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The Best Bathroom Contractors & Designers in San Francisco

May 3, 2018 17 Min Read
Photo for MSK Design Build

Most of us start and finish our days in the bathroom. So wouldn’t it be nice to have that space be peaceful, gorgeous, and highly functional? Our bathrooms take a lot of abuse and when you have a cramped or outdated one this makes your problems even worse. Poorly designs bathrooms can cause headaches and frustration, so whether you are looking to design an entirely new bathroom or remodel an existing one, you want to work with the best professionals. We have researched hundreds of companies in the Bay Area and selected the best firms to help you with your bathroom project.

These companies can design any style bathroom, from modern spaces with sleek, high-end fixtures, claw tubs, and rains showers, to family-friendly bathrooms with plenty of storage, a bench seat, and a double vanity. Having a well-designed, comfortable bathroom can help you get your day started on the right foot, and leave you happy and clean at the end of the day as you prepare for bed.

We have selected 9 professional companies for you to consider when starting a new bathroom project or major bathroom remodel. There are 5 design/build firms, who can not only design your project but also build it, and 4 interior designers who can create the perfect bathroom design for your needs and budget. Regardless which type service you opt for, these 9 companies together are the best of the best in San Francisco bathroom design.

Bathroom Remodeling Contractors

When embarking on a new bathroom project, you likely want to make the process as streamlined and comprehensive as possible. If this sounds like you, then you may want to consider working with a design/build firm. These companies will not only design your bathroom according to your needs, budget, and stylistic desires, but they will also be the ones who go into your home and actually turn those plans into a physical room. By combining design and construction services into one, integrated process, you get many benefits. Costs are often reduced — not only because you are only working with one company rather than two, but also because the ones designing everything to go into your bathroom are the same ones who will acquire it from suppliers and know what each material and finish will cost and because they can accurately estimate installation time and cost. This reduces unwanted surprises along the way. Also, the design/build process often results in a shorter overall project timeline, meaning you can get into your finished space sooner.With total control over a project from beginning to end, these 5 Design/Build firms have rightfully earned the reputation of being the top choices for bathroom design in the Bay Area.


MSK Design Build

Address:
37 Quail Ct Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

MSK Design Build is a prominent Bay Area design and construction company with an impressive portfolio of award-winning bathroom projects. Located in Walnut Creek, the company specializes in remodeling kitchens and bathrooms but also does entire home remodels. Recent awards for MSK Design Build include the NARI Bay Area awards for Best Residential Kitchen ($60,001 to $100,000) and Best Residential Bath ($75,001 to $100,000), and the most recent NARI Remmie Award for 2018 for Entire House $250K – $500K. Previous awards include being named Best Regional Contractor of the year for their region and various other awards from the NARI San Francisco Chapter, NARI Bay Area Chapter, and NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) – Northern California Chapter.

MSK Design Build is committed to turning a client’s vision for the ‘perfect bathroom’ into a reality. Their talented in-house design team has a wealth of knowledge to get the ideas flowing for your project and tailor those ideas to your lifestyle, tastes, and budget. They work with you each step of the way in selecting tiles, finishes, appliances, spatial organization, and more.
MSK Design Build was founded in 2001 with the goal of creating beautiful, safe, and comfortable spaces with an easy and enjoyable remodeling experience for their clients. The company is run by Scott Westby and wife Kathleen. Scott earned his JD and MBA from the University of Oregon and practiced construction law before changing careers to pursue his love of building. Coming from a family of builders — his grandfathers were a plumber and construction superintendent, his grandmother helped build Liberty ships, his father is a builder/remodeler, and his brother has his own construction company in North Dakota — Westby seems to have building excellence in his blood. He has a great eye for architectural detail and clients appreciate his ability to provide innovative design solutions for even the most difficult problems. Kathleen, meanwhile, is a former general manager in the shipping industry, and currently runs MSK’s management and sales teams, and handles marketing, website and social media, and hiring. MSK Design Build is proud to be a Diamond Certified company.


Beyond the Horizon Construction

Address:
San Francisco, CA 94127

Beyond The Horizon Construction is a highly trusted San Francisco-based full-service general construction, remodeling, renovation, and repair company. The company prides itself on its versatility and high-quality design/build services. They have earned a reputation for their high-quality craftsmanship, adjusted to meet each client’s specific needs and priorities, regardless of the extent of work required. The family-run business is committed to delivering personalized service and has created dozens of knock-out bathrooms in many of the Bay Area’s gorgeous homes, as well as home additions and new builds.

“Our team of licensed and insured remodeling technicians knows exactly what materials and techniques to use to make your new San Francisco bathroom last for a very long time. With your ideas and our innovative remodeling plans, you will end up with a bathroom that makes you want to stay those extra minutes in the shower, enjoying the atmosphere.” – Beyond the Horizon Construction

Beyond the Horizon Construction recognizes that remodeling any room in a home can be a daunting task, especially during the planning stages. And when it comes to a bathroom, they understand that this is a room client’s need done correctly the first time around. To make the process as easy and stress-free as possible for their clients, they offer comprehensive design and construction services and will find solutions that work best for a client’s tastes and budget. They help their clients work through all stages, from picking a general color scheme to selecting materials from floor to ceiling. The firm designs custom builds for tile or laminate countertops and offers custom trim. The company can work in any style, whether you want a minimalistic guest bath with clean lines or a country-style and warm master bath.

Drawing on many years of combined experience, the Beyond The Horizon Construction team offers a range of services on top of full kitchen remodels, including: full bathroom remodels, custom patio and deck builds, drywall hanging and finishing, laminate, tile and wood floor repairs and replacements, custom designed built-in cabinets, interior and exterior trim work, and much more.


Gilmans Kitchens + Baths

Address:
228 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94124

Gilmans Kitchens + Baths is a premier Bay Area design/build company with 4 locations in the area: San Francisco, San Rafael, San Mateo, and Mountain View. Each location has a beautiful showroom with in-house designers that work directly with homeowners, contractors, and independent designers to create elegant bathrooms suited to the needs of each client and individual home. Their reputation and dedication to quality service and products have made them a trusted name for providing kitchen and bathroom remodeling in San Francisco. The company has earned 5 Best of Houzz awards for their excellent customer service and their work has caught the attention of publications, including CA Home + Design and Bloomberg Business. Gilmans Kitchens and Baths has been honored with NKBA, REMMIE awards, and other awards throughout the years. They have proudly been named a Legacy Business by the city of San Francisco for serving the Bay Area community for 35 years.

Gilmans’ designers will gladly be involved to any extent needed — whether working with homeowners based on current plans or starting from scratch with rough ideas. Services range from full-design, install-only for those who have their own contractors, or full contractor service where the design/build team serves as the licensed contractor. Gilmans’ services range from simple to complex and include the following: semi-custom to full custom cabinetry, countertop surfaces, bath and kitchen design, bathroom vanities, outdoor kitchens, screen doors and window screens, plumbing fixtures and accessories, handyman services, installation, and design/build services. Their team provides full Auto-Cad renderings for the cabinetry, tile, flooring, and lighting and works efficiently at obtaining permits, demolition, installation, and any other service relevant to giving you the perfect custom bathroom. They offer the highest-quality products on the market — their cabinet manufacturers include Bellmont Cabinet Co., DeWils Fine Cabinetry, Dura Supreme Cabinetry, KitchenCraft Cabinetry, and Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry.

Gilmans works with customers from the beginning of the project to completion. Their professional designers will help you choose the right products, colors, and finishes to match your home and tastes. They stay current of the latest market trends and regularly attend education courses in the industry to stay knowledgeable. They will even come out to your space to measure. Their expertise covers a range of design styles, from traditional to contemporary.


Kitchens & More

Address:
4178 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael, CA 94903

Since 1922, Kitchens & More has specialized in award-winning kitchen and bath remodeling in the Bay Area and Marin County. The award-winning residential design, supply, and construction company’s work has been recognized by countless shelter and trade magazines and newspapers, including in Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset, Women’s Day, American HomeStyle & Gardening, and The Marin Independent Journal. They have won numerous design competitions, and, significantly, held a national ranking of 17 of 140 of the best of the best Industry Peers in 2005 and 76th in 2006 by Business Networks, Inc. Kitchens And More has been voted Best of Marin by the readers of the Pacific Sun at least seven times since 2004.

Kitchens & More’s designs are not only rich and imaginative, but practical and well-built. The company has worked in every style, from Mill Valley Craftsman to Lucas Valley Eichler, and from a rustic Larkspur Cottage kitchen to a high-end kitchen in a San Rafael Spanish Mission. The design possibilities they offer are nearly limitless, enhanced by the diverse staff’s vast knowledge of and access to Green and state-of-the-art materials, fixtures, and appliances.

Kitchens & More is run by Designer and Owner Krikor Halajian. He is a licensed general contractor, certified kitchen designer, member of the NKBA, and a certified Green Building Professional. His experience in the kitchen and bath remodeling and construction industry spans over 25 years. Prior to specializing in design and construction, Halajian worked as a civil engineer, which provided him the opportunity to work in Japan and Saudi Arabia and travel to the Far East, Europe and Africa. These experiences have fueled his design imagination and inspirations. Krikor Halajian is joined at Kitchens & More by his wife Rosemarie Halajian, who assists in making design material and fixture decisions and is highly knowledgeable about green building practices. Her curiosity continually leads her to innovative and unusual design products and she can help client integrate materials that have minimal environmental impact. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and even leads a study group for other Interior Designers preparing for certification as a LEED AP.


HOUSEworks: Design + Build

Address:
1485 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94124

HOUSEworks is a Residential Design + Build General Contracting Company offering an exceptional home remodeling experience. Their high-end designs can be found in homes around Marin County and the greater San Francisco area. Their bathrooms in particular stand out for their sophistication and beauty. HOUSEworks has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including winning the First Place for Entire House Remodel for their work in Sunset, First Place Residential Design Award for an Entire House Remodel in Cove Valley, the Remodel of the Year Award for an Entire House Remodel in SOMA, first place Remodel Award for a Bathroom Remodel in Noe Valley, and the 2012 BIG50 award. The company has also been named Diamond Certified’s highest rated contractor for 12 consecutive years.

The design/build company understands that a successful project is measured based on numerous factors, including work quality, completion schedule, and budget. To achieve high customer satisfaction, HOUSEworks carefully considers and reviews every stage of the project thoroughly, keeping clients informed throughout the process. Their goal is to make the process as stress free and enjoyable as possible. HOUSEworks shares best practices with the leading remodelers in the country through their partnership with Remodelers Advantage, is a BUILD IT GREEN company, and is NARI Universal Design Certified.

HOUSEworks was founded by Jeff Kann in 2005. Previously, he was a senior level executive for a San Francisco-based global company for over 20 years. His unique background has helped him develop strong customer communication and team leadership skills to offer clients at HOUSEworks the best possible experience, regardless of project size. He demands a high standard and has assembled a diverse team to deliver superior results. Kann is an active member of the NARI and has held several positions on the Executive Board, San Francisco Chapter, promoting the remodeling industry locally, including as President, Fundraising Chair, and the Rebuilding Together NARI Committee Chair.

Bathroom Designers

There are many interior designers in San Francisco who focus on or specialize in bathroom designs. As interior designers, they have a keen sense of how to integrate the bathroom into your home so that it suits your lifestyle and blends in with the other rooms in a cohesive manner. By working with a designer you will get a gorgeous, comprehensive bathroom design that will then be executed by a general contractor. Top designers, like the ones on this list, will collaborate closely with the actual builders to ensure that their design is properly implemented with the right materials and spatial planning. Sometimes you have a contractor already picked out that you want to work with. In other cases, these designers have connections to the best in the business and can recommend a builder who will be perfect for your specific design.

The 4 interior designers listed here have risen to the top of the bathroom design category within the Bay Area for their high-quality, innovative, and above all, gorgeous designs.


MP Design

Address: 221 Clara Street, Suite 2, San Francisco, CA 94107

MP Design — “with an Italian eye for design” — is a high-end, full-service interior design studio that takes a holistic approach to residential remodeling. Although MP Design does whole house renovations, they seem to have a particular skill at kitchen and bath remodels. Given their excellent attention to detail and ability to design in a range of styles, they have been trusted to work on many different kinds of projects, including in San Francisco historic homes and expensive, modern apartments in exclusive areas. They also conduct commercial projects in addition to their residential work. They have gained significant attention for their beautiful designs and one of their Master Bath designs was featured on the HGTV show ‘Bang for the Buck’, winning the episode’s challenge.

Italian-born designer Manuela Paparella founded MP Design. She applies her 18 years of experience in residential and small commercial design and keen eye for beauty to the company’s daily operations. The firm understands that the remodeling process can be confusing and time consuming for homeowners. As such, they have tailored their process to meet their clients’ needs and make it as simple and pleasant as possible. Guiding clients along the way, the team at MP Design helps clients from conception through completion, ensuring that the end result aligns with what they want.


Andre Rothblatt Architecture

Address:
1189 Tennessee St., Suite 101, San Francisco, CA 94107

Andre Rothblatt Architecture is a well-respected architecture and design firm based in the heart of San Francisco. Although the firm does whole home remodels, they specialize in kitchen and bathroom projects and have excelled in both areas. Founder Andre Rothblatt has a reputation for working closely with clients to understand their needs and program requirements and working tirelessly to translate those into a design that works within their space. The firm has had their work featured widely in industry publications, including frequently in the SF Chronicle, as well as in House Beautiful: Kitchens & Baths, Small Kitchen Magazine, and Kitchen and Bath Ideas, among others.

The designs of Andre Rothblatt Architecture cover a wide range of styles, but are always highly sophisticated. He has gained acclaim for everything from contemporary and streamlined spaces to, in one very popular and well-published project, a steampunk-inspired bathroom which made great use of custom designed fixtures, lighting, and plumbing.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Rothblatt operates his own studio out of the Dogpatch, where he not only gathers constant inspiration and keeps up to date on the latest trends and technologies in home design, but also builds solid relationships within the industry that then benefit his clients on everything from accessories to unique finishes and materials. Rothblatt, who attended UC Berkeley, actually worked in a construction labor job after finishing architecture school. His hands-on experience in construction and ability to see things from the contractor’s perspective greatly aids his ability to create useful and cohesive designs within a client’s space and budget.


Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design

Address:
1000 43rd Street, #14, Oakland, CA 94608

Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design is a sought-after interior design studio in San Francisco that has a reputation for creating wonderful modern bathroom remodels. Passionate about design, the practice offers clients comprehensive design services and ensure that all aspects of a bathroom remodel are covered, from the smallest design detail to the larger decisions, such as tiles, counter material, and layout. Their portfolio is full of daring, funky, sophisticated, and above all, stunning bathrooms, full of art and personal touches. The firm also believes that an interior design project, like a bathroom remodel, should be a fun experience for clients that is full of exciting opportunities. It is this attitude that has led to their reputation for great customer service, building relationships with clients and other design professionals based on trust and open communication. The beautiful work of Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design has been showcased in California Home + Design, Houzz, Apartment Therapy, Casa Sugar, HGTV.com, and many other design blogs.

Founder Jennifer Gustafson has always had a passion for an interior design. But before she took the plunge and founded her own company, she worked ‘in the trenches’ of big-time advertising agencies producing TV commercials and managing creative projects for Fortune 500 clients. This experience honed her eye for detail and built up her creative attitude. It also gave her valuable business experience that helps her keep costs under control for her loyal clients. Since that time, Gustafson has designed projects of various sizes and scope for residential, commercial, hospitality, and education clients in Chicago, New York, Hawaii, San Francisco and throughout the entire Bay Area.


Niche Interiors

Address:
555 De Haro St #320, San Francisco, CA

Niche Interiors is an award-winning interior design firm with a passion for creating distinctive, sophisticated spaces throughout San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Wine Country. Although not their only focus, the company has a particular knack for transforming outdated bathrooms into stylish, functional spaces that blend seamlessly with the architectural style of your home. In addition to their large portfolio of whole home renovations, the practice has a portfolio collection of absolutely stunning bathrooms that can help inspire clients with ideas on layout, materials, fixtures, or themes for their own project. The firm works with a streamlined and personalized approach that has earned them a loyal list of high-profile repeat clients. In particular, they have won over many tech-clients for their “process-driven pragmatism” and families for their transparency and functional designs. Niche Interiors has been published widely in Luxe, Modern Luxury Interiors, Food & Wine, Elle Decor, Forbes, ASID Icon, Refined Home, Habitat, The San Francisco Chronicle, Fine Homebuilding, California Home + Design, Rue Magazine, HGTV Magazine, and more. Niche Interiors was named “Designer to Watch” by Rue Magazine and, in an impressive feat for the relatively young firm founded in 2007, was included on the Luxe Interiors + Design Gold List 2017.

Niche Interiors is led by Principal Designer Jennifer Jones. She is frequently quoted as an industry expert in sustainable living and home decorating trends. She applies her 12 years of high-end residential experience to lead a team of talented and enthusiastic professionals. The result of the team’s collaboration is an elusive blend of sophistication and sustainability. Jones has earned a reputation for her seasoned eye for proportion, color, and texture. Her projects make great use of available space, which can be extremely valuable to urban San Francisco clients.

Author

  • Brooke Adams

    Brooke is a Deputy Editor at San Francisco Architects with around five years of professional experience as a writer and editor in the construction and home improvement space. Her expertise covers a wide range of topics including addition construction, home remodeling, and landscape design. Brooke has a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, and she also brings extensive experience as a project manager for a top construction firm, overseeing multi-million dollar projects. Additionally, she is certified in LEED and OSHA safety standards. Expertise: Addition Construction, Home Remodeling, Landscape Design Key Highlights: Over 5 years of experience writing and editing in the construction space, Deputy Editor at San Francisco Architects Education: Syracuse University, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Certificates in Public Relations and Social Media

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