About the Hosts

Globe trotting aesthete, devoted yogi and Bryan Adams super-fan? When it comes to designer Mia Parres there is more than meets the eye. This blonde may be beautiful, but she certainly has the brains to back it up. Her education includes studies in Interior Design at Parsons: The New School for Design, an Honors Bachelor Degree in Architecture from the University of Toronto, and an Architecture Certificate from the Architecture Association of London, England.
 
While she grew up in Toronto, her family roots are deeply set in Scandinavian and Danish culture, which has influenced Mia’s design aesthetic which is characterized by simple sophistication and smart functionality. Her taste was further informed by her thorough travels throughout Europe. In time spent outside of work, Mia loves nothing more than to play with her yellow lab, Bogey, keep fit with outdoor activities, and, of course, crank up the tunes. Beyond her lifelong obsession with Bryan Adams, she loves all things country: George Straight, Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert are all top picks. 
 
With her thorough education, love of the outdoors and well-honed taste, it’s no wonder that some of her favourite projects have been luxurious cottages in Canada’s posh lakeside Muskoka region. Mia currently works as a high-end residential designer.

Motorcycle aficionado, donut fanatic, and single dad, design-trained contractor Rob Evans is a man’s man living in a new world. A specialist in renovating residential properties, Rob’s career in contracting followed his first stage as the owner and operator of a successful design firm. Now his projects range from complete home rebuilds to furniture design and construction. Rob likes to get involved in every step of the construction process. One day you’ll find him meeting with architects and structural engineers, the next securing building permits and digging out basements.

Born in England, Rob’s family moved to Canada when he was still small and eventually settled in Oakville, Ontario. One of five children, Rob learned all about fixing and building things from a young age, through helping his father with anything there was to be done around the house. Rob’s interest in aesthetics lead to the study of design in university and the launch of his own design firm after completing his degree. As the firm grew, Rob became restless, and when a photographer friend invited him to come to Iceland to build him a digital studio, Rob was on the next flight. That job was the first step in the transition into his new career. 

Outside of his work, Rob’s passions are working on and riding motorcycles, collecting vintage tin toys, seeking out the city’s best bacon and eggs and spending time with his daughter. Oh, and the donut obsession? Don’t get him started unless you’d like to hear the entire history of the now-defunct Tim Horton’s Sugar Twist. Like everything else he is passionate about, Rob has big opinions on the subject and he’s not afraid to share them.

Rob‘s success in the renovation industry comes from his eye for good design and head for the business side of construction. As a former designer and expert builder he is able to look beyond the current state of a home and make space where space seems impossible.