September 18th, 2025 – High Point, NC – On Wednesday, September 17th, members and guests of the Interior Design Society (IDS) gathered at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans to honor the winners of the 2025 Designer of the Year Awards. The evening was emceed by Nick Verreos.
“Our Designer of the Year Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible creativity, talent, and dedication of our members,” said Jenny Cano, IDS Executive Director. “It is a privilege to celebrate these outstanding achievements together as a community and reminds us why IDS exists: to elevate professional residential design and support designers at every stage of their careers.”
The 2025 winners of the Designer of the Year Awards are:
Space Designs:
Bathrooms $100,000 and Above: Kirsten Conner
Bathrooms $60,000 – $100,000 (tie): Julie LaBruna – Sunny Interior Design and Monica McCaskill Interiors
Bathrooms $30,000 – $60,000 (tie): Bethany Reilly and DeDe DeWine Holloway
Bathrooms $30,000 and Below: Libby Carver, Cheryl Clendenon
Bedrooms $50,000 and Above: Amber Freedman, North Sea Works
Bedrooms $30,000 – $50,000: Shayla Copas Lifestyle
Bedrooms $30,000 and Below: Divya Kandala
Dining Rooms $30,000 and Above: Deborah Gregg Interiors
Dining Rooms $30,000 and Below: Nicole Karnes – Lemontine Design
Entry Way & Foyers $30,000 and Above: Katharine Kelly Rhudy
Entry Way & Foyers $30,000 and Below: Trade Mark Interiors
Home Office $30,000 and Above: Dana Bass
Home Office $30,000 and Below: Dusti J Design
Kid & Teen Rooms: Gina D’Amore Bauerle
Kitchens $200,000 and Above: Studio Steidley
Kitchens $150,000 – $200,000: Jessica Strimpfel Consulting By Design
Photos by: Rebecca McAlpin
Kitchens $100,000 – $150,000 (tie): Christine Cook, EP Interior and Krystal Reinhard
Kitchens $50,000 – $100,000: Libby Carver, Cheryl Clendenon
Kitchens $50,000 and Below: Libby Carver, Cheryl Clendenon
Living Spaces $100,000 and Above: Hilary Ina Unger
Living Spaces $60,000 – $100,000: Krystal Reinhard
Living Spaces $30,000 – $60,000: Kirsten Conner
Living Spaces $30,000 & Below: Jennifer Beaudoin
New Construction 3,000 sqft and Above: Brenda Geler – Casa Blanca Studio
New Construction 3,000 sqft and Below: Michelle Yorke
Nurseries: Rachel Brasch
Outdoor Spaces $50,000 and Above (tie): Bauer/Clifton Interiors and Katharine Kelly Rhudy
Outdoor Spaces $50,000 and Below: Tanna Edler
Powder Rooms $15,000 and Above: Baker Design Group
Powder Rooms $15,000 and Below: Gina D’Amore Bauerle
Recreation Spaces $50,000 & Above: Gloria Staats
Recreation Spaces $50,000 & Below: Tiffany Damle of Tiffany Jane Interiors
Utility Spaces $20,000 and Above (tie): Baker Design Group and Veronica Ferro
Utility Spaces $20,000 and Below: Susan Marion
Whole Home 3,000 sqft and Above: Gina D’Amore Bauerle
Whole Home 3,000 sqft and Below: Petra Boykoff
Specialty Awards
Digital Rendering: Annilee B Waterman
Holiday Design: Baker Design Group
Product Design: Shayla Copas Lifestyle
Sherwin-Williams Award: Melanie Rosenburg
Student Design Award: Abigail Beckett
Sustainable Design: A3 Interior Design
Unique Design Element: Susanne Brozovich, Aaron Thomas Interiors
Universal Design / Aging in Place: Patricia Kennedy
Vacation Rental Design: Margie Kaercher, Hearth and Honey Homes
Value Design: Sunita Ritesh – House of MDC
Business Practices
Best Social Media Presence: Mountainwood Homes
Best Website: Sydney Holliday Interiors
IMPACT Awards
Individual Impact Award: Patricia Kennedy
Group Impact Award: IDS Houston Chapter
