Anne BildContact: media@wf-vision.com
Date: October 4, 2023
The Grace Awards, formerly known as the VISION Design & Workroom Competition, was established more than 30 years ago to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of interior designers and artisans who create outstanding window treatments for their clients. We are pleased to announce the distinguished panel of judges for its annual Design and Artisan competition. The awards will be judged between October 8 and November 7, 2023. The judges will score each entry independently and anonymously to determine the winners of each of the 20 categories.
The 2024 design judges include:
Timothy Corrigan, President of Timothy Corrigan Inc.
With offices in Paris and Los Angeles, Timothy Corrigan’s timeless design philosophy combines European elegance with California comfort. He has been hailed in Architectural Digest as “Today’s Tastemaker” and has been named to most of the design world’s best designer lists, including the AD100, Elle Decor A-List, Robb Report’s Top 40, the Luxe Gold List, 1stdibs 50, Country and Town House UK The 50 Best Interior Designers and Departures Design Council. He has received numerous honors, including the Institute of Classical Architecture So-Cal Legacy Award, The Design Icon Award and the Star of Design Award.
Timothy is the only American designer honored by the French Heritage Society for his restoration of several national landmarks in France. The firm’s work is regularly featured on television and in prestigious publications such as Elle Décor, The New York Times, Town & Country, Veranda, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Luxe Interiors + Design, Vanity Fair, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. Clients include royalty, Hollywood celebrities and corporate leaders. Timothy has designed successful licensed collections with several partners, including Perennials, Schumacher, PFM, Royal Limoges, THG-Paris, Fromental, Samuel & Sons, Kyle Bunting and DEA Luxury Linens. He has two best-selling books, published by Rizzoli: “An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Lucé,” that chronicles the restoration of his landmark chateau in France, and his second book, “The New Elegance: Stylish, Comfortable Rooms for Today,” that features 11 of Timothy’s projects around the world and highlights the building blocks for successful decoration. A third book is currently in the works.
Timothy serves on the national board of trustees of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and the French Heritage Society. Prior to forming his design firm in 1998, Timothy had a successful career in advertising where he headed up Saatchi & Saatchi’s Bates Worldwide’s international operations.
Yelena Gerts, President and Principal Designer of Home of Style & Design
Yelena Gerts is an award-winning luxury interior designer and CEO of House of Style & Design. She brings 15 years of recognized expertise as the “go-to” luxury designer for high-profile families and bachelors who are the country’s top executives, entrepreneurs and attorneys.
Yelena truly understands her client’s busy lifestyles, designing turn-key homes from A-Z: from new-build blueprints to monogrammed linens in the closets. Her clients appreciate her concierge level of service, discretion and innate ability to serve as a powerful liaison with trade partners managing a strict timeline. Her unique specialization has captured the attention of many national magazines, including Architectural Digest, Window Fashion VISION, House Beautiful and Bedrooms & Baths, as well as local publications like Design NJ, Bella and Industry & Aspire. Popular blogs such as HGTV, Project Nursery and Amara have featured Yelena’s work as well, showcasing her excellence and achievements in design. As an added accomplishment, VISION named her Designer of the Year.
She leads a team of other designers and experienced tradespeople who stand behind the quality and craftsmanship of the products and services they provide. Yelena is an allied member of the American Association of Interior Designers.
David Santiago, Owner and Designer of Casa Santi Interior Design
David Santiago is an award-winning designer and owner of Casa Santi Interior Design. His signature trademark, the “Strictly Santi” brand, was created to be as diverse as his repertoire of talents.
David has lighting and wallcovering collections catering to hospitality and residential markets and is also a home furnishings industry ambassador. He is a guest designer on the NBC Emmy-winning series “George to the Rescue” and a design and lifestyle correspondent for “The Donna Drake Show” on CBS NY. Most recently, he joined the TiedIn Media creative team after designing their studios. His roles are public relations, directing and producing. He is the artistic director for MyFace Celebrates at MyFace.Org, dedicated to transforming the lives of children and adults with facial differences, as well as a board trustee. David is also the performing arts contributing editor for Metropolitan Magazine.
The 2024 artisan judges include:
Jill Ballew, Principal Designer & CEO of High Country Drapery Designer
Jill Ballew is an award-winning designer with more than 25 years of experience in the interior design industry. In 2015, she decided to open her own company. Since then, Jill has created a unique customer experience and has cultivated a sincere passion for her work. She doesn’t view the space as individual design elements, she views each space as a whole concept. Jill understands current trends and brings a fresh, Southern feel to her designs.
Karen Gilman, Founder and Owner, Finelines Custom Drapery
Karen Gilman is the founder and owner of Finelines Custom Drapery Workroom to the Trade. For more than 30 years, Finelines has produced window treatments, pillows and bedding of the highest caliber for interior designers and architects. Finelines product has been featured in Architectural Digest, as well as countless other magazines.
While based in Boston, Finelines’ residential projects span the United States and beyond. Commercial projects have included the American Embassy in Paris, the Augusta National Golf Club and Boston’s Hotel XV Beacon.
Olga Polyanskaya, Owner and Founder of Drapery Expressions & Blinds
Born in Moscow, Russia, Olga Polyanskaya moved to the United States and used her sewing and design skills as a way to help her improve her limited English. She later became involved with local decorators, helping them with staging and window treatment design and fabrication. In 2001, Olga graduated from a local design and drapery fabrication school and started her professional custom drapery workroom and designer firm specializing in quality custom fabrication for all types of windows and bedding treatments.
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Applications will continue to be accepted from through October 7, 2023!
For more information or to submit your window treatment projects, please visit grace-awards.com. The winners of each category will be announced at the 2024 International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE) during an awards gala on April 11 in Grapevine, TX, and their work will be featured in Window Fashion VISION magazine. The awards ceremony will honor excellence in both the Design and Artisan (workroom) categories.
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The International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE) is the only conference and trade show of its kind in North America, the world’s largest market for window coverings. The conference offers a unique experience/opportunity for like-minded business professionals to see the latest product innovations and experience world-class educational sessions and unprecedented networking opportunities. Learn more at iwce-vision.com.
