Design Excellence
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers presents awards
The best interiors and the designers who created them were honored with 2023 Design Excellence Awards presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. The event, held at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hills Golf Course in Kenilworth, featured Emmy award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue” as master of ceremonies. Eighteen interior designers won a total of 41 awards in 17 categories. Additionally, Baki Ildiz of Creative Touch Inc. was honored with the chapter’s Industry Partner Award for a carpet design by Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID.
The Design Excellence Awards Dinner gets underway, celebrating the diversity of design in New Jersey. | Photo by William Newmann Photography
Reno’s Appliance was the Exclusive Event Sponsor. DEZIGNED/Exceptional Flooring and Sherwin-Williams were Star Sponsors, Wayne Tile Co. and Wostbrock Home were Premier Sponsors and Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe was the Select Sponsor. Design NJ is the chapter sponsor.
Contest judges, all of whom are past award-winning ASID members from around the country, had to follow strict criteria. The criteria varied somewhat from category to category, but it 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 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.” For more information on the New Jersey Chapter of ASID, visit https://nj.asid.org.
Below are all of the 2023 winners. Additionally, Design NJ will publish a profile of each designer who won a Gold Design Excellence Award. Simply click on the designer’s name below.
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, Agapé 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 (tie): Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Gold (tie): 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 (tie): Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, CID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park
Silver (tie): 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, Agapé 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, Agapé 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, Creative Touch, with Carpet Design by Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID
Student ASID Awards
The 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.