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From Home Furnishing Business
ASID NJ Celebrates Design Excellence Awards at Gala
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID NJ) celebrated its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) at a gala on June 3 at the Maplewood Country Club in Maplewood, New Jersey. The event also supported The Warehouse NJ, a nonprofit that helps individuals and families create new beginnings by providing household items and furniture. Attendees were encouraged to donate via a QR code in the event program, with the first donors receiving floral centerpieces created by Jerry Rose Floral & Event Design.
Emmy Award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’s George to the Rescue served as emcee for the evening. He brought his enthusiasm and appreciation for the challenges designers face to the attentive audience of 160 interior designers, sponsors, industry/affiliate partners and friends and family. Fourteen interior designers, one industry/affiliate partner and four design students won a total of 33 awards among them in 19 categories.
Royal Green Appliances was the Elite sponsor; New Jersey Monthly was the Star sponsor; Premier sponsors included Exceptional Flooring Concepts, Moe Distributors: Decorative Hardware & Bath Showroom. Schwartz Design Showroom and Wayne Company. Select sponsors were Aimee
Designers could submit projects in residential and commercial / non-residential sectors. Winners spanned categories from Residential Single Space and Outdoor Living Spaces to Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility.
"The winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity and creativity, underscoring how exceptional design has the power to transform spaces," said Susan Farcy, ASID Associate and President of the New Jersey Chapter.
The winners were as follows:
Residential Single Space:
Silver – Jennifer Carter, ASID Allied, Studio Envie, South Orange
Bronze – Rachel Nowikas, ASID Allied, RS Design Management, Morristown
Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft:
Silver – Sheila Rich, ASID Allied, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze – Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility:
Silver – Liz Curry, ASID Allied, Liz Curry Studio, South Orange
Residential Large Bathroom 51 Square Feet or More:
Silver – Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, CID, INSABELLADESIGN, Little Silver
Bronze – Veronica Aldana-Holbert, ASID Educator, CASA SOL Design Studio, Ocean Township
Outdoor Living Spaces:
Gold – Sarah Storms, ASID Allied, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Residential Two or More Spaces More Than 5000 Square Feet:
Bronze – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Residential Small Kitchen 150 Square Feet or Less:
Bronze – Jennifer Carter, ASID Allied, Studio Envie, South Orange
Industry Partner Category:
Gold – Baki Ildiz, Creative Touch Rugs, and Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Silver – Paul Sarrubbo, JANUS et Cie.
Residential Large Kitchen 151 Square Feet or More:
Silver – Veronica Aldana-Holbert, ASID Educator, CASA SOL Design Studio, Ocean Township
Silver – Linda Granert, ASID, Granert Interior Planning & Design, Midland Park
Bronze – Rachel Nowikas, ASID Allied, RS Design Management, Morristown
Commercial Single Space:
Liz Curry, Allied ASID, Liz Curry Studio, South Orange
Residential Small Bathroom 50 Square Feet or Less:
Silver – Sheila Rich, ASID Allied, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Specialty and Unique Interior Spaces:
Silver – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze -- Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Residential Show House Space:
Gold – Susan Farcy, ASID Associate, Susan Farcy Interior Design, Wyckoff
Silver – Arlene Reilly, ASID Allied, Bernards Decorating, Inc., Bernardsville
Bronze – Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Residential Two or More Spaces: 2501-5000 Square Feet:
Silver – Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze – Sarah Storms, ASID Allied, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Residential Two or More Spaces 2500 Square Feet or Less:
Silver – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze – Anastasia Harrison, ASID, AHD & Co, Westfield
Hospitality Spaces, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs:
Bronze – Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Student Commercial Space:
Silver – Sarah Triolo, Kean University
Bronze – Sarah Triolo, Kean University
Student Public Space:
Gold – Miriam Alvarado, Kean University
Silver – Juliana Ross, Kean University
Bronze – Sujeiry Jerez, Kean University
Student Residential Space:
Bronze – Mildred Alvarado, Kean University