It’s Innovation in Design Awards (IDA) season again and big changes are taking place. We are accepting all of our entries in digital format and have a new online entry system that will make it easier for everyone to enter and allow us to conserve our use of paper. Interior designers Anthony Baratta, Thomas Balsley, Matthew Patrick Smyth, architect Karen Stonely and landscape architect Scott Sanders will view and judge all entries on large screens.

Our extremely popular Product Design category will continue to be judged by the editors of CTC&G, and we will add a People’s Choice vote to this category. We are all waiting to see how the editors’ picks compare with yours, dear readers. Stay tuned for the finalists in this category to be announced so that you can cast your vote on cottagesgardens. com/2015ctcgidas. And this year, for the first time, all of the finalists will be announced at a special cocktail party on April 16 at the Ethan Allen Showroom in Stamford. I look forward to seeing all the entrants there and celebrating with everyone.

This year’s awards will take place again at the Greenwich Country Club on Tuesday, May 19, and the legendary Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks, will be the recipient of the Innovator Award. Credited with reinventing bathroom design 37 years ago, Barbara has authored two books: The Definitive Guide to Designing the Perfect Bath (2006) and Waterworks: Inventing Bath Style (2001), writes a weekly blog and presents design and product lectures across the United States.

It promises to be a great night. Last year was a sell-out,so please get your tickets early at cottagesgardens.com/2015ctcgidas. I look forward to seeing you there.