Thirty-Five Awards Presented in 2020 Design Excellence Competition from the New Jersey Chapter of ASID
Furniture World News Desk on
10/2/2020
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 Zoom on Wednesday evening, September 23. Designer David Santiago of Casa Santi Interior Design and the Strictly Santi brand moderated the event. Interior designers and Industry Partners from the New Jersey Chapter of ASID, as well as friends, family, colleagues and media were in attendance. Seventeen interior designers won a total of 32 prizes among them in 13 categories.
There were also two new categories: “Student,” which went Mariam Abdelhamid, Student ASID from Brookdale Community College and “Industry Partner.” The Gold in the Industry Partner category went to Martin Grodman of ABC Lighting for the “Dripping Jewelry” chandelier with Collaborating Designer Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID. Runner up in the category went to Donna Infantolino of California Closets.
Benjamin Moore, CSS Lighting and Design Resource, J&S Designer Flooring, PTX Painting, Inc., and Sherwin-Williams were event sponsors.
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 Government / Institutional Space. All entries had to have used at least one Industry Partner at the time of the project to be submitted. The Student Award was either for a residential or commercial space. As indicated, the Industry Partner award was for product.
Judges are 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,” including the Industry Partner product awards.
"Winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity, creativity and how exceptional design affects the people that use these spaces” said Sandy Cabelis, Allied ASID, and outgoing President of the New
Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives, even when it comes to the important new Industry Partner category for product.”
Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were conferred in most categories. To view online with photos, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTX9N1ibllk . The winners were as follows:
Residential Single Space:
Gold: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Silver: Ivee Fromkin, Allied ASID, Ivee Fromkin Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze: Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, Wyckoff
Residential Small Bathroom, 55 Square Feet or Less:
Silver: Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc., Montclair
Residential Large Bathroom, 56 Square Feet or More:
Gold: A.J. Margulis, Allied ASID, AJ Margulis Interiors, Pennington
Silver: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
Bronze: Sharon Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Residential Small Kitchen, 150 Square Feet or Less:
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc., Montclair
Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More:
Gold: Elizabeth Akguc, Allied ASID, Benchmark Interiors, Paramus
Silver: A.J. Margulis, Allied ASID, AJ Margulis Interiors, Pennington
Bronze: Sharon Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft
Silver: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Bronze: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc., Montclair
Design for People with Special Or Specific Needs
Gold: Diane Boyer, ASID, Diane Boyer Interiors, Upper Montclair
Silver: Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Specialty and Unique Spaces
Gold: Jennifer Meyer, Allied ASID, Jennifer B. Meyer, Short Hills
Silver: Sharon Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff
Bronze: Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Government/Institutional Space
Gold: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside
Silver: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside
Residential Show House Space
Gold: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Silver: Marina Umali, ASID, Marina V. Design Studio, Ridgewood
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less
Gold: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale
Silver: Kathryn Cook, Allied ASID, Kathryn Cook Interiors, Essex Fells
Bronze: Ivee Fromkin, Allied ASID, Ivee Fromkin Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet
Gold: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
Silver: A.J. Margulis, Allied ASID, AJ Margulis Interiors, Pennington
Bronze: Karen Wolf, Associate ASID, Karen B. Wolf Interiors, Short Hills
Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet
Gold: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Silver: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
About ASID: The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and humancentric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.
ASID was founded over 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal. For more information, visit asid.org.