Dvira Ovadia
Encyclopedia
Dvira Ovadia is a television personality and interior designer. She is best known as winning the 2007 show called From The Ground Up with Debbie Travis
season two. The show aired on Global TV May 31, 2007. The show was re-aired on HGTV Canada
in the spring of 2008. In spring of 2008 the show was also airing in the United States on the Fine Living Network, Sunday nights at 10EST Dvira Ovadia is also known for her weekly syndicated column which appears in many blogs which readers often write in to have their decorating questions answered.
in 1979 to a Russian-born mother and a father of Egyptian descent. Prior to moving to Toronto
, Canada
, where she currently resides, she lived in Brussels
, Belgium
for the most part of her youth. Having been exposed to various cultures has led her to appreciate and understand many different aspects of design. She grew up loving puzzles and putting things together, she was quoted saying "As a child, I always loved design, whether it was fashion design or interior design or architecture.”
Ovadia began her design education with a B.Arch at the University of Toronto
in 1998-2001 where she undertook a major in architecture and a minor in fine art history. She graduated with honors and obtained several diplomas in the technical design sector from Sheridan College
in Toronto
.
In 2002 Ovadia moved to New York to pursue a master's degree in interior design at the Pratt Institute
, New York
. She lived in New York for two years where she studied and worked at INARCH, an interior design firm. After two years of living in New York City she returned to Toronto.
to design and develop a series of Debbie Travis condos and homes. Ovadia worked with Debbie Travis to develop 10 model homes for Tribute Communities, encompassing everything from interior design to furnishing and sourcing products from all over the world.
Ovadia often shares her design tips and trends in blogs and articles. She writes a seasonal trends guide for Jewish Magazine, a Canadian publication. In December 2007 she wrote an article for Yahoo!
where she discussed the year's holiday trends for the season.
She also shared similar trends for the holiday season with Ontario Craft Brewers and with Condo Guide magazine.
Dvira Ovadia has been writing a weekly blog for Yahoo! Canada since 2008.
Dvira Ovadia is the Designer and Art director for seasons One through Four on HGTV's Income property with host Scott Mcgillivray, whom was also involved in From The Ground Up.
From The Ground Up with Debbie Travis
From the Ground Up with Debbie Travis is a Canadian reality television series, which airs on Global, HGTV and TVtropolis. The series is a design competition hosted by interior designer Debbie Travis.-Season 1:...
season two. The show aired on Global TV May 31, 2007. The show was re-aired on HGTV Canada
HGTV Canada
HGTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned and operated by Shaw Media and Scripps Networks Interactive. It consists of programs regarding home and garden...
in the spring of 2008. In spring of 2008 the show was also airing in the United States on the Fine Living Network, Sunday nights at 10EST Dvira Ovadia is also known for her weekly syndicated column which appears in many blogs which readers often write in to have their decorating questions answered.
Early life and education
Dvira Ovadia was born in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1979 to a Russian-born mother and a father of Egyptian descent. Prior to moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where she currently resides, she lived in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for the most part of her youth. Having been exposed to various cultures has led her to appreciate and understand many different aspects of design. She grew up loving puzzles and putting things together, she was quoted saying "As a child, I always loved design, whether it was fashion design or interior design or architecture.”
Ovadia began her design education with a B.Arch at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1998-2001 where she undertook a major in architecture and a minor in fine art history. She graduated with honors and obtained several diplomas in the technical design sector from Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
In 2002 Ovadia moved to New York to pursue a master's degree in interior design at the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She lived in New York for two years where she studied and worked at INARCH, an interior design firm. After two years of living in New York City she returned to Toronto.
Career after From the Ground Up, Season II
As a result of winning the show From the Ground Up, season II, Ovadia was awarded the title of chief designer for Debbie TravisDebbie Travis
Debbie Travis is a British television personality, self-taught interior designer, and former fashion model. She is best known as the host of Debbie Travis' Facelift and Debbie Travis' Painted House...
to design and develop a series of Debbie Travis condos and homes. Ovadia worked with Debbie Travis to develop 10 model homes for Tribute Communities, encompassing everything from interior design to furnishing and sourcing products from all over the world.
Ovadia often shares her design tips and trends in blogs and articles. She writes a seasonal trends guide for Jewish Magazine, a Canadian publication. In December 2007 she wrote an article for Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
where she discussed the year's holiday trends for the season.
She also shared similar trends for the holiday season with Ontario Craft Brewers and with Condo Guide magazine.
Dvira Ovadia has been writing a weekly blog for Yahoo! Canada since 2008.
Dvira Ovadia is the Designer and Art director for seasons One through Four on HGTV's Income property with host Scott Mcgillivray, whom was also involved in From The Ground Up.