Awards Presented in 2023 Design Excellence Awards Competition
Entrants from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID NJ) into its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) learned the results of the competition at an action-packed event on Tuesday evening, June 27 at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hills Golf Course in Kenilworth. Emmy award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’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. Eighteen interior designers won a total of 41 prizes among them in 17 categories. Baki IIdiz of The Creative Touch, Inc. was honored with the Industry Partner Award for a carpet design by Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, and five students won awards as well.
Reno’s Appliance was the Exclusive Event Sponsor. Star Sponsors included DEZIGNED/Exceptional Flooring and Sherwin-Williams. Premier Sponsors were Wayne Tile Company and Wostbrock Home. Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe was the Select Sponsor. Chapter Sponsor Design NJ magazine was also highlighted.
Designers could submit projects in residential and commercial/nonresidential 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 comprised of past awardwinning 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 Nada F. Alzoubi, 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 were as follows: Residential Single Space:
Gold - Jill Ryan, Allied ASID, Jill Ryan Interiors, Tinton Falls
Silver - Ivee Fromkin, Allied ASID, I. Fromkin Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze - Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less:
Gold - Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes
Silver - Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, CID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze - Linda Granert, ASID, CID, Granert Interior Planning & Design, Midland Park Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet
Gold - Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Gold - Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, and Sarah Fetouh, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn
Silver - Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Bronze - Cynthia Peralta-Brito, ASID, CPB Designs, Maywood
Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet:
Gold - Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Silver - Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, CID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park
Silver - Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
Bronze – Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, and Sarah Fetouh, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn
Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft:
Gold - Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Silver - Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze - Blanche Garcia, ASID, B. Garcia Designs, Little Falls Residential Large Bathroom, 51 Square Feet or More:
Gold - Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes
Silver - Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, CID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze - Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More:
Gold - Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes
Silver - Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Bronze - Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Residential Show House Space:
Gold - Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Silver - Tammy Bolden, Allied ASID, Bold Interior Designs, Montclair
Bronze - Marina Umali, ASID, CID, Marina V. Design Studio, Ridgewood Design for People with Special or Specific Needs
Gold - Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior
Design, Montclair
Specialty and Unique Interior Spaces
Gold - Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme & Place Design, Wyckoff
Silver - Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Bronze - Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Outdoor Living Spaces
Gold - Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Silver - Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Commercial Several Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or Less:
Gold - Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Commercial Several Spaces, 10,001 Square Feet or More:
Bronze - Jill Ryan, Allied ASID, Jill Ryan Interiors, Tinton Falls
Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Club:
Silver - Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, CID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park
Industry Partner Category
Winner: Baki Ildiz, The Creative Touch, with Carpet Design by Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID
Student ASID awards went to Casey Luikert of Kean University, Gold, and Emily Pulka of Brookdale Community College, Silver, in the Student Residential Space category; Olivia Baltran of Kean University, Gold, and Meghan Maldonado of Berkeley College, Bronze, in the Student Commercial Space category; Mariam Abdelhamid of Kean University, Gold, in the Student Public Space category.