During its annual Winter Market, the Decorative Center of the Americas (DCOTA) in South Florida honored the latest group of Stars of Design and Stars on the Rise, recognizing some of Florida’s leading professionals and rising talent in interior design, architecture, photography, art and landscape design.
Paige Rense
The highlight of this year’s awards was the Lifetime Achievement honor given to founder and former Editor in Chief of Architectural Digest Paige Rense. Rense served as editor in chief from 1975 until 2010, when Margaret Russell took the reigns. She is also the founder of the Arthur Rense Prize poetry award.
In addition, Rense founded national food magazine Bon Appétit, was editor in chief of GEO, and is the author of a mystery novel, Manor House. She is currently working on a book about the career of her late husband Kenneth Noland, who was known as one of the best "American Color Field" abstract expressionist artists.
Additional Stars of Design winners:
Interior Design: Deborah Wecselman of DWD :: Home
Architecture: Bruce Brosch of Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, Inc.
Art: Adler Guerrier
Photography: Ken Pao
Graphic Design: Carlos Suarez
Landscape Architecture: W. Christian Busk of W. Christian Busk ASLA
Product Design: Courtney Crown of Courtney Lee Collection
In addition, a handful of young, Florida-based firm-owners were named “Stars on the Rise.” Included:
Jay Britto of Britto Charette
Sandra Diaz-Velasco of Eolo Designs
Cristina Villalon of Alvarez-Diaz Villalon
A panel of past winners selected the award’s recipients. Charles S. Cohen, president and CEO of DCOTA, presented the awards on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
