Last updated on May 21st, 2024 at 10:41 pm
Santa Barbara is most known for its vast, sandy beaches; whether residents or tourists are looking for the ideal wave or sunset, there are plenty of options. Downtown, white stucco structures with red-tile rooftops highlight the city’s Spanish colonial history. State Street also offers luxury shops and restaurants that provide local spirits and seasonal cuisine.
If you’re looking at remodeling your space, looking for a trusted contractor is a must. In this list are some of Santa Barbara’s leading remodeling contractors. Our team chose each for their portfolio, affiliations, and press features.
Allen Construction
201 N. Milpas St., Santa Barbara, CA 93103
With solid roots in Santa Barbara for 30 years, Allen Construction has become the area’s leading responsible and high-quality construction provider. As pioneers in the green building movement, the firm’s team members are more than artisans. They are progressive experts in creating unique, energy-efficient, healthy living spaces. New clients come to Allen Construction because of its reputation for quality and dependability. Long-term clients stay because of its expert guidance even after the project’s completion.
Allen Construction was launched in 1983 by Dennis Allen, who now serves as Chairman. For over 40 years, Dennis has been taking his commitment to energy conservation and sustainability to his work, building quality, healthy homes for neighbors in Santa Barbara. In 2016, the studio was selected as the Western States ESOP company of the year. It is an honor it attributes to the culture, centered around its core values and dedication that each employee brings to the job daily.
In late 2019, Allen Construction completed an ESOP transaction with Dennis Allen and his wife Jenny, the company’s founders, that brought employee ownership up to 51%. This was a huge milestone for the company as becoming a majority employee-owned company has always been its long-term goal. It is also a proud member of the Santa Barbara Contractors Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Young Construction
9 Ashley Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Launched in 1978, Young Construction provides its clients with the absolute best in project management and other related services to ensure the success of every project. It specializes in remodeling, custom homes, additions, general contracting, and commercial construction for clients based in Carpinteria, Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara, Toro Canyon, and beyond. The company’s approach ensures a functional quality design, adherence to industry construction standards, and compliance with budgets and schedules.
Brothers David and Bob Young and the team at Young Construction have been dedicated to building quality custom homes in Santa Barbara for the past 36 years. The team’s involvement in each project and its detail-oriented approach and cost-effective construction solutions continue to produce award-winning homes for their clients.
Young Construction has received several recognitions in its decades in the business. Some of these are the 2015 Hugh Peterson Award for Art in Public Spaces and the 2014 Santa Barbara Contractors Association Residential Remodel Construction. It is also a proud member of the Built Green Santa Barbara and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
DD Ford Construction
303 Palm Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Established in 1980, DD Ford Construction builds, remodels, and maintains custom homes of all forms and sizes in the Santa Barbara area and gives the highest level of service and craft humanly possible. The company lives for the finer details so clients can enjoy the most crucial part of the process: realizing their dream.
DD Ford’s four specialized but closely coordinated departments include new homes and major renovations, remodels, maintenance, and finish carpentry. The team can see the client’s project from concept to finish, regardless of scope or size. This includes general labor and demolition, framing, finishing carpentry, project supervision, and project management. This harmonious way of working is how the studio can combine rigorous attention to detail with innovative design and build solutions. With the company standing by its client’s side, it is not just the homes that are built to last, but it also goes to great lengths to develop trusted relationships for the long term.
In 2019, DD Ford Construction ranked 35th among Remodeling Magazine’s top 550. It was also acknowledged during the 2018 SBCA Builder of the Year Awards under the Best Residential Construction Over $5,000,000 category.
Luxe Remodel
1117 State St. Suite 71, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Luxe Remodel is one of the most prestigious licensed general contractors specializing in residential construction. The company aims to guarantee quality building services and maintain client communication throughout the project. Its team of professional contractors and project managers supervises and manages each project. It collaborates with industry-leading architects and interior designers to ensure a new space is built to fit its clients’ lifestyles.
Luxe Remodel is headed by its founder and chief executive officer, Oren Levy. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Oren has renovated and built custom homes in Southern California. He established the company in 2014, realizing a wide gap in the construction and remodeling space. Oren founded the company to bridge the gap and transcend the industry’s highest levels of integrity and professionalism. The company has continued to grow and develop into one of the largest design and build companies in Southern California.
Projects General Construction
21 E. Carrilo St. Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Launched in 2008, Projects General Construction, Inc. is a unique building company specializing in complete home renovation, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, ADUs, and additions. Co-owned and operated by women, the firm’s team is knowledgeable, supportive, and approachable. From the initial meet-and-greet to final walk-throughs, its collaborative approach ensures that the client is well-informed and continuously advised by its expert team.
Projects General Construction coordinates costs and labor, assists with shopping for finished materials, and oversees cleanup at the end of the day. Its on-site supervision also prevents delays and minimizes disruption to the homeowner’s life, making the client’s living space livable.
Towards the start of her senior year, Christi Clayton took a trip to Santa Barbara, visited Giffin & Crane General Contractors, and saw some of their work. Seeing the quality and care they put into every project, Christi immediately fell in love with the company. In 2001, she was hired on as an estimator and seven years later was asked to run the smaller division, Giffin & Crane Projects, Inc. After running Projects General Construction for eight years, Christi decided to buy the company in 2016 and set out to build the only all-female construction company in Santa Barbara. To ensure consistency of communication and quality control in every phase, Christi is personally involved in all day-to-day operations.
Leonard Unander Associates, Inc.
1328 De La Vina St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Established in 1977, Leonard Unander Associates, Inc. is well-known as a preeminent homebuilder. The homes built by LUA dignify the city of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and the surrounding areas. Each construction project features only the finest materials, products, and craftsmanship from conception to completion.
LUA has established a reputation for requiring and providing only the best quality services for their clients. Leonard Unander is a third-generation contractor and has been joined in the industry by his two sons, Leonard, Clint, and son-in-law Brandon Friggione. This powerful team continues to provide clients with the high standard of building that has been constant with the company for many years.
LUA is a proud member of the AIA Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Contractors Association, Builder 20 Clubs, Built Green Santa Barbara and is an NAHB Green Builder. The press has also recognized it through features, including Pacific Houses, Luxury Home Magazine, Food & Home, 200 Houses, Santa Barbara Magazine, Architectural Digest, and Santa Ynez Valley Magazine.
Giffin & Crane General Contractors
800 N. Milpas St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Since 1986, Giffin & Crane General Contractors, Inc. has worked to develop a unique community one home at a time. From the start, Bruce Giffin and Geoff Crane had the same mission of building and remodeling fine homes for people. They acknowledged they could better achieve that goal by working together as a team and launched Giffin & Crane General Contractors based on mutual trust, understanding, and a work ethic of consistent learning.
Today, the firm’s executive team comprises principals Eric Carlstedt and Derek Shue, representing the next generation of cutting-edge contractors to fully embrace the firm’s long-standing core values, the tradition of quality, and care for its clients. Under their watch, the studio embarks on every project as a new opportunity to apply its focus on creating outstanding construction to benefit its clients. Giffin & Crane also believes that the relationships it has built with its clients over the years are as meaningful as the homes it constructs.
Some of the company’s works have appeared on the pages of Builder Magazine. It is also proud to be affiliated with industry organizations such as the Santa Barbara Contractors Association, the Chamber of the Santa Barbara Region, the Home Builders Association of Central Coast, and the AIA Santa Barbara.
Toro Construction
3463 State St. #365, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Toro Construction is among Santa Barbara’s leading interior design companies equipped to help clients design and build any project. Launched in 2003, the studio specializes in building new residential and commercial construction. The firm’s skilled team is backed with the experience to assist clients from the beginning to the finishing touches.
Tony Toro started his career as an electrical contractor, focused on helping local Santa Barbara residents with every electrical need. After many years, all of Tony’s satisfied clients started asking for remodeling assistance, and he saw the need to get his general contractor’s license to help. In 2017, Alex Arraiga partnered up with Toro Construction, bringing his 25 years of industrial engineering background. Alex has brought a breadth of experience with fine custom artistry and excellent management skills and helped elevate the studio to the next level of professionalism.
The buildings that Toro Construction has built stand out with quality, and it can help clients design and build additions, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, and retrofitting. Since its launching nearly two decades ago, the firm has done many projects in Santa Barbara and serves Goleta and Montecito.
RHC Construction
2070 Creekside Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93108
RHC Construction, Inc. is a general contracting firm owned by husband and wife Rich and Krista Coffin. Its philosophy is to deliver superior quality construction and exceptional service at a competitive price. The company’s record of repeat business with leading architects in Santa Barbara reflects its success. It has done over 35 new homes and remodels in Santa Barbara since moving in 1996.
Rich Coffin is involved in each project and brings 30 years of construction background and genuine artistry to each project. He is passionate about collaborating with architects and owners to execute their unique vision. RHC Construction’s portfolio includes a full range of architectural styles in Santa Barbara, such as French Country, Tuscan Villa, Spanish Colonial Revival, Santa Barbara Cottage, and Contemporary. Not only does the firm create new structures with old-world character and historical authenticity, but it also executes with precision the sleek, elegant lines of contemporary design.
Lynn Morris Contracting
2644 Puesta Del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Lynn Morris Contracting (LMC) has been in the industry in Santa Barbara for over 34 years. Its experience varies from ground-up new construction to remodeling, additions, and commercial projects. In addition to high-end custom residential projects, LMC has an extensive background in historical restoration work. It has been performing historical restorations on Casa del Herrero for two decades and has the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History as a client. In addition, LMC has completed restoration work on numerous George Washington Smith, Lutah Maria Riggs, and Reginald Johnson-designed residences.
Lynn Morris Contracting is mainly known for integrity and high-quality results, as well as its organizational skills in scheduling and cost-effective management. Besides its reputation for fostering a spirit of cooperation within the team of owner, architect, and subcontractors, the studio is also renowned for consistently completing projects on time and has piqued the interest of the press, including Santa Barbara News and Sunset Magazine.
Manifest Building
103 N. Nopal St., Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Manifest Building is a Santa Barbara-based full-service general contractor and design-build company. It is a Santa Barbara Contractors Association member and specializes in custom residential, commercial, and landscape construction and remodels. The company’s diverse and seasoned team of builders brings the experience necessary to make any dream a reality under budget and on time.
Leading the studio is Beau Lee Schmidt, a third-generation builder with 20 years of experience that includes the assembly of a vast multitude of structures and styles. Beau’s background in construction covers monumental residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments in Alma del Pueblo, Panera Bread, Charles Schwab Bank, and several design-build custom homes. Beau launched Manifest Building in 2012 and is also one of the founders of EcoLawn, Santa Barbara’s premier synthetic grass and waterwise landscaping installer.
Trillium Enterprises
501 Chapala St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Since 1987, Trillium Enterprises has been striving to offer its clients home remodeling, general contracting, exterior hardscapes, and new home construction services that are unrivaled by comparison. The firm’s goal is to gain repeat and referral business, achieved by maintaining the highest levels of professionalism, integrity, and honesty in its relationships with its business associates and customers. It ensures this by employing a dedicated staff devoted to superior service and utilizing only the most reputable and experienced subcontractors in the Greater Santa Barbara Area.
Brothers Ken and Peter Cohen co-founded Trillium Enterprises in 1987. Ken holds a degree in mechanical engineering, while Peter holds a degree in econometrics. Since they were students at UC Santa Barbara, they dreamed of creating a construction company. After graduating and gaining experience as supervisors and foremen for a local general contractor, Ken and Peter knew it was time to branch out and start a family business.
