RDM Architecture

Everyone was professional and helpful. Very happy with open plan that Rick and his team designed. They also brought in Lisa Jensen to help with design and she was a big help as liaison to contractor, architects and me. Franken-Polli, the general contractors, were exceptional. Their lead, Matt, deserves special mention for his attention to detail. Cabinets were done but Shikles Cabinets. The whole team worked together well, and kept me current on the project status.

RDM Architecture did an excellent job for me as I explored a master bath addition to my 1889 home in Westwood, Kansas. I ultimately decided to stay within the footprint of the main house and concentrate on rebuilding a 400 square foot guesthouse that was in need of renovation. RDM staff was very professional and was more than willing to change the scope of the project to satisfy my shifting priorities. The staff presented high quality plans and helped me interview and select the best contractor for the job. The team was always available to answer questions and to modify the plans as needed. I would highly recommend Rick and his team for any remodeling project.

Rick and his team were great to work with. As an architect myself, we are commonly the most difficult folks to work with. They were patient, forward thinking and resourceful as we reconciled the scope and design. Many Thanks to RDM on helping make a huge transformation of our ranch home.

RDM Architecture designed our kitchen/laundry room remodel. They were professional, positive, and easy to work with. They listened to our ideas, were able to problem solve, and were very creative. We are so pleased with our beautiful and functional new space.

I hired RDM Architecture to design my kitchen 18 years ago. Rick was original in his design. He suggested that the island be fabricated in the shape of a grand piano, after he saw the piano in our living room. We are still enjoying our beautiful and functional kitchen! More recently I asked for his help on our third floor remodel. We wanted to remove a wall, to open up the space. He suggested a half wall or "pony wall", which is open, yet functional. He also came up with the idea of making a cubby in an existing wall bench, for our wi-fi and Sonos system. They function well, because they are not completely surrounded by wood, but they are not so noticeable either, because they are inside the cubby. Two projects--18 years apart--both with original ideas that we would not have thought of on our own.

I used RDM to help with a garage addition to my house in 2017 and 2018. The design they submitted was top notch. They connected me with a contractor that exceeded my expectations and left me with a finished project that ties in so well to my house that most cannot tell it's an addition. I receive compliments all the time and it has certainly added to the value of my house. They take a very personal interest in their projects and I would easily use them again without reservation.

If you are looking to do a smaller project, I would recommend looking elsewhere. We had Rick come over to help us design a deck for our backyard, and the meeting could not have gone worse. When first talking about the project we thought ~$10,000 would be a reasonable starting point for a small 300-400 sq ft deck and pergola. After telling Rick our budget, he literally laughed to our faces and said it would cost at least 5 times that. I'll repeat that, a 300-400 square foot deck with a pergola and no other bells or whistles, according to Rick, costs about $50,000. I should have just stopped the meeting at that point, knowing we weren't going to be on the same page, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and heard his pitch. Rick's tone was very arrogant, and I'm surprised because he's the face of the company, so you would think he would have better bedside manner. Instead, he bragged about working on $400,000 projects and showing us things that were far more extravagant than we were wanting, again showing the disconnect. We have been planning this deck for a while, so we know what we want. When Rick talked about putting a sun shade on the house rather than a pergola, we said we didn't like how they looked and Rick responded by saying, "Why not?! You're the only person I know that doesn't like them!" Apparently you're not supposed to have an opinion on the work being done to your house. We didn't want a kitchen, or a fire pit, or a TV, or extra lighting, we just want a simple deck with some shade, that's all. After being told we weren't investing enough money into the project and that our ideas were small, Rick asked for his $65 check so he could be on his way. That's right, in a world where most companies provide complimentary consultations and estimates, RDM has you pay just for the privilege of talking to them! I invited a stranger into my house to tell me I was cheap, insult my intelligence and taste, and then had me pay him for the privilege! If you're looking to do a six figure project that's going to look fantastic, RDM is your team. The work they do looks fantastic, but know your'e going to pay way more than what it's worth. Trust me, I used to work in public accounting and I understand how RDM's billing works. But if you're looking to do a project that costs less than $50,000, look elsewhere, you're beneath Rick and his team.

I came across RDM while I was looking for a firm that did Universal Design. Bonus - they were local. I met with Mike times to scope the project. My goal was to revamp my kitchen and master suite to allow for better wheelchair access. I explained that my primary need was functional, but I also wanted it to look nice. I also decided to add a screened patio room. Mike was always professional and helpful. He listened an made helpful suggestions, but always listened to me needs and wants. Thank you for all you hard work. I truly appreciate it. God bless.

RDM Architecture is a small, talented residential architecture group that really spends a lot of time with clients to make sure everything goes right. Rick and his crew are genuinely committed to a successful project and his excitement about the process is contagious. We enjoy working with RDM as they make every step of the way that much more enjoyable!

The RDM team did an excellent job with every aspect of our whole house remodel. With high aesthetic quality, great knowledge of architectural styles and access to the latest trends in home decor, we felt well taken care of. I would recommend them to anyone.

We had previously worked with RDM on our porch enclosure which is pictured among others here on the RDM pages. When we decided to build a new house, we engaged Rick McDermott from the start--even to help us select the building lot. It is now two years later and the project is complete. Rick and Matt Lero listened to us and were able to design a house that met our needs and also followed a daunting set of rules laid out by the city. The narrow, deep lot presented its own challenges, but also allowed for the spectacular contemporary design. Matt was especially creative when it came to design details and use of unique materials. RDM's hands-on approach and attention to detail at every stage of development/construction has made this project a total success.

After living in our 1922 Federal-style Colonial for 27 years, we knew what we wanted to add to it (it had had 3 additions previously). We wanted (A) add a mudroom with a coat closet at the back door, (B) create a real back porch (covered) with concrete steps, (C) enlarge the den and make it convertible to a first floor bedroom if we had mobility issues in the future (oh, and re-use the floor and some of the walls of the old den which was added in 1942), (D) widen the doorway for accessibility and enlarge the first floor bathroom (it already had a shower) (E) enlarge a tiny back bedroom upstairs so we could use it as a master bedroom, and (F) modify the master bath so that there was an entrance into the new master bedroom in the back instead of the old master bedroom in the front. For the exterior, it also had to look as much like it had always been there as possible--not easy with 2 hipped roofs & a shed roof already existing. We also had a lot of "don't"s--don't ruin the screened porch, don't change the kitchen, don't eliminate the window at the top of the center staircase, don't put the back door where you can't see it from all sides, don't ruin the flow of the first floor. Poor Rick and Mike! It has to be easier to design new houses! It was so nice--they got it and were great about making sure we considered options if they thought maybe we had missed something. The contractor we hired really like working with them, and they communicated very well with him and us. Due the great work of the general contractor and them, you can't even tell where the old den ended and the new space begins. The house lives like we wanted it to--and it is appropriately sized for the block. Very happy with our decision to work with them, and would do so again!