SDM Design, Inc.

We hired SDM Design (Stephen DerMargosian) to design a remodel of a recently purchased home which was built in 1954. A ranch style brick which had never been updated. The "remodel" was virtually a complete reconstruct with the exception of exterior walls. Stephen's vision made the finished product a work of art which is both functional as well as visually magnificent. His eye for and attention to detail, his professionalism in dealing with the Contractor as well as the Owner (Us) place him in high regard. We came to know of Stephen through a friend of ours who had hired him to design a new construct on a very challenging lot. Their house as well turned out wonderfully and were as well impressed and satisfied with Stephens work on all fronts. The man truly has an eye for space, flow, form, detail and style. He is one of a kind.

Stephen DerMargosian was the architect who designed our house in Asheville, NC. It was the fifth house my wife and I have had built. It is by far the prettiest house [and most practical] we've ever lived in and it has been described by neighbors and guests as elegant and refined. Stephen was the driving force in the decisions that we believe resulted in our liking the house so much. His patient understanding and explanations persuaded us, something none of our prior architects ever managed, to make choices that were not obvious to us but worked out exceptionally. Every day as we look admiringly at our house we are reminded why we continue to hold him in the highest regard both as a superb designer and as a fine person.

Stephen DerMargosian was the ideal architect for our project: a cottage adjacent to our 1940s stone home in North Asheville. The cottage consists of a two-car garage and guest apartment. Building on a steep part of our property, the project posed siting and design challenges, but Stephen produced a lovely structure that fits in very well with our home, takes advantage of beautiful mountain views and has actually caused motorists to stop and ask if they can look at our "cottage." Guests always compliment the design that includes a large bedroom with balcony, a living area with full kitchen and fireplace, one and one-half baths and a deck that affords privacy for guests. They marvel at all the features incorporated into a relatively small space. Stephen was wonderful to work with. He presented his ideas clearly and with enthusiasm, incorporating everything we discussed in preliminary talks. Inevitably, minor adjustments had to be made, primarily due to challenges with the site, but Stephen handled those situations with dispatch and sensitivity. He is an excellent communicator. He developed a strong rapport with our builder and was an effective team leader. I recommend him without reservation. He is creative, communicative, honest and fair, and sensitive to the desires of his clients. He came to us highly recommended and we in turn pass on that recommendation. Ralph Simpson

I am a builder who has worked with SDM Design on multiple projects. It's common for most architects to design from scratch with vision an clarity, but the measure of Stephen's skill lies in his amazing ability to transform ill-designed space of an old home into elegance and efficiency.

We had been searching unsuccessfully for an affordable Arts and Crafts bungalow, but in 2007 we purchased a 1950s ranch house instead, primarily because it was on a lovely street lined with old sycamores and interesting old homes. The original style of the house fit neither the character of the street nor our own vision of the house we wanted, so we sought to convert it into Arts and Crafts style. That proved harder than we expected, until we met Stephen, who immediately became our architect. He developed the design concept of the exterior as an English stone cottage. His radical, yet practical, design enabled us to incorporate Arts and Crafts design elements into the interior, and thus led to the complete transformation of the house into our home. This transformation was imagined and made possible by a community of local artisans—architect, master carpenter, stone expert, and others responsible for stucco, painting and staining, hardware, driveway and landscaping. It lasted several years, during which Stephen was at all times integral to that community, always willing and able to work collaboratively and gracefully with its other members. We consider Stephen to be the guiding spirit of the process that turned a 1950s in-fill house into the stone cottage on Evelyn Place.

Stephen is, without question, the most professional and knowledgeable person we worked with in building our home. We've lived here for over 7 years now and the exterior is still lovely, tasteful and beautifully executed. The interior (something I found not all architectural types can successfully accomplish) is a joy and lives exactly as we planned it. Our home is beautifully sited, a rarity in the mountains. Stephen has superb taste and is a strong guiding force when needed. We appreciated his happy outlook and good working relationship with the general contractor and everyone else on the project. Stephen kept us within budget and on time. I've built 4 houses in my life. This build was the best experience and the best outcome due to his skills.

Before embarking on a wholesale renovation of our vacation house in Asheville, we made two crucial decisions: 1) an architect and 2) a general contractor. We were extremely fortunate to select SDM as our architect/designer. SDM not only created the design that transformed our home, but played a vital role during construction, even suggesting changes that we reluctantly approved then, but greatly appreciate now. We were so pleased, that we decided to make our vacation house our full-time home. Thank you SDM!

The project was a bathroom remodel disaster that SDM Designs took over and made into a place of beauty, as well as safety and security. In short, Mr. DerMargosian was a lifesaver. He took over the languishing and ill-conceived project, redesigned it in a way that not only made practical sense but was beautiful; hired wonderful, skilled professionals who got the job done within the time specified and within budget, and held my hand through the whole project. He was there to ensure quality every step of the way. He attended to the infrastructure damage and problems with as much concern as the aesthetic issues. This was a relatively small project in the scheme of things, but he gave it his exquisite attention and was always professional, always kind and helpful, always available for contact. He's a magician with designing spaces of exceptional flow and originality, with an uncanny ability to elevate his clients' ideas to spaces of surpassing beauty. I would recommend him to everyone - a dream to work with, sensitive, caring, professional, intensely creative, with years of experience both designing and compiling a team of professional workmen to execute his designs. I've seen a lot of his work and am always bowled over by his aesthetic vision, his creativity, his knowledge of materials and possibilities, and mostly, the extraordinary beauty of his creations.