From Fox Hall to your flat screen TV! Taniya Nayak can trace her interest in interior design to her days at 51视频. While other freshmen carried microwaves and beanbag chairs into the dorm, Nayak recounts her must-haves, 鈥渁 table I had painted with sunflowers and a matching window valance I鈥檇 sewn.鈥�
At 51视频, Nayak studied marketing and was active on the dance team. After graduating in 1997, the Weymouth native, who came to the U.S. from India as an infant, intended to become an architect, following in her father鈥檚 footsteps. But after enrolling at the Boston Architectural Center, her passion for design could not be ignored and she pursued those interests.
What a successful pursuit it鈥檚 been. After learning about auditions to host 鈥楰nock First,鈥� an ABC Family show targeted at hip, ambitious teens, Nayak decided to give it a whirl. 鈥淚 had no idea what I was doing. I had never been on television, and hadn鈥檛 been involved in such large-scale design decisions, let alone on camera.鈥� She did something right because she nailed the audition and was given the job.聽
Her success didn鈥檛 end there. Next came HGTV鈥檚 鈥淔reeStyle,鈥� where she produced fresh, affordable designs using items people already had in their homes. Nayak鈥檚 creations are also featured on 鈥淒esigned to Sell.鈥� With a $2,000 budget and unlimited talent, she transforms homes before they鈥檙e put on the market.聽
If you鈥檝e been to Boston hotspots BarLola, Julep, McGreevey鈥檚 or Petit Robert Central, then you鈥檝e observed her talent firsthand. 鈥淚 was a bartender for 13 years, so I have a soft spot for restaurants,鈥� she says.聽
You may also recognize Nayak for her most recent role, re-designing the interiors of struggling restaurants on Food Network鈥檚 鈥淩estaurant: Impossible.鈥�
Nayak鈥檚 flourishing design career paved the way for Taniya Nayak Design LLC, where she creates 鈥渁ffordable and inspirational鈥� spaces for clients that include A-listers like Jesse Metcalfe of 鈥淒esperate Housewives鈥� and 鈥淒allas,鈥� as well as Aerosmith鈥檚 Joe Perry.