About

Who We Are

Carlen & Co. specializes in high-end residential remodeling—kitchens, baths, additions, and whole-house renovations. Our work is focused in the East Bay: Oakland, Piedmont, Kensington, Albany, Berkeley, and El Cerrito.

Co-owners Nick Silberman and Rob Madison have a hands-on style and are involved in every job on a daily basis. The two men have a great deal in common—and some well-balanced differences. Both Nick and Rob are self-motivated Geminis with kids born on the same day. They both grew up with contractor fathers and started working in the trades themselves after college.

In 2014, they formed an official partnership as the next generation of the company established in 1981 by Jamie Carlen. Nick concentrates on office logistics, while Rob focuses on job sites, making sure projects are executed in a way that lives up to Carlen & Co. standards.

Whether in the office or in the field, success at Carlen is measured not only by work well done, but by the relationships established with others (clients, vendors, tradespeople) along the way.

Co-owners Rob Madison (l) and Nick Silberman (r)

How We Work

The truth is, construction is hard.

We’ve been in the business long enough to know that the process is complicated, and there’s always going to be some unexpected snag in the works. The plans, no matter how comprehensive, will never capture all the details.

That’s why we’re here—to be a buffer between you and the stress. We hold your hand (literally, if you need it) through the ups and downs of the job. We’ve seen pretty much everything, and we know how to solve the unpredicted issues—large and small—that pop up during the course of a project.

What We Believe

We believe in being good to our customers—being kind, patient, and positive no matter what’s going on in the background. We believe in honest, consistent communication and a high standard of integrity around billing and the proper execution of tasks.

We also believe in promptly returning phone calls and answering emails. We never want to overlook a project or leave it hanging without sufficient direction. That’s why we tend to run fewer jobs at the same time—the sheer number of decisions involved in a remodel requires a responsive, attentive contractor. If we’re too busy, we’re not giving you the service you deserve.

As the client, you want to be heard and understood. You want a job well done, at a fair price, with as few headaches as possible. We get that, we support that, and we want to raise the bar.

Carlen & Co. aims for an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. At every step along the way, from the preliminary project drawings to your first dinner in your sparkling new kitchen, we want you to feel relaxed and confident that your home is in good hands.

Exceptional customer care also means that you can rest assured the end result will live up to your initial expectations. We don’t leave the job until we know you’re happy.

What Our Customers Say

Many things in life are interchangeable except your doctor, dentist, mechanic. Add to that list: your contractor. They have to be a good fit for you.

Nick Silberman was that good fit for me. Everyone on the Carlen team was professional, polite, extremely hard-working, thoughtful in addressing any problems that arose, and always left the worksite in fine order. Our kitchen and living room remodel were completed on time, on budget, and beautifully.

A remodel involves hundreds of decisions and I never felt rushed or compromised. Nick listens with intent. His high standard of organization, craftsmanship, and follow-through resulted in an efficiency without compromise to quality. You can leave the country and know those standards will prevail in your absence.

The capper was Nick’s design for the kitchen awning. I wanted something minimal and asked if he could make it in copper. Unfazed by the challenge, and having a keen sense of my aesthetics, Nick came up with a sleek, understated design both modern and timeless, whose simplicity was of a piece with the entire remodel. It feels like a newly conceived house.

Throughout the entire project, the team was flexible, trustworthy, and completely professional.

Laura Louis | Berkeley, CA | 2020

Carlen & Company spearheaded my tight, technical project where every detail and every surface, from ceiling to floor needed to match existing wood and finishes in the adjoining dining room.

Under their leadership, the transition was seamless. This project was well managed and came in on time and on budget.

Carlen & Co was extremely responsive to any question or concern we had throughout the process. They are a highly experienced construction firm and implement high quality projects. Their attention to meeting codes and detail are exemplary. Even the County Inspector was impressed by their work, and he’s a contractor too!

Lisa C. | Kensington, CA | 2023

Carlen and Company did an outstanding job in an extensive remodel of our 100-year-old Oakland bungalow. Throughout the entire project, the team was flexible, trustworthy and completely professional. And they were fun to be around!

Nick and Rob paid particular attention to regular communication and were always responsive to our questions and suggestions.

They did everything they said they would do and more. We never had to worry about anything.

The entire Carlen team consistently demonstrated that they cared as much about the quality of the house as we did. They clearly wanted us to be happy with our ‘new’ home; and we certainly are!

Viki and Mary Ann Maxwell | Oakland, CA | 2018

See our projects

In Memoriam

Jamie Carlen

Jamie Carlen, the founder of the company passed on 1/26/24. He was an inspiration for many by how he lived his life and how he treated his friends, family, clients and employees. He will be missed but never forgotten.