Smith Hanes Design Studio

What Smith Hanes Design Studio does

Smith Hanes Design Studio is a privately held, boutique interior design and architecture firm founded by Smith Hanes in Atlanta in 2004, with a second studio opened in New York in 2020. The firm provides full-service interior design for hospitality (restaurants, bars, hotels), commercial (retail, workspaces), and high-end residential clients nationwide, with a concentration of work in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest. Its practice spans concept development, space planning, design documentation, construction administration, and the in-house design of bespoke furniture, lighting, and millwork, with fabrication executed through a recurring network of local artisans and craftspeople.

The studio's core commercial proposition is the design of original, project-specific interiors rather than templated decoration: every engagement features custom banquettes, bar fixtures, lighting, and millwork commissioned for that space. Notable commissioned clients include chef Ford Fry's Rocket Farm Restaurants group (JCT Kitchen & Bar, Marcel, multiple Superica locations, Little Sparrow, Bar Blanc, and the Rocket Farm corporate headquarters), Tal Baum's Oliva Restaurant Group (Aziza, Atrium, Carmel), Sam Fox (The Henry, Miami), the Woodlark Hotel in Portland (lobby, Bullard, Abigail Hall), and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center showroom Wareco. Repeat work with restaurant portfolio operators is the primary demand engine.

The firm operates a sales-led, referral-driven go-to-market with no public pricing, marketing automation, or productized offering; revenue is generated by per-project professional-services fees, and new business is acquired through editorial exposure (Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Forbes, Bon Appetit, Metropolis, Hospitality Design), repeat clients, and reputation within the hospitality design community. The team comprises approximately 11 members across designers, architects, and industrial designers. No external funding, acquisitions, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Smith Hanes Design Studio

Legal name

Smith Hanes Studio

Website

https://smithhanes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smith Hanes Design Studio is a boutique Atlanta-founded interior design and architecture firm specializing in hospitality, restaurant, hotel, retail, and high-end residential projects, with in-house custom furniture and lighting design and a second studio in New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interior Design Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Interior design services
• Hospitality interior design
• Custom furniture design
• Restaurant design studio
• Residential interior design

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interior Design Services: The studio charges fees for comprehensive interior design services spanning concept development, design documentation, custom fixture and furniture design, and construction administration. Revenue is project-based, with each engagement scoped individually for hospitality, residential, retail, and workspace clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Smith Hanes Design Studio is a boutique interior design firm providing full-service interior architecture and design for restaurants, hotels, retail, residential, and commercial spaces. The studio designs and produces custom furniture, fixtures, and lighting pieces in collaboration with artisans and fabricators, delivering original, bespoke interiors from concept development through construction administration.

Product overview

Smith Hanes Studio is an interior design practice offering a unified suite of services centered on interior design, architecture, and industrial design. The studio operates two locations (Atlanta, Georgia and New York) and provides commercial interior design for restaurants, hotels, retail, and workspaces, as well as residential interior design services. Core offerings include custom fixtures and concept development, with all projects executed by a multidisciplinary team of interior designers, architects, and industrial designers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interior Design Services
• Commercial Interior Design
• Residential Interior Design
• Custom Furniture & Fixture Design
• Custom Lighting Design

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured in Bon Appetit's list of 8 Best New Restaurants in America in 2013 for The Optimist
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Ford Fry (Rocket Farm Restaurants)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmith Hanes Studio has an extensive and longstanding working relationship with chef Ford Fry and his Rocket Farm Restaurants group, completing design work on multiple restaurants over many years. Projects include JCT Kitchen & Bar (2005, 2010), Little Sparrow (2023), Bar Blanc (2023), Marcel, Superica Charlotte, Superica Strawberry Hill, Superica Nashville, and Rocket Farm Restaurants headquarters (12,000+ sq ft corporate office). The studio is a trusted design partner for Fry's portfolio of hospitality brands.
• Tal Baum (Oliva Restaurant Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmith Hanes Studio has completed multiple restaurant designs for Tal Baum's Oliva Restaurant Group, including Atrium at Ponce City Market (2022), Aziza (Mediterranean, 2019), and Carmel (coastal cuisine, 2023). The studio is a recurring design partner for Baum's growing restaurant portfolio in Atlanta.
• Woodlark Hotel (Portland, Oregon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmith Hanes designed the entire food and beverage experience at the Woodlark Hotel, including the lobby (3,600+ sq ft), Bullard restaurant (2,600+ sq ft, 2018), and Abigail Hall cocktail bar (1,100+ sq ft). The hotel combined two historic 1920s buildings — the Cornelius Hotel and Swetland House — reimagined as one boutique hotel. The studio worked with architecture firm OFFICEUNTITLED on the project.
• Maggie McBride ArchitecturecoreTechnology or IntegrationMaggie McBride Architecture has collaborated with Smith Hanes Studio on multiple projects including Nina & Rafi, Redbird, Lyla Lila, Wareco, and Artisan Beaute. McBride serves as the architecture partner on these projects while Smith Hanes leads interior design.
• MT StudiocoreTechnology or IntegrationMT Studio served as the architecture partner on Aziza (2019) and Carmel (2023), working alongside Smith Hanes Studio's interior design scope.
• OFFICEUNTITLEDcoreTechnology or IntegrationOFFICEUNTITLED was the architecture firm for the Woodlark Hotel project, working in partnership with Smith Hanes on the hotel lobby, Bullard restaurant, and Abigail Hall bar in Portland.
• Morrison Shearer, Inc. (MSI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMorrison Shearer, Inc. served as the general contractor on multiple Smith Hanes projects including Aziza, Atrium, Carmel, and Artisan Beaute spa.
• Perrino Design & ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPerrino Design & Construction served as the contractor on JCT Kitchen & Bar (2005) and Lyla Lila restaurant.
• Choate ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChoate Construction served as the contractor on Little Sparrow restaurant and Superica Nashville.
• Christian Harder PhotographyminorOthersChristian Harder is the photographer credited on the Bullard and Woodlark Hotel projects, documenting the studio's completed interiors for the portfolio and press.
• Tim Lenz PhotographyminorOthersTim Lenz is a recurring photographer across numerous Smith Hanes projects including Bullard, Little Sparrow, Sardis Barn, Cin Cin!, The Henry, and others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Roman and Williams: NYC architecture and interior design studio with a celebrated restaurant and hotel portfolio (e.g., Le Coucou, The Standard hotels). Comparable to Smith Hanes in hospitality focus, custom furnishings, editorial profile, and chef/restaurateur relationships.
• Parts and Labor Design: Boutique NYC design studio with a portfolio of chef-driven restaurants and boutique hotels. Comparable to Smith Hanes in scale, target client (chefs and restaurateurs), and custom furniture/lighting design philosophy.
• Stonehill & Taylor: Architecture and interior design firm with substantial hospitality and hotel experience (e.g., Dream Hotels, The Greenwich Hotel). Comparable to Smith Hanes in hospitality interiors and custom fixture/millwork integration.
• AvroKO: New York-based hospitality design firm specializing in restaurants, bars, and hotels with an integrated design-build ethos. Highly comparable to Smith Hanes in target clientele (chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers), custom millwork/lighting design, and atmospheric brand-driven interiors.
• Studio Robert McKinley: Hospitality-focused interior design studio with restaurant and hotel projects across the U.S. Closely comparable to Smith Hanes in boutique studio size, hospitality-first client mix, custom fixture work, and editorial press profile.
• Meyer Davis Studio: New York design studio focused on hospitality, residential, and commercial interiors with a portfolio of restaurant and hotel work (e.g., Loews hotels, The Line Hotel). Comparable in project types, custom millwork, and emphasis on atmospheric, brand-anchored design.
• Jeffery Beers International: New York-based hospitality design firm known for restaurant and hotel interiors (e.g., Bobby Van's Steakhouse, 1 Hotel). Directly comparable to Smith Hanes in hospitality focus, custom millwork, and chef/restaurateur client base.
• Andre Kikoski Architect: NYC-based architecture and design studio with notable hospitality, restaurant, and residential work. Comparable to Smith Hanes in multidisciplinary practice (architecture + interior design), hospitality focus, and editorial recognition.
• Bentel & Bentel: Long-established NYC architecture and interior design firm with a deep restaurant and hotel portfolio. Comparable to Smith Hanes in founder-led boutique structure, hospitality expertise, and custom-designed environments.

Broad incumbents

• Yabu Pushelberg: Internationally recognized design firm with large hospitality, hotel, and residential practice (e.g., Equinox, Edition hotels). Comparable to Smith Hanes in hospitality interiors and custom furnishings, but operates at significantly larger scale and global footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/smithhanes
• Facebookfacebook.com/160669360613085
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smith-hanes-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Smith Hanes Design Studio