Forty-one Awards Presented in 2023 ASID NJ Design Excellence Awards

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All the winning designers in the ASID New Jersey Chapter Design Excellence Awards that were present at the gala with MC George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue” – 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 NJ) into its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) learned the results of the competition at an action-packed event on Tuesday evening, June 27 at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hills Golf Course in Kenilworth.  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 HomeSteve’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.”

Members of the ASID New Jersey Chapter Board of Directors at the Design Excellence Awards with MC George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue.” From left to right, Paul Sarrubbo of Janus et Cie, Industry Partner, Membership Director; Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Past President, Parliamentarian; Reyna Dominguez-Perez, of Sherwin-Williams, Industry Partner, Communications Director; Nada Alzoubi, Allied ASID, President; Julia Giovanelli of Kean University, Student ASID, Student Rep to the Board; and Marina Umali, ASID, CID, President-Elect. – Photo credit: William Neumann Photography
2023 NJ-ASID DEA June 27th, 2023

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   

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

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

Industry Partner award winner Baki Ildiz of The Creative Touch with Anna Maria Mannarino. Allied ASID, who designed the winning carpet, receiving their awards from Nada F. Alzoubi, ASID NJ President, and George Oliphant of NBC”s “George to the Rescue.” – Photo credit: William Neumann Photography

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.

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/.