
Winners that are not featured: Kathryn Cook, Allied ASID, Kathryn Cook Interiors, Essex Fells; Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes; Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff; and Brian Gallop, Waterstone Faucets.
Photo credit: William Neumann Photography
≈ Event and Competition Reinforced How Good Design Impacts Lives ≈
Entrants from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) into its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) learned the results of the competition at an action-packed event on Tuesday evening, June 28 at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hills Golf Course in Kenilworth. George Oliphant of TV’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. Seventeen interior designers won a total of 40 prizes among them in 17 categories. Brian Gallop of Waterstone Faucets was honored with the Industry Partner Award and three students won awards as well.
Reno’s Appliance was the Exclusive Event Sponsor. Premier Sponsors included Benjamin Moore, CMI Interiors, DEZIGNED/Exceptional Flooring, Farrow & Ball, Wayne Tile and Wostbrock Home. Select Sponsors included Scalamandré, Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe, Waterstone Faucets and Window Treats. 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 Virginia Liberato, Allied ASID, President of the New Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives.”

Photo credit: William Neumann Photography

Photo credit: William Neumann Photography
The winners were as follows:
Residential Single Space:
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze: Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, Wyckoff

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less:
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze: Susan Barbieri, ASID, CID, Susan Barbieri Interior Design, Hawthorne
Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet:
Gold: Kingsley Knauss, ASID, KBK Interior Design, Westfield
Silver: Kathryn Cook, Allied ASID, Kathryn Cook Interiors, Essex Fells
Bronze: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet:
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
Bronze: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft:
Silver: Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Cioletti, President/CEO of Reno’s Appliance, with Eva Hajek, Corporate Chef/Showroom Consultant at Reno’s Appliance.
Photo credit: William Neumann Photography
Residential Small Bathroom, 50 Square Feet or Less:
Gold: Tammy Bolden, Allied ASID, Bold Interior Designs, Montclair
Silver: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Bronze: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Residential Large Bathroom, 51 Square Feet or More:
Gold: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Bronze: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Residential Small Kitchen, 150 Square Feet or Less:
Gold: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More:
Gold: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Silver (tie): Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Silver (tie): Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Silver (tie): Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Bronze: Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park
Residential Show House Space:
Gold: Susan Farcy, Associate ASID, Susan Farcy Interior Design, Wyckoff
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Design for People with Special or Specific Needs:
Bronze: Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, Wyckoff
Specialty and Unique Spaces:
Silver: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Residential Outdoor Living Spaces:
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Commercial Single Space:
Silver: Marina Umali, ASID, CID, Marina V. Design Studio, Ridgewood
Commercial Several Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or Less:
Silver: Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes
Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs:
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Healthcare Spaces, 3,000 Square Feet or Less:
Silver: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Industry Partner Category
Winner: Brian Gallop, Waterstone Faucet
The student awards went to Caitlyn Dolan, Student ASID, of Brookdale Community College, in the Residential Space category; Mary Castellano, Student ASID, of Kean University, in the Commercial Space category and Kerri Neumann, Student ASID, of Berkeley College in the Public Space category.


Photo credit: William Neumann Photography
About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves all sectors of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. ASID was founded over 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. ASID continues to lead the future of interior design, integrating the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places occupants live with the places they work, play, learn, and heal. Learn more at asid.org or visit https://nj.asid.org/.