Monk honored as design grand prize winner

Behr named East Carolina University senior interior design major Elizabeth Monk as the 2025 BEHR Student Design Competition grand prize winner. This was the second straight year an ECU student placed in the national competition, with this time Monk securing the grand prize.

Behr created a congratulatory post on Instagram about Monk’s energetic and unique design, REVEL. She earned $5,000 for the award, plus $1,000 to go to the Department of Interior Design and Merchandising.

One of the REVEL assets, featuring modern lobby lighting with tiered green steps, large plants in built-in concrete planters and walls displaying colorful artwork. REVEL is written near the overlooking café balcony. (contributed photo)

The destination project, rooted in innovation with a wellness café and lounges, was described as creative, modern and “Instagrammable.”

Monk’s statement about the REVEL project detailed her vision and design decisions:

“REVEL is envisioned as a cultural hub where creativity, community and wellness intersect. Designed as a space for young innovators to gather, create and connect, the project balances energy and stillness through collaborative studios, exhibition zones, lounges and a wellness-focused café. The concept is anchored by Behr’s Hidden Gem N430-6, a transformative color that shifts from cool blue undertones in light to a contemplative green in shadow symbolizing discovery, growth and creative evolution. The project integrates biophilic elements, fluid pathways, reused materials and a fully ADA-compliant layout, transforming an industrial shell into a warm, inclusive and restorative destination.”