The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID NJ) presented its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) last month with Emmy award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue” and Noel Gatts, HGTV host and owner of beam&bloom interiors, serving as event emcees.
Seventeen interior designers and three design students won a total of 39 prizes among them in 18 categories. Submitting designers could enter projects in residential and commercial/nonresidential sectors. Winners spanned categories from Residential Single Space and Outdoor Living Spaces to Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces and Athletic Facility.
Judges included ASID members from around the country who followed strict criteria in their decisions.
“Winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity, creativity and how exceptional design can transform spaces,” said Marilyn LaVergne, ASID associate and president of the New Jersey Chapter.
The 2025 Design Excellence Award Winners
Residential Single Space
Silver – Yelena Gerts, ASID Allied, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Bronze – Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Residential Historic Preservation
Gold – Julie China, ASID Allied, Idea Space Architecture + Design, Maplewood
Silver – Anastasia Harrison, ASID, AHD & Co, Westfield
Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft
Bronze – Molly Miller, ASID Associate, Molly Miller Interiors, Maplewood
Residential Large Bathroom > 50 Square Feet
Silver – Alexa Ralff, ASID Associate, AHR Designs, Maplewood
Bronze – Julie China, ASID Allied, Idea Space Architecture + Design, Maplewood
Bronze – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Residential Specialty and Unique Interior Spaces
Silver – Kate Kennedy, ASID Allied, Katie Lynn Interiors, Manahawkin
Residential Small Kitchen < 150 Square Feet
Gold – Alexa Ralff, ASID Associate, AHR Designs, Maplewood
Gold – Tracey Stephens, ASID Allied, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Bronze – Molly Miller, ASID Associate, Molly Miller Interiors, Maplewood
Commercial Several Spaces 10,000 Square Feet or Less
Bronze – Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, CID, INSABELLADESIGN, Little Silver
Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility
Silver – Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, CID, INSABELLADESIGN, Little
Silver Bronze – Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Residential Large Kitchen > 150 Square Feet
Gold – Tracey Stephens, ASID Allied, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
Silver – Alexa Ralff, ASID Associate, AHR Designs, Maplewood
Bronze – Beth Diana Smith, ASID Associate, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, Kearny
Residential Small Bath < 50 Square Feet
Silver – Sarah Storms, ASID Allied, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Bronze – Sheila Rich, ASID Allied, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Residential Show House Space
Gold – Anna Maria Mannarino, ASID Allied, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Silver – Anna Maria Mannarino, ASID Allied, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
Bronze – Karla Trincanello, ASID Allied, CID, Interior Decision, Inc.
Residential Two or More Spaces > 5,000 Square Feet
Gold – Miriam Silver Verga, ASID Associate, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Silver – Jennifer Pacca, ASID Allied, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Bronze – Yelena Gerts, ASID Allied, House of Style & Design, Holmdel
Bronze – Malorie Goldberg, ASID Allied, Noa Blake Design, Marlboro
Commercial Special and Unique Spaces
Bronze – Alexa Ralff, ASID Associate, AHR Designs, Maplewood
Outdoor Living Spaces
Silver – Linda Granert, ASID, Granert Interior Planning & Design, Midland Park
Bronze – Sheila Rich, ASID Allied, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach
Miriam Silver Verga,
ASID Associate of Mimi & Hil, Gold Winner,
Residential Two or More Spaces Greater Than 5,000 Square Feet,
Photo credit: Michael J Lee
Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 to 5,000 Square Feet
Gold – Anastasia Harrison, ASID, AHD & Co, Westfield
Silver – Miriam Silver Verga, ASID Associate, Mimi & Hill, Westfield
Bronze – Jennifer Pacca, ASID Allied, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less
Silver – Sarah Storms, ASID Allied, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Bronze – Sarah Storms, ASID Allied, Styled by Storms, Maplewood
Hospitality Spaces, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs
Silver – Jennifer Pacca, ASID Allied, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
ASID Student awards went to Aubree M. Gergich, Kean University, Silver; Mildred Alvarado, Kean University, Bronze; and Suha Jawad, Kean University, Bronze — all in the Student – Commercial Space category.
The ASID Students winners and MJ
Divino, Chair of the Interior Design Program at Kean University,
Photo credit: Aimee Ryan
Royal Green Appliances was the Elite sponsor, Design NJ magazine and Salzone Fine Art were Star Sponsors. Premier sponsors were AV Luxury: Your Smart Home Partner, Exceptional Flooring Concepts, Funxion and Wayne Tile. Select sponsors were Aimee Photos, Amy Straub Design: Sophisticated Storage, Benjamin Moore, Country Casual Teak, Janus et Cie, Moe Distributors, Reno’s Appliance, Room & Board, Schwartz Design Showroom, Sherwin-Williams and Wostbrock Home.
