Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Mannarino Wins in Four Categories at Design Excellence Awards
July 30,
2024 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
Anna Maria Mannarino of Mannarino Designs, Inc., upped her tally to 37 awards to date, both regional and national in an array of categories including high-end residential, kitchen and bath, outdoors, healthcare, hospitality, retail and product design, with four wins at the Design Excellence Awards from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Designers (ASID NJ).
Celebrated at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park with Emmy award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue,” Mannarino was once again called to the stage to receive awards not once, twice or three times, but four.
Judges for the competition were comprised of past award-winning ASID members from around the country. “I am very pleased for the recognition and thank all the independent judges and juries,” said Mannarino, who is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of American Designers (ASID NJ).
She won in 2024 Design Excellence Awards in four categories, reflecting the diversity of her practice: Residential Large Kitchen Greater Than 150 Square Feet, Residential Showhouse, Commercial Special and Unique Spaces and the Industry Partner award, which she shared with Martin Grodman of American Brass & Crystal for her design of cylindrical sconces.
For the Residential Large Kitchen Award, Mannarino took her talents to an authentic log cabin where she renovated the kitchen and dining area in a seamless blend of functionality and creativity. Gray cabinets, wide-plank flooring and innovative lighting create a bright, modern space that complements the rustic charm.
Mannarino’s unique and creative award-winning showhouse space was a sexy supper club lounge set in a tent in the courtyard of a Manhattan home, and designed for jazz trios, poetry readings and book signings. It was adorned with trend-setting furniture, a vintage rug, velvets, damask, a shimmering organza and an oversized crystal chandelier. Intelligent lighting, sound and heaters completed the vibe and made guests forget they were in a tent!
The only winner in the Commercial Several and Unique Spaces category, this new boys' locker room at a summer and holiday camp was formerly a bedroom, bathroom, closet and small hallway. This space now features four bathroom stalls and four shower stalls with private changing areas. Textured bronze plastic polymer stalls are water-, steam- and humidity-resistant. Large-scale cobalt blue and bronze porcelain tiles cover walls and floors, with matching mosaic tiles around the center drain. LED wet-rated recessed lights provide ample lighting.
On the product design side, Mannarino’s sconce design for American Brass & Crystal captured the top award. The bold, edgy fixture features a cylinder made up of glass rods that are strapped together with brass belts, then hung on a heavy chain and mounted to a narrow, thick, elongated brass backplate.
The piece is illuminated by an internal light kit made up of staggard sockets. Consistent with all American Brass & Crystal products, it is meant to be livable art that can be passed down through the generations, transcending time and trends. Additionally, like all designs from American Brass & Crystal, it is sustainable and environmentally friendly.