7 Best Design-Build and Remodeling Companies in San Diego
Compare seven San Diego companies that work on ADUs, home additions, whole-home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, and other large residential projects.
IL Total Design & Build
One team for property review, custom design, permits, engineering coordination, and construction.
Choosing a company for an ADU, home addition, or major remodel takes more than finding someone who can handle basic construction.
The project may need architecture, engineering, permits, material choices, inspections, and several construction trades. A design-build company keeps more of this work under one roof and gives the homeowner one main point of contact.
This guide reviews seven companies serving San Diego homeowners. Each company has a different mix of services, experience, project systems, and design focus.
A design-build company manages design and construction through one business or one coordinated team. This can reduce the number of contracts, handoffs, and people the homeowner must manage.
Quick Comparison
| Rank | Company | Strong Fit For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IL Total Design & Build | Custom ADUs, additions, permits, and one-team project delivery |
| 2 | Jackson Design & Remodeling | Design-led whole-home remodeling and custom additions |
| 3 | Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel | Long local history and full-service remodeling |
| 4 | Lars Remodeling & Design | Structured planning for large design-build projects |
| 5 | Marrokal Design & Remodeling | Custom renovations, additions, ADUs, and new homes |
| 6 | Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling | Whole-home remodeling, additions, and layout changes |
| 7 | Better Place Design & Build | ADUs, garage conversions, and room additions |
How the Companies Were Selected
This list focuses on local companies that can manage larger residential projects rather than small repairs. Public company websites were reviewed for service range, local history, project types, design support, permit help, and construction work.
Companies needed a clear San Diego presence and experience working with local homes and permits.
The list favors companies working on ADUs, additions, whole-home remodels, or other major projects.
Companies needed to offer design and construction, or a closely managed process connecting both stages.
IL Total Design & Build
Strong fit for custom ADUs, home additions, and one-team project deliveryIL Total Design & Build helps San Diego homeowners manage property review, custom design, permits, engineering coordination, and construction through one local team.
The company has designed more than 300 San Diego ADUs. Its design work dates back to 2000, when founder and lead designer Rummy Dechner started IL Total Design. Since 2019, the team has handled design, permitting, and construction in-house.
A homeowner may otherwise hire an architect, a permit consultant, and a general contractor under three contracts. IL Total keeps those steps connected, so the people developing the plans stay involved with how the project will be permitted and built.
IL Total does not place the same catalog design on every property. Each ADU is planned around the lot, existing home, access, utility locations, local rules, budget, and the way the owner plans to use the space.
The company works on detached ADUs, attached ADUs, garage conversions, junior ADUs, over-the-garage units, room additions, second-story additions, and whole-home remodels.
See the Work Behind the Claims
These completed projects show experience with detached ADUs, garage-top units, additions, custom layouts, and different San Diego properties.
The Team Behind the Projects
Rummy Dechner leads the design work and has spent more than two decades planning custom homes, ADUs, and additions throughout San Diego.
Greg Ricards works across design and construction, carrying project details from the drawing stage into the job site. Daniel Dechner serves as head project coordinator and guides homeowners from the first property visit through permits, construction, and the final walkthrough.
IL Total Design & Build has more than 20 Google reviews and a 5.0 rating on Houzz. The company is licensed and insured under California contractor license number 1058676.
Custom ADUs, additions, whole-home remodeling, architecture, permits, engineering coordination, and construction.
Homeowners who want one team responsible for the project from the first property review through the day they receive the keys.
Jackson Design & Remodeling
Strong fit for design-led whole-home projects and custom additionsJackson Design & Remodeling is an established San Diego company offering architecture, interior design, and construction through an integrated design-build process.
The company says it has served San Diego for more than 35 years. Its work includes new homes, whole-home remodels, home additions, ADUs, kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor living spaces.
Jackson may be a good match for homeowners who place a high value on architectural details, interior design, and guided material selections. The company operates local showroom and selection-center spaces where clients can review finishes, cabinets, fixtures, and other project details.
Custom homes, whole-home remodeling, additions, ADUs, kitchens, bathrooms, architecture, interior design, and construction.
Homeowners planning a design-focused remodel or addition with detailed interior and material selections.
Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel
Strong fit for homeowners who value long local experienceMurray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel is a family-owned San Diego company with more than 50 years of local remodeling experience.
The company dates its San Diego work to 1975. Its services include custom ADUs, home additions, whole-home renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, exterior work, and outdoor living projects.
Its ADU work focuses on private spaces for parents, relatives, guests, or long-term tenants. Home addition services include bedrooms, primary suites, family rooms, offices, and larger expansions planned to connect with the existing home.
ADUs, home additions, whole-home remodeling, kitchens, bathrooms, exterior projects, design, permits, and construction.
Homeowners who prefer an established family-run remodeling company with decades of San Diego experience.
Lars Remodeling & Design
Strong fit for structured project planning and larger remodelsLars Remodeling & Design has served San Diego homeowners since 1991.
The company works on room additions, second-story additions, standalone ADUs, whole-home remodeling, kitchens, bathrooms, custom homes, and outdoor living projects.
Architecture, engineering coordination, permits, selections, project management, and construction can be managed through one design-build process. This may suit homeowners who prefer clear stages for design, pricing, materials, permits, and construction.
ADUs, room additions, second stories, whole-home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, custom homes, permits, and construction.
Homeowners planning a large project who want a structured design-build process with defined stages.
Marrokal Design & Remodeling
Strong fit for custom residential renovations and additionsMarrokal Design & Remodeling has served the San Diego area since 1981.
Its work includes ADUs, room additions, whole-home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor living areas, and custom homes. The company manages design and construction and shows a broad portfolio of large residential projects.
Its wide service range may help homeowners who are still comparing an ADU with a home addition, custom renovation, or new residential build.
ADUs, room additions, whole-home renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, custom homes, outdoor living, design, and construction.
Homeowners seeking an established company for a custom addition, ADU, or major home renovation.
Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling
Strong fit for whole-home remodeling and connected additionsKaminskiy Design & Remodeling has served the San Diego area since 2005.
The company works on whole-home remodels, room additions, second-story additions, ADUs, garage conversions, kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces.
Kaminskiy may be a useful option for homeowners who want to change several parts of the home at once. An addition may be completed alongside a kitchen remodel, layout change, bathroom renovation, or accessibility update.
Whole-home remodeling, additions, ADUs, garage conversions, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor living, and construction.
Homeowners planning a major remodel that also includes added space or changes to the existing layout.
Better Place Design & Build
Strong fit for ADUs, garage conversions, and room additionsBetter Place Design & Build has a strong focus on ADUs, garage conversions, and home additions across San Diego County.
Its process covers early feasibility work, design, permit support, construction, and final inspections. Its project portfolio includes detached ADUs, attached units, garage conversions, and custom room additions.
The company may suit homeowners whose main goal is adding more living space rather than completing a large luxury remodel across the full home.
Detached ADUs, attached ADUs, garage conversions, room additions, design, permit support, and construction.
Homeowners mainly interested in an ADU, garage conversion, or expansion of the current home.
How to Compare San Diego Design-Build Companies
The right company depends on your property, project type, budget, design needs, and the amount of help you want during the process.
A kitchen update has different needs than a detached ADU or second-story addition. For a large project, ask who will handle the design, engineering, permits, City comments, material choices, construction, and inspections.
Review recent work that matches what you plan to build. A company with many bathroom projects may not have the same experience with detached ADUs, major structural additions, second stories, or coastal permits.
The written proposal should state what is included and what the homeowner must pay separately. Check design fees, City fees, material allowances, utilities, appliances, property repairs, payment stages, and the process for changes.
Confirm the contractor’s current California license, insurance, recent references, contract terms, payment schedule, and experience with projects similar to yours.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
Will one company handle design, permits, and construction?
Who will be my main point of contact during the project?
Have you completed similar projects in San Diego?
What is included in the price, and what is excluded?
How are material allowances and project changes handled?
Who pays the City, school, utility, and permit fees?
What happens if the plans need changes during construction?
Can I speak with a recent client who completed a similar project?
Which San Diego Company Is the Right Fit?
Jackson, Murray Lampert, Lars, Marrokal, Kaminskiy, and Better Place each offer a different mix of project experience, design support, construction services, and company systems.
IL Total Design & Build may be a strong match for homeowners who want a custom ADU or addition managed by one team from the first property review through final inspection.
The company has designed more than 300 San Diego ADUs, handles design, permits, and construction in-house, and creates each project around the property rather than using one standard floor plan for every backyard.
Start With a Free Property Feasibility Check
Before paying for full plans, IL Total Design & Build can review your property, local rules, access, utility locations, and project goals.
The team can explain what may fit, what could affect the budget, and which next steps make sense for your property.
Visit the IL Total Design & Build home page to learn more about the company’s ADU, addition, design, permit, and construction services.
IL Total Design & Build published this guide and is included first. The other businesses listed are independent San Diego companies and competitors. The list is based on publicly available information about services, local experience, project types, and design-build capabilities. It is not a paid ranking or a claim that one company is the right choice for every homeowner. Services, reviews, team members, pricing, licenses, and availability can change. Homeowners should check current licenses, insurance, references, contracts, and project details before hiring any company.
One Team for Design, Permits, and Construction
IL Total Design & Build can review your property, create a custom plan, manage the permit process, and build your project with one local San Diego team.