Franchise owner Monique Holland of Washington, D.C., was named Designer of the Year, the highest design award presented by Decorating Den Interiors, an interior design and home furnishings franchise company based in Easton, Maryland.
Holland’s modern and industrial design of a dining space with bold wallcovering was judged best in category and the overall best of 300 entries in 10 categories by interior design journalists from throughout the United States and Canada. She also earned the first-place home office and second-place family room, and won in three other separate categories of judging competitions.
“I am thrilled to win this honor,” said Holland, ‘especially since this was the first time I entered Dream Room. I started my business only four years ago. Being Designer of the Year and winning so many other awards is very exciting.”
First Runner-Up was the franchise of sisters Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward Woods and their design team in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Their family room took second place among the winners in each room category. They also won firsts in bedroom, kitchen and outdoor, along with seconds in living room and outdoor, and a third in bathroom.
Second Runner-Up was Lynne Lawson, of Columbia, Maryland, and her design associate Laura Outland, whose bathroom took third place. They also won third place in bedroom and first in another judging.
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 Lisa Bibawi, of Dallas, for her first-place living room.
Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward Woods won second for their family room.
Monique Holland won third for her winning dining room.
People’s Choice Award
Lynne Lawson and Laura Outland won first place in the People’s Choice Award segment, an online judging open to the public. Their bathroom design received the highest number of votes cast.
Monique Holland won second place for her home office, which took first place in the journalist judging.
Elliott and Ward Woods had the third highest online voting total for their kitchen, which took first place in the journalist judging.
Patti Award
Holland’s dining room also won the Patti Award. Named after Patti Coons, former public relations director who was instrumental in starting the International 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.
Michelle Jett of La Verne, California, won second place for family room and third for her bedroom.
This was the company’s 38th International Dream Room awards presentation. It was held at the company’s DESIGNCON 2022 annual conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
