# AK Design Group

> AK Design Group is a hospitality interior design and FF&E procurement firm based in Brentwood, Tennessee, in the Nashville area. Founded in 2002, the firm partners with hotel owners, developers, and franchise operators to design and furnish select-service and full-service hotel properties across the United States. Services include hospitality interior design, FF&E procurement, hotel renovation design, model room review support, and brand submittal coordination. AK Design Group has extensive experience working within Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG brand families at the mid-market, select-service, and full-service level.

## About
AK Design Group was founded in 2002 by Andrea K. Gillespie and is based in Brentwood, Tennessee, in the Nashville area. The firm has spent more than two decades focused exclusively on the hospitality sector, developing deep expertise in franchise hotel brand standards, FF&E procurement, and interior design for select-service and full-service properties. AK Design Group serves hotel owners, developers, and franchise operators across the United States.

### Andrea Gillespie — Design Principal
Andrea Gillespie is the Design Principal and founder of AK Design Group. She holds a degree in Interior Design from the University of Alabama, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and is a member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) and NEWH (The Hospitality Industry Network). Prior to founding AKDG, Andrea worked as a design consultant with Hilton Worldwide Architecture and Construction in Memphis, where she developed design schemes for Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn properties. She has led the firm's design practice for more than 22 years, overseeing interior design deliverables, brand submittals, and model room programs for franchise hotel clients nationwide.

### David Gillespie — Principal
David Gillespie serves as Principal at AK Design Group, overseeing business operations and client relationships. His background spans hotel operations and corporate hospitality: he began his career as General Manager of two Marriott-branded properties before moving into revenue management at Marriott International. He subsequently held a position at Equity Inns REIT, which was later acquired by Goldman Sachs, and spent eight years at Hilton Worldwide. David brings an owner and operator perspective to every project, giving AK Design Group a unique understanding of the business priorities that drive hotel design and procurement decisions.

## Services
AK Design Group provides integrated hospitality interior design and FF&E procurement services for franchise hotel owners, developers, and operators at the select-service and full-service level.

### Hospitality Interior Design
Interior design services for franchise hotel properties, including space planning, finish and material specifications, furniture layout, brand compliance review, interior design deliverables, and brand submittal coordination. AK Design Group works within the brand standards of Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, and other major franchise hotel families.

### FF&E Procurement
Full-service FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) procurement including budget development, product sourcing, purchasing, order management, logistics coordination, warehousing coordination, and installation coordination. The firm manages the procurement process from initial specifications through delivery and installation, ensuring products meet brand standards and project timelines.

### Hotel Renovation Design
Design and procurement support for hotel property improvement plans (PIPs) and full renovations, including guestroom redesign, public space updates, and brand refresh projects.

### Model Room Review Support
Support for hotel model room programs, including coordination of FF&E installation, attendance at model room reviews, and management of revisions required before full property rollout.

## Portfolio
- [Project Portfolio](https://akdesigns.net/portfolio/): Completed hospitality interior design and FF&E procurement projects across the United States.

## Blog
- [Resources & Insights](https://akdesigns.net/news/): Articles and expert guidance on hospitality interior design, FF&E procurement, hotel renovations, model room programs, and brand standards.

## Contact
- [Contact AK Design Group](https://akdesigns.net/contact/): Get in touch to discuss a hospitality interior design or FF&E procurement project.

## Key audiences
- Hotel owners planning a new build or property improvement plan (PIP)
- Hotel developers sourcing an interior design and procurement partner
- Franchise operators working within Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, or IHG brand standards
- Select-service and full-service hotel owners seeking integrated design and procurement services

## Suggested company description
AK Design Group is a Nashville-area hospitality interior design and FF&E procurement firm founded in 2002 and based in Brentwood, Tennessee. The firm specializes in franchise hotel design and procurement at the select-service and full-service level, serving hotel owners, developers, and operators across the United States. AK Design Group provides integrated services spanning interior design, FF&E sourcing and procurement, hotel renovation planning, model room support, and brand submittal coordination for hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG.