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I’ve been asked many times, “What inspires you?” It’s a great question, but I really can’t pinpoint one thing in particular—EVERYTHING from people to places to objects inspires me. The design process is just that… a process. Let me try to break it down, and hopefully it can be helpful for those of you who want to try a little redecorating!

{Busy elves, planning and working!} 

When I first meet a client who wants to redecorate, it’s super important to me to fully understand what the problem is. For example, why do you want to renovate? Is it the look or the function? Perhaps both? Maybe it is the flooring and the layout or maybe just the color scheme. Whatever it is, it’s very important to identify the reasons for wanting a change and then we can come up with a solution. Once we get through that, the inspiration part (i.e. the fun part!) kicks in!

I find inspiration in just about everything from old run down buildings, to the view of a sunset on an airplane, to a person’s wardrobe, a favorite vacation and more! My eye is always looking at things and analyzing the color, texture, composition which I then keep in mind and figure out how I can make that translate into a space.

{Inspired by the Kilim rugs while traveling}

{A local flea market is a great place for inspiration. You never know what you might be able to turn into something else}

{I travel so much for work, that I'm often inspired by the views from above}

{A vacation sunset never ceases to inspire}

I am completely motivated by who I am designing for. I want to make it my personal mission to make sure they LOVE their space! I am a big believer in living your happiest life and much of that comes with your surroundings. My personal style has always been “Livable Luxury.” Here are a few pictures of my own happy home (by the way, the antlers are fake—made from resin!)

{My home office area. I love adding pops of metallic to a space}

{The "after" picture of my kitchen! My favorite parts are the backsplash and the bar stools}

{My living room. I often cut and bind pieces of rug to fit perfectly under my furniture-- it can be hard to always find the perfect size rug}

{Love a good reading nook}

I love a space that looks high-end without the “luxury” price tag. I am a big DIY-er because I believe that great style doesn’t have to cost a fortune. I have built a name in this industry with my TV shows and on-air appearances doing just that.

{Some nails and a little colored yarn, and you've got DIY design!}

{One of my fave Restaurant Impossible DIY projects: I found old picnic tables, painted them, upholstered the benches, and put floorlamps in the umbrella holes} 

Making your home beautiful without breaking the bank is a big reason why I am such a believer in Ellen’s ED on Air line. All of the items are beautifully crafted and work well together. I am a true fan of the line! Having designed for TV shows such as Designed to Sell and Destination Design, I always needed to design for both the homeowners as well as the audience. I want to make sure that there are “take away tips” for everyone. When I am working on restaurant designs (both on Restaurant: Impossible and with my business, Taniya Nayak Design LLC), my goal is to make every patron and viewer happy while making sure that the owners are proud to call it their own!

{Faux wood panels + faux deer bust made out of a stripped bike seat & bike handle for Shade Tree Cafe}

{Putting the finishing touches on one my design projects in South Carolina}

{One of the restaurants my husband and I are owners of, Abby Lane}

With the inspiration that you’ve “collected,” it’s time to get the ball rolling! It’s simple—grab a sharpie, some design magazines, and keep images of your inspirations close by and open up your laptop. Start typing in design keywords into Google or Pinterest that describe your style. Some ideas are Farmhouse Glam, Mid Century Modern, Eclectic Elegance, Natural Neutrals—you can type just about anything and then click on the images that pop up. If you’re flipping through a magazine, start tearing out pages or circling with your marker and making notes. This process will help you identify what style and look you are drawn to.

Happy Decorating! 

XO-

Taniya N.