Over 155 Years of Service to the Furniture Industry
Furniture World Logo

Decorating Den Interiors Names 2025 Designer of the Year

Furniture World News Desk on 5/9/2025


Decorating Den Interiors has named Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward-Woods, owners of The Sisters and Company franchise serving Stone Mountain, Ga., as its 2025 Designers of the Year. Their winning bedroom design was selected from 173 entries across 12 categories by a panel of interior design journalists from the U.S. and Canada.

The project, which fulfilled a client’s request for a cohesive master suite, involved expanding the bedroom into a former sitting area, removing architectural barriers, and incorporating design elements including an ivory-upholstered bed, mahogany chests, gold-framed mirrors, oak paneling, a fireplace wall, boucle seating, grass cloth wallpaper, and motorized drapery.

This marks the third time Elliott and Ward-Woods have received the Designer of the Year award. “It’s still as exciting as it was the first time,” they both said.

Their ensuite bathroom design was also awarded first place in its category and selected as First Runner-Up overall. Features include heated flooring, a glass bathtub framed by tubular tilework, floating vanities with infinity sinks, LED mirrors, and a spa-style shower.

Second Runner-Up honors went to Lynne Lawson and Laura Outland of the Lawson Dream Team franchise in Columbia, Md. Their award-winning family room earned third place overall and included elements such as gold-leaf beams, crystal-textured wallpaper, a charcoal velvet sectional, custom rug, mirrored chests, and a restored “window” of mirrors.

Additional Design Awards

  • Donayre Award: Elliott and Ward-Woods received first place for their bedroom and second for their bathroom. The Donayre Award is named in honor of Carol Donayre Bugg, ASID, the company’s retired vice president and director of design. Third place was awarded to Lawson and Outland for their living room.

  • People’s Choice Award: Thousands of public votes selected Elliott and Ward-Woods’ bedroom as the winner. Second place went to Carly Jossund of Astrid Design Group (Kansas City, Mo.) for a home office, and third to Lisa Rice of Raleigh, N.C., for a living room.

  • Patti Award: Andrea Ritten of Andrea Rose Designs Co. (Minneapolis) won this award, which recognizes first-time competition entrants and is judged by Certified Decorator franchisees. Second and third place went to Aleem Arif of Kiri Designs (Cincinnati) and Carly Jossund, respectively.

This year marked the 41st International Dream Room Awards for Decorating Den Interiors.

 

 

About Decorating Den Interiors
Decorating Den Interiors was founded in 1969 and has interior design professionals and decorators throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its design professionals offer full-service interior design that includes fine furniture, case goods, accessories, lighting, floor and wall coverings, draperies, and other hard and soft window treatments from its custom LIVV Home Collection™ of furnishings. Its design professionals bring samples directly to the client’s home or office, provide complimentary design services and personally oversee projects through installation. For more information, visit decoratingden.com.