Design Excellence Awards of the ASID NJ Chapter Awarded

July 19, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

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 / 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 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 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.

Photo Credit: This designer office and retail space by Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors in Hillsdale captured a Gold in the Commercial Several Spaces 10,000 Square Feet and Under category of the awards.  Photo credit: Marco Ricca