Montano, Mark

(1973- )

   Born in La Junta, Colorado, Montano graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor's degree in business. He continued his education at the Fashion Institute of Technology, earning a master's degree in costume history. Mon-tano interned at Oscar de la Renta before opening his signature shop in New York's trendy East Village in the late 1990s. He is best known for his edgy, downtown couture look in vibrant colors and luxurious fabrics. In 1999, Montano joined Cosmo Girl! magazine as a contributing editor, after a few editors at the magazine discovered his boutique's quirky décor. He found instant success with his creative room makeovers column, "Cool Room." As a result of his column, he published a book in 2002, Super-Suite and followed it up with his second and third books in 2005, Dollar Store Décor and The Dummies Guide to Window Treatments and Slip Covers. In 2004, he became a feature columnist in the New York Post's Home Section where his column "Mark Your Territory" tackled city living problems. He currently writes a weekly syndicated column in more than seventy newspapers across the country titled "Make Your Mark" and answers readers' questions with do-it-yourself advice, as well as supplying them with gift certificates from major retailers to complete their projects. In 2003, the Learning Channel recruited him to collaborate in the hit decorating show While You Were Out. He was also signed to host another show entitled Ten Years Younger, a daily half-hour makeover show with an empowering message for the viewer. Starting in early 2006, he was tapped by the Style network to head up the design team for its new show My Celebrity Home. Montano was the youngest member ever to be inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2006, The World Gold Council sponsored his fashion show at Seventh on Sixth in New York.