What Heliotrope does

Heliotrope is a Seattle-based architecture and design firm founded in 1999, operating as a private professional services practice specializing in bespoke residential and commercial commissions. The firm is led by principals Joseph Herrin and Mike Mora and maintains a studio of approximately 12-15 people, including associates, designers, architects, and an office manager. Its portfolio spans primary residences, vacation homes, and renovations on one side, and restaurant, retail, and tenant improvement projects on the other, with clients including REI, Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Filson, Holland America Princess, and multiple James Beard Award-winning chefs.

The business model is fee-based professional services: engagements are bespoke, scope-driven commissions rather than product sales, with pricing set per project and acquired through referrals, editorial recognition, and direct principal-led client relationships. Core technology is limited to industry-standard CAD and 3D modeling tools; there are no disclosed proprietary technology assets, patents, or software products. Heliotrope's go-to-market is sales-led and depends heavily on earned media in publications such as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Luxe Magazine, and regional outlets, alongside a sustained record of AIA, Luxe RED, Interior Design Magazine, and James Beard recognition dating back to 2001.

Heliotrope operates from a single headquarters at 5140 Ballard Avenue NW in Seattle and serves projects primarily in the Pacific Northwest, with selective work in New York, Portland, Montana, California, Alaska, The Bahamas, and New Zealand. The firm is independently owned with no parent company, subsidiaries, funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed in the source material, and revenue is not publicly reported.

Name

Heliotrope

Legal name

Heliotrope

Website

https://heliotropearchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heliotrope is a Seattle-based architecture firm founded in 1999 that delivers bespoke residential and commercial design services — including restaurants, retail, and custom homes — for clients such as REI, Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, and award-winning chefs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architecture services
• Residential design
• Commercial architecture
• Interior design
• Sustainable design

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Fee-based architecture and interior design services for bespoke residential and commercial commissions, including tenant improvements and renovations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Heliotrope Architects is a full-service architecture firm delivering bespoke residential and commercial design, including new construction, renovations, tenant improvements, and interior design coordination. Engagements are project-based commissions for private homeowners, hospitality/restaurant operators, and retail/commercial brands across the Pacific Northwest and select national/international locations. Services span site selection consultation through architectural design, interior coordination, and project completion, executed by a small studio of principals, architects, and designers.

Product overview

Heliotrope Architects is a single-product architecture firm offering bespoke residential and commercial design services. The firm provides architectural design for private residences (primary suites, vacation homes, renovations), commercial spaces (restaurants, retail stores, offices), and public projects. Services span from site selection consultation through complete architectural design, interior design coordination, and project completion. The portfolio includes award-winning residential projects, notable restaurant designs, and commercial tenant improvements across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heliotrope Architects (Bespoke Architectural Design Services) Full-service architecture firm offering bespoke residential and commercial design services, including new construction, renovations, tenant improvements, and interior design coordination for private homeowners, hospitality/restaurant operators, and retail/commercial brands across the Pacific Northwest and select national and international locations.

Named customers22 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mithun: Seattle architecture and design firm with a mission-driven practice spanning residential, commercial, and community work. Comparable to Heliotrope on Pacific Northwest geography and design philosophy, though somewhat broader in scale and typology mix.
• Aidlin Darling Design: San Francisco Bay Area architecture and design studio focused on bespoke residential, winery, and restaurant projects with a similar craft, material, and site-responsive ethos. Comparable on boutique scale, design awards profile, and chef/restaurant portfolio overlap.
• LMN Architects: Seattle-based architecture firm working across civic, commercial, hospitality, and higher education. Shares the Pacific Northwest base with Heliotrope and competes for similar commercial and hospitality commissions, though typically at a larger project scale.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture and design firm specializing in bespoke residential, hospitality, and commercial projects with a strong craft- and material-driven philosophy. Olson Kundig is the closest comparable in scale, geography, and design-led premium positioning to Heliotrope.
• Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Pacific Northwest-founded architecture firm with offices in Seattle and elsewhere, known for contextually responsive, craft-driven design across residential, civic, and commercial work. Strong comparable on design philosophy and Pacific Northwest heritage, though larger and multi-office.
• SkB Architects: Seattle-based boutique architecture firm focused on retail, hospitality, and residential design. Comparable on boutique scale, Pacific Northwest base, and retail/restaurant client overlap with Heliotrope.
• Olson Lewis + Architects (Olson Lewis Dioli + Dok): Boutique Pacific Northwest architecture firm working on bespoke residential and small commercial projects with a similar regional and craft-driven orientation. Comparable in scale and project typology mix to Heliotrope.

Broad incumbents

• NBBJ: Large Seattle-headquartered global architecture and design firm with deep portfolios in healthcare, corporate, and sports. Overlaps with Heliotrope on Seattle enterprise commercial work but operates at far greater scale and typology breadth.
• SHoP Architects: New York-based design firm working across architecture, interiors, and master planning with a portfolio that includes hospitality, residential, and tech-driven commercial work. Overlaps with Heliotrope on commercial/hospitality and select residential typologies at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• Integrated Architecture: Mid-sized architecture firm with Pacific Northwest presence working across hospitality, restaurant, and commercial projects. Comparable to Heliotrope on restaurant and hospitality typologies, though not based in Seattle and serving a broader regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heliotrope