The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) is committed to bringing together designers and architects from across the Southeast through its signature events, including the highly anticipated Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards, co-sponsored by Veranda. These esteemed honors celebrate both industry veterans and emerging talent whose visionary work is redefining design across the region and beyond.
ADAC is proud to announce the 27 finalists from six states across three categories—residential interior design, contract interior design and architecture. This year, 128 entries, the most ADAC has ever received, poured in from eight states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, showcasing the awards’ regional reach. From these entries, finalists were meticulously selected by a distinguished panel of industry experts including Ellen McGauley, Veranda executive editor; Young Huh, founder of Young Huh Interior Design, and Tim Barber, founder of Tim Barber Architects.
Due to the caliber of judges and the opportunity to be recognized in the great company of the most talented designers from across the Southeast, being named a finalist is something to celebrate on its own. Finalists are given unmatched networking and exposure opportunities through the Finalists Celebration and the Awards Gala, plus ADAC will promote all finalists and winners on its social channels to more than 36K followers throughout the year.
As the prestige of the Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards continues to grow, it is exciting to see that entries were received from designers at every stage in their career, from established names in the industry to thoughtful young talent showcasing their unique perspectives. While several of the residential finalists have been finalists before, none of the finalists in this category were finalists last year. This speaks to the judges’ consideration of the work alone since every entry is blind coded. The contract design category, in particular, reflects ADAC’s expanding reach, with a notable shift in the types of projects represented. While restaurant designs have traditionally dominated this category, this year’s finalists include a spa, an optometrist’s office, a luxury car dealer’s office and hotel apartment lobby spaces. This evolution signals not just an increase in entries but also a broadening of the firms engaging with the awards—introducing new players whose work extends beyond the familiar landscape of past finalists’ bodies of work. As ADAC’s influence continues to grow, so does its ability to foster connections with a more diverse range of designers, strengthening relationships across the Southeast and beyond.
“The Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards go beyond simply honoring talent—they embody the spirit of connection and collaboration,” said Katie Miner, ADAC general manager. “By bringing together designers and architects from across the Southeast, these awards serve as a catalyst for innovation and inspiration. The relationships formed by the pool of talent recognized through this program don’t just elevate individual careers—they build camaraderie and shape the future of design in the region and beyond. Through this shared celebration, we are strengthening a community where creativity flourishes without limits.”
Finalists will be celebrated at the Finalists Celebration on April 23 at Logan Gardens in Suite 506 as a part of the Design ADAC annual spring market, inviting all to converge in Atlanta to celebrate, connect and commemorate these outstanding achievements.
The 2025 Finalists for Residential, Contract and Architecture include:
Residential Design Finalists
- Allan Chapman Interiors | Charlotte, NC
- Moe Draz of Architrave Interior Design | Charleston, SC
- B Berry Interiors | Charleston, SC
- Matt Donahoe of bureau interior architecture | design | Nashville, Tenn.
- Caroline Gidiere of Caroline Gidiere Design | Birmingham, Ala.
- Carter Kay Interiors | Atlanta
- Gray Walker Interiors | Charlotte, NC
- Michael Habachy of Habachy Designs | Atlanta
- Heather Chadduck Interiors | Birmingham, Ala.
- Kim Mauney Interiors | Charlotte, NC
- Melanie Turner Interiors | Atlanta
- Jennifer Reiner & Robert White of Reiner Design Group | Atlanta
- Stephanie Sabbe of Sabbe Interior Design | Nashville, Tenn.
- Sally Wilkinson of Sally Wilkinson Design | Atlanta
- Caitlyn Davidian of Studio C | Savannah, Ga.
- The Design Atelier | Atlanta
Contract Design Finalists
- Elizabeth Ferguson Design | Newnan, Ga.
- Emilie Pechadre of EP Interior Design | Alpharetta, Ga.
- Tate Casper & Jordan Winston of Oxford Design | Tampa, Fla.
- Jillian Rooker & Amanda Dashwood of Rook and Dash| Atlanta
- Stephanie Sabbe of Sabbe Interior Design | Nashville, Tenn.
- Smith Hanes Studio | Atlanta
- Square Feet Studio | Atlanta
- The Design Atelier | Atlanta
Architecture Finalists
- Joel Kelly Design | Atlanta
- Linda MacArthur Architect | Atlanta
- Ruard Veltman of Ruard Veltman Architecture + Interiors | Charlotte, NC
- Summerour Architects | Atlanta
- T.S. Adams Studio Architects | Atlanta
About the 2025 Judges Panel:
Ellen McGauley, Veranda, Executive Editor
McGauley is the executive editor of Veranda with 20 years of experience writing, scouting and producing design, decorative arts, travel and garden stories. She began her career in New York, working at Time Inc. and Doubleday, before moving south to Charleston, SC, where she helped launch Charleston Home magazine and served as its editor. In her roles at national titles in Birmingham, Ala., she leads discussions on topics from antiques to classical gardens and develops stories that shine a light on the soul of a home.
Tim Barber, Tim Barber Architects, Founder
Tim founded Tim Barber Architects in 1994 and has designed more than 250 renovated and new homes across the United States. His work includes the restoration of the indoor natatorium at the downtown Los Angeles Jonathan Club, a LEED Gold certified residence in Studio City and the award-winning conversion of the Richter Seismic Laboratory in Pasadena to a single-family residence. He is co-founder and former president of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) – Southern California Chapter. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1978 and a master’s degree in historical & sustainable architecture from New York University London in 2023.
Young Huh, Young Huh Interior Design, Founder
A Detroit native, Huh attended the Cranbrook School, received a degree in English from Smith College and a law degree from Fordham University. While pursuing further education and an internship in interior design, Huh discovered her true calling and founded her eponymous New York City-based design firm in 2007. For the last five years, she has been included on Elle Decor’s prestigious A-List and is included among top talent on Architectural Digest’s AD100 2023, 2024 and 2025 list. She was named one of Vogue’s five interior designers on the rise, included as a finalist in the Andrew Martin Design Review Volumes 24 and 25 and, in 2011, she won the Connecticut Cottages & Gardens Innovation in Design Award. Her work can be seen in the pages of Architectural Digest, Domino, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Interior Design, Luxe, The New York Times, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal and other publications. Huh actively bolsters the local and global design community, participating in speaking engagements and charitable events including, among others, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House and NKBA Board of Directors. She also sits on the board of Olana, is Secretary of the Board of NYSID, Decorators Club Committee Chair, co-chair for Design on a Dime and a founding member of AAPIDA.
