, Luxe, Serendipity, athome, East Coast Home + Design, Period Homes, and Connecticut Cottages & Gardens.
The firm not only sets high standards for their employees, but also for their building materials. Knowing that their homes are only as good as what goes into them, they source the highest-quality products for exceptional value and durability. They also salvage old wood, stone, mantels, ironwork, and glass to infuse homes with a historic ambiance with every contemporary luxury. Custom millwork gives their homes a personal touch. And in selecting materials, Cornerstone Contracting considers their impact on the environment and reduces negative effects whenever possible. Cornerstone Contracting is also dedicated to using sustainable construction and building practices.
How can I find a contractor or home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best residential contractors and home builders in and near Connecticut. If you don’t see your city or project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
The Best General Contractors in Connecticut
The Best Residential Architects in Connecticut
The Best Interior Designers in Connecticut
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
