Excellence in Interior Design
The New Jersey Chapter of ASID honors the year’s top designs and designers
Enjoying the Design Excellence Awards Gala presented by the American Society of Interior Designers, New Jersey Chapter, (from left) are Marina Umali, chapter president; George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue,” master of ceremonies; and awards committee co-chairs Susan Farcy and Karla Trincanello. | Photo by William Neumann Photography
The best designs and designers of the year were honored with 2024 Design Excellence Awards presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. The event, held at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park in June, featured Emmy award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue” as master of ceremonies. The theme was how good design impacts lives.
Reno’s Appliance and Salzone Fine Art were Star Sponsors. Premiere sponsors were Sherwin-Williams; Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove; TJ Painting; and Wayne Tile. Select Sponsors were Benjamin Moore & Co., Exceptional Flooring Concepts, Janus et Cie, Samuelson, Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe and Wostbrock Home. Also highlighted were Sapphire Chapter Sponsor Design NJ and Pearl Chapter Sponsor Room & Board.
Twenty-one interior designers won a total of 43 prizes in 18 categories. Martin Grodman of American Brass and Crystal was honored with the Industry Partner Award for lighting design by Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID. Four students won awards as well. Judges, comprising past award-winning ASID members, followed strict criteria in their judging. The criteria, which varied somewhat from category to category had one constant: All entrants were judged on “Positive impact on life and the human experience.”
“Winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity, creativity and how exceptional design can transform spaces,” says Marina V. Umali, ASID, CID, president of the New Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives.”
Below are all of the 2024 winners. Additionally, over the next month Design NJ will publish a profile of each designer who won a Gold Design Excellence Award.
Residential Historic Preservation
Gold: Miriam Silver Verga, Associate ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Residential Single Space
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze: Oreoluwa Oderanti, Affliliate ASID, Inspired Ore Home Décor, Irvington
Bronze: Sarah Storms, Allied ASID, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 to 5,000 Square Feet
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Miriam Silver Verga, Associate ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Bronze: Sarah Storms, Allied ASID, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze: Alexa Harris-Ralff, Associate ASID, AHR Designs, Millburn
Bronze: Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, and Sarah Fetouh, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn
Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft
Gold: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze: Arlene Reilly, Allied ASID, Bernards Decorating Inc., Bernardsville
Residential Small Bathroom, 50 Square Feet or Less
Gold: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Silver: Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, CID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Bronze: Yelena Gerts, Allied ASID, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Residential Large Bathroom, 51 Square Feet or More
Gold: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, CID, INSABELLADESIGN, Little Silver
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Bronze: Miriam Silver Verga, Associate ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Residential Small Kitchen, 150 Square Feet or Less
Gold: Liz Curry, Allied ASID, Liz Curry Studio, South Orange
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Bronze: Denise Pough, Allied ASID, A-Jay Interiors by Dee, Paramus
Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More
Gold: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme & Place Design, Wyckoff
Gold: Sarah Storms, Allied ASID, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Silver: Julie China, Allied ASID, Idea Space Architecture + Design, Maplewood
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs Inc., Holmdel
Bronze: Miriam Silver Verga, Associate ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Residential Show House Space
Gold: Susan Farcy, Associate ASID, Susan Farcy Interior Design, Wyckoff
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Silver: Arlene Reilly, Allied ASID, Bernards Decorating Inc., Bernardsville
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs Inc., Holmdel
Residential Specialty and Unique Interior Spaces
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze: Cozette Brown, Allied ASID, Cozette Brown Interior Design, Ringwood
Bronze: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme & Place Design, Wyckoff
Outdoor Living Spaces
Silver: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Commercial Single Space
Gold: Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Commercial Several Spaces, 10,001 Square Feet or More
Gold: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside
Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility
Gold: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside
Silver: Liz Curry, Allied ASID, Liz Curry Studio, South Orange
Commercial Special and Unique Spaces
Silver: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs Inc., Holmdel
Government/Institutional Spaces
Gold: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside
Industry Partner Category
Winner: Martin Grodman, American Brass & Crystal with Lighting Design by Anna Maria Mannarino of Mannarino Designs Inc., Allied ASID
Student ASID awards went to Jacqueline Ferreira of Brookdale College, Silver, and Esther Marquez of Berkeley College, Bronze, in the Student Residential Space category; Sarah Jolly of Kean University, Gold in the Student Commercial Space category; and Aubree Gergich of Kean University, Silver in the Student Public Space category.