There is a lot of planning that goes into building a home from scratch in Orange County. You need a builder that is well versed in all aspects of construction in a coastal environment.
To help you choose the right builder equipped to handle any building requirements you and your environment might have, our team has curated a list of the best custom home builders in Cerritos, California. These companies were selected based on their accreditations, certifications, and professional affiliations. We also considered the recognition each firm has received in the form of industry awards, client reviews, and press features. We have also laid out the range of services the firms offer, their specializations, and the length of time they have been in the industry.
La Placa Construction Inc.
2120 Main St. Ste. 230, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), La Placa Construction, Inc. is a full-service custom luxury home builder specializing in construction planning and design. The company offers residential and commercial architectural services, interior design, space planning, old-world residential renovations, and project management. It does site planning as well including hillside construction and landscape design.
La Placa walks homeowners through the entire process. Its staff gives input on design, opportunities on finishes, and advocates for clients as they budget. Behind the scenes, they pour over the details, selecting the finest materials while carefully managing their team of expert builders and craftsmen.
From modern to colonial, the company caters to its clients’ tastes. One of its most prominent works is this 441 M St. project. The home is consumed by light, white tones complemented by the natural wood tones of its exposed beams, doors, and furnishings. The kitchen features a vertical tile backsplash and the touch of navy blue in the barstools give it a pop color. One of the master bedrooms has a unique vaulted ceiling that creates a sense of spaciousness, while still exuding a cozy cottage touch. The neutral-toned living room echoes the overall serene and calm character of the house.
Gonterman Construction
502 30th St. Unit A, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Gonterman Construction is a custom home builder and full-service residential remodeling construction management firm located in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. Jason Gonterman founded the company in 1996 and has worked on dozens of projects since then as the President of the company and an active project manager on every project. When working with the firm, financial transparency is shown at all stages of construction, from the initial consultations, to design, project planning, and execution. Operating on a cost-plus basis, clients are in control of the quality and standard of products and materials used from start to finish, allowing them to maximize their investment in the construction of their new home.
An outstanding representative of its long portfolio of modern farmhouse and mid-century luxury beach house projects is a Huntington Beach haven. The Gonterman team removed all but two existing walls, remodeled the exterior, raised the ceilings to create a totally open feel, and added a pool. A quartzite-topped island is the focal point of the kitchen, embraced in walnut by the cabinets around it. For the master bath, the team incorporated a stone tub, a Picasso marble shower, a small closet beside the sinks, and a custom-crafted vanity made to float to make the space feel fresher. Gold accents act as finishing details on the cabinets.
MTR Construction
10842 Noel St. Ste. 111, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
MTR Construction is a design-build firm that specializes in large-scale renovations to existing homes and the building of luxury custom homes. It undertakes whole house remodeling, room additions, kitchen remodels, and outdoor living spaces. Its scope of services encompasses handling door and window systems, structural framing, plaster and siding, pools and spas, and roof decks. Clients can schedule a phone call with one of the company’s expert designers to go over the work to be done. The designer meets the client at their house to take measurements and evaluate the space. After the design plans have been finalized, MTR provides a detailed estimate and construction begins.
In 2007, after earning his General Contractors License, Michael T. Rose formed MTR Construction, Inc. He later earned specialty licenses in concrete (C-8) and electrical (C-10). Under his leadership, the firm has completed many homes, including this modern home that emanates warmth and comfort. Its living room is accented by wide accordion doors that can be kept open, turning it into an extended indoor/outdoor living space. Additionally, the hardwood floors add to the snug nature of the home, and barn doors were installed in smaller spaces to make them feel larger.
Built By Newkirk
Wilshire Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
Family owned and operated, Built By Newkirk is a high-end design-build firm with a focus on new homes, whole house remodels, kitchen, bath, master suite renovations, and additions. Owner Brian Newkirk has many years of combined experience in construction and mechanical engineering, as well as unique experience working in the exclusive private service industry.
Built By Newkirk designed and built a high-end remodel which included three bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry room, living room, and outdoor masonry. One client was thoroughly impressed with his work ethic, skills, and integrity after Brian managed the remodel of their master bedroom suite and home office. The client asked Brian to do an extensive outdoor remodel of their oceanfront Palos Verdes home as well. The project entailed two large outdoor living barbecue areas, the refurbishing of a pool and spa, and redesigning the entrance to the home.
Brian constantly does little things behind the scenes to help clients. For instance, in one project, he noticed that the architect’s plans for the new second-story balcony had inadequate roof coverage. Brian corrected the error on his own. The garage was not included in the plans, but he found water damage to the walls and had it repaired. He also utilized some quartz stone left over from a bathroom counter and installed this as the countertop to a sink in the garage. All these little additions to improve the home was complimentary to the firm’s services.
Cornell Custom
5670 Schaefer Ave. Ste H, Chino, CA. 91710
Cornell Custom Construction specializes in new luxury home construction from the ground up to completion in the Southern California area. Some of the homes it has worked on range in size from 4,300 square feet to over 13,000 square feet. The company provides a turnkey construction experience by cooperatively working with owners, architects, sub-contractors, and others, working together from design phase to completion.
Toby Cornell is a third-generation builder, having learned the custom home business from his father Thomas Cornell. Toby took over Cornell Custom Construction 20 years ago and the company has been building Mediterranean estates, overcoming every challenge that comes with it.
The problem-solving skills of Toby and his team shone when they built this beautiful featured home. They noticed that the front door wasn’t centered on the two front columns on the plans. The front porch couldn’t be moved over for structural reasons, so the door was transferred to the center after careful consideration. After the firm completed its work, the home was left with angled and rounded walls around the entire home and garnished with marble flooring, custom-designed iron railing, delicate wall paneling, ceiling details, and imported chandeliers.
BuiltWorks Custom Homes
644 North Fuller Avenue Suite 508, Los Angeles, CA 90036
BuiltWorks, a prominent custom home builder since 1985, has been providing a wide array of general contracting services for owners and developers in Southern California. Its supervisors understand the various living and financial conditions in which a remodeling or addition needs to take place. Having this in mind, BuiltWorks provides customized services to accommodate owners with their specific needs. The company can assist with design, engineering, and permitting as well as the construction of any size project. Builtworks handles all closeout documents including warranties for all equipment and systems after completing each project.
The company built this ground-up two-story 3,600-square-foot Mediterranean architecture with four bedrooms, four and a half baths, and a three-car garage. The home is decorated with a classical interior finish and custom ceilings. It has a full basement with one bedroom and a full bath with a separate entrance. Adding even more splendor is a resort-style backyard with a family patio seating area, a large swimming pool, and a custom-built fire and barbecue area for entertainment.
