Mill Valley is on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay and the eastern slopes of Mount Tamalpais. The architectural landscape is reminiscent of charming European villages: it’s surrounded by Muir Woods, hills, and canyons. Residents here often enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and mountain biking. The area also offers numerous boutique shops and restaurants.
Our editorial team decided to present ten of the best custom home builders in Mill Valley. These firms are experts in the area’s popular and timeless architectural vernaculars. We chose these firms, after careful consideration, for their experience and the accolades they have won. These firms are behind some of the city’s most beautiful homes. Each firm has its own unique set of skills to share with clients.
Jetton Construction, Inc.
1117-A Virginia St., Berkeley, CA 94702
Jetton Construction is an award-winning firm that extends its services throughout the Bay Area. It has been in business since 1980 and has worked on over 500 projects. It offers clients an extensive range of knowledge in every phase of construction. The firm works in collaboration with some of the area’s best architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. Jetton also infuses various green building and design elements, ensuring the sustainability and high efficiency of its work. The firm is capable of taking on projects regardless of size or scale and shows expertise for a variety of designs, from contemporary spaces to historical themes. The firm’s projects have been featured in publications such as Dwell Magazine, The New York Times, Sunset Magazine, and San Francisco Magazine. Jetton is also the proud recipient of a multitude of awards from important industry organizations like the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
The project above best depicts the firm’s skill and craftsmanship. It was featured on the 2015 AIA East Bay Home Tour and is situated in Claremont Canyon. It showcases a modern design complete with various custom finishes.
Kasten Builders
3419 Regatta Blvd., Richmond, CA 94804
Kasten Builders services the entire Bay Area. Its business is rooted in effective communication, quality control, and teamwork. It offers a complete range of custom home building and remodeling services and is experienced in every aspect and stage 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.
Denny Kasten leads the firm and serves as its president. He 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.
Depicted above is one of the firm’s best projects, located in Mill Valley. It involved the demolition of an old home first built back in the 1960s. Next came the ground-up construction of the pictured modern home. It spans over 4,500 square feet and provides its homeowners with breathtaking views of Mill Valley and Mount Tamalpais. Inside, it features a wonderful design and brilliantly executed indoor-outdoor living spaces.
Salamandra Associates
39 Aquinas Dr., San Rafael, CA 94901
Founded in 1988, Salamandra Associates operates out of its office in San Rafael and provides clients a complete and comprehensive range of services. It started out as a commercial firm, completing spaces for United Airlines, Cambridge Sound Works, and other East Bay companies. The firm assists homeowners throughout the entire process, in addition to the smallest of details. It begins its process with accurate budget analyses and great estimates. Doing so assures homeowners that the firm will not exceed the agreed-upon budget. The firm also conducts site assessments, works out schedules, and helps with permits. Salamandra maintains affiliations with organizations like Build It Green and the Marin Builders Association, allowing it to stay up to date with the latest techniques.
In the project above, the firm’s team gave the classic Spanish-Californian Colonial style a modern touch. Stucco exteriors were paired with large doors and windows, large terraces, and various unique fixtures. The firm also made generous use of marble tiles.
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. The firm is known for its great 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. The firm has been the proud recipient of a multitude of 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.
The project above was completed in Mill Valley. This project challenged the firm with the design and construction of a guest house and garage addition. The Kerr team primarily used a modern theme via infused wood, glass, and steel.
Rasmussen Construction
1118 Grant Ave., Novato, CA 94945
Headquartered in Novato, Rasmussen Construction draws inspiration from its decades of industry experience and always adheres to the highest standards. The firm provides clients with exceptional service and has established relationships with numerous clients, as well as some of the area’s best subcontractors. Since its founding, Rasmussen has worked on numerous custom home build-outs and estates.
The firm is led by its namesake David Rasmussen, a professional builder and a Californian native. David ensures that all of the firm’s projects receive the benefit of his experience and he assists throughout the entire process. Under his leadership, the firm has gained recognition in publications such as Sunset Magazine, Remodeling Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and Architectural Digest.
New Single-family home
Depicted above is the extravagant Kentfield Estate. It was completed in collaboration with Chambers + Chambers and features a classic design with wonderful views of the gardens and Mt. Tamalpais. Inside, the firm’s team opted for traditional designs as well as numerous custom finishes.
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. The firm was founded by Joe Floyd 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, Floyd Construction has also taken on several commercial and landscaping projects. Its team is highly experienced and composed of some of the best professionals in the greater Bay area.
Joe Floyd still leads the firm. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Chico State University. Prior to his establishment of the firm, he gained experience working with a well-known engineering firm. That experience provided him a great number of skills still reflected in the company’s work today.
The project above was completed for a family of four and in collaboration with John Lum and Carol Knorpp and Kerry Bogardus. It is located in Larkspur and features a modern aesthetic. For this home, the firm’s team worked on radiant heating, Fleetwood exterior pocket doors, and clean interior lines. The home is made of steel beams and heavy lumber and supports several skylights.
Trush Construction Company, Inc.
200 Gate 5 Rd. Suite #201, Sausalito, CA 94965
Trush Construction Company is the brainchild of its founder, Shahram Ghodsian, who had the privilege of learning under the tutelage of various craftsmen from Ireland, Italy, and Greece. Before establishing the firm, he gained an ample amount of experience restoring several Federal and Queen Anne style homes in the historic Beacon Hill District of Boston, as well as converting carriage houses into apartments. He also renovated several brownstones in the Back Bay. These extensive, rich experiences have influenced the firm’s work and enabled it to become the dynamic and skilled company it is today. Through Ghodsian’s expertise, Trush has become synonymous with stellar design and outstanding customer service. Its work is best depicted in the project below.
Completed back in 2015, this home features a contemporary theme with touches of minimalism. It is situated on a plateau atop a steep hill and showcases grand glass walls to incorporate its outdoor environment into the primary living spaces. For this project, the firm’s team opted for white, graphite, and titanium tones and added in white washed vertical grain oak.
TMK Builders
P.O. Box 790, Penngrove, CA 94951
Regarded for its exceptional designs and impeccable planning, TMK Builders services the counties of Marin and San Francisco. The firm specializes in both custom home building and extensive home remodels and assists its clients with everything. It provides them accurate estimates and timelines. Unlike many firms on this list, the firm has its own in-house cabinet shop that oversees custom woodworking, as well as in-house drafting, and plans. The firm is led by Tom Kline, a professional who has been immersed in the business since the tender age of 19. He is experienced in every aspect of the residential construction industry and makes sure that all of the firm’s projects receive the benefit of his experiences.
The project above best encapsulates the firm’s skill. This award-winning home was featured in Dwell Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. It was completed in Sausalito and features terrazzo floors, a sparks fireplace, and polished concrete floors. The decks are made of Meranti wood and are complemented with solid mahogany trim.
Hadley General Contractors, Inc.
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 craftsmanship. The firm has built over 300 new custom homes as well as countless major remodels. It makes use of the latest techniques and technology and bolsters its efforts through a cloud-based project management software that allows homeowners easy access to their project’s team and to brief overviews of important documents and updates. The firm has also been noted for its clear 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 great efficiency.
Featured here is a project Hadley Construction recently completed in collaboration with architect Butler Armsden. The Point Reyes home is a sleek and modern iteration of a farmhouse with a black and white palette. Hardwood floors and sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows are just some of the notable features of this gorgeous home.
