Easton, Md. — Franchise owner Diana Apgar, Cincinnati,  (https://www.dapgar.decoratingden.com  ) was named Designer of the Year, the highest design award presented by Decorating Den Interiors, North America’s largest interior design and home furnishings franchise company and leading in-home decorating service.

Her design of a spectacular outdoor space for a Florida home was judged the best of 326 entries in 12 categories by interior design journalists and editors from across the U.S. and Canada.  Apgar’s designs also were judged first-place in the bathroom, window treatment and miscellaneous categories, along with seconds in family room, living room and miscellaneous.

“My design for the outdoor space included a travertine surface, fire-bowls and water falls, teals and blues for seating fabrics, iridescent glass tiles around the outdoor kitchen, a gazebo with curved sofas, and two large TVs made for outdoors,” Apgar explained. “We had the advantage of planning this space and others in this home from the very beginning of site selection and architectural design.  This was a wonderful project for amazing clients.”

 

 

Designer of the Year Runners-Up   

 

First Runner-Up was Dee Frazier, Dallas, who won first in bedroom, first in dining room, seconds in children’s, home office and kitchen, along with a third in miscellaneous. Second Runner-Up was Kristen Fencl, Incline Village, Nev. who won first place in kitchen.

 

Other Design Awards:

 

Donayre Award

 

First-place winner of the Donayre Award, which is voted on by company franchisees and is named for Carol Donayre Bugg, ASID, retired company vice president and director of design, was Heather Sheridan, Castle Rock, Colo., for a community center in the commercial category.

 

Second place was Diana Apgar, Cincinnati, for her outdoor space.

 

Third place was Kisten Fencl, Incline Village, Nev. for her kitchen.

 

 

People’s Choice Award

 

Barbara McGinnis Hayman, Spring City, Pa., won first place the People’s Choice Award segment, an online judging open to the public. Her living room makeover received the highest number of votes cast.

 

Sharon Falcher and Sherica Maynard, Atlanta, won second place for their design of a dining room.

 

Heather Sheridan, Castle Rock, Colo., was awarded third place for her community center.

 

Patti Award

 

Named after Patti Coons, former public relations director who was instrumental in starting the Dream Room competition, the award is for first-time entries into the competition and is judged by those franchisees who have achieved Decorating Den Certified Decorator status.

 

Angie Bonomo, Weston, Fla. won first place for her family room.

 

Heather Sheridan, Castle Rock, Colo., won second place for her community center.

 

Lisa Bibawi, Dallas, won third place for a dining room makeover.

 

This was the company’s 36^th Dream Room Awards Presentation. It was held via a special international video conference that replaced the company’s normal annual conference, which was not held because of the Covid19 Sheltering-in-Place. There were more than 200 participating online.

 

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.