Highlights From This Year’s Best in Design Awards
Get a closer look at how Designlines celebrated the winners of its new and improved design competition
For those familiar with Designlines’ Sterling Road office, the magazine’s Best in Design Awards party felt perfectly placed. On January 23, the city’s design community gathered at T3 Junction—just across the street—for a highly anticipated celebration of innovation and design excellence. As an unofficial kick-off to the Toronto Design Week festivities ahead, the event set the tone for a week of vibrant gatherings and connections.
Sponsored by Blinds To Go, the inaugural event brought together competition finalists, winners, and their supporters to celebrate the city’s brightest talents across five interior design categories: Signature Space, Home Renovation, Restaurant/Bar/Hotel, Shop/Showroom, and Emerging Talent.
After a welcome from Designlines editor-in-chief Joseph Cicerone, jury members Eric Mutrie, senior editor, and Elizabeth Pagliacolo, editor-in-chief of Azure, took the stage to announce the winners. Applause and conversation filled the room as attendees toasted the honorees, reflecting on the innovation and craftsmanship behind each project. The event wasn’t just about the winners—it was a celebration of the entire design community and the ideas pushing it forward.
Best in Design Award, Signature Space winner Drew Mandel Architects.
Best in Design Award, Home Renovation winner Superkül and Pencil Design.
Best in Design Award, Restaurant/Bar/Hotel winner Studio Paolo Ferrari.
Best in Design Award, Shop/Showroom winner Ste Marie Studio.
Best in Design Award, Emerging Talent winner Sam Tibshirani of Sam Tibs Studio.
The evening was elevated to new heights with exceptional catering by Forno Cultura, whose artful spread delighted guests with an array of beautifully prepared bites. Stealing the spotlight—and sparking endless conversation—was an unexpectedly delightful centrepiece: a giant, glorious block of butter. This, in combination with a perfectly paired aperitif, made for and evening of shared indulgence.
The 2025 BDAs not only celebrated the winners but also set the stage for an exciting year ahead for Designlines. With more events and initiatives in the works, the evening left attendees with a taste of what’s to come.
With the Interior Design Show to follow, and DesignTO Festival still well underway, the awards felt like the perfect launchpad for a city brimming with talent. If the 2025 BDAs is any indication, 2025 promises to be a banner year for design in Toronto.