Located in Marin County, Larkspur is a suburb of San Francisco best known for its excellent livability standards. It offers its residents an urban-suburban feel, with a large number of its population owning their own homes. This list is a showcase of ten of the best custom home builders in the area.
They were chosen based not only on merit but also on their respective portfolios and individual expertise. Several of these firms have had the opportunity to work in some of Larkspur’s best communities, as well as its most beautiful homes and spaces.
Kasten Builders
3419 Regatta Blvd., Richmond, CA 94804
Kasten Builders is a Richmond-based contractor that extends its services throughout the entire Bay Area. It roots its business in effective communication, quality control, and teamwork. In doing so, the firm offers a complete range of custom home building and remodeling services and is experienced in every aspect of the entire process. This experienced team assists its clients from start to finish and has the skills, materials, and methods necessary to execute any project, regardless of complexity. Much of its success is due to its capable president, Denny Kasten. Denny holds a degree in Architecture from Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan, and first gained experience working with general contractors during his time as a student. Under his leadership, the firm has extended its reach across some of the best neighborhoods in Marin, Sonoma, Napa counties, and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The project displayed was completed in Sausalito in collaboration with Swatt Miers Architect. It features a contemporary theme and showcases excellent views of the surrounding area. The company’s team opted for exposed woodwork, concrete, and stainless steel details for this home. Inside, it used an open floor plan, which allows seamless integration of its indoor-outdoor spaces.
Kerr Construction, Inc.
15 Woodland Ave. Suite F, San Rafael, CA 94901
Established in 1983, Kerr Construction specializes in both residential custom home construction and remodeling. It is noted for its tremendous and competitive pricing and highly hands-on processes. Kerr takes on projects regardless of size or scale and has secured a solid reputation for its expert designs and impressive craftsmanship. It has been the proud recipient of many awards and has also been featured extensively in numerous publications. Some of these noteworthy accomplishments include features in American Bungalow, Architectural Record, Better Homes & Gardens, San Francisco Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Its work and skill can best be seen in this project.
For this home, the firm opted for a classic craftsman design. It features custom woodwork, dormer windows, and an inviting cool color palette. It installed a great pergola and worked on various trellised entries and windows.
G Family Construction
615 B St. Unit 1B, San Rafael, CA 94901
G Family Construction is a family-owned and operated business that has been in business since 2001. It utilizes a design-build approach and is regarded for its excellent landscaping, remodels, and development work. It also takes on electric work, which allows it to keep the entire process in-house. The company maintains associations with organizations like the Marin Builders Association, enabling it to stay up-to-date with the latest industry techniques and methods. The firm’s team works side-by-side with its clients throughout the entire process from inception to completion. This enables each team member to understand their lifestyles and needs better and address them throughout the project.
This home is the product of the collaboration between G Design and G Family Construction. It showcased a modern farmhouse theme and was completed with only the best materials available. Its team worked with its clients’ request of designing and crafting custom cabinetry and high-end fixtures in every room. Spanning 6,000 square feet, some of the home’s other more exciting features include large wooden beams, high ceilings, and white oak hardwood floors.
Floyd Construction Inc.
714 C St. #207, San Rafael, CA 94901
Floyd Construction has been servicing the entirety of Marin and other surrounding areas since 1978. Joe Floyd founded it in Santa Barbara before relocating to Marin County. Since then, it has evolved from a regular-sized firm specializing in select services into the firm it is today, capable of taking on projects regardless of size and working on high-end luxury custom homes. Aside from its residential work, it has also taken on several commercial and landscaping projects. Its team is highly experienced and composed of only some of the best professionals in the greater Bay area. Joe Floyd still leads the firm today. Before establishing the firm, he gained experience working with a known engineering firm. This has provided him with a significant number of skills that reflect in the company’s work today.
The project shown was completed for a family of four and sits in the heart of Larkspur. The firm was challenged with tearing down a former structure and reworking everything from its foundation. It upgraded the perimeter foundation, worked on nice storage space under the house, and a modern aesthetic. The project features radiant heat throughout, as well as Fleetwood exterior pocket doors and clean interior lines. It also worked and designed various decks, allowing for beautiful views of the surrounding areas.
Fontana Construction Inc
1945 E Francisco Blvd. Suite N, San Rafael CA 94901
Fontana Construction specializes in luxury homes and offers a complete range of custom home development, remodeling, renovations, and general construction services. Operating out of its office in San Rafael, the firm provides its clients with over three decades of industry experience and has worked on countless homes from the Peninsula to Sonoma County. The firm was started by Michael and Bonnie Fontana, who founded the firm in 1986 as a small, home-based business in West Marin. The firm has grown to become one of the most recognizable firms in the area and is most notable for its expertise in creating exquisite and luxurious homes.
One of the company’s strengths is its dedication to its customers. This Sausalito home is evidence of that philosophy. Fontana Construction built the home for its owners in 1996. For the next 25 years Fontana Construction provided routine maintenance and the occasional upgrade. In 2019, in close collaboration with the original owner, FCI completed an extensive renovation of the entire interior of the home. Located on a steep hill on a small point of land, the home is private, yet gives sweeping views of the bay from every room. The beautiful mix of metal and wood give this extraordinarily unique home a warm and inviting feel with a modern contemporary edge.
Salamandra Associates
39 Aquinas Dr., San Rafael, CA 94901
Salamandra Associates is located in San Rafael and provides clients with a complete and comprehensive range of services. The company first started as a commercial firm, completing spaces for United Airlines, Cambridge Sound Works, and other East Bay companies. The firm has been in business since 1988 and assists homeowners throughout the entire construction/building process, from detailed estimates and budgets to the smallest details. Steve Salamandra, owner, develops comprehensive workflow plans and ensures that projects stay on schedule. The company maintains affiliations with organizations like Build It Green and the Marin Builders Association, which helps Steve and his team stay current with the latest techniques.
The showcased San Anselmo home is a blend of modern and traditional themes. Gabion walls and lush landscaping create an elegant entrance to a home wrapped in cedar and Nichiha cement siding. A concrete fireplace establishes a mesmerizing centerpiece for steel structural elements, warm Rustic oak flooring and a “modern farm” kitchen. The open floor plan with large south facing windows highlight expansive views and warm southern light.
Singlepoint Design Build
200 Gate 5 Rd. Suite #109, Sausalito, CA 94965
Operating out of its office in Sausalito, Singlepoint has been in business since 2010. It is regarded as one of Marin County’s premier builders and specializes in complete home remodels and ground-up construction work. It is operated by a talented team of professionals who each have experience in every design and construction process phase. It has also secured relationships with some of the area’s best subcontractors known for their excellent plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing services. The company’s founder, Brant Hill, holds a degree in Construction Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He first gained experience working for a large commercial general contractor as a project manager before establishing the firm. This rich experience reflects itself in the firm’s work. In addition to these, the company also maintains affiliations with important organizations like the Marin Builders Association.
The project shown entailed the ground-up construction of a modern farmhouse. It was completed in Tiburon back in 2015, with the talented professionals of Thompson Studio Architects. It primarily anchored its design and vision towards comprehensive indoor-outdoor living spaces. Inside, it also depicts various transitional themes and touches.
Hadley Construction
85 Beach Rd., Belvedere, CA 94920
Serving the entire Bay Area, including San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, and Marin, Hadley Construction has been in business since 1950. It is now on its third generation of builders, and since its inception, the firm has been well-regarded for its old-world craft. The firm has worked on over 300 new custom homes as well as countless major remodels. It makes use of the latest techniques and technology. It bolsters its efforts through a cloud-based project management software that allows homeowners easy access to their project’s team and brief overviews of important documents and updates. The firm has also been noted for its transparent pricing and its open-book policy. The firm also infuses various green building designs into its projects, which have enabled its homes to have improved lifespans, reduced energy and water use, and outstanding efficiency.
The project displayed is a stellar beachfront home. It offers breathtaking views of beautiful Stinson Beach and wonderful spaces. It has its own guest house and spa and a grand garden in the front courtyard. The primary challenge the firm faced with this home was meeting the strict FEMA regulations, as well as several criteria of the homeowner’s association.
Sausalito Construction, Inc.
75 Pelican Way, San Rafael, CA 94901
Sausalito Construction specializes in both commercial and residential projects and depicts expertise for an excellent range of designs. It works on both ground-up construction work and extensive home remodels and services the Bay Area’s entirety, focusing on Southern Marin County. It draws inspiration from its partners’ three decades of experience working in and around the industry. It is regarded for its practical and beautiful solutions, which are customized to the client. The company has been in business since 2001 and is composed of 45 full-time employees with offices and warehouse facilities in San Rafael. It makes use of its own equipment, including skid steer loaders, dump trucks, excavators, and scaffolding, which allow for a more cost-efficient approach.
The firm’s work has graced the pages of various publications such as Dwell Magazine and The Ark. Its expertise is best embodied in the project below. It opted for clean finishes for this modern home, low roofs, and several custom arches reminiscent of classic farmhouses.
Norman Charles Construction
714 C St. Suite 1A, San Rafael, CA 94901
With over three decades of industry experience, Norman Charles Construction dedicates itself to the highest standards and has worked in some of the best homes around Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its day-to-day operations are overseen by father-and-son duo Nathan and Norman, who are involved in every construction phase, from start to finish. Together with their talented team, they provide homeowners with a highly customized and hands-on approach which has resulted in timeless and beautiful homes. Several of the firm’s professionals have been working with it for the greater part of the past two decades, and each brings their own various sets of expertise.
The firm is particularly noted for its excellent attention to detail and meticulous handcraft services. The rustic ranch above best shows its skill and talent. Completed together with Mosaic Architects, the project above showcases modern farmhouse elements, unique fixtures, and a neutral color palette.
