Taniya Nayaka

Taniya Nayak is co-host for season 11 of ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” airing November 2023. Nayak has been regularly featured as both a host and interior designer on HGTV shows including “Battle on the Beach” and “Build It Forward.” She is a featured designer on Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible” for the last 23 seasons, and she is a judge on ABC’s primetime hit show “The Great Halloween Fright Fight.”

A native of India, this Boston-based interior architect is known for creating memorable designs for trendy new restaurants, condo developments and high-end residential projects all over the U.S. Her latest design projects include Tuscan Market, Artisan Marriot Hotel, Yellow Door Taqueria (multiple locations), and numerous new Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants across the country. She has designed for celebrities Ayesha Curry, Robert Irvine, Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins, and more. In November 2021, Len-Tex and MDC Interior Solutions launched Nayak’s new collection of high-performance wallcoverings.

Nayak is recognized for her appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Good Morning America,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” “The Talk,” “Today” and “The View,” as well as featured in Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest India, Better Homes & Gardens, Cosmopolitan, Design New England, Entertainment Weekly, Modern Luxury, People magazine and Real Simple.

Nayak was selected personally by Ellen DeGeneres as her brand spokesperson for her home product line, “E.D. On Air,” featured on QVC. Nayak supports the Room to Dream Foundation, Smile Train, No Kid Hungry, Aksaya Patra Organization, and Tommy’s Place.

Nayak successfully owns her design firm Taniya Nayak Design, Inc. based in Boston and is co-owner to several restaurants in the Boston area with her husband, Brian O’Donnell, including Lower Mills Tavern, Yellow Door Taqueria, Madre Osteria, Moonshine Alley, and Citrus and Salt.