Design duo Lisa Simeone and Gina Deary met while working at a firm in Chicago in the 1990s and became fast friends. Realizing they had a similar vision and passion for design, they took a leap of faith founding their own firm Simeone Deary Design Group in 2002. Their thoughtful approach can be seen in projects such as the Detroit Foundation Hotel and Hotel Kansas City—two historic buildings transformed into modern properties while retaining a strong sense of place. Named Hospitality Design magazine's 2022 Design Firm of the Year, these two—now principals of KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, after a recent merger with the architecture firm—show no signs of slowing down.

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