Features

Photo Credit: Jason Kan

By Jonathan Soroff

Born in India and raised in Weymouth, home-decor star Taniya Nayak is the daughter of a prominent architect. Nayak, 37, earned a master’s degree in interior design from Boston Architectural College before landing her first TV gig on ABC Family’s Knock First. She moved to HGTV’s FreeStyle and Designed to Sell before debuting her own show, Destination Design. She’s also a regular on HGTV programs like Showdown and Bang for Your Buck. Her eponymous firm has created commercial spaces such as Felt, BarLola and the new Petit Robert Central, while residential clients include celebrities like Desperate Housewives’ Jesse Metcalfe and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. (Nayak was also one of The Improper’s “Beloved Bartenders” in 2001.) She and her husband, Brian O’Donnell, live in the Boston area. 

Jonathan Soroff: Were you one of those kids who was always drawing houses?

Taniya Nayak: I was always drawing people. I thought I was going to be a fashion designer.

Still have any ambitions along those lines?

No, I got over that. But I do have this weird desire to be a hairstylist. I have this delusion that I’m good with scissors, and I’ve cut a few people’s hair. It’s been a complete disaster. Before I appeared on Oprah last year, I felt the need to give myself a quick snip snip, but I ended up giving myself a total mullet just before going on the biggest show of all time.

What’s the one thing people waste the most money on in decorating?

I think people don’t spend their money wisely, like going for really high-end finishes, when no one even notices the difference. Countertops with fancy, beveled edges?

Decorator you idolize?

I love Ian Schrager. I think my personal style is really masculine. Very simple, very clean lines, modern. I tend to go for a lot of grays with a pop of color. My personal style is very different than what you see on the shows.

What’s the single, biggest fix for a tired room?

Clean it! Seriously, clutter. Get rid of that. And besides that, paint it.

Is it hard to make an interior look good on TV?

I can make anything look good. [Laughs.] But on television, you have to consider the direction they’re shooting from and using colors that look [good] on camera.

Would Ty Pennington sleep with me?

He’d be a fool not to. But he’s straight. And he’s too skinny for me. You also seem way calm, and he’s so over the top. Do you really want to wake up in the morning with that megaphone in your ear?

Is there a cheap way to reupholster furniture?

Do it yourself for something simple like a headboard, but otherwise, hire someone. Know when to say when and bite the bullet.

Crate and Barrel or Restoration Hardware?

I love Crate and Barrel. It’s fun; the colors are very exuberant. Restoration Hardware is very restrained and sophisticated, and I like a little whimsy in a space.

Most important piece of furniture in a house?

The bed. You spend so much time there, and there’s so much you can do with it.

Hardest room to decorate?

Kitchen and bathrooms are tough because [of] stone and tile and appliances, so it gets costly. It takes a lot of labor.

How do you feel about being called a designer versus a decorator?

As a designer, you’re dealing a little bit more with codes, structural things and numbers. With decorating, it’s also a science of color and texture and fabrics and layout.

Biggest decorating mistake people make?

You know what I see in Boston, especially, a lot? People block their fireplaces with a sofa or a chair. I find that really strange, even if it’s not working. Put candles or a plant in it for cryin’ out loud. Other than that, people don’t measure first and things end up not fitting.

Biggest decorating nightmare you ever had?

I had one person on Designed to Sell who was so disingenuous, and I could tell they had no real intention of selling their house. They were so particular, standing over my shoulder the whole time, and it was a complete scam.

Do the shows get scammed often?

Our producers and the casting people screen them very thoroughly, so in order to get that past them, they have to be real con artists, and that’s the whole bummer part of it.

Who would win a Jell-O wrestling match: Oprah or Nate Berkus?

Oprah! [Laughs.] I adore Nate Berkus, but Oprah is a powerhouse.

Is Martha Stewart a taste Nazi?

[Laughs.] I don’t really know, because I’m not so much of a knick-knack, homemaker type.

Are you a good cook?

I think I am, but no one else seems to.

Do you go around the house fluffing pillows?

I’m not that fussy. Crooked artwork on the wall, I’ll straighten out, but when I go into a room, I look for what’s good in it, not what needs improvement.

Are you highly caffeinated?

One of my contractors once said that he thought I was a white girl who turned brown from drinking so much coffee. [Laughs.]

How much inspiration do you take from your Indian heritage?

I have an appreciation for some of the bolder, jewel-tone colors, but a lot of what I got from my dad is very spare, contemporary and modern. I grew up in a stark, white house.

Do you think people are too afraid of color?

No. I think, if anything, they’re too bold and get into trouble. There’s a trick to using color, but I err on the side of caution and tell people to use more subtle, neutral colors and save louder colors as accents.

Your dream design project?

A dream job for me would be a Las Vegas nightclub. Or a strip club. [Laughs.] You’d have the freedom to be tacky.

Why do people end up in kitchens at parties?

That’s where the food is. It’s the heart of the home. It’s warm. It’s cozy. That’s why I say knock down the walls and make an open kitchen.

Do you always cry at Extreme Makeover?

I’m not a cryer. I didn’t even cry at my own wedding. But I would say it’s made me cry a couple of times.

Do you prefer designing commercial or residential spaces?

I love designing commercial spaces. I find sometimes that designing residential is very one-on-one with the client, whereas commercial there are more people involved. I also think you get to be a little more whimsical and over the top.

Fill in the blank: Designers do it ___

Designers do it fierce.

Last question: Will you fix up my deck?

If you mix up some good cocktails, of course! Oh, and we need a hunky carpenter.

Hair: Mariolga/Team Artist Rep; makeup: Alana Ricca/Katana Spa of Winchester; styling: Lauren D’Avolio; top: Alisha Levine at Gretta Luxe