Bergen County has lush forests and large lakes. These features provide residents with the opportunity to build homes that integrate the indoors and the outdoors. Numerous lakeside and contemporary homes take advantage of the scenery, offers the homeowners an improved living environment promoting a balance of indoor-outdoor living.
The best custom home builders in the area offer their clients the best possible materials with a straightforward process. These firms optimize every aspect of the home: property size, location, and neighborhood, all in favor of the client’s personal preferences. Our editors curated this list of the nine best custom home builders in Northern Bergen County, looking into each firm’s portfolio, styles, processes, and experience.
Berardi Building Company
One Main Street, Ste 9, Sparta, NJ 07871
For over three decades, the Berardi Building Company has crafted award-winning custom homes through inspired designs, modern technology, and environmentally-friendly techniques. The firm employs a dedicated team manufacturing hand-wrought millwork and moldings. The firm also insists on using high-quality hardwood, stone, marble, and granite, all meant for long-term use and functionality. The feature project below—the transitional French country estate in Franklin Lakes—is a great example of the firm’s work. It’s a two-acre property featuring 12,000 square feet of artisan living spaces and resort-style amenities: swimming pool, patio, and chef’s kitchen. The result is a classic European-style estate with vintage furnishings, built with a sophisticated finish that includes numerous amenities, large open spaces, and handcrafted materials. 
ECS Homes
285 Pascack Rd, Suite 5, Township of Washington, NJ 07676
ECS Homes has established a track record for producing various custom modern, Colonial, and Ranch-style residences, and all with a contemporary, refined finish. Over the years, the ECS team has been repeatedly featured in the press: Forbes, the Daily Voice, and the podcast The Modern Craftsman Podcast. Pictured below is one of the modern residences the ECS team completed. It features a classic ranch-style exterior, finished with contemporary furniture and designs. A notable characteristic of the residence is the efficient use of its outdoor space that includes a swimming pool and a pool house. The balance of its interior and exterior space allows for a functional home that is efficient and effective.
Signature Home Builders
140 Sylvan Ave, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
President Jonathan Cantor founded this firm in 1999, creating a straightforward approach with its concept and planning, which translates to the custom homes the team has completed. Cantor describes the firm’s process as “hands-on,” which allows each client to personalize and decide what they want for their home. This approach led the firm to win the 2004 New Jersey Builder of the Year. It continues to provide quality custom homes while always striving to upgrade its services.
The firm’s portfolio features a bevy of projects in the Ranch, Victorian, and contemporary styles. The featured project below is one of the modern ranch houses the firm completed, featuring an intricately designed landscape and a vintage farmhouse exterior. The landscaping of this residence plays a role in providing its appealing look by adding color to the home. On the inside, it includes functional living spaces with modern furniture for a comfortable home environment.
Uzeiri Construction
305 Island Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Focusing on vintage traditional residences, Uzeiri Construction has accumulated a portfolio of vintage-designed houses using simple, straightforward designs. The project below is an example of the firm’s direct approach. With its simple gray and white exterior, it provides a unique finish to the house but also complements the backdrop with the tall trees at the back, improving the appearance of the residence. President Nick Uzeiri takes inspiration from classically designed homes, as he’s done since he founded the firm in 1995. Uzeiri Construction has built a reputation for providing its clients with accurate incarnations of their dreams. It has established itself among Northern Bergen County’s most reliable builders.
Joseph Di Staulo Homes
196 Vaccaro Dr, Cresskill, NJ, 07626
Joseph Di Staulo Jr. is the current president of Joseph Di Staulo Homes; his father founded the firm in 1957. The team continues to build an ever-growing network of people that assists them in producing innovative architectural designs. Each project in its portfolio is a representation of its client’s lifestyle, and they were all built with the firm’s cost-effective, efficient process.
The project below is an example of the firm’s effective method and designs, featuring detailed landscaping and a European design. Paired with a lush natural-looking landscape, the residence’s façade complements the surrounding area well with its brick exterior and tall cement columns. The high ceiling of the house provides a vintage-looking finish with a second-floor balcony overlooking the front yard and driveway. The result is a combination of modern and classic designs finished by beautiful landscaping.
L & L Builders & Developers Corp.
841 Franklin Ave, Suite 6, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
L & L Builders & Developers Corp. has assembled a portfolio of custom homes with a strong focus on contemporary ranch-style houses. The team has produced over 50 luxury homes in sizes that range from 3,000 to 15,000 square feet. The firm always applies meticulous detailing to its exterior and interior finishes. This is a result of applying the latest technology: lighting control systems, home office automation, and radiant heating. The firm’s goal is to offer clients a home built for long-term use, emphasizing quality and functionality. An example of this is the project below, featuring the Jenny Trail Residence. At first glance, its façade radiates a rustic ranch design via the brick exterior, the white columns, and classic windows. This classic structure mimics a vintage ranch home and provides plenty of natural lighting. Ample yard space offers a relaxing environment.
Sterling Ridge Contracting
15 Shadyside Road, Ramsey, NJ 07446
For the past three decades, the Sterling Ridge team has completed over 150 custom home projects and provided renovation and addition services to numerous other clients. One result of all that work is a portfolio that features quite an array of styles: farmhouses, lakeside residences, and traditional homes. The firm has established a reputation for integrating the client’s ideas with its expertise to offer the client an efficient, functional home resulting in quality finishes and furnishings.
Pictured below is the Edgemere Avenue lakeside residence that provides the homeowners a balance of indoor and outdoor living. Apart from its natural scenery and massive outdoor spaces, the firm built a comfortable interior space that features classic features: chandeliers, wooden tables, and a stone masonry fireplace. The most notable characteristic of the house might be the patio and deck area. They blend outdoor and indoor living and provide gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding areas.
Peluso Construction
169 S. Main Street, #400, New City, NY 10956
Peluso Construction has provided exceptional services for both residential and commercial projects in Bergen County, NJ, Rockland County, NY, and New York City. Its portfolio consists of beautiful homes designed with a straightforward approach. The team at Peluso Construction aims to provide a seamless, stress-free process relying on strong communication between the firm and client. The project below is a result of this approach. The residence’s façade offers a calming, yet striking white color palette. The tall trees and lush scenery radiate home.
Coli Construction
1 Sears Drive, Suite 104, Paramus, NJ 07652
Under the leadership of Daniel Colaianni, Coli Construction has put together a portfolio of residential and commercial projects, including an array of contemporary residences. The picture below is a modern house in Paramus, New Jersey, featuring a gray-colored exterior paired with modern furnishing. A common theme throughout the house is the light, a gorgeous combination of artificial and natural lighting: it makes the home as comfortable and relaxing as possible. Complemented by the scenic surrounding, this house balances indoor and outdoor spaces with functionality and efficiency.
