Silicon Valley has made San Francisco one of the wealthiest places in the country. In fact, the city ranks first by per capita income among 91 U.S. city propers with over 250,000 residents. It also anchors the San Francisco Bay Area, an international hub for business, the arts, and sciences. It is supported by top universities as well as the high-tech and healthcare industries. Aside from its prosperous economy, San Francisco also features great restaurants, charming cafes, gorgeous city parks, miles of hiking trails, and spectacular vistas. All of this makes the city attractive as it gives a perfect balance of stability with abundant professional opportunities and a healthy life with recreational activities and establishments.
For families and individuals thinking about migrating to this vibrant city, our editorial team has put together a list of the best custom home builders working in San Francisco. These firms were selected because of their experience building homes uniquely suited to each homeowner. Any of these companies would be a great choice to assist you in building your future home, as they have created countless dream homes for San Francisco residents.
BONE Structure
44 Montgomery St. 300, San Francisco, CA 94104
Design, development, and marketing of technologies for residential and commercial properties are BONE Structure’s areas of expertise. The firm is staffed by a team of 60 engineers, architects, industrial designers, and interior designers that have worked together to develop an effective steel building system for the firm. They have also collaborated with various construction and architectural firms across the U.S. and Canada to provide clients with the best quality product. The BONE team also follows five guiding principles — respect, transparency, loyalty, security, and fun — while prioritizing clients and project requirements. Publications like Bizjournals, Prefab Review, and Globest have highlighted the team’s dedication and capabilities.
The firm constructed Project 15-580, which won the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Award. It’s an all-electric home with net zero emissions and zero gas usage. The eco-friendly home’s features include rooftop solar, several batteries for storage, LED lights, heavy insulation, and efficient appliances. It generated 20% more electricity in the first two years than it consumed. As a result, there were no electricity, natural gas, or gasoline bills.
Peninsula Custom Homes
1401 Old County Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
San Carlos-based home building firm Peninsula Custom Homes’ (PCH) mission is client-centric, focusing on homeowners’ satisfaction with both products and services. President Bryan Murphy ensures that this drives the team and is always upheld. Murphy and the PCH team’s dedication and excellence can be seen in their portfolio, filled with impressive custom homes, additions, extensions, and remodeling. Luxe Magazine, Architectural Digest, and Elle Decor have commended the team’s efforts and featured several of their projects.
The PCH team partnered with Richard Beard Architects and Kelly Hohla Interiors to create Leon, a luxurious mansion on the San Francisco Peninsula. The primary materials used for the 13,000-square-foot home were dark steel, stone, and cedar. Some of its distinctive elements include the curved staircase and the elaborate stonework. It also has thermally broken steel windows and doors that open to a cozy outdoor living area with a new pool and organic garden. This project was featured and highlighted in Luxe Magazine.
Kasten Builders
3419 Regatta Boulevard, Richmond, CA 94804
As the oldest firm on this list, Kasten Builders has proven itself to be one of the leading home builders in Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, and Alameda. Backed by 50 years of experience, the firm uses the best smart building techniques. This ensures that homes are not only of the highest quality but also reduces the overall environmental impact. The firm also specializes in various complex builds, and each of those surpasses client expectations when delivered.
The Kasten team constructed a new 6,000-square-foot home in Mill Valley. Careful planning and coordination were needed because of the site constraints and complex foundation. It also required driveway widening so concrete trucks could access the site. The foundation subcontractor they partnered with called the project “the most difficult foundation plan yet.” Fire safety and protection were some of the major considerations in planning and building the home. The first level is made of exposed panelized concrete, the second floor in copper siding, and the third floor with smooth stucco. This was the client’s fourth and last custom home, and no money was spared.
FORMA Construction
135 S Park Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
FORMA Construction is committed to offering clients a straightforward process, proactive project management, and unmatched construction experience. The firm specializes in custom home building, remodeling, historic rehabilitation, and home expansions. It has been in the industry since 2010 and has provided residents in San Francisco, Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, and Mill Valley with unparalleled craftsmanship. The FORMA team, led by founder Victor Mezhvinsky, has produced numerous award-winning homes. Their distinctions include the Builder Award for Residential Build, the Best Remodel Award, and Luxe RED Regional Winner.
The Laidley Street Cottage is one of the firm’s outstanding builds, winning the Best in American Living Award from the National Home Builders Association (NAHB) and Gold Design Award from Professional Builder. It was also featured in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Francisco’s Living Home Tours, Spaces Magazine, SFC&G, and Dwell. The home features a welcoming façade with plenty of windows. Its fence and gate design give the residents privacy, and the living area comfortably extends to the front yard. Both the guest bedroom and the master bedroom have balconies, increasing the number of indoor-outdoor connections.
Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction
1672 15th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Multi-disciplinary firm Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction is an internationally acclaimed company renowned for meticulously crafting contemporary structures. It serves the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa and Sonoma Counties, Silicon Valley, and other areas in Northern California. The firm offers both the residential and commercial sectors construction and design services, which includes custom homes, home expansions, remodeling, architecture, and design-build. The firm has received countless honors since its inception in 1997, including the Grand Award for Custom Home 3,000 to 5,000 square foot from Custom Home Magazine, Excellence in Architecture from AIA San Francisco, and the Merit Award from the Builder’s Choice Award.
The Laidley House is just one of the firm’s impressive projects. This contemporary home was inspired by the purity of structure and natural lights and views. The design was conceptualized by the homeowner’s family, who are all modernists. The team built two three-story structures parallel to each other. The northern structure extends to San Francisco’s panoramic views. On the other hand, the southern half recedes, bringing in a generous amount of light and air. Several elements were also installed to make a distinct rear façade, including a full-height opening, glass balconies, an upslope projection at the roofline, structural steel channels, and stucco.
AT6 Architecture + Design Build
477 Pacific Avenue, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94133
AT6 Architecture + Design Build has a team of architects, builders, and support personnel driven to provide the best custom home, addition, expansion, remodeling, restoration, sustainable design, and design-build services. They focus on improving the lives of San Francisco Bay Area residents, allowing them to have beautiful, functional homes. The team leverages its combined strengths to deliver a high-value project that still falls within budget. They treat each client with honesty, transparency, and support as they aspire to be the homeowner’s trusted advisor. These characteristics have led to the firm being named one of the Big 50 of Remodeling Magazine. AT6 was also included in the Influential “Ten to Watch” list by California Home & Design Magazine.
The AT6 team recently built the Noe Valley Residence with the help of Boor Bridges Architecture. The home features a modern architectural style with influences of minimalism. The house has a flat roof and three stories covered with stucco siding. The interior finishes highlight simple, light-filled, modern living. It emanates a clean, warm ambiance using bright neutral colors and wood materials.
Moroso Construction
1086 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Moroso Construction has more than three decades of experience serving the residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm is exceptionally skilled in providing green building services to custom homes, estates, expansions, and high-rise interiors. The firm has a team of construction experts with a wide range of capabilities, from estimating and resolving to project management and building. Owner Justine Sears and CEO Ron Bond guide the team and are hands-on in every project. They ensure that the team remains on track, achieving goals and moving on to success after success. The San Francisco Business Times recently named Sears as one of the Influential Women in the industry. Other publications — Architizer, Biz Journals, Luxe Interiors + Design, and Traditional Building Magazine — have also highlighted the firm’s expertise.
Among the firm’s impressive works is the Atherton Estate. The home was built on a two-acre property and has a total of 12,000 square feet, including the main house, guest house, and garage. It has a modern traditional architectural style with a transitional interior. The Moroso team collaborated with the homeowners to create this stunning mansion, all the way from pre-construction to completion.
Plath & Company
1575 Francisco Boulevard, E #4, San Rafael, CA 94901
Using only a Sears credit card and a recently acquired contractor’s license, Steve Plath founded Plath & Company in 1976. The firm is known in the San Francisco Bay Area for its long-standing tradition of providing clients with high-quality products and satisfaction. It follows a philosophy encouraged by Steve’s father: “If you’re going to do something, do it correctly.” The firm’s current president, JB Ferrarone, continues to practice that motto—it’s the guiding principle of the team. Doing so has led to unmatched custom home and remodeling services, historic restoration and renovations, and specialty commercial assistance.
This Atherton auxiliary residence was requested by the homeowners to house their home office, guest facilities, and entertainment space. It has 10,000 square feet and features modern, wood, and stone materials. The team added multi-sliding patio doors to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. They creatively constructed an intimate, warm, and comfortable setting ideal for both entertaining guests and focusing on the job.
