July 13, 2022

Entrants from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) New Jersey chapter into its annual Design Excellence Awards learned the results of the competition at an action-packed event on Tuesday evening, June 28 at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hills Golf Course in Kenilworth. George Oliphant of TV’s “George to the Rescue” served as master of ceremonies and sprinkled stardust over the entire evening, bringing robust enthusiasm and an understanding of the challenges designers face to the rapt audience of interior designers, sponsors, industry partners and friends and family. Seventeen interior designers won a total of 40 prizes among them in 17 categories. Brian Gallop of Waterstone Faucets was honored with the Industry Partner Award and three students won awards as well.

Reno’s Appliance was the Exclusive Event Sponsor. Premier Sponsors included Benjamin Moore, CMI Interiors, DEZIGNED/Exceptional Flooring,
Farrow & Ball, Wayne Tile and Wostbrock Home. Select Sponsors included Scalamandré, Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe, Waterstone Faucets and Window Treats.

ASID New Jersey chapter designers could submit projects in residential and commercial/non-residential sectors. Winners spanned categories from Residential Single Space and Design for People With Specific Or Special Needs to Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Club.

Judges were past award-winning ASID members from around the country and followed strict criteria in their evaluations. The criteria, which varied somewhat from category to category had one constant, however. Entrants in all the categories were judged on “positive impact on life and the human experience.”

“Winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity, creativity and how exceptional design affects the people that use these spaces,” said Virginia Liberato, Allied ASID, president of the New Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives.”

The winners:

Residential Single Space
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze: Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, Wyckoff

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze: Susan Barbieri, ASID, CID, Susan Barbieri Interior Design, Hawthorne

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet
Gold: Kingsley Knauss, ASID, KBK Interior Design, Westfield
Silver: Kathryn Cook, Allied ASID, Kathryn Cook Interiors, Essex Fells
Bronze: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff

Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
Bronze: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft
Silver: Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Residential Small Bathroom, 50 Square Feet or Less
Gold: Tammy Bolden, Allied ASID, Bold Interior Designs, Montclair
Silver: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Bronze: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel

Residential Large Bathroom, 51 Square Feet or More
Gold: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Bronze: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel

Residential Small Kitchen, 150 Square Feet or Less
Gold: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair

Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More
Gold: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Silver (tie): Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Silver (tie): Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Silver (tie): Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Bronze: Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park

Residential Show House Space
Gold: Susan Farcy, Associate ASID, Susan Farcy Interior Design, Wyckoff
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Design for People with Special or Specific Needs
Bronze: Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, Wyckoff

Specialty and Unique Spaces
Silver: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Residential Outdoor Living Spaces
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Commercial Single Space
Silver: Marina Umali, ASID, CID, Marina V. Design Studio, Ridgewood

Commercial Several Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or Less
Silver: Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes

Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Healthcare Spaces, 3,000 Square Feet or Less
Silver: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Industry Partner Category
Winner: Brian Gallop, Waterstone Faucet

The student awards went to Caitlyn Dolan, Student ASID, of Brookdale Community College, in the Residential Space category; Mary Castellano, Student ASID, of Kean University, in the Commercial Space category and Kerri Neumann, Student ASID, of Berkeley College in the Public Space category.

The above photo by William Neumann Photography features winners of ASID New Jersey Chapter Design Excellence Awards who were present at the gala. From left to right: Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, Wyckoff; Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff; Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey; Marina Umali, ASID, CID, Marina V. Design Studio, Ridgewood; Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Inc., Florham Park; Tammy Bolden, Allied ASID, Bold Interior Designs, Montclair; Connie Monterroso, Senior Designer with KBK Interior Design, standing in for Kingsley Knauss, ASID, KBK Interior Design, Westfield; Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel; Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach; Susan Farcy, Associate ASID, Susan Farcy Interior Design, Wyckoff; Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair; Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes; Susan Barbieri, ASID, CID, Susan Barbieri Interior Design, Hawthorne; and Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel.

Winners who are not pictured: Kathryn Cook, Allied ASID, Kathryn Cook Interiors, Essex Fells; Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes; Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff; and Brian Gallop, Waterstone Faucets.