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 Wednesday evening, June 23 at the Stony Hill Inn 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 25th anniversary of the awards competition. Nineteen interior designers won a total of 29 prizes among them in 18 categories. Three students won awards as well.
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.
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, 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 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. Nicole Sacco, Student ASID, of Kean University was Runner-Up in the category. Elizabeth Petitdemange, Student ASID, also of Kean University won the Public Space category.
