EASTON, Md. — Decorating Den Interiors has named franchise owner Veronica Simmons of Commerce Township, Mich., as Designer of the Year, the highest design award presented by the interior design and home furnishings franchise company.
Simmons’ makeover was judged best in category and the overall best of 218 entries in 11 categories by interior design journalists from throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her mid-century modern kitchen incorporates features including cherry cabinetry with slab doors and drawer fronts, an oversized workstation sink with double faucets, pocket door cabinetry and Quartzite countertops.
“I was completely caught off guard,” said Simmons. “I’ve had the honor of winning Dream Room several times but getting recognized as Designer of the Year for the first time is really special. We love creating spaces for our clients that aren’t just gorgeous but also function for their lifestyle, and this design is a perfect example of that.”
Decorating Den also named Lynne Lawson and Laura Outland, of Columbia, Md., as first runner-up and Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward-Woods, of Stone Mountain, Ga., as second runner-up.
Additionally, Decorating Den recognized the following designers:
- Sandy Shuster, of Denver, is 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. Shuster was recognized for her design of a Mexican restaurant.
Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward-Woods won second place for their dining room design, and Kiran Arif of Cincinnati received third place for a reception and office space. - Desiree Kludy, of Cooper City, Fla., won first, second and third places in the People’s Choice Award segment, an online judging open to the public. Her bedroom design received the highest number of votes cast. Her outdoor space was second, and her bathroom was third.
- Kludy’s bathroom design 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.
Ioana Todorova, of Arlington, Va., won second for her transformation of an attic space into a versatile bedroom for two young boys. Kludy also won a third-place Patti for her outdoor space.
The awards recognition marked the company’s 42nd International Dream Room awards presentation. It was held at the company’s Eelevate and Evolve 2026 annual conference in Reno, Nev.
Founded in 1969, Decorating Den Interiors has interior design professionals and decorators throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its designers 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.
