Translating to “chop wood” in Spanish, Corte Madera produced much of the redwood lumber used to build the city of San Francisco. The small suburban town is a good place to build a home, with beautiful views of Mt. Tamalpais.
Here are some of the best custom home builders in Corte Madera, California who can help you to build your own home in this historic town. Many of these teams have worked all over Marin County together for at least three decades and have a deep understanding of what it takes to build in the community.
Norman Charles Construction
714 C St. Suite 1A, San Rafael, CA, 94901
The father-and-son team of Norman and Nathan Charles oversees every project Norman Charles Construction undertakes. Norman established the firm in 1974, and Nathan grew up on construction sites, officially joining the team after graduating from college. They lead a cohesive team in building intricate homes in the beautiful Bay Area. Many of their team members have been with the firm for over 20 years.
Lush landscaping matches the greenery around this home in Kentfield. White and light wood walls, floors, window frames, and ceilings provide contrast with the colorful touches in the interior. Tube and recessed lights and clerestory windows illuminate the wide kitchen, which features a mosaic tile backsplash behind the range. An offset space houses the other equipment. A blue storage cabinet borders the nearby dining area. Lit by lights in the ceiling tray, the living room enjoys a good view of the woods through a broad window. The bedroom gets the same view through french sliding doors. The double vanity master bath features a recessed tub and glass-doored alcove shower, both of which have marble backsplash on the wall. A skylight illuminates the walk-in closet. The back courtyard is enclosed by a wrapping deck with spaces to lounge on.
Hadley Construction
85 Beach Rd. Belvedere, CA 94920
General Manager Jeff Hadley’s dad, who had spent 30 years in the company himself, jokes that construction is a genetic disorder in their family. His grandfather Bob Hadley helped build many of the buildings in Belvedere in the 1950s. Today, Jeff marks the third generation of leadership in the family as he shadows his uncle, President Larry Hadley, running Hadley Construction. The firm brings the same quality, integrity, and efficiency in building it has practiced for over seven decades as it continues to serve San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties.
This home on Stinson Beach showcases “The Hadley Way:” it provides sweeping views of the ocean while keeping in compliance with strict Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations to protect it from floods. Every space in the home looks out onto the waters—from the great room to the bedroom—through large windows and glass doors that lead to an outdoor deck. It also features a guest home, a tranquil spa, and a garden in the front courtyard.
Salamandra Associates
39 Aquinas Dr. San Rafael, CA 94901
Specializing in waterfront homes, Salamandra Associates has been building in Marin since 1988. With CEO Steve Salamandra at the helm, the company began with commercial projects for United Airlines, Cambridge Sound Works, and other East Bay companies. Today, the firm builds homes in styles from traditional to modern.
This home in Belvedere features a dock with an unobstructed view of Mt. Tamalpais beyond the waters The sight is framed by the entryways that line up all the way from the main entry. Large glass walls offer a glimpse of the surroundings from inside the spacious living room. The way out is marked by a stone fire pit, beyond which is a dipping pool. A few steps away is an outdoor lounge sitting right on the shoreline. A lot of greenery lines the perimeter, most notably in the approach to the front gate.
SinglePoint Design Build
200 Gate 5 Rd. Suite 109, Sausalito, CA 94965
President and CEO Brant Hill brings six years of experience as project manager for a large commercial general contractor to SinglePoint Design Build. Hill oversaw over $100,000,000 in commercial projects, honing skills he now applies to the residential market with the firm he established in 2010. SinglePoint builds homes in everything from the Mission Style to Modern Bayfront. The firm builds these homes across Marin County.
A big black accent door opens this modern farmhouse in Tiburon. The same drop lights in the foyer spotlight the huge black marble center kitchen island. Gray cupboards lie below the counters, with ashen wood boards serving as backsplash. The family room showcases a lot of quirky pieces, from framed starfish and shells to an old brass horn coffee table centerpiece, along with a wooden desk and shelves mounted on the wall. The master’s bedroom features china blue walls, curtains and decor. The master’s bath is a destination all its own, with glass panels separating the vanity and toilet, double shower, and tub areas. The deep tones of black, brown and blue are balanced by large windows looking onto the wide courtyard with its own grill and a lot of space to entertain guests.
G Family Construction
615 B St. Unit 1B, San Rafael, CA 94901
This modern farmhouse in Corte Madera enjoys a panoramic view of Mt. Tamalpais through the glass sliding doors of its great room. The living and dining areas run parallel, so you may enjoy the view from in front of the sleek cement-wall fireplace or from the bench-seating dining set. At the far end, the eat-in kitchen centers around a blue island topped by white marble, which also lines the counters around the range. The wooden range hood makes a great contrast to the brick backsplash. The kid’s bedrooms have palettes as soft as their decor in off-white, light gray and a subtle coral pink. The bookshelf in the home office houses a guest pull-out bed and a chalkboard on its underside to maximize space and give a play area for the kids to scribble notes to mom and dad. A black crossbeam-railing staircase makes an impact as you enter the home, matching the skylight above and providing an anchor for stunning geometric chandeliers.
G Family Construction built the home in 2018. David and Jon Grabham continue their father James’ legacy in the company he originally founded 30 years ago. The brothers apprenticed for their father growing up, and started their own high-end Design-Build company G Family Construction in 2001. Today, their carefully chosen team of builders, designers, electricians and landscapers continue to practice fine craftsmanship across Northern Carolina.
Floyd Construction Inc.
714 C St. #207, San Rafael, CA 94901
Floyd Construction Inc. built tall windows and doors into this 3,500-square-foot home in Tiburon to make the most of its hillside location. The best views can be seen from the deck, accessed via sweeping french doors from the living and dining great room. The kitchen sits in its own large space, lit up by a framed skylight above its white center island, and features a gold-braced range and hood. The master bedroom includes its own sitting area and an expansive master bath which opens with a recessed hot tub. The glass-enclosed alcove shower features a picture window that frames the greenery outdoors on the other side. Wrapping balconies can also be accessed through french doors across the different living spaces.
President Joe Floyd founded the firm in 1978, qualifying for his contractor’s license after putting himself through his Civil Engineering degree working in construction for four years. Originally put up in Santa Barbara, the firm relocated to Floyd’s home county of Marin in 1983, where many of his relatives decided to work alongside him. Clients have since appreciated the stability of the team, and it enjoys a very low employee turnover.
Kerr Construction, Inc.
15 Woodland Ave. Suite F, San Rafael, CA 94901
The dark brick and stone exterior of this home in West Marin conceals a bright wood interior, with large windows casting light onto the common spaces. The craftsman kitchen is spacious, with a large center island illuminated by drop lamps. Stone-cladding appears once more in the living room, which provides beautiful views of the greenery around it, lighting up even the adjacent dining area. The double vanity bath features a recessed tub and a glass-encased shower. Storage drawers and cabinets beneath the sinks—plus a medicine cabinet between the mirrors—match the light wood on the walls and ceiling beams.
This home was built by Kerr Construction, which has been serving San Francisco since 1983. Certified Green Building Professional (CGBP) President Jeff Kerr leads the team, many of whom have been with the firm since the nineties. Kerr has earned the same loyalty from their clients, who entrust multiple projects to it and refer other homeowners as well. The firm’s diverse work, from Tuscan estates to modern marvels, has been featured in Architectural Record and Better Homes & Gardens.
