Located in Los Angeles County, San Gabriel is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcánge and often referred to as the birthplace of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Residents enjoy its neighborhood feel and the community offers an extensive range of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.
This list showcases ten of the best custom home builders in the area. Our editorial team curated this list after considering these firms’ various portfolios and backgrounds. Several of them have also been honored with numerous awards throughout their years in business.
HartmanBaldwin Design/Build
300 S Raymond Ave. #18, Pasadena, CA 91105
HartmanBaldwin employs a design-build approach and specializes in historic restorations, home additions, and custom homes. The firm extends its services throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County. Given its expertise in historic renovations, the firm is often the leading choice for projects that require a deep understanding of specific architectural styles. The firm has constructed and renovated some of the most beautiful homes around Southern California’s most historically significant areas. In 2018, it was named the 15th best remodeling company out of 550 firms ranked nationwide by Remodeling Magazine. Comprised of an award-winning team of architects, Certified Interior Designers, project managers, artisans, and craftsmen, the firm consistently demonstrates a flair for a wide array of designs. Those designs include contemporary, Tudor, English, Mediterranean, and traditionally-inspired architecture.
The project above depicts the firm’s work on the Padua residence. Our editorial team loved this project because of the intricate challenges that came with it. The home was first completed in 1931: the firm provided an extensive remodel. Spanning around 3,841-square-feet, the project contains an all-new conservatory filled with natural light from its floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors.
Addition Building & Design
4335 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite #354, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Addition Building & Design employs a great and comprehensive design-build approach. The firm is well-respected for its stellar project management services and ground-up construction work and is also known for its extensive home remodels and accessory dwelling units. Our editorial team was also quite impressed by its outdoor living portfolio. The firm’s projects are also noted for their incorporation of various unique elements like Feng Shui design and use of fire-resistant projects. The firm is led by its experienced and talented principal, Mike Ross. He has had the honor of being featured in Qualified Remodeler, which also recognized the firm as among one of the country’s leading companies. Under his leadership, Addition Building has become a trailblazer in some of the area’s most popular architectural vernaculars.
The project above was featured in Better Homes & Gardens. It was completed in Santa Monica and showcases a modern farmhouse theme. We loved its large trellised windows, unique fixtures, and minimalist finishes.
Cynthia Bennett & Associates, Inc.
501 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Drawing inspiration from nearly four decades of industry experience, Cynthia Bennett & Associates has delivered hundreds of stellar projects to countless families in the San Gabriel Valley. Some of its best homes can be found in the communities of South Pasadena, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, San Marino, Glendale, and Alhambra. The firm is a team—a team of talented interior designers and architects, and each member brings multiple years of experience to the firm. It also has several of its own project managers with extensive general contractor licenses and plenty of construction experience. The firm works closely with homeowners and handles permits and material selection. The company has had the honor of being featured in various publications, including Traditional Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Accents, Twenty Beautiful Homes, Home, Design/Build Business, and Kitchen & Bath News.
The remodeled transitional Georgian above best showcases the firm’s talent and expertise. With its 1940s Georgian architectural style on the exterior, the owner wanted to have various styles in various areas inside. The company expertly manoeuvred through the requests of the homeowner and produced stunning results. It now has a transitional family room and kitchen, a Hollywood powder room, an ocean-inspired bathroom, a Zen-inspired guest bath, and a traditional library. All of these eclectic spaces with high design elements were done by the company’s in-house interior designer Caroline Fehmers.
Roger Perron
3171 Los Feliz Blvd. Suite #306, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Roger Perron operates out of its office in Los Angeles and provides an outstanding range of architect, general contractor, and design services. From beautifully designed kitchens and bathrooms to extensive remodels and home additions, Roger Perron is a family-owned and operated business providing interested homeowners with free consultation services. It specializes in elegant, affordable home design and is also well-respected for its functional aesthetics. The firm works with some of the area’s best and most talented licensed subcontractors in various specialty trades. At its helm is its namesake Roger Perron, a talented professional. He has had the opportunity to sit as chairman of the Home Builders’ Association of Worcester County, Massachusetts. His rich experience has enabled the company to become well-known for its excellent designs.
The Italian Renaissance project above best depicts the firm’s expertise. It was completed in the city of San Marino and entailed a major tear-down and rebuild. That said, the firm worked on an additional 1,800 square feet. For this home, the firm also worked in collaboration with architects Curt Sturgill and Bob Cooper.
Mur-Sol Builders
119 E St. Joseph Street, Arcadia, CA 91006
Founded in 1976, Mur-Sol Builders is a family-owned and full-service construction company headquartered in Arcadia. It works on residential, commercial, and multi-family projects and boasts a portfolio filled with luxury homes. From grand Mediterranean estates to Spanish revivals and quaint English-inspired cottages, the firm’s work is often distinguished by its custom millwork, moldings, and exquisite finishes. Since its inception, it has worked on hundreds of projects and has secured a solid reputation for itself for its excellent craftsmanship and close attention to detail. Servicing the entirety of Southern California, the firm is currently led by Jasen and Josh Grohs. Under their leadership, Mur-Sol has been repeatedly published, including in the Pasadena Star-News.
Our editorial team especially enjoyed the project featured here. It was completed in Pasadena and is reminiscent of classic English cottages. We especially loved its shutters, brick exteriors, and French doors.
Bade Construction Co Inc
77 W Las Tunas Dr. Suite #202, Arcadia, CA 91007
Bade Construction draws inspiration from over five decades of industry experience. It is respected for its excellent competitive pricing as well as the quality of its work. Comprising a talented team of professionals and experienced artisans, Bade maintains a highly hands-on approach and ensures that all of its projects are closely overseen throughout the entire process. The firm also works with top-of-the-line materials and makes use of the latest industry techniques.
This featured project is a home the company built in Temple City. Done in Cape Cod style, excellent craftsmanship is highlighted in every part. It features custom moldings throughout, hardwood flooring in the main living areas, elegant light fixtures, high-quality custom cabinetry, a handsome mantel, and a marble fireplace.
Pasadena Craftsman Home Builders
530 South Lake Ave. Suite #752, Pasadena, CA 91106
Pasadena Craftsman Home Builders offers its homeowners nearly three decades of industry experience in addition to a complete range of general remodeling and custom home building services. Aside from its ground-up construction work, the firm also takes on accessory dwelling units, additions, large-scale renovation projects, and craftsman historic restorations. The firm is the brainchild of Cesar Espejo, an experienced builder who ensures that each of the company’s work receives the benefit of his experience. As its name suggests, the firm is an expert in working on timeless and classic craftsman designs, in addition to various other traditional architecture.
The new home above is a great example of the company’s talent. It features one of the firm’s signature craftsman themes. Our editorial team loved its windows and paneled exteriors. It also features various custom finishes and exposed beam work.
Smith Development
124 N 1st Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006
Smith Development is the brainchild of its founder and namesake Richard Smith, who has a multitude of construction projects and decades of hands-on experience. He is experienced in every phase and aspect of the construction market and has worked on everything from storm drain infrastructure to the keys to the front door, and everything from a custom estate house to a custom-made warehouse. That range of experience reflects itself in the firm’s projects and services. The firm specializes in all stages and phases of development in residential, commercial, and industrial real estate for private, institutional, and corporate clients. Under Mr. Smith’s leadership, the firm has established an excellent reputation by completing more than 275 new homes in the San Gabriel Valley. The firm is regarded as one of the area’s premier custom home builders and prides itself on being featured in the Inc. 500.
Located in Arcadia, the brand new custom home above showcases an elegant French Villa Mansion. It is dramatically surrounded by hundred-year-old oak trees and provides 9,169 square feet of living space. Inside, it has seven suites, eight and a half bathrooms, its own library, an elevator, a home gym, and a four-car garage. The firm’s team opted for great materials: stained-grade walnut wood double front doors, an elegant marbled floor throughout, and two distinguished wood staircases with cast iron handrails.
Figure 8 Group
1311 E Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776
Figure 8 extends its services throughout San Gabriel Valley. It uses a design-build approach and has worked in some of the best neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. It uses only the best materials and is well-respected for its excellent innovative approaches. The firm can take on projects regardless of size or scale and collaborates with some of the best and leading contractors, architects, and developers in the area. It assists homeowners throughout the entire process. That assistance doesn’t just come on the construction side; it also provides accurate and comprehensive budget and financial analyses. Doing so assures homeowners that the firm’s projects are all completed not just on time but also within the agreed-upon budget.
Showcased above is one of the firm’s best projects. It features a great modern theme. Our editorial team thoroughly enjoyed its recurring straight lines and a neutral color palette. We also loved its large and clean windows, as well as its angular finishes.
APEC Group Inc
111 Walnut Grove Ave. Suite #201, San Gabriel, CA 91776
With over two decades of industry experience, APEC Group specializes in custom single and multi-family residence projects. It offers its clients a complete and extensive range of general contracting work. The firm provides accurate budget plans and accurate estimates, which ensures that all of its homes and spaces are completed on time and within the agreed-upon budget. The firm is licensed, bonded, and insured and can work on projects regardless of their design or complexity. Since its inception, it has secured a solid reputation for itself and takes great pride in its excellent clientele reviews.
Depicted above is one of the firm’s best pieces of work. For this home, the firm opted for classic terracotta roofs and a warm palette. We loved its stucco exteriors, as well as its pillars, curved windows, and entryways.
