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The Best Victorian Home Builders in the US

13 Min Read

During the Industrial Revolution architects started using new materials and technologies to create intricate, innovative homes. The new railroad system made ornamental architectural details and metal parts available to rural areas where they had been impractical before. With all of this innovation, substyles started to emerge. There are six types of these Victorian homes: the Gothic Revival, the Italianate, Second Empire, Stick-Eastlake, Folk Victorian, and the Queen Anne. All six are variations on an architectural style that reached its height during Queen Victoria’s long reign (1837 to 1901). Though there are many different sub-styles elaborate flourishes and trims make them easily recognizable. The homes also have multiple stories, unconventional shapes that incorporate bays and wings, and multi-gabled rooflines. Since this style is one of the most elaborate designs to produce, Victorian homes require experienced builders who can provide a great deal of attention to detail.

We’ve put together a list of the best contractors capable of crafting these homes with a skill that successfully portrays the style’s elaborate design. Though these contractors usually conduct historical renovations for such styles, they have won awards such as the Building Industry Association (BIA)’s Remodeler of the Year Award, and the Chrysalis award for a Residential Historic Renovation. These builders have also been featured in industry magazines and are associated with organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

Along with such credibility, most of these firms have years worth of field experience and are led by principals who have an impressive range of skills.

If you are thinking about building a Victorian 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.


Bonacio Construction Inc.

18 Division St. Suite #401, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Established in 1988, Bonacio Construction Inc. is a recognized full-service general contractor and real estate developer. Over the years, the firm has developed over 1.57 million square feet of real estate in downtown Saratoga Springs and has a proven Capital district track record of successful and innovative mixed-use, urban in-fill projects. One of these notable projects is a historic preservation completed for a late 19th century home in Saratoga Springs. This project required the exterior’s restoration and the interior’s renovation. As a result of the firm’s excellent work, the home became more suited to a modern lifestyle while respecting the materials and period details of the beautiful home.

Because of such projects, the firm was featured in The Saratogian and Albany Business Review. It also recently won the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation’s 2019 New Contextual Design Award. In the previous year, the firm won the Building Rehabilitation Award, the NY Upstate APA Chapter’s Award for Planning Excellence Award and the Game Change Achievement Award. This award-winning firm is currently handled by Sonny Bonacio. Aside from being a 2019 Inductee for Albany Business Review’s 40 under 40 Hall of Fame, Bonacio is also a member of the Saratoga Builders Association Board of Directors and is a recipient of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce ChangeMaker Award View Video.


Farrell Homebuilding

1407 W 12th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501

Farrell Homebuilding specializes in creative, thoughtful designs that integrate high levels of craftsmanship. So far, the firm has built homes in the Victorian, modern, and Craftsman styles and among these projects, its most notable one is a Queen Anne style home in Anchorage. Though designed to provide a modern and functional age-in-place home, it still retains the charm and character of an earlier architectural era. A cupola, swooped rooflines, and lots of intricate detailing are all complemented by natural light. Secret rooms and passageways were also added to give a sense of playfulness to the house.

Aside from having a team that works closely with its clients during the whole process, Farrell Homebuilding is also managed by Patrick Farrell. Recognized for his client-centric work ethics, Farrell earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years. Nowadays, he is also known for expertly customizing each project to fit the client’s unique aesthetic


Fein Construction LLC

61 Green Hill Rd., Kinnelon, NJ 07405

Energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality and uncompromising attention to detail: after maximizing its efforts on such residential features, Fein Built gained a solid reputation well-deserved by a firm that has been in the home building industry for over 40 years. Fein Built’s projects include major subdivisions of custom homes, mid-to-large scale additions and renovations, and historic restoration work on vintage homes. Among its portfolio of various projects, its most notable is a Victorian home in Ridgewood. Three-stories high, this residence has a calming blue palette that harmonizes with its natural surroundings.

Along with an EPA Lead-Safe certification, Fein Built also won Professional Remodeler’s 2012 Design Award for a historic renovation.


Gardner/Fox

919 Glenbrook Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Gardner/Fox has been providing Philadelphia with award-winning design and construction for over 30 years. Within that time, the firm has been creating award-winning projects that added to Gardner/Fox’s expertise and ability. Among its many projects, a particularly notable one is this shingle-style Victorian home. A classic, yet modern residence, the home features expansive, modern, and bright kitchens with open-air attached family areas. The construction of this home included a new two-story addition and garage along with new heating and cooling systems, as well as the restoration of all interior and exterior finishes and fixtures. For the restoration of this home, the firm was able to earn the inaugural Radnor Township Historic Preservation Award.

Currently, Gardner/Fox is managed by Brook Gardner—an engineer from Virginia—and Mark Fox—an architect from Kentucky.


Glenn Cope Custom Homes

P.O. Box 18213, Huntsville, AL 35804

Established in 1971, Glenn Cope Custom Homes has built projects for clients in Cedarhurst, Jones Valley, and The Ledge in Huntsville as well as communities in Decatur. For the past years, such projects have been distinguished by the firm’s excellent craftsmanship and attention to intricate details. Glenn Cope Custom Homes is also managed by Glenn Cope who served as president for the Huntsville-Madison County Home Builders Association and the Huntsville-Madison Chamber of Commerce. Cope is also a member of the Huntsville Utilities Board.

Currently, the firm is a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Alabama, and the Huntsville Madison Co. Builders Association.


Hart Homes

420 SE 12th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Since 1987, Fort Lauderdale’s most affluent neighborhoods—Las Olas Isles, Southwest Ranches, East Victoria Park, Rio Vista— have witnessed the luxury residences Hart Homes has built. The firm has been recognized as the go-to custom, luxury home designer and construction company in the South Florida community. So far, Hart Homes has built homes in many different styles, some of which include the American Colonial, Mediterranean, modern contemporary, and transitional ranch styles.


Hibbs Homes

13990 Olive Blvd. Suite #202, Chesterfield, MO 63017

Established in 2004, Hibbs Homes became known as one of the top custom builders in the St. Louis region before it expanded work into Salt Lake City, Utah. The firm built one of the first homes verified through the St. Louis Home Builders Green Initiative, and Hibbs Homes has since built many Energy Star rated homes. Currently, the firm is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), NAHB, and the HBA of Greater St. Louis. Aside from its association with such industry organizations, the firm was also featured in the 2017 issue of Construction News and Review and is one of the HBA’s Home of The Year awardees for Custom Home of the Years. By 2019, it also won the Home and Garden Award for the Best Energy Efficient Home Builder in Missouri.

Currently, Hibbs Homes is managed by owner and general contractor Kim Hibbs. With nearly a decade of experience and leadership building energy-efficient, high-performance luxury homes, Hibbs has built one of the first gold-level verified green homes in the St. Louis area and the first Active House in the U.S. Hibbs is actively involved with the NAHB as the national director and is a Master Certified Green professional through the NAHB.To know more about Hibbs  Homes, you can visit their website here.


Horan

174 Bellevue Ave. Suite #204, Newport, RI 02840

Horan is a construction firm knowledgeable about traditional design and contemporary innovations and they provide a range of services: in-house millwork, artistic architectural columns, coffered ceilings, and distinguished staircases with uniquely designed banisters and balusters. Horan balances its experience in creating such well-crafted features and has become known for its reputation in constructing old homes of heirloom quality while still making it energy efficient with advanced technologies.

With a team that has a thorough understanding of sequencing, strategy, and implementation, Horan was able to build nearly 200 homes near Aquidneck Island. Nowadays, it thrives on client referrals and has been featured in magazines such as Coastal Living, The New Traditional, Newport Home Magazine, and Victorian Home Magazine. It also won the Newport Life 2016 award. Along with its experienced team, Horan is also managed by founder and president, Mark Horan. 27 years ago he started to work for his father’s residential building company in Cape Cod, and Horan continues to educate himself with various cultural aesthetics while modernizing the company.


James Craig Builders

12229 W North Ave #4, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Tel: 414-771-5563

Established in 1998, James Craig Builders is known for building custom single-family homes for clients throughout Southeastern Wisconsin that are both beautiful and sustainable. The firm has built homes in the Craftsman and Victorian styles, and one of its most notable is a modern Victorian home with a serene blue and white exterior that highlights the unique corbels and other features in this Victorian home. Company owner Craig Rakowski, who recently became a 2018 inductee into the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) Hall of Fame, guides the firm. 

In 2007, James Craig Builders was named Builder of the Year by the Metropolitan Builders Association (MBA). In 2014, the firm was also named WBA’s Builder of The Year. Alongside receiving such prestigious awards, Craig is a Life Director of the National Association of Homes Builders (NAHB) and is past President of both the MBA and WBA. James Craig Builders understands there is a difference between building a house and a home. They don’t just build you a place to live; they create custom homes that are loved and enjoyed for years to come. For more information about James Craig Builders, you can visit their website here.


Ketron Custom Builders

Granville, OH 43023

Ketron Custom Builders has been remodeling and building homes throughout Columbus and Central Ohio since 1999. Since then, the firm has been featured in ThisWeek Community News and has gained memberships with the NAHB, NARI, and the NAHB Remodelers. The firm is also a certified green professional, aging-in-place specialist, and a graduate remodeler. The team has carpentry abilities that help the firm reproduce the complex details that come with historic homes. The firm has won countless awards such as BIA’s Builder of the Year award, NARI Home Improvement showcase’s Best Interior Renovation award, the Chrysalis Award for a Residential Historic Renovation, and the Contractor of The Year award for a residential historical renovation/restoration.

Before the firm was recognized for its quality remodeling work, Ketron Custom Builders focused on framing custom homes and light commercial buildings. Today, the firm focuses on high-end remodeling work, historic restoration, and crafting custom homes. The firm is managed by Travis Ketron who graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.


Leach Construction

30 Bradley Bow Rd., Jericho, VT 05465

Known for specializing in designing and building custom homes that are also energy-efficient, Leach Construction is a member of the NAHB and the Vermont Builders and Remodelers Association. With a team that includes talented and dedicated crew members, subcontractors, energy consultants, suppliers, and architects, Leach Construction is able to complete timeless projects that have helped it gain recognition from magazines like Design New England and Builder/Architect.

Over the last 16 years their projects have earned multiple awards for Energy Efficiency, People’s Choice awards, awards for new homes as well as renovations and design features, and Builder of the Year. Building stronger, smarter, greener, they are committed to fulfilling each client’s vision of home.


New Prairie Construction

605 E. Main St., Urbana, IL 61802

Julie Vogel Birdwell and Jill Mulder founded New Prairie Construction 32 years ago. In 2018, they have converted the company to a worker-owned cooperative. The firm’s main specialty is renovating kitchens and bathrooms. The firm has become known for installing bamboo floors, using natural paints, building straw bale homes, and installing solar panels on homes and businesses. Currently, New Prairie Construction is a member of the Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA), and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. New Prairie is also EPA Lead certified and NABCEP certified.

The firm has completed a number of notable projects over the years; this renovation work on a Queen Anne home is just one great example. Built-in 1901, this house was listed as one of Urbana’s 100 most significant buildings and received a Preservation and Conservation (PACA) Heritage Award in 2018. Constructed of brick, this Queen Anne home features lattice style open brickwork between the masonry porch piers, decorative brickwork below pent roofs, and beautiful rough-hewn limestone window sills. The home’s most intricate and architecturally prominent features are the decorative shingled gables and the wrap-around porch with a 2nd story covered walk-out balcony.

Some of its renovation work includes shoring up the gable covering the balcony, and the removal of the balcony and the porch roof to create a new beadboard ceiling. Not surprisingly, the firm has the 2018 Heritage Award, the 2016 Residential Heritage award, and the 2015 Special Heritage Award.


Papi and Romano Builders, Inc.

P.O. Box 1079 Portland, ME 04104

Papi and Roman Builders was established in 1977 by Rick Romano and Joseph Papi. In 1982, Rick’s brother, Dan Romano, also joined the business. Since then the firm has gathered more than enough experience and management skills to provide and oversee all phases of renovation, historic preservation, and new home construction. The firm has created and renovated beautiful homes that respect their communities’ aesthetics. The firm has built homes in the Queen Anne and modern styles. The firm also designs and crafts kitchen cabinetry, furniture, and architectural millwork. As a result of this range fo skills, the firm won the 2014 Fine Home Building Small Home of the Year award.


Pentek Homes

1139 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113

Historically, Pentek Homes has been known for its achievements in complex, high-end residential construction for both new construction and historic renovations. Because of this reputation, the firm is now one of the leading home builders and remodeling contractors in New Orleans and has expanded its services to include commercial projects. Since its establishment in 2011, Pentek Homes has been creating projects that have gained it features in New Orleans Living Magazine, Uptown Messenger, and The New Orleans Advocate.

Pentek Homes is currently led by Bo Pennington: Bo has extensive knowledge in residential construction, high-end design, finishes and structural detailing. Pennington has also been a member of the New Orleans Home Builders Association since 2010.


Sacred Oak Homes

20 Stockbridge Rd. Ste 6, Great Barrington, MA 01230

Sacred Oak Homes was founded in 1990 by Steven MacLeay. Specializing in custom homes and renovations, they primarily serve southern Berkshire and the Hampshire counties of Massachusetts. Over the last three decades, Sacred Oak Homes has developed a wide network of skilled artisans and suppliers. Thanks to such a talented team, they have built up a portfolio of homes in the Victorian, Prairie, and Bauhaus styles. One of these notable residences is a Victorian home that required extensive structural and cosmetic renovation. This home received a complete kitchen remodel, three new full-size bathrooms, a relocated staircase, and new finishes throughout. They even converted the spacious attic into a light-filled studio for yoga, dance, and music. With 30 years of experience, Sacred Oak Homes is known for communicating and collaborating exceptionally well with their clients, architects, and everyone else involved.


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 Victorian 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.