The Former Designer Guys
When Designer Guys first aired on HGTV, the hosts were Chris Hyndman and Steven Sabados. Their expertise and wittiness set the stage for three great seasons of cutting edge design which ended in 2003. Chris and Steven left the show and created another show Design Rivals for HGTV. They went on to create a women’s fashion show So Chic and now have a daily show on CBC television.
The New Designer Guys
The executives of Westwind Productions wanted to keep Designer Guys as one of their signature shows on HGTV and sought out replacements. In the spring of 2005, they selected Toronto-based design business partners Allen Chan, Anwar Mukhayesh and Matt Davis as the new Designer Guys. The fourth season aired in the fall of 2005.
Allen, Anwar and Matt are founders of Precipice Studios located in Toronto where they have award-winning designs such as the Liberty Market Building, Lobby Restaurant and Banzai Sushi to their credit.
The Designer Guys were given the privilege of redesigning Berton House in Dawson City Yukon where writers can for a retreat and inspiration at the boyhood home of the late Canadian Novelist Pierre Berton.
Other episodes have included the renovation of a stadium skybox for a corporate client, modernizing a historic mill, designing a green room for the Toronto Film Festival, transforming a cottage in the city, plus redesigning many indoor and outdoor living spaces.
In June 2007, the Designer Guys were appointed as the featured home design columnists for the Toronto Star’s newly-launched weekend Living section. Their columns cover everything from do-it-yourself projects, interior decorating, landscaping and the latest trends in interior design.
About the Designer Guys
Allen Chan
Allen graduated from the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto with a degree in landscape architecture. He is now a professor at his alma mater. He furthered his studies at Columbia University where he received his master’s degree in architecture. While in New York, Allen worked at several architectural firms. Allen Chan is also the creative director at Pixel Gallery in Toronto where he specializes in digital art and new media.
Matt Davis
Matt also attained a degree from the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto with a degree in landscape architecture and this is where he met Allen Chan. Matt is a studio profession at the University of Toronto. In his last year of studies, Matt studied overseas in Barcelona and Paris. He also lived in Costa Rica where he helped build schools.
Anwar Mukhayesh
Anwar obtained his degree in mechanical engineering design at the University of Western Ontario and has extensively traveled around the world. He was born in the Middle East and was raised in Toronto. Anwar owns and operates his parent’s restaurant business, the Kensington Kitchen.
On the show, the audience sees the planning stages of the renovation where the Designer Guys analyze the drawbacks of the old space and what they can do to fulfill their client’s need and wishes. The show proceeds with the selection of products and the unfolding of the renovation.
Then there’s the reveal where the client is awestruck by the cutting edge design of the Designer Guys!
Sources:
- HGTV U.S. and HGTV Canada
- Designer Guys III
- Wikipedia
Related Articles on HGTV Home Decorating Shows:
Canadian Designer Sarah Richardson
Divine Design With Candice Olson
My Parent's House on HGTV
 |
