My husband and I hired Clear Oak Designs first to install cabinetry and a skylight in the family room, then a few years later for a major kitchen remodel, and after that we had them come back to completely reconfigure our primary bedroom and enlarge the en-suite bathroom. Ross Roher is a fantastic designer. He has the ability and experience to envision possibilities very quickly. It was amazing to see how, in our first kitchen meeting, he sat down and in five minutes sketched out a perfect layout. Clear Oak Designs fabricates high quality custom cabinetry that has withstood heavy use and still looks beautiful. But what I appreciated most was the wonderful team that makes up the company. They are great people that you don't mind having around for the time required to complete a large scale remodel! read more

Clear Oak Designs - General Contractors Near Me - San Jose, California

Clear Oak Designs remodelled the downstairs of my previous home so when we moved again it was a no brainer to have them redo the whole house. Working with Ross was great he could envision what I wanted and made it all come true. I love how they have turned what was an older home to an modern contemporary space with everything we need. From the floors to changing ceiling heights, kitchen and bathroom remodels, removing walls etc etc, nothing was a problem. The crew are the best they are hard working, polite and leave the house cleaned up every evening. Since the remodel I have used them to design and build a wall cabinet which turned out amazing. I have no hesitation in recommending Clear Oak if you really want the best. read more

Clear Oak Designs remodeled our kitchen and helped us replace all the doors in the house. Our kitchen remodel was a significant project, and Ross' patience and attentiveness during the planning phase made all the difference. He helped us work to clarify our vision and expertly supervised the logistics and execution of the work. They worked with us to design and implement a set of cabinetry perfect for our Mackie. They replaced all windows, electrical work and plumbing, installed a modern lighting system, a new stove, dishwasher and refrigerator as well as updating electrical work for us to convert our wood-burning fireplace to electricity and gas. The craftsmanship of Clear Oak's workers, particularly in cabinetry and plumbing, was exceptional. I've received numerous compliments, especially about the cherry wood cabinets and how perfectly the self-closing cabinets operate. We've had no problems in the 10 years since the remodel Additionally, we recently replaced all the Dutch doors in our house. The doors were all slightly different and regular door installers wouldn't touch the job. Other contractors would have had us replace the entire frame, which would have changed the character of our lovely 1950s Mackey. Getting this difficult custom job completed to our great satisfaction showcased Clear Oak's ability to handle smaller custom jobs with the same high level of expertise and diligence. Ross personally supervised the cuttings of the new doors so they fit perfectly into the existing frames. The challenge of replacing six old Dutch doors while maintaining the original frames was executed flawlessly, saving us both time and money. I truly appreciated Clear Oak's dedication and professionalism and would gladly recommend Clearoak Designs to anyone in need of remodeling services. read more

My husband and I hired Clear Oaks for a bathroom renovation in early 2025. We previously had our kitchen remodeled about 10 years ago. They did a good job before and we decided to hire them for the bathroom renovation. The bathroom is a small project. Ross was able to provide good suggestions on the details of the work, e.g. where to place the plumbing, vanity, light and mirror. He also checked on work frequently to make sure the workers were following the instructions, granted, we did have to check their work at the end of the work day to follow up. Generally, Clear Oaks' renovation is satisfactory and we like the detailed quote they provided. read more

Clear Oak Designs/Ross has helped us twice in remodeling projects, the first time back in 1996 for a complete remodel of a kitchen, and because we were completely satisfied with that remodel, the second time to remodel a laundry/hobby room and a wet bar in our TV room last year. The second project was also finished to our complete satisfaction. Their custom-made cabinets are high-end and last - we are still happy with our kitchen cabinets that were made and installed thirty years ago. Having the same company design the layout, construct the cabinets and execute the project is extremely beneficial - any changes or modification requests can be rapidly accommodated and implemented. This also helped keep the projects on time. Clear Oak's workers and subcontractors were highly skilled and professional and came up with excellent suggestions. I would have no hesitation in recommending Clear Oak Designs for home remodeling projects and would use them again if the need arises. read more

Clear Oak Designs did a wonderful job remodeling 1of my bathrooms and refacing vanities in 2 others several years ago. Therefore, when I wanted to have my kitchen cabinets refaced I called them. The was problem after problem. The measuring was incorrect. The doors had to be redone many times due to wrong size and imperfections. They often told me they were busy, therefore the poor communication and delays. What should have taken a few months to complete took almost a year. They should have informed me that they didn't have time to do the job. I happily would have hired a different company. read more

Love my spa master bathroom! I interviewed 7 contractors and needed to pick 1 to do my bathroom remodel. I decided that Clear Oak Designs was the best. Mark Warlick was my designer and I really liked his suggestions and demeanor. He listens and provides renderings so I can visualize what the bathroom will look like. John is the project manager and does an excellent job scheduling the crew. He goes out of his way to ensure that you are happy with your project. The crew is fabulous! I am impressed with Berto (plumber), Juan (tile), Jose, Manuel, Timo (painter) and others. They will go out of their way to make sure everything is they way you want the final results to be. Juan worked on the tile in the shower and the floor for almost 4 weeks. There were a few times when he worked until 7pm just to finish the tile. After I did my kitchen remodel in 2008, I was dreading having contractors come into my home. Clear Oak team is like family. I highly recommend Clear Oak Designs for remodeling. I share my photos with my friends and they are totally impressed with the workmanship. read more

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We've used Clear Oak Designs for two separate remodels - a complete kitchen remodel in 2009, and a master bedroom remodel/minor addition in 2010. Obviously, we were happy with the first project since we chose to use them again. :) The first remodel involved removing interior walls, but not changing any exterior walls. We had some idea of how we wanted to lay out the new kitchen, so it was great to be able to work with Ross instead of having to use an architect. I don't feel like we gave up anything by using a design-build contractor like Clear Oak instead of an architect + contractor. A huge advantage is that Ross is very hands on with the design process - I think our first visit with him he got into the crawlspace, took measurements, and we had a few sketches to start with. A key factor in choosing Clear Oak was their ability to create custom cabinetry. Wood is very important to us, and we were able to go to their workshop and look at the wood before they turned it into cabinets. Their crew is great - Berto is especially fabulous and easy to work with. The only complaint I have is that the electrician they use is very difficult to work with, not particularly responsive, and not up to the standards of the in-house Clear Oak crew. The first project started in August, and finished in mid-October (about a week after originally targeted). Our second remodel involved a small (~150 sq ft) addition, and moving some interior walls. We did work with an architect first for this project, and came to regret it - working with Ross on the design would have been so much more efficient. This project started in July, and finished in December (~2 weeks after originally targeted). Both the architect and the town inspector commented on the quality workmanship of the Clear Oak team. Clear Oak will give you a list of suppliers, and will work with you to get contractor pricing, but you spend more of your own effort getting all the bits and pieces. I didn't mind that, and there are definite advantages (especially if you're picky), but some people like having their contractor handle all that stuff. It does mean that you can hold up the project if you don't have something ordered/chosen, so as with any contractor, make sure you understand what you need to do, and by when you need to do it. They've been great about followup after the projects. I've called half a dozen times with minor issues, and they've always handled them appropriately. read more

I love, love, love my dream kitchen. Our kitchen had several design dilemmas that we could not solve until we met Ross Rohrer, owner of Clear Oak Designs. We had completely given up all hope that our kitchen could be anything except ordinary. The original space was a tiny 10'x11' kitchen with an eating area on a split level. Ross was the only designer we met that had the ability to conceptualize a radically different layout to open the space and almost double the kitchen food prep areas. We had complete confidence that he and his company could design and build a custom kitchen that would meet all our requirements and be stunning as well as functional. I am a very serious cook and the kitchen is the heart of my home. Ross extended our kitchen into the eating area by raising the floor in the dinette area to the level of the kitchen (about 11 inches). He turned the perpendicular peninsula 45 degrees and created a French curve which opened the space. Based on Ross' recommendation, we install two full size dishwashers because we cook and entertain frequently and prepare the food ourselves. Ross recommended that we remove a portion of the wall and door into the formal dining room to open the space and provide more useful counter space near the 6 burner Viking range. Clear Oak has its own custom cabinet makers on staff who are true craftsmen. Ross designed a corner cabinet to house the microwave convention oven and counter depth refrigerator, thus giving the kitchen a built-in look. Ross also designed a huge cabinet for my bake center that is truly functional. Being a 'Green' certified builder, Ross refaced my very functional custom built pantry that has 12 height-adjustable roll-out shelves. Since Clear Oak Designs has been remodeling kitchens for 32 years, Ross has selected the best subcontractors. His granite guy is another artist using the stone as his medium and he is simply the best. The electrician Ross recommended has worked with Clear Oak for years. We tried several low wattage LED fixtures but didn't care for the color (wavelength) of those lights. We jointly developed a lighting plan that met all our needs. Our hardwood floor was expertly installed and looks warm and beautiful. A word we heard repeatedly from his staff was 'perfect'. Clear Oak has a small but very capable team with several of the employees having 25 years with Clear Oak. We loved working with Berto and Manuel, the two leads assigned to our remodel. They were so accommodating. During the demolition, Berto cut out our old sink and countertop and placed it outside the kitchen window. He ran flex water lines from the hot and cold water outlets through the bay window to the temporary sink outside that was hooked up to an adjacent clean-out drain. We had hot and cold running water as well as a garbage disposal throughout the duration of the project. This, in conjunction with our existing outdoor Viking grille, allowed us to have our meals at home instead of restaurants for the project duration. The project was on schedule. In 9 1/2 weeks our kitchen was completely redone. read more

Clear Oak Designs started out as a custom cabinet maker. Thus their strength is in true custom cabinet, and their workmanship is exceptional. they kept getting inquiries to have their cabinets installed by them.. and then that expanded to doing full kitchen and bath remodels. I believe they now do full remodels of the house, not limited to kitchen and bathrooms. We used Clear Oak Designs twice. Once was for a new vanity cabinet/sink and bathtub wall (Corian) in 1999. We only got the cabinets and the items and our contractor installed them. the quality of the cabinet (fully custom) is exceptional, and the measurements for the full-wall Corian bathrub enclosure, exact. Second, we did a full kitchen remodel in 2004. We worked with their designer, Sue Lane, who came up with the most innovative idea to transform a poorly utilized kitchen/eat-in/family space into one integrated "family space". We also found their price extremely competitive. The construction/labor is probably at-par with full service contracting in the area. Their cabinets are fully custom (they don't start building the cabinets until the walls and the floors are blown out so they can get the EXACT measurements, and modify the cabinet measurements to fit around any obstacles only viewable after they see the wall studs). And we found that their fully custom price were equivalent to modular non-custom cabinets sold in kitchen specialty stores, and was significantly cheaper than semi-custom cabinetry. Nice thing about having the kitchen remodel contractor being the full cabinet maker is that any trouble (piping in the wrong location that hinders drawer opening, etc) gets fixed immediately as the work is progressing. Also we wanted a very simple cabinet face that we couldn't find anywhere, and after we told them what we wanted, they tried it out and said they can do what we want.. so we even got a fully custom cabinet face design. In addition to this, I was already in my 2nd trimester with my first kid when we first contacted Clear Oak... so when they blew out our old kitchen I was just going into my 3rd trimester.. They knew the baby's delivery date and they scheduled everything so that there were no dead-waiting period when they did our kitchen. so from blow-out to functional kitchen with new hardwood floors, new cabinets, granite counter top, fully re-piped water/gas/drain/vents, brand-new electrical panel, the works, (few touch-ups to go) it only took 7 weeks! They have a full-time scheduler, and her sole responsibility is in coordinating all the subcontractors and she was incredible. Any issues, contact her, and BOOM! it's done. That is one major advantage of Clear Oak Designs. You don't have to worry about coordinating all the subcontractors, inspections, permit issues, etc. They do it all for you. You just watch as the kitchen gets fully rebuilt from the ground-up, right before your eyes. The construction crews were exceptional. They thoroughly cleaned up each day after their work, they were very clean, polite, friendly, and efficient. After meeting their crew, I was comfortable enough to give them our key so they can enter when we were not home. It is clear that the plumber, electrician, flooring, counter top surface, drywall, and all the people who work have been working together for a long time, and that they get along. During the last phase of the construction (after the kitchen counter went in), they called in everybody.. there were 8 full-sized vans parked outside our house, and about 15-20 people in the kitchen doing electrical, plumbing, appliance install, floor install... and it sounded like a fun party going on with hammering and power drills as a background noise. It was incredibly crowded, but they were obviously enjoying working together. (all this because they were trying to meet my 'due date') and the kitchen is spectacular. It transformed our mediocre 60's kitchen to a modern "family center" that we spend 90% of our time awake in the newly done kitchen/family/eat-in area. The cabinetry are superb with high-grade hinges. Overall, from start to finish, once you decide on the plan, you do not have to worry about something not getting done. Only detail you have to take care of is which appliance you want, and have them delivered in time, as well as hardware (door handles, decorative lighting or any special order items). We have a second bathroom that will need some serious remodel. When the time comes, we will definitely have them do the job. read more

Ross has been around for a long time and his cabinetry tends towards heavy, traditional styles.

We used Clear Oak Designs six years ago for an extensive kitchen and great room remodel. This was our first experience with remodeling and we benefited greatly from having a company that provided comprehensive design/build services. The designer and an intern spent many, many hours with us: surveying our home and determining our particular needs, visiting the homes of other customers with completed kitchens, and assisting us with shopping for appliances, windows, granite, tile and more. For us, this was indispensable. The work proceeded promptly. The construction personnel took care to keep a clean work site, which was especially important since we lived in the house during the majority of the demolition and construction phases. The designer made a significant error concerning a wall she believed was not load bearing. It was, in fact. However, Clear Oak quickly checked with the city building dept., called in an engineer and presented us potential solutions. The problem was effectively remedied and did not delay them in meeting the overall construction deadline. After six years of constant use, the kitchen cabinets are in superior condition. They are well designed and efficient, beautifully finished and durable. Dimmable recessed CFLs were a disappointment, as most of the ballasts failed within five years. We've replaced eight housings with non-dimmable CFLs. The rest of the lighting has been fine. The cooktop sits beneath a very effective, but loud Viking exhaust hood. The designer very smartly found a model where the hood could be mounted 72" above the floor so I wouldn't bump my head. That is great. However, the oven (and broiler) are on the other side of the kitchen, without the benefit of the exhaust fan, so cooking odors sometimes permeate the great room. Despite the few nits, we love our kitchen and great room. The overall design is close to ideal, the quality of workmanship is excellent. Clear Oak Designs were kind and considerate throughout the process. read more

In 1993 we had our kitchen remodel by Clear Oak Designs. Ross took us to a job he had just completed and we were sold. I loved the way our kitchen came out. So we decided that we would have our bathroom done by Clear Oak as well. They took good care to make sure that our carpets and hard wood floors were protected as well as masking off part of bedroom (which we really appreciated) All the worker that came into our house were very polite and made sure our indoor cat did not escape. The office would call to advise us when they would be coming which I thought was considerate. Juan who did our tile was great he made sure that we got the right floor tile. He was was very open to our ideas. We now have a pocket door into the bathroom, a new window which allowed us, to increase the size of the shower. Ross help with discussing how we could maximize the small space and it all came out great. Clear Oak Designs dose a great job at making things go as smoothly as possible. Nancy R. read more

Cleak Oak Design was a great choice for our kitchen remodel from start to finish. The proposal for what we vaguely thought we wanted (we had never done a renovation before) was detailed and thorough so we could see where our budget was being spent and Ross spent a great deal of time explaining different options to upgrade lighting or what we could reuse - having never done a renovation, this was incredibly helpful and appreciated. The kitchen design was thoughtful and used our space efficiently. The team of people who removed the old cabinetry, installed the new cabinets, the plumbers, electricians, counter top guys were all very professional and timely, seeming to know when to show up (so there was very little downtime-someone and normally many more than that were at the house working every day). They even cleaned up and vacuumed every day which was great since we have two small children that needed to come through the kitchen every day). The timeframe was reasonable and they stayed within that timeframe which was amazing since we since the kitchen is a major hub of the household. We even ran into some electrical issues during the project (old wiring that had to be replaced) and they still kept to the end date. In short, great design, great price, great product, great team! read more

We have had Ross and his crew do a few projects for us. I would give him 5 stars for workmanship and he and his group are great. The reason is that getting the job finished in a timely manner I took off a star. If you don't have a timeline then Clear Oak Designs is great! read more