Mario Buatta will receive the 2014 Innovator award at NYC&G’s (New York Cottages & Gardens) second annual Innovation in Design Awards on September 17 at the Harvard Club in New York City.

“Mario Buatta is not only the Prince of Chintz, he is an icon of American design,” said Editor in Chief Kendell Cronstrom. “He was one of the first designers to establish decorating as a viable, respectable profession, which opened the field to so many great talents that have followed in his formidable footsteps. We are thrilled to be honoring him with our Innovator Award."

As a graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Buatta began his career dressing windows at Bonwit-Teller. He worked for a couple of established New York decorators and then, in 1963, at 28-years-old, he launched his own firm.

Today, Buatta is an internationally acclaimed interior designer known for his English Country House style. He has brought the refinement, comfort and beauty of his designs to a long list of clients from the worlds of entertainment, business, fashion and high society.

The Innovation in Design Awards will also celebrate and honor top design across the categories of architecture, interior design, kitchen design, bath design, garden design and innovative product design in the Manhattan area.

This year’s judges included Elaine Griffin of Elaine Griffin Interior Design; Alexa Hampton of Mark Hampton, LLC; Amy Lau of Amy Lau Design; Bunny Williams of Bunny Williams, Inc.; Kerry Delrose of Delrose Design Group; Ralph Pucci of Pucci International; and Liz O’Brien of Liz O’Brien Editions.

Winning projects will be featured in the October issue of NYC&G. The awards benefit The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, a charity organization embraced by the design community that provides 6 to 18-year-old boys and girls with the programs and activities that instill a sense of competence, belonging, and a sense of power and influence.

Designers may submit projects online through June 25.