Last updated on May 28th, 2024 at 10:21 am
In California, one of Silicon Valley’s most significant restaurants — among politicians, celebrities, and the tech industry elite — is an unassuming Chinese restaurant that looks like a typical dining spot for an average family. Yet this restaurant, Chef Chu’s, has served everyone from high-ranking figures in the Reagan administration to Serena Williams and Steve Jobs. The key to its success might be its entrepreneurial owner, Larry Chu, who has published cookbooks, built up a successful catering business, and created a popular series of cooking classes. Chu demonstrates that the kitchen is much more than another room in the house; it is a place of collaboration, vitality, and ingenuity.
Silicon Valley is full of general contractors who recognize the importance of the kitchen, and all of the intricate details that go into making a kitchen stand out, by designing beautiful and modern spaces that fit your home. The following contractors are expert kitchen remodelers, chosen for their award-winning kitchen projects and accomplished staffs, in some of the nicest neighborhoods in Silicon Valley.
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.
15) De Mattei
1794 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95125
De Mattei was founded in 1985 by Mark De Mattei, the company’s owner and president. This Silicon Valley contractor has finished around 2,000 home improvement projects, including new custom homes and kitchen and bath remodels. In 2015, De Mattei’s revenue from general contracting on local residential projects reached $34M. Silicon Valley Business Journal named them one of the Largest Residential Contractors in the area, and Qualified Remodeler selected them for a spot among the Top 500 Remodelers on multiple occasions.
De Mattei kitchen designs are technologically advanced, artistic, and elegant. Many of them, such as the project in a Mountain View condo, feature sparkling white marble kitchen countertops and backsplash, creative chandeliers, and kitchen storage units made of both wood and glass. They contain big-screen TVs built in over modern fireplaces, and large kitchen islands with a great deal of seating that help the rooms feel comfortable as well as stylish. The vast majority De Mattei’s clients are either repeat customers or referrals.
14) TBS Construction
3283 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA, 95054
TBS Construction is a full-service design-build company located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company is operated by CEO Mamuka Grigolia who’s passion for custom design and build homes has led him to create high-end general contractor company. TBS is offering residential and commercial services in areas like Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Woodside, Los Gatos and other. With impeccable craftsmanship and dedication to each project, TBS is proud of helping customers turn their dreams into reality.
In addition to TBS Construction, Mamuka G. has founded TBS Design Gallery, an innovative one-stop showroom offering top design-build products to homeowners, interior designers, architects, and builders.
Their kitchen remodels are modern and elegant, like the patio and kitchen renovation project at a residence in Woodside. TBS Construction brought in custom-made kitchen cabinets, white handmade backsplash, white-and-gray swirled marble countertops from Italy, and a custom-designed fireplace made of reclaimed wood. It also features a farmhouse sink, bar area, and kitchen island.
In another project — a transitional kitchen in Millbrae — homeowners wanted some much-needed kitchen upgrades, something functional as well as beautiful. TBS Construction created a cozy and modern kitchen with high ceilings, white custom cabinets, mint green tile backsplash, and gray tile floors. They installed durable windows, high-end appliances, and countertops made of a combination of natural quartz and granite. They added a window bench and dining space for further seating, making the room homey as well as stylish.
13) Barrios Wagner Builders
534 Horning Street, San Jose, CA 95112
Barrios Wagner Builders is the continuation of a legacy. Chris Donatelli Builders (CDB), award-winning and eco-friendly contractor, was run by Chris Donatelli. Upon his retirement, several of his leading team members decided to carry on the CDB mission by forming a new company that would maintain the same standard for customer service. CDB received many honors for its work, including Build It Green recognitions and National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Meta Awards. Today, Humberto Barrios and Mark Wagner are bringing CDB’s daughter company, Barrios Wagner Builders, into the future.
With the help of a team of certified lead carpenters with decades of combined experience in construction, Barrios Wagner offers additions, kitchen and bathroom remodels, and whole-house remodels in Silicon Valley. Their service areas include Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and San Jose.
Barrios Wagner Builders works with clients who are in the early stages of remodeling a kitchen and with those ready to break down all the details about kitchen remodeling costs. Their kitchens match the lifestyles of the families that occupy them, with stylish spaces popping with personality. A Palo Alto family kitchen remodel now features mint green tile backsplash, creamy daffodil walls, and orange floor tile.
12) H2H Design + Build
1264 S. Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
H2H Design + Build is a multiple award-winning contractor with recognitions and honors for its home additions, and for its kitchen and bath remodels. Their work has appeared in California Home & Design, The Retail Observer, and San Jose Mercury News. H2H Design is run by Angela and Matt Rasmussen, a married couple with more than 30 years of combined experience in the building industry. Angela, originally from the state of Washington, studied at the West Valley Interior Design Program and is also educated in photography. Matthew, a native of Santa Clara County, was an apprentice at a small construction company in 2002. After gaining hands-on experience, the two started H2H in 2009.
In a Brenton Avenue kitchen remodel project, the homeowner wanted a kitchen that reflected her personality. H2H Design created a French country-style kitchen with brand-new windows, flooring, and appliances. They added a beige backsplash, prefab granite counters, and satin nickel hardware. In a NARI award-winning project on Trona Way, H2H was brought in to make a petite ranch-style home feel larger. They removed and rearranged several walls to make the interior feel less closed off and more cohesive.
11) Heartwood Residential
PO Box 2304, Los Gatos, CA 95031
Like heartwood from a tree, this company seeks to produce “beautiful, long-lasting workmanship for your home.” Heartwood Residential is run by Nick and Michelle Yegge. Nick, a fourth-generation builder, started gaining experience in construction during summer vacations from school. He worked for a high-end custom home builder doing framing work, where he observed the importance of communication, planning, and systematic approaches to building projects. Michelle joined the company as a project coordinator, office manager, and manager of the design and materials selection. They operate in areas like Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and Los Altos.
Heartwood Residential specializes in kitchen and bath remodels and provide everything from layout and floor plan design to custom or modular cabinetry, kitchen lighting selection, countertops, and tilework. The company supports sustainable building methods and the use of eco-friendly materials, recycling, and resource preservation. In 2015, Heartwood earned two Meta Gold Award for Kitchen Remodels. One is for a kitchen remodel between $50,000 and $75,000 designed by Emanate Design that features rich wood cabinetry, an elegant crystal chandelier, and a large and central kitchen island.
10) Woodenbridge
483 Reynolds Circle, San Jose, CA 95112
Woodenbridge, based out of San Jose, is a construction company specializing in handcrafted cabinetry and high-tech cabinets. David Baeza is the CEO, chief designer, and owner. The company is affiliated with American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), NARI, and the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Their services areas include Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, and many more. Woodenbridge works on home improvement projects in kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, and entertainment rooms, as well as commercial properties like bars or restaurants. Kitchens are among its specialties, with a NARI award-winning kitchen project in Silicon Valley.
Woodenbridge kitchens are traditional and classic. They feature central kitchen islands with marble or quartz countertops, decorative cabinetry with intricate shapes and designs, and a great deal of open space. Others are more modern, with large glass windows overlooking scenic yards or gardens, bar areas or workspaces, and built-in storage spaces for wine. Several of their kitchens feature stereo cabinets or containment systems for built-in televisions, and they are known for their intricate architectural beams and crown moulding.
9) Case Design & Remodeling
2157 O’Toole Avenue, Suite 70, San Jose, CA 95131
Case Design & Remodeling, operated by President Jim Kabel, offers construction and remodeling services throughout Silicon Valley, in Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Saratoga, Santa Clara, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Lost Altos, and the greater Southbay. The company has earned a Professional Remodeler’s Annual Market Leaders Award and a place on Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 Remodelers list. Kabel was selected by Remodeling Magazine to join the Remodeling Big 50.
Case Design has received several awards for kitchen and bath remodels, with more than 15 NARI Meta Awards for kitchens alone. Its leadership team has a combined 100 years of experience in the building industry, and Kabel holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, as well as Certified Remodeler credentials through NARI.
One project featured on its website began with a 900-square-foot kitchen in a 50-year-old Los Gatos home. Case Design merged the living space with the kitchen to create a clear site line, which opened the rooms up to the scenic views of the tree-covered mountainside. They added tall, buffet-style cabinetry and replaced an old-fashioned dumbwaiter with a modern, built-in pantry. They installed a custom hood and Wolf cooktop to complement double ovens, as well as herringbone mosaic backsplash tile and Caesarstone quartz, and a farmhouse-style sink.
8) San Interior Design
San Jose, CA
San Interior Design is operated by Sanchali Srivastava, an award-winning designer, lecturer, and mentor who has studied architecture. She is a National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Certified Interior Designer and Certified Professional and has judged design competitions. Srivastava is vice president of Academic Relations for the NKBA Chapter in Northern California.
San Interior Design operates in areas like Los Altos and Palo Alto. They offer building services in whole house remodels, additions, and kitchen and bath remodels. The team has earned multiple awards for kitchens, such as NARI Meta awards for Residential Kitchens around $80,000 and $120k, and NKBA Awards for Open Plan Kitchens and Small Kitchens.
In one remodeling project in Mountain View, a young couple’s kitchen did not reflect their fast-paced and modern lifestyle in the tech industry. San Interior Design opened the wall between the kitchen and living room, installed a new skylight and larger windows, and replaced old cabinets with new kitchen cabinets painted white. To cater to the homeowners’ different heights, San Interior Design built many new base cabinets and storage areas onto lower, more accessible areas of the kitchen, and then transformed the original, out-of-reach cabinets into a brand-new display area.
7) D.R. Domenichini Construction
P.O. Box 1430 San Martin, CA 95046
David R. Domenichini is the founder and owner of D.R. Domenichini Construction. Raised and educated in Northern California, Domenichini has completed hundreds of building and remodeling projects in his 20 years of experience in the industry.
Most D.R. Domenichini Construction kitchens are transitional or modern in design, and feature artistic lighting fixtures, decorative tile backsplash, and classy granite or Quartz countertops. Many include farmhouse-style sinks and cutting edge stainless-steel appliances.
The company has earned several NARI Meta Design Awards, including three residential kitchens as well as an outdoor kitchen. For three consecutive years, they were voted as Best Contractor in Morgan Hill, CA. In addition, they have earned Best of Houzz in Customer Service from 2014 through 2018. In 2012, they were named Morgan Hill’s Business of the Year. The company is a licensed California contractor and a member of GuildQuality. They serve their community through participation in the Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin Chamber of Commerce.
6) Clayton Nelson
15466 Los Gatos Boulevard, Suite #109-271, Los Gatos, CA 95032-2550
Clayton Nelson has nearly 30 years of experience in whole-house remodels, historic restoration, and high-quality kitchen and bath remodels. The company operates in wealthy parts of Willow Glen, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and Palo Alto. The team is a NKBA Certified Kitchen Designer, as well as a NARI Master Certified Remodeler and Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler. Many of its projects have appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. Throughout its years of service, Clayton Nelson has received several NARI Meta awards for Residential Interiors over $100k, and for Residential Kitchens around $120k. In 2008, they earned a Contractor of the Year Award through NARI for an Entire House over $1M.
In a mountainside home in Los Gatos, Clayton Nelson vaulted the kitchen ceiling and opened up tremendous views of the sweeping forests and Monterey Bay. They improved access to outdoor entertainment areas, made the kitchen more spacious, and installed new custom cabinetry. They also added a wet bar with a wine refrigerator, brand-new appliances, and hand-hewn structural beams for a decorative finish.
5) RadCon
San Jose, CA 95120
RadCon, an EPA Lead-Safe Certified contractor, is affiliated with both Build It Green and NARI. The company was founded in 1992 by John Rovedo and is a full-service design-build firm operating in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Los Altos, and Saratoga. RadCon has earned multiple recognitions, including a 2016 NARI Meta Award for a Residential Addition $250k and above; a Residential Exterior Specialty; and a Residential Kitchen $40,000 to $80,000 in Santa Clara.
The award-winning kitchen features an open-floor plan with high ceilings, a large kitchen island, and steel appliances. Green tile backsplash complements gray cabinets that provide a great deal of kitchen storage space. In a remodel of a Los Altos ranch-style residence, RadCon created a modern kitchen with sea-green marble countertops and a central skylight.
In another remodel, RadCon took a 2,000-square-foot home and united all of the first-floor rooms into one unified open floor plan. The kitchen is bright and elegant, with gray-and-white swirl marble counters, a large kitchen island, and a refrigerator made of steel and glass.
4) RemodelWest
12333 Saratoga Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga, CA 95070
Founded in 1992, RemodelWest is a small team of licensed contractors famous for their customer service. Bill Reid, the company’s owner, is known to become personally involved and invested in every single project. Reid has 24 years of experience in the building industry, with a specialization in custom cabinets, and the company offers everything from custom homes to kitchen and bath remodels throughout upscale areas in Silicon Valley, like San Jose, Saratoga, and Los Altos.
RemodelWest has received four awards through the NKBA for remodeling projects, three of which were for outstanding kitchen remodels. RemodelWest kitchens look like the kitchens of the future. One project in the foothills of Saratoga was designed to feel natural and organic. It features red birch cabinets, quartz and live wood countertops, a raised dishwasher, and stranded bamboo flooring made of ecotimber — an environmentally responsible material. To utilize existing space, RemodelWest turned a portion of the recessed ceiling into a walk-in pantry. Another Saratoga kitchen with a completely different, modern prairie style features a large, outdoor dining area with poolside views and dramatic lighting. It has hardwood floors, custom-made wine cabinets, and extensive NanaWall.
3) Hammerschmidt Construction
1574 Country Club Drive, Los Altos, CA 94024
Hammerschmidt, a certified green builder and full-service design-build contractor, has over 20 years of experience in prestigious parts of Silicon Valley. Their service areas include Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View. The company’s CEO, John Hammerschmidt, is a third-generation Californian who once held dreams of becoming a farmer and studied landscape construction at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
The company’s president, Lynn Hammerschmidt, is a Palo Alto native and UC Berkeley graduate with years of experience as a marketing executive in Bay Area startups. Hammerschmidt Construction has been featured in Remodeling Magazine’s Big 50 list of the best remodeling companies nationwide, and the company has received 14 NARI Meta awards for building projects, including kitchen remodels.
One Los Altos kitchen, designed to embody “functional glamour,” began as a narrow space barely suited to fit one cook at a time. Hammerschmidt turned it into an open space with a large kitchen island, cutting-edge appliances, and a desk and file area. They brought in white princess granite, crystal pendant lighting, and glass subway tile backsplash, and they installed silver travertine floors.
2) Timeline Design + Build
14401 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
Timeline Design+Build is a licensed general contractor and certified interior designer that has finished over 700 projects for single-family residences in Silicon Valley. Of their many recognitions and honors, over 25 are NARI Awards, and more than 10 are NKBA Awards recognizing remodeling projects.
The company excels in designing and building custom homes, and large remodel projects, and has won several awards for residential kitchens over $120k. One of their kitchen projects, inspired by a “winter fairytale,” is a large and open-concept kitchen with views of the backyard garden. The style is modern-cottage, with matte blue and glass tile evoking vast blue skies, and a Berwyn waterfall countertop representing wintry mountain ranges.
Matthew Harrigan, company President, founded Timeline Design+Build in 1990. A graduate of Santa Clara University and UC San Diego, Harrigan’s experience in the construction industry actually began as an adolescent, when he built cabinets in his parents’ garage and sold them to local customers. He was only 14 years old at the time. Matthew holds degrees in both civil engineering and electrical engineering, and his business continues to grow under his leadership.
1) Harrell Remodeling
944 Industrial Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303
This female-driven construction company was chosen for its many accolades and outstanding remodels, particularly for kitchens. Harrell was founded in 1985 and offers building and remodeling services, primarily in upscale regions in Silicon Valley, such as Palo Alto.
With over 30 years of experience in the design-build industry, Harrell has earned several recognitions. These include a 2011 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award through the Women’s Initiative and a 2014 Top 100 Women of Influence Award through the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Of their hundreds of awards, more than 20 are for kitchens, including Gold and Silver NARI Meta awards and NKBA awards for residential kitchens.
They’ve created kitchens of many shapes and styles to match homeowners’ various kitchen remodeling ideas. These include a sleek and colorful kitchen in La Honda; a U-shaped kitchen to encourage socialization, homework, and group cooking; a Palo Alto kitchen complete with library shelves; Mediterranean-style kitchens with modern appliances; and Mountain View kitchens that are modern and “beach chic.” In 2008, Harrell was one of 50 featured women-owned businesses in the San Jose Business Journal, and in 2013, Silicon Valley Business Journal singled them out as one of the 24 Largest Women-Owned Businesses in the region.
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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.
