--- title: "Allied8 — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/allied8-pfvwus-pf~151058711 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~151058711.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: Allied8 category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/4893bf930f95d1e9_2364-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "4860 Rainier Ave. S., Suite F,, Seattle, Washington 98118, United States" latitude: 47.5412 longitude: -122.275 phone: "(206) 324-2420" website: http://www.allied8.com rating: 5 review_count: 21 best_of_houzz_awards: 6 followers: 407 last_updated: 2026-09-02 --- # Allied8 Original Houzz profile: [Allied8](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/allied8-pfvwus-pf~151058711) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Seattle, WA - **Serves:** Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, Burien, Bothell, West Lake Sammamish, Des Moines, SeaTac, East Hill-Meridian, Mercer Island, Kenmore, Inglewood-Finn Hill, Tukwila, Mill Creek, Fairwood, Bryn Mawr-Skyway, White Center, Lake Forest Park, Woodinville, Kingsgate, Newcastle, East Renton Highlands, Vashon, Klahanie, Normandy Park, Riverton, Eastgate, Boulevard Park, Indianola, Maple Heights-Lake Desire, Clyde Hill, Medina, Southworth, Beacon Hill, Yarrow Point, Ames Lake, Beaux Arts Village, Hunts Point, Ballard, Fairmount Park, Gatewood, North Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Riverview, San Juan Islands - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (21 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2013–2025), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 25,000 Ideabook Saves We believe great design is engaging, more inclusive, less wasteful, beautiful and creates a place where all people thrive. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Energy-Efficient Homes - 3D Rendering - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Handicap-Accessible Design - Basement Remodeling - Basement Design ### Areas Served - Seattle - Bellevue - Renton - Kirkland - Redmond - Sammamish - Shoreline - Burien - Bothell - West Lake Sammamish - Des Moines - SeaTac - East Hill-Meridian - Mercer Island - Kenmore - Inglewood-Finn Hill - Tukwila - Mill Creek - Fairwood - Bryn Mawr-Skyway - White Center - Lake Forest Park - Woodinville - Kingsgate - Newcastle - East Renton Highlands - Vashon - Klahanie - Normandy Park - Riverton - Eastgate - Boulevard Park - Indianola - Maple Heights-Lake Desire - Clyde Hill - Medina - Southworth - Beacon Hill - Yarrow Point - Ames Lake - Beaux Arts Village - Hunts Point - Ballard - Fairmount Park - Gatewood - North Beacon Hill - Rainier Valley - Riverview - San Juan Islands ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Allied8 | | Address | 4860 Rainier Ave. S., Suite F,, Seattle, Washington 98118, United States | | Phone | (206) 324-2420 | | Website | http://www.allied8.com | | License Number | WA State Prof. Architect \#8338 | | Followers on Houzz | 407 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/vergeadrocks - X (Twitter) — https://twitter.com/vergead - LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=24431117&trk=hb\_tab\_pro\_top - Blog — http://www.vergead.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Allied8](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/allied8-pfvwus-pf~151058711) - **Website:** http://www.allied8.com - **Phone:** (206) 324-2420 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - 2024 AIA Award of Merit (Corvidae), 2022 AIA Award of Merit (CCA), Licensed Architect, WA State AIA Home of The Month (January 2013) - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2013–2025), for Design, Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 21 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — karlrosman, Nov. 2014** > Verge Architecture is a joy to work with, Leah is thoughtful, creative and realistic in her approach to designing spaces that you want to be in and look at. I have worked with Leah since 2009 on multiple projects and hope to continue a rewarding professional relationship. **★★★★★ — carriebogner, Oct. 2014** > Leah is a true professional, very creative and knows her craft. She helped me design a studio apartment within my house (an official ADU). She understands the permitting process and the inspectors. And she is very effective! I would recommend her work and would work with her again! **★★★★★ — lovetocamp, Sept. 2014** > I hired Verge AD to design and oversee construction of a new house and ADU. I wanted an architect with a more modern design aesthetic, and I hired Verge based on speaking to prior clients who mentioned Leah's willingness to collaborate and listen and design to your needs. My needs were to build a well designed, energy and cost efficient home on a certain budget. My project construction is just starting so I cannot comment on budget yet, but I have found Leah and the team at Verge very good at listening to what I want and am willing to pay for and incorporating it into my house design. They are willing to listen to ideas from other experts/contractors and not focussed on being in control. They have listened to my practical approach and incorporated those ideas which in my experience is rare in an architect. They have suggested numerous ways to decrease cost. I have built a house before and done 2 major remodels so have experience with this process; If you are on a budget - which I am - you need the architect's help to design appropriately. I am glad I chose Verge as I think the quality of the design is great, and combined with the expertise of the lighting and design team as well as a well chosen contractor will result in a great home for my family. **★★★★★ — Miller Interior Design, LLC, July 2014** > I love working with Leah Martin at Verge Architecture. Her collaborative spirit and drive to design attainable modern homes is exemplary. - and anyone can put a cool looking box past the curb. But Verge will offer so much more - True Architecture at every level of the process. Concise, intelligent, and just plain cool. Leah is an excellent choice. **★★★★★ — Alyson Sharron, Dec. 2013** > When we purchased our mid-century home with the intent of remodeling it, we had the perfect architect in mind. We had seen Leah’s work several years before at another home that was on the market. In the spirit of due diligence, we interviewed several other architects who were highly recommended by friends. Leah stood out for not only her mastery of the mid-century modern aesthetic, but also her exceptional listening skills and clear communication style. We were new to mid-century modern architecture and Leah guided us through the process of honoring the period while respecting our goal of not creating a period piece. > > When we experienced a number of set backs during the project (completely unrelated to the design), Leah’s people skills came to the rescue. Through her positive style and objective approach - combined with just the right amount of empathy – she kept us calm while jumping in to solve some thorny challenges. Leah also re-defines the meaning of “responsive”. She was literally always there for us during our 9-month process. > > Leah also helped us prioritize our project. She guided us through the right “phase 1” decisions that would have a huge impact while laying the foundation for future phases. Some of her big recommendations included opening up the stairwell and reconfiguring it to connect the upper and lower levels and opening up our West wall with very special doors to maximize our view. The end result is spectacular – she transformed our mid-century home into the modern home it always wanted to be. It’s far more than what we expected; it perfectly honors the period while being light, warm, modern and elegant. We will definitely work with Leah again! **★★★★★ — Addie Ee, Nov. 2013** > Smart, creative and adaptable. Leah was truly all of that and more when she worked on our remodel. Mind you, this wasn't just any standard house - it was an oddly-angled mid-century modern with varying ceiling heights and challenging quirks which really made us appreciate her creativity and ability to come up with out-of-the-box solutions. > > Leah also thoroughly understood our style and vision, and was able to translate that into practical ideas on how we could modernize and better use our space. We ended up with a bigger kitchen, an extra bathroom and tons more storage space. Best part - she was fully aware of our financial constraints and would always endeavor to make our budget work. We'll definitely go back to her again. **★★★★★ — jeremiah66, Nov. 2013** > We hired Verge Architecture to help us design a major remodel on a view property. We are very happy with the results. Leah the owner has great vision and has come up with ideas I never would have thought of. If you are thinking of hiring an architectural firm in the near future I would recommend giving Verge a call. **★★★★★ — Anne Viggiano Color & Design, April 2013** > Leah is an architect you will really enjoy working with. She is a great designer, innovative, and extremely knowledgeable about space, materials, and the in's and out's of building a home for modern living. She is also socially conscious and interested in sustainable solutions for both home and community.I highly recommend you choose her for your project. > We are working together on a historical landmark home and she is ensuring that all requirements are met and the design suits the original architects intent- even though there are barely any right angles in the home! She can handle any challenge thrown at her.. > > update 1/2/2015: > Verge AD is now merged with Root Studio to form Allied8- I couldn't be more excited for them. This is now a powerhouse team with experts for every need . This merger means they will become something more powerful than individuals working together. I can't wait to see the impact they make. **★★★★★ — tomhubbard, April 2013** > Leah successfully shepherded my permit application for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) through the City of Seattle's permit process. Within a couple of months, we passed the City's inspections and the permit was granted. To save costs, she advised me on the actions that I could take myself. > > This is the second time I have used Verge Architecture, and I would defintiely use them again. **★★★★★ — kobuta, April 2013** > We asked Leah to help us do a feasibility study on a hard to build lot with a steep slope and wetland issues. She is extremely knowledgeable, very professional, highly responsive, and a pleasure to work with. She was able to find information that we didn't even know to look for, and even though we ended up passing on that particular lot, we are sold 100% on Leah and eagerly hope to hire her again in the future once we figure out where we want to build our home. **★★★★★ — wechme1, Dec. 2012** > Leah designed our store remodel. She listened carefully to our goals for the project and came up with great solutions. During the build she addressed our questions and concerns quickly and respectfully. It was a pleasure to work with her. **★★★★★ — H C, Dec. 2012** > Leah Martin of Verge Architecture & Design, LLC, was the best part of our remodel experience. She was pleasant, easy to work with, reliable, on time, and came up with a fantastic design for our main floor and basement. We get many compliments from visitors who can't believe how beautifully the transformation turned out. We have a Victorian house that was very dark with too many rooms on the main floor and had only an unfinished basement. For Leah's design, we gutted the main floor and finished the basement. The design created an open floor plan for the main floor that is both practical with plenty of storage and a nice flow and that maximizes the light and spaciousness. For the basement, Leah transformed a typical concrete storage area into a full height spacious living area with 2 rooms, lots of light, a full bathroom and laundry/utility room. Leah was also very fair with her pricing. We would highly recommend Leah for any architectural project and are very happy that we got to work with her. ## Selected projects - [Corvidae Co-op](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/corvidae-co-op-pj-vj~7590534) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: Corvidae Co-op is a demonstration project in the heart of the Rainier Valley that can offer homeownership to populations who see no feasible way to purchase a home in their community. This project will seek to find homeowners from Rainier Valley through the City of Seattle’s Affirmative Marketing & Community Preference policy. Displaced households in Seattle have been systematically denied opportunities to accumulate wealth for generations. These disparities are in part a result of inequitable a… - [Columbia City Abbey Apartments](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/columbia-city-abbey-apartments-pj-vj~6961279) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: After being vacant for nearly 7 years, our team worked closely with the developer to reinvigorate the historic 1923 Columbia City Abbey into bright, spacious apartments and retail space. Due to the density limits of current zoning, demolition and rebuilding was not financially viable–and our research revealed that as long as we did not change the exterior massing (a hard sell for an architect!) we could significantly increase the floor area on the interior. Combining our planning and design expe… - [Alki Beach House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/alki-beach-house-pj-vj~7590526) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: This project is a full architectural service remodel of a deteriorating late 1980s house that had been built on the foundation of a 1920s cottage. A series of carefully considered strategic moves were made to realize the potential of this remarkable view property which had significant zoning and site constraints. The front entry was relocated to the side, and the front façade and deck were entirely rebuilt to maximize visual connection to the Puget Sound. The interior stair was relocated which a… - [North South House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/north-south-house-pj-vj~7590501) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: Allied8 was hired to design a small 1,300 SF cabin in the woods for a three-generation family and their friends. The site is on the top of a ridge affording views to the south toward east Sound and views to the north toward the Salish Sea, Sucia Island and downtown Vancouver B.C. The preciousness of the land and the surrounding forest informed the shape of the house and the surgical foundation system. The house connects to the earth in only six locations and sits upon a steel moment frame. - [Capitol Hill Rowhouses](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/capitol-hill-rowhouses-pj-vj~6245760) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: This row-house project in Seattle’s Central Area accommodates four new ground-related and street-facing units. The four 1,300 square-foot homes sit on an approximately 4,400 square-foot parcel that was once occupied by only one single-family home. By quadrupling the density on the lot, this project responds to the area’s slow transformation to a more multi-family neighborhood, while still trying to enhance an articulation of each individual unit and with it, a pride of place. Each unit is design… - [Arboretum House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/arboretum-house-pj-vj~5066458) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - [NW Harvest's SODO Community market](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nw-harvest-s-sodo-community-market-pj-vj~6245806) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: Northwest Harvest is the largest independent hunger relief agency in Washington State. They had to move from the Cherry Street location where they had operation for over 35 years. Allied8 provided full architectural services: pre-design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, interior design, permitting, coordination with client, selection of and coordination with design consultants, coordination with general contractor and construction administration. The SODO Community M… - [Greenlake House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/greenlake-house-pj-vj~3008976) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 18 - [Yesler Duplex](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/yesler-duplex-pj-vj~6961290) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - [Queen Anne House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/queen-anne-house-pj-vj~3007253) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 11 - [Juanita Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/juanita-residence-pj-vj~81799) - Location: Kirkland, WA - Photos: 20 - Description: 3,000 SF home built in 2009 - [Belltown Penthouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/belltown-penthouse-pj-vj~3005011) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 11 - [Fontleroy Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fontleroy-residence-pj-vj~6961285) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - [Clyde Hill House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/clyde-hill-house-pj-vj~5513019) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: This was speculative home built by a young developer. The foundation from the previous home was reused allowing minimal disruption to land. All but one tree was preserved on this heavily wooded site. The design has a strong connection between the common living spaces and the back yard and view. - [Kirkland Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kirkland-remodel-pj-vj~3008986) - Location: Kirkland, WA - Photos: 12 - Description: This was a remodel to a thoughtfully designed home that had only recently been built. However, when a growing family had purchased it from the original owner we were hired to adapt the house to their personalized needs. The project included a small addition and interior architectural design through the house. - [Arbor Heights Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/arbor-heights-residence-pj-vj~172451) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 13 - Description: Partial Remodel to mid century modern house. Accomplished a lot on a tight budget... - [Kirkland Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kirkland-residence-pj-vj~119118) - Location: Kirkland, WA - Photos: 18 - Description: 3,000 SF home completed in 2012. Awarded AIA Home of the Month Award, Jan 2013 - [West Seattle Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/west-seattle-residence-pj-vj~371359) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 6 - [Maple Leaf Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/maple-leaf-residence-pj-vj~496205) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 23 - [Shoreline Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/shoreline-residence-pj-vj~81784) - Location: Shoreline, WA - Photos: 5 - Description: Kitchen Remodel upcycling showroom display from Poliform showroom. We reorganized the existing system so that it could work in it's new home and augmented it with a few more cabinet additions. [See all 20 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/allied8-pfvwus-pf~151058711) ## Ideabooks - [Callian](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/50621290/list/callian) — 2 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/138217821/list/wish-list) — 5 ideas - [SLiP Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/94183095/list/slip-remodel) — 3 ideas - [HR Stair](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/77333564/list/hr-stair) — 16 ideas - [LR-Queen Anne House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75931137/list/lr-queen-anne-house) — 20 ideas - [Castillo](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/56851494/list/castillo) — 7 ideas - [KR Loft Stair](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/55164703/list/kr-loft-stair) — 1 idea - [Davidge Search by LEAH](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32745507/list/davidge-search-by-leah) — 7 ideas - [Winther Yard](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25113455/list/winther-yard) — 7 ideas - [FC](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/27690147/list/fc) — 27 ideas [See all 10 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/allied8) ## Community Q&A **Q: Fridge?** *(in Photo Questions)* My wife and I love the kitchen! Question, where did you place the fridge? A: Secret - built in! :) Fridge is on one side of the wall ovens and freezer is on the other. **Q: Exactly what color is the paint on the front door? Thanks!** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Sorry - I don't have a record of that - the owner picked it out on their own. **Q: Railing** *(in Photo Questions)* What railing system was used? Where can I order or purchase? A: AGS stainless. https://agsstainless.com/ They're fabulous and they ship just about anywhere. The wood caps were site installed by the contractor but all metal peices were AGS. Good luck! **Q: Load bearing wall?** *(in Photo Questions)* I am purchasing a house in NEBellevue with the exact same floorplan. I would like to open up all the walls on the first level as you have. Were any of these load bearing? Did you have to put in a steel beam? A: When load bearing walls are removed you will need to hire a licensed structural engineer. Steel can be used but in residential construction engineered wood beams are commonly used instead of steel because it is more cost effective. Hope that helps you.... **Q: My client loves this garage! Do you mind telling me the manufacturer?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Don't know - sorry - the client selected it... **Q: Is that hardy backer boards as siding? or stucco?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: hardi panel --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-02.*