HGTV’s Taniya Nayak talks designing a Bruin’s home and new Boston restaurants

It’s been a whirlwind year so far for Taniya Nayak.

She got an honorary doctorate from Boston Architectural College, is renovating a home with 98 Degrees alum Drew Lachey, and designing yet another Massachusetts restaurant. And Nayak — make that Dr. Nayak— is not slowing down.

“I’m working on my bathrooms now. But as I’m talking to you, I’m looking around thinking: I need new drapes,” Nayak said from her Milton home.

HGTV fans, know Nayak from shows including “Designed to Sell,” “Build It Forward,” “House Hunters on Vacation,” “Urban Oasis,” “HGTV Showdown,” and “Battle on the Beach.”

The Weymouth High School alum just wrapped Season 7 of HGTV’s “Rock the Block,” which saw her team up with Lachey to renovate a Las Vegas home.

With her husband Brian O’Donnell, Nayak co-owns and has designed several Massachusetts and Rhody restaurants, including Lower Mills Tavern, Yellow Door Taqueria, Madre Osteria, Moonshine Alley, and Esther’s High Dive. She also starred on Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible” for 23 seasons.

Nayak also designs luxury residential homes with her Boston-based company Taniya Nayak Design — including one for Hockey Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins.

She chatted about her career, design tips, and the honorary doctorate that “took the cake.”

This doctorate is so full-circle. You told me BAC got you your first TV job, when the dean sent out a mass e-mail about casting for ABC Family’s “Knock First.”

Yes! Right out of the gates. I said to them at the ceremony: “You guys really changed my life.”

I always wanted to be a designer. My dad was an architect and small business owner [Braintree-based architecture firm, B.D. Nayak Architects & Planners]. He said, ‘I’d like to see you go into business.’ So I did my undergrad in business marketing at UMass-Lowell, then worked for several years at jobs I wasn’t great at because my heart wasn’t in it. I went back to school at BAC for my Masters and I’m so glad I did.

On HGTV’s “Rock the Block,” you were paired with Drew Lachey.

Nayak: From 98 Degrees! He was the sweetest guy, such a hard worker.

Even though you’re a New Kids on the Block girl?

Nayak: He would give me so much [explative] about it, because people told me, ‘Oh, you’re a boy band person. You must be excited about working with Drew.’ He’d say: ‘Just tell them the truth. You’re a New Kids person.’

Speaking of New Kids, I interviewed Jordan and Jon when they competed on “Rock the Block.” Jordan told me he sees you at the Milton Starbucks all the time.

Nayak: Yes! We’re Milton people, so we always run into each other. It’s surreal because I was such a New Kids fan growing up. In Vegas, our whole HGTV group went to the New Kids concert and had the best time.

I want to ask for some design tips. I’ll start with the room you won on “Rock the Block ” — a multi-generational suite. How did you approach that?

Nayak: We addressed it like a hotel suite. I design restaurants, and my whole M.O. on the show was to bring a hospitality flare. Your favorite hotel room, your favorite restaurant — bring that into your home so you feel that energy. When you’re looking at a hotel or restaurant online, nine times out of 10, you’re judging it solely on design. You’re dissecting those photos and seeing what you gravitate towards.

We went out on a limb and color-drenched [the suite]. Drew and I are the most neutral-color-palette-people you’ll ever meet. But I thought, ‘I’d love this color in a hotel room.’ We did a playful headboard. We wanted that boutique, bougie hotel vibe.

You designed the wall-covering?

Nayak: Yes! So I have a wall covering line [for Len-Tex and MDC Interior Solutions] and “Rock the Block” was its big TV debut.

Your wall-coverings are also in some Marriott and Hilton hotels.

Nayak: That was my dream. I thought, if I have a wall-covering, I want it to be something a hotel might want for hallways or bedrooms. I also have a tile line with Genrose Stone + Tile based in Connecticut. So the multi-generational suite had my tile in the kitchen and one of my wall coverings in the suite itself. That was exciting.

I saw you went antiquing at Brimfield Fair.

Nayak: It’s incredibly overwhelming, but each year, I learn a little more. I suggest spending a night. The first day, walk around and note what you like. On day two, make your purchases. Bring a wagon, bring cash, wear comfortable shoes, bring blankets to wrap items in your car.

What are some other locations you use locally?

Nayak: Manzel [in Peabody] is awesome. They have pieces from Morocco, India, Mexico. Really cool pieces that look aged and beautiful: gorgeous hand-carved pieces, chairs, textiles.

I was looking at your residential portfolio — you’ve got gorgeous houses. Two are in New England.

Nayak: Newton was actually Boston Bruin Patrice Bergeron’s house, but they’ve since moved. At the time, they were just starting their family, so they grew their family in that home. They’re the sweetest people. The intent was to be a bit modern with a timeless appeal.

For Seabrook, New Hampshire —as we’re talking about bringing hospitality into the home — the owners own a restaurant; they’re big on entertaining, and they wanted a house with enough space. They wanted it to speak to this area, with a charm that wasn’t completely modern — so the windows have details, for example. They were willing to take risks and go outside the box a bit.

Any tips for refreshing a room on a budget?

Nayak: Change out lighting. New rugs or paint can change a room.

You’ll be surprised how many different ways there are to refinish a cabinet — changing out the hardware can give it an entirely new look. Make sure you find hardware that matches the holes already there. You’ll save the headache of patching holes.

Most importantly: Don’t rush into it. Everybody wants to do it tomorrow. It takes a long time to gather ideas, source items, find the right person to install it, etc. Be patient. It’ll be worth it in the end. I do these things on TV overnight. But in real life, it’s been over a year that I’ve been trying to get my bathrooms done.

Pivoting to your restaurants, you just finished Sorella Cucina Toscana, for a client, in Burlington, Mass.

Nayak: We’re doing another project with [Tuscan Brands] in Kenmore Square [Buitoni Spaghetti Bar slated to open spring 2027]. We’re also doing a smaller project, for Mumbai Spice in Boston.

What are your next goals?

Nayak: I’d like to keep expanding on licensing and branding. I’m really enjoying that process. I’m working on a lighting line right now with Studio M. I’m doing sketches. I love it.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.

Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1.