Over the past 13 years, Rebecca Cole has developed an internationally renowned lifestyle and design business, known in New York City as Rebecca Cole Design and worldwide as Cole Creates. When she is not designing terraces or giving color-anemic living rooms her trademark infusion of orange, she might be writing a book or newspaper article, planning weddings and events, designing furniture or bedding or hosting a TV or radio show. Rebecca hosted all 200 shows for Discovery Channel's Surprise by Design and has appeared nearly as often on to the Today Show. Other favorite TV appearances include Oprah, The View, CNN, BBC World News and The Megan Mullally Show. Her most recent airwave adventures include joining the Carey Brothers as the new radio co-host of On The House (www.onthehouse.com) and hosting a travel show in Ireland soon to be seen in America.

Rebecca has authored three books: Potted Gardens, which won the Quill and Trowel Award, Paradise Found: Gardening in Unlikely Spaces and Flower Power, and has created numerous gift products including cards, calendars and notebooks. Her career, business and home have been profiled in over 300 national and international publications as diverse as Architectural Digest, Forbes, Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times, Us Magazine, Hanajikan Japan, Metropolitan Home, Woman's Day, Travel and Leisure, Air France, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, The New Yorker, Greek Maison and countless others.

Between national speaking appearances and writing a new book, Rebecca is designing furniture and home accessories. She is keeping her fingers crossed that when the International Space Station is ready for a "re-do" she'll be available.

REBECCA COLE ON THE COVER OF MAISON

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES FROM POTTED GARDENS

I attribute my passion for gardening to Harvey, my grandfather's hired hand. Harvey was a young man with a wry New Hampshire accent so thick I thought he was born in another country....



He and my grandfather worked side by side tending ten large raised beds and five separate gardens.

My family history tells the story of gardening in small spaces: each generation found a way to till the soil by adapting the environment to their needs. Though I gratefully do not need to grow my own vegetables to feed myself, I do grow my own garden to nourish my soul.