July 12, 2021

Entrants from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) into its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) learned the results of the competition at an action-packed event on June 23 in Hackensack. 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. The event also celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the awards competition. Nineteen interior designers won a total of 29 prizes in 18 categories.  Three students won awards as well.

ASID Design Excellence Awards June 23, 2021

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 Government / Institutional Space. New categories included Outdoor Living Space for residential and commercial sectors. A new Public Spaces category was added for students as well.

Judges were comprised of past award-winning ASID members from around the country and followed strict criteria in their judging. The criteria, which varied somewhat from category to category had one constant – 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 Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, and president of the New Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives.”

The winners were as follows:

Residential Single Space:

Silver: Karen B. Wolf, Associate ASID, KBW Interiors, Short Hills

Bronze: Judy Sturdevant, Allied ASID, Freeman Hall Design, Westfield

Residential Small Bathroom, 55 Square Feet or Less:
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc., Montclair

Bronze:  Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior
Design, Inc., Montclair

Residential Large Bathroom, 56 Square Feet or More:

Gold: Sharon Draznin, ASID, Sharon Draznin Interiors, Short Hills

Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Bronze: Sharon Sherman, ASID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff

Residential Small Kitchen, 150 Square Feet or Less:    

Gold: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff

Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More:    

Bronze: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, Insabella Design, Little Silver

Commercial Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or Less:

Bronze: Susan Barbieri, ASID, Susan Barbieri Interior Design, Hawthorne

Commercial Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or More:

Silver: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, Insabella Design, Little Silver

Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs

Silver: Linda Kitson, Allied ASID, MarketPlace Designs, Summit

Design for People with Special Or Specific Needs

Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Inc., Holmdel

Residential Outdoor Living Spaces

Bronze: Ivee Fromkin, Allied ASID, Ivee Fromkin Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Government / Institutional Space

Silver: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside

Healthcare Spaces, 3,001 Square Feet or More

Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less

Silver: Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Inc., Florham Park

Bronze: Elizabeth Akguc, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet

Silver: Karen B. Wolf, Associate ASID, KBW Interiors, Short Hills

Bronze: Diane Durocher, ASID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Residential Show House Space 

Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Bronze: Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Inc., Florham Park

Specialty and Unique Spaces 

Silver: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes

Bronze: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, Insabella Design, Little Silver

Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet

Silver: Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn and Sharon Draznin, ASID, Sharon Draznin Interiors, Short Hills

Bronze: Sharon Draznin, ASID, Sharon Draznin Interiors, Short Hills

Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility

Gold: Kingsley Knauss, ASID, KBK Interior Design, Westfield

Bronze: Ria Gulian, ASID, Interiors By Ria, LLC, Long Branch

The student awards went to Alexandra Horn, Student ASID, of Kean University in the Commercial Space category with Nicole Sacco, Student ASID, of Kean University as Runner-Up in the category.  Elizabeth Petitdemange, Student ASID, also of Kean University won the Public Space category.

Event sponsors included Sherwin-Williams, “Design NJ” and Benjamin Moore, who are Chapter Sponsors as well.  Ferguson was the Exclusive Event Sponsor. Premier Sponsors included Fiberseal, J&S by Stark, PaintTec, Wayne Tile and Wostbrock Home. Select Sponsors included Exceptional Flooring, Michelangelo Designs, Scalamandré and Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe.