Located in Orange County, Costa Mesa has been repeatedly ranked as one of the healthiest and most livable cities in the country. It is known for its beautiful outdoors, breathtaking scenery, and true to California architecture—its sprawling Spanish villas and contemporary estates.
This list compiles 15 of the area’s best home builders behind some of Costa Mesa’s most luxurious and gorgeous homes. They were chosen based on merit, noteworthy press mentions, and industry distinctions. You may notice how each firm has an extensive list of services provided, from a large pool of partnerships with Costa Mesa’s best architects to in-house design showrooms.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
Lion Builder Construction
777 W 19th St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Founded in 2007, Lion Builder Construction offers a full range of residential and commercial construction and remodeling services. It takes charge of every aspect of a project from start to finish and has its own in-house designers for clients hoping to keep the entire process under one roof. After having constructed its very first home in Newport Beach, it has since expanded its horizons and now serves the entirety of Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and Maricopa County in Arizona. The firm emphasizes the importance of using each space it crafts to ensure the overall efficiency of each home it builds. Its portfolio provides insight into an extensive gallery of designs, mostly homes rendered in contemporary and modern themes. The firm can also build specialty rooms for clients with specific needs, like a children’s playroom. Further, it coordinates all architectural services and works closely with each of its clients in obtaining permits and submitting all necessary forms.
The featured project landed the firm on the pages of dwell. For this home, its team made use of several matching elements, namely for most of its cabinets and furniture. It also employs brass fixtures and numerous custom-made features.
Goldenline Construction
1812 Burbank Blvd. #201, Burbank, CA 91506
Goldenline Construction is a premier general contracting company offering a full range of remodeling and ground-up construction work. It is known for its exquisite finishes and luxury detailing, and extends its services to both the residential and commercial sectors. It has grown to become an internationally renowned firm with a spread of several offices around the globe manned by a team of experts, engineers, architects, and interior designers. With a complete package of pre-construction financial plans and affordable construction strategies, the firm eliminates the possibility of any extra costs—and provides custom construction packages that would best fit a particular build-out. The firm is also known for its strict adherence to schedules and delivers all of its projects on time.
The following project best showcases the firm’s style and expertise. This 3,623-square-foot modern estate contains three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a half bathroom. For this home, the firm’s team made use of an open floor plan with the goal of achieving a luxurious balance of nature and everyday living. The home has several glass sliding doors leading to a central atrium, high ceilings, and a number of hidden balconies.
Christiano Homes
729 W. 16th St. C-4, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Christiano Homes specializes in crafting beautiful and eye-catching contemporary homes. Having been in business since 2003, it has established a name for itself for its craft and fine attention to detail. It offers a full range of new home construction and entire home remodeling services and primarily works on a referral basis. Its process highlights the importance of keeping open lines of communication throughout every step of the project and ensures that its team may be reached 24/7. The firm is led by its founder Steve Christiano, a Costa Mesa native since 1998. Prior to the establishment of the firm, he first worked on renovating office suites and hotels in Montana and California, before transitioning into the residential construction scene. These years honed his eye for design, which may be seen through the firm’s projects; all of which receive the benefit of his experience.
The featured work was taken from the firm’s portfolio. For this contemporary estate, the firm’s team made use of wooden elements to give it a more transitional look. Large windows and doorways were also installed to bring in a generous amount of ambient light. If you look a little closer, you may notice that the home is actually constructed on quite a challenging, sloping hilltop lot.
James David Custom Homes
15375 Barranca Pkwy. Suite G-102, Irvine, CA 92618
With over two decades of industry experience, James David Custom Homes specializes in craftsman, Tuscan, and ranch inspired homes. A quick look into its portfolio displays several mission revivals, cottages, and bungalows. The firm has worked on over 550 homes in Southern California alone and has nurtured relationships with several of these clients even after their homes’ completion. The firm is led by its namesake James David Lepak, who got his first glimpse into the industry at the tender age of 14. He has grown to become one of the most successful contractors in Southern California and ensures that each project that the firm takes on receives the benefit of his experience.
The featured work is an example of the firm’s best. For this project, the firm was tasked with demolishing the home that formerly stood in this place to construct this two-story, 5,500-square-foot, traditional Nantucket home. With an open-concept indoor/outdoor theme, the James David team worked closely with some of its most trusted and skilled subcontractors to implement intricate details. Inside, the home has handmade white Shaker cabinets, ovation interior doors, and several custom boxed beams, archways, panels, and moldings.
Pinnacle Custom Homes
151 Kalmus Dr. Suite B-160, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Pinnacle Custom Homes extends its services throughout Newport Coast’s best communities in addition to several other neighboring exclusive areas. It has been doing so for the past two decades and has had its work featured in several publications like The Magazine of Architecture and The Arts & Distinctive Design, in addition to several issues of Luxe magazine. It primarily specializes in traditional and contemporary themed homes, with its portfolio showcasing an extensive gallery of both modern and mostly European-inspired architecture. Its work is often distinguished by its excellent stucco exteriors, intricate finishes, and excellent command of minimalist and Mediterranean themes.
The featured project is a prime example of its luxury home projects. Classified under its traditional homes, this Spanish colonial mansion boasts stucco exteriors, classic terracotta roofs, and arched windows and doorways. Upon closer inspection, you might also notice several quaint walkways and unique fixtures.
Reuter Homes
1537 Monrovia Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92663
Reuter Homes boasts a portfolio of over 200 houses, priced between $500k and $3 million. Mark Reuter, the founder of the firm, is credited for having built and remodeled some of Orange County’s most elite and stellar homes. The firm primarily works on whole house remodeling projects with specializations in modern and contemporary themes. The firm prides itself on its creative process, which ensures that no two buildings are alike. The firm recently received the Gold Nugget Award at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. This accolade is granted to companies for exceptional design and superb work that has improved their respective communities.
The chosen project depicts one of its elegant Spanish colonial revivals. For this home, its team made use of roofs and stucco exteriors to achieve a classic Mediterranean look. A neutral color palette with hints of earth tones was also employed for a warmer appeal.
Opulent Design-Build
9471 Irvine Center Dr. Suite #150, Irvine, CA 92618
As its name implies, Opulent employs a design-build approach and services the entirety of the Orange County area. It provides a full range of general contracting services and also handles project management, permitting, and engineering. It also employs the latest green building techniques and is known for its excellent customer service. Because of its approach, it is able to better control costs, making it more than equipped to deliver its projects on time and within budget. Manned by an experienced team of architects, designers, and builders, Opulent has also worked on several large-scale development projects and was the company behind the completion of multiple 600-unit spaces. Focusing more on its single-family residential work, the firm is distinguished for its kitchens, luxurious entrances, and master bedrooms and bathrooms.
The featured project depicts its Spanish colonial work, with hints of inspiration from classic French architecture. This may be observed through the pale blue shutters, the choice of windows, and trellises for the growth of plants creeping up across the home’s exteriors. This home was completed under the supervision of project manager Mark Fowler and architect Richard Krantz.
La Placa Construction
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
La Placa Construction started out as a small remodeling firm and was first originally headquartered in Monrovia. It has since grown into becoming one of Southern California’s premier custom home builders and has showcased a specialization for luxury projects. It primarily builds in communities located in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County. The firm is still family-owned and is actively led by its founder Gaetano La Placa, who oversees each project. Under his leadership, the firm has cultivated expertise for Spanish colonial, Mediterranean, and traditional mansions and estates. Its work is often distinguished by its detailed moldings and trimmings, stucco work, and excellent command of European architecture. It is a recipient of the Golden Nugget Award and has had its fair share of noteworthy projects. Most notably, it was the firm behind the restoration of the Anaheim White House.
The firm’s style and expertise may be best seen in the chosen project. Upon looking closely, one might notice the intricacy of the main entrance archway, emphasized by the generous use of large windows and glass doors. Stucco exteriors complement the tiled walkways.
Gonterman Construction
2043 Westcliff Dr. Suite #213, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Gonterman Construction opened its doors in 1996 and has since established a stellar reputation for itself for its full-service luxury custom home building, residential remodeling, and construction management services. It constructs homes in the beautiful coastal region of Orange County and Los Angeles and provides a tailored process for each of its clients to better ensure that all of their specific needs are met. The firm builds no two homes alike and takes charge of every facet of a project, from initial consultations and design all the way through project planning and execution. The firm is led by its founder Jason Gonterman, who works as an active project manager on every home on which the firm works. Under his leadership, the firm’s work has been featured in several noteworthy publications like Architectural Digest, California Interiors, Ocean Home Magazine, and Modern Luxury Interiors California. It has also been on Bravo’s “Flipping Out.”
The firm’s portfolio showcases an extensive range of designs, as well as the firm’s expertise in a variety of architectural themes. Some of its most beautiful projects come in the form of modern farmhouses, coastal homes, and Craftsman-inspired spaces. In the home pictured below, the Ganterman team made use of stucco exteriors infused with classic farmhouse sidings to give the project a transitional vibe. It also opted for neutral tones to emphasize its modernity.
Hulton Construction
3742 Calle Cortejo, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091
Since its establishment in 2005, Hulton Construction has been offering top-of-the-line ground-up construction and interior and exterior renovation services. With over three generations of experience crafting homes in some of the country’s best communities, it extends its services throughout Southern California and is currently led by Thomas Hulton. He first started out as a laborer in his father’s business before working his way up the company ladder as time progressed. Under his leadership, the firm has been honored with being featured in publications like Luxe and San Diego Home/Garden. He has also led the completion of numerous noteworthy projects, including a 30,000 square-foot estate in Rancho Santa Fe, a 20,000 square-foot guest area of a full-service equestrian facility, and the 10,000 square-foot renovation of the prestigious Ritz Carlton in New York City.
As for the firm’s designs, its portfolio displays expertise for contemporary and coastal-inspired homes as you can see in the depicted project. For this home, its team used a recurring theme of straight lines coupled with an earthy color palette. It also made use of large windows and entrances to further emphasize the home’s modernity.
Corbin Reeves Construction
245 Fischer Ave. Suite A1, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
With the aid of some of the area’s best architects and designers, Corbin Reeves Construction has completed projects for the most discerning clients and is known for its attention to details and craftsmanship. It specializes in luxury projects and primarily builds in traditional, transitional, and contemporary themes, often ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 square feet. The firm is led by Michael Reeves, a builder with over three decades of experience in the custom home building industry, who co-founded an internationally-recognized residential construction firm prior to his founding of Corbin Reeves in 2012.
The firm’s work has graced the pages of publications like Elle Decor, Veranda, and California Homes, with the chosen project best showcasing the firm’s particular style and expertise. Called the “Lagunita,” this waterfront residence features transitional themes complete with clean, contemporary lines, an open floor plan, and ocean views in nearly every room. Its portfolio also displays its expertise for an extensive array of designs and depicts a gallery of several contemporary and Spanish colonial-inspired homes.
SC Homes
3050 Pullman, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Named by the Orange County Business Journal as one of the area’s fastest-growing companies, SC Homes is a family-owned and operated firm that specializes in custom home building and entire house remodeling. With nearly two decades of experience, it is affiliated with several prestigious industry organizations, including the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Orange County and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). At its helm is Scott Cross, a hands-on principal who actively involves himself with every key stage of each project the firm takes on. This proactive approach is realized through the firm’s very own online progress system, which allows clients to track the firm’s on-going work 24/7. The firm’s excellent work and services have garnered it the recognition of several media outlets, including Orange Coast Magazine, Professional Remodeler, and Designed in Orange County. The firm also once completed a project for ABC’S hit reality TV series “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.”
Diving into the firm’s portfolio, one might notice an abundance of traditional, contemporary, Tuscan, and coastal-inspired homes, just like the chosen project. For this home, the firm’s team opted for a neutral color palette with hints of white to bring out its bay windows and custom finishes.
Patterson Custom Homes
15 Corporate Plaza Suite #150, Newport Beach, CA 92660
With a specialization for custom homes and luxury estates, Patterson Custom Homes extends its services throughout coastal Orange County, primarily Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, and Dana Point. It is the largest independent custom home builder in the county and has completed over 300 projects since its establishment nearly two decades ago. The firm has relationships with some of the best subcontractors in the area, enabling it to construct homes at a faster pace. It is led by Andrew Patterson, an experienced builder with a background in all aspects of the construction and real estate industries. Under his leadership, the firm handles every phase of a project from permits and project management to construction and completion. It also offers a turn-key home care maintenance program that includes every nitty-gritty detail of a home, from servicing HVAC units and adjusting doors to maintaining hardwood floors.
The firm’s work has landed on the pages of several publications and has set sales records in prestigious Newport Beach communities like Corona Highlands. Its best work is embodied in this $35 million waterfront mansion in Balboa Peninsula. Recently featured in the OC Register, this home spans over 14,000 square feet and features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a saltwater infinity pool complete with zero edge sides and underwater speakers. It also has a 1,100 gallon aquarium, its own home theater, and subterranean living area with a gym. The realtor even created a spoof music video to Teach Me How to Dougie to promote the home, which went viral and has over 140,000 views on YouTube.
HartmanBaldwin
100 W Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711
HartmanBaldwin utilizes a design-build approach and specializes in historic restorations, home additions, and custom homes and extends its services throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County. Given its expertise for historic renovations, it 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, including contemporary, Tudor, English, Mediterranean, and traditionally-inspired architecture.
Originally built in 1929, the following English Tudor revival best showcases the firm’s work. This home won HartmanBaldwin an Excellence in Design Award from the Claremont Architectural Commission along with a Renaissance Design Merit Award from Remodeling Magazine and the NAHB. It features a custom 10,000 square foot garden, special nooks and hideaways, and a 1,300-square-foot gardener’s cottage.
Spinnaker Development
428 32nd St., Newport Beach, CA 92663
Spinnaker Development offers a full range of general contracting and construction management services and a specialization in luxury custom home building. It has been awarded for every facet of construction, including design, project execution, and customer service. The firm uses only the latest technology and takes extra measures to ensure that each of its clients is updated throughout the entire process. With the aid of its own software, clients may access 360-degree imaging of rough construction and virtual x-rays of their on-going projects, along with several updates on documents, costs, and logs. The firm has garnered media attention throughout its years in service and has been featured in magazines like Modern Luxury Orange County, Modern Home Builder, and Luxury Home Quarterly.
The firm’s portfolio displays an extensive array of designs. Its modern and Cape Cod-inspired homes are especially impressive, as can see in the chosen project. For this modern home, the firm made use of a recurring theme of straight lines further emphasized by a neutral palette. Additionally, it showcased some of its stucco exterior work and used several large windows to make the home appear larger.
How can I find a home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best custom home builders near Costa Mesa. If you don’t see your city below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
Custom Home Builders in Huntington Beach
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Custom Home Builders in Orange
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
