Ray Jimenez Wiki, Bio: HGTV Star, Age, Wife Eilyn, Net Worth & Career Highlights

Ray Jimenez is a Puerto Rican-born interior designer, entrepreneur, and television personality based in Miami, Florida. He is the founder and creative director of Raymond Nicolas Design House (RNDH*), a firm known for its modern industrial aesthetic and layered architectural style. In addition to leading high-end residential and commercial design projects, Jimenez gained national recognition through his appearances on Netflix’s Designing Miami and HGTV’s Divided by Design. His work reflects a strong influence of cultural identity, fashion, and structural innovation, positioning him as a distinctive voice in contemporary interior design.

Early Life & Education

Raymond Nicolas Jimenez was born on November 17, 1986, in Puerto Rico and proudly embraces his Dominican heritage. Raised in Hialeah, Florida, Ray lived on the same street and attended the same elementary school as his future wife, Eilyn, though they never met as children. From an early age, he was drawn to creative expression and cultural identity—two forces that would later shape his career. He found joy in fashion and design as a teen, customizing jeans for friends and painting floral patterns on school backpacks—early signs of his passion for aesthetics. After high school, he pursued his interest in design more formally, eventually earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Miami International University of Art & Design in 2010.

Career Beginnings

Ray’s professional journey began far from the spotlight. In 2004, he joined Guess as a Visual Merchandiser Assistant and Sales Associate, where he developed an early understanding of layout design, visual storytelling, and customer engagement.

From there, he moved into more formal design roles. By 2007, he became a Project Manager and Designer at Domus Design Studio, followed by a hands-on internship at TSAO Design Group, where he contributed to large-scale projects like hospitality renovations and commercial banking interiors. In 2009, Ray joined Avant Design Group and managed luxury residential designs throughout Sunny Isles and Brickell Key, Miami.

Business Leadership

At just 23 years old, Ray co-founded RS3 Designs in 2010. Within a year of graduating from Miami International University of Art & Design (MIU), he became co-owner of an interdisciplinary interior design and architecture studio. Over the next decade, he explored, mastered, and nurtured his passion for high-end private residential and commercial design in Miami’s fast-paced environment.

In 2021, Ray launched his own studio—Raymond Nicolas Design House (RNDH*)—where he combined his love for architecture, fashion, and interiors into one signature brand. His firm quickly became known for its bold, layered, and industrial-modern approach to design. Today, Ray also acts as a creative agent of change, using his platforms and notoriety to amplify the creative minority voice and beckon for racial equality.

Design Style & Philosophy

Ray’s style is a striking fusion of modern industrial design, architectural detail, and fashion sensibility. He’s known for using bold textures like Roman clay, rich natural stone, and dramatic contrasts to create spaces that feel expressive and soulful. Whether it’s a luxury home or a hospitality project, Ray’s work consistently reflects Miami’s dynamic culture.

Television Career

Designing Miami

In 2022, Ray made his television debut in the Netflix series Designing Miami, which premiered on September 21. He starred alongside his wife and fellow designer, Eilyn Jimenez, as the show followed their fast-paced lives in Miami’s luxury real estate and design scene. Over the course of eight episodes, Designing Miami showcased their personal and professional dynamic—balancing marriage, managing their respective design firms, and beginning renovations on their own home. The series highlighted Ray’s bold, industrial design approach in contrast to Eilyn’s refined, minimalist style, and gave viewers an inside look at the tensions and triumphs of building a brand and life together. The show earned praise for its authenticity, humor, and representation of Latino creatives.

Divided by Design

Following the success of the Netflix series, Ray and Eilyn transitioned to HGTV in 2024 with the launch of Divided by Design, which premiered on Aug 20. This series took their competitive dynamic a step further, with each episode featuring the couple pitching their contrasting design visions to the same client. Ray described the premise as: “We do the exact same thing but we don’t work together—we’re each other’s competitors.”

Beyond the client showdowns, Divided by Design also spotlighted a major personal project—the full renovation of their own home, Villa Jimenez. In the season finale, which aired on February 6, 2025, Ray and Eilyn gave viewers a first look at their finished home in an episode titled Villa Jimenez. The episode followed the couple as they scrambled to resolve last-minute challenges before hosting a housewarming celebration. It marked the conclusion of a three-year renovation journey and provided a full-circle moment in their shared design narrative. In a related social media post, Eilyn wrote, “We’re finally opening our doors and sharing a glimpse of the place we call home… from the curated color palette to the hand-selected stonework.” The series not only chronicled their home transformation but also marked a pivotal step in their design journey as a couple.

Rock the Block

In April 2025, Ray and Eilyn appeared as guest judges on Season 6, Episode 3 of Rock the Block, titled “That’s a Veteran Move.” The episode aired on April 28, 2025, and was filmed in Salt Lake City, Utah. In a playful teaser, Eilyn described their judging experience on Instagram, asking fans to guess which space “stole their hearts.” Their appearance on the long-running HGTV competition series reflected the couple’s rising stature in the design world and cemented their roles not only as designers but also as influential tastemakers within the television home renovation space.

Ray Jimenez and Eilyn Jimenez: Love Story, Wedding, and Married Life

Ray and Eilyn met in 2016 at Art Basel Miami, introduced by mutual friends. They later discovered they had grown up in the same neighborhood—attending the same elementary school and walking the same streets—yet had never officially met until that moment. On August 29, 2018, during a romantic trip to Santorini, Greece, Ray proposed to Eilyn on her 29th birthday. She later recalled the emotional moment on Instagram, writing:

“You truly made today the most magical of days and I will forever remember this place, this exact spot, this day and the way you asked me to marry you. I love you – I’M SO LUCKY TO CALL YOU MY FIANCÉ!”

They were married on October 16, 2019, in a stunning destination wedding in Barcelona, Spain. Eilyn wore a fitted lace gown with sheer illusion sleeves and delicate floral appliqué, accentuating her silhouette with timeless elegance, while Ray wore a white tuxedo jacket paired with black trousers and a classic black bow tie, creating a sharp and modern contrast to the traditional setting, and the couple was surrounded by family and friends in an elegant ceremony set against the historic charm of the Catalonian coast.

Though they currently do not have children, their relationship continues to be grounded in mutual admiration, emotional intimacy, and day-to-day joy. In one anniversary post, Eilyn captured their dynamic with humor and heart: “He’s cool, calm, and collected, while I’m a hurricane, disguised in calmness.” She went on to write, “We laugh together every single day of our lives… and we’d rather be with each other than anyone else.”

On another occasion, she expressed the depth of their bond: “If I were to live a million lives, I would have fallen in love with you a million times.”

Reflecting on the milestones they’ve shared since becoming a couple, Eilyn wrote during their third wedding anniversary,

“I’m still in awe of the life we have created for ourselves these past six years… for the dreams we continue to accomplish and how we still manage to do it while holding each other’s hand.”

In June 2025, the couple shared a curated glimpse into a weekend getaway in Palm Beach, Florida—offering followers a series of vignettes capturing their shared aesthetic and deep-rooted connection. Through a collection of images and reflections, Eilyn described the experience as “sunlit mornings by the ocean, afternoons spent curating vintage finds, and evenings wrapped in Palm Beach’s timeless charm… a weekend of beautiful textures and quiet inspiration—the kind of escape that always feels like home.” The post underscored not only their eye for detail and design harmony but also the emotional ease they continue to cultivate within their relationship, seamlessly blending their professional instincts with personal intimacy.

Lesser-Known Facts About Ray Jimenez

1. He Started Out Drawing Portraits of Family

Before becoming a designer, Ray was passionate about art and would spend his childhood drawing portraits—particularly of his mother and grandmother. This early interest in creativity deeply influenced his eventual pivot to interior design.

2. He Was Discouraged from Both Architecture and Fashion

Interestingly, Ray initially pursued both architecture and fashion design but was advised against both by professionals in those industries. Despite that, he found a perfect middle ground in interior design, which blends structural function and aesthetic appeal.

3. He Credits a High School Friend for Pushing Him Toward Interior Design

A lesser-known origin story: it was a high school friend who first introduced Ray to the idea of interior design, believing it would align with Ray’s dual interest in fashion and architecture. That conversation was a turning point in his career.

4. Fashion Inspiration Came from His Aunt

Ray’s sense of style was inherited from his aunt—whom he described as the best-dressed in the family. Though she wasn’t professionally in fashion, her influence shaped Ray’s “fashion tooth.”

5. He Continues to Evolve His Signature Design Style

In the January 2024, Ray described himself as a designer who is still evolving. Rather than locking into a fixed aesthetic, he gravitates toward “elevated masculine” styles but remains open to everything from minimalism to maximalism. His adaptability reflects a mindset of continuous growth and curiosity within his craft—an approach that keeps his work fresh and ever-evolving.

6. He Met Eilyn Through a Wallpaper Vendor

Ray met his future wife and business competitor, Eilyn, through his high school best friend, Christian Fong, a wallpaper vendor who played matchmaker. Despite a self-imposed pledge to stay single for a year, Ray instantly connected with Eilyn.

7. Ray and Eilyn Lived Parallel Childhoods Without Meeting

In a strange twist, the couple later discovered that they had attended the same elementary school, had the same teacher, lived on the same street, and had overlapping friend circles—but never met until adulthood.

8. He Was Skeptical About Being on TV

Ray had been approached for television segments before, but nothing felt right. It wasn’t until five years later, when a producer who had followed him on Instagram resurfaced and pitched Designing Miami, that the opportunity clicked.

9. He Embraces Competition With His Wife

Ray has acknowledged that sharing a profession with his wife, Eilyn, offers consistent reference points for comparing design processes, communication styles, and client engagement. Both operate separate studios, but the overlap in their work environments creates opportunities to assess and refine individual practices based on mutual observation. This ongoing exposure to each other’s approaches has contributed to adjustments in how Ray manages projects and evaluates creative direction.

10. He Learned Client Selectivity from Eilyn

Early in his career, Ray would take on any project. But Eilyn’s selective approach to clients taught him to prioritize quality fits over quantity, a lesson he credits for helping him grow professionally and personally.

11. He Proposed in Santorini on a Volcanic Rock Island

Ray proposed to Eilyn on her birthday during a private moment in Santorini, Greece. It happened on a catamaran anchored near an island formed by crystallized volcanic ash that looked like black diamonds.

12. He Describes His Favorite Clients as Lifelong Partners

Ray values long-term client relationships. One of his favorite clients has hired him for nine consecutive projects—a reflection of trust and consistency that he holds in high regard.

13. He Loves “Dark Dining” and Food-Driven Design Inspiration

Ray’s sensory approach to creativity is evident in his enthusiasm for food. During the podcast’s blindfolded “dark dining” experience, he showed a strong palette memory and openness to unusual culinary experiences—traits he links to how he perceives textures and design elements. (Searching for Maximum Flavor, Jan 11, 2024)

14. He Has Expressed Strong Views on Digital Identity Fraud

In a 2024 discussion, Ray stated that catfishing—where someone creates a false identity online—should carry legal consequences, suggesting a sentence of up to three years. He described it as a form of identity theft and emphasized how deceptive online behavior wastes time and breaches personal trust. His remarks reflected a clear stance on digital accountability and ethics.

15. He Has Compared New York and LA Through a Professional Lens

Ray has highlighted distinctions between New York and Los Angeles, noting that New York stands out for its energy, work ethic, and fast-paced mindset. He described it as a city that cannot be easily compared to others, except perhaps ancient cities like Rome, Paris, or Milan. In his view, the character and density of New York create a distinct environment for both personal and professional growth.

Sections 16 through 22 are based on Ray and Eilyn Jimenez’s June 8, 2024 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Used with reference to the extended interview shared via the show’s official YouTube channel.

16. He Describes Himself as the More Competitive Partner

During a televised interview, Ray identified himself as the more competitive of the two, attributing this trait to his sports background. Eilyn described herself as more subtle in her competitiveness—“the dark horse”—often catching others by surprise. Their shared outlook frames competition as a tool for mutual growth, especially when working on projects or pitching to clients.

17. Their Design Studios Reflect Distinct Philosophies

Ray emphasized that his studio is grounded in three pillars: design, fashion, and architecture—elements he tackles daily with his team. In contrast, Eilyn highlighted her all-female, all-Latina design firm, emphasizing collaboration and representation. Both credited their teams as critical to delivering high-quality results and shaping their firm’s culture.

18. They Prioritize Compromise in Shared Design Decisions

While designing their own home, Ray and Eilyn described how decision-making comes down to mutual respect. Each allows the other to lead on elements that matter most to them, demonstrating a model of compromise rooted in communication rather than dominance.

19. They Have Celebrity Design Dreams

Ray named Pharrell Williams as his dream client, while Eilyn chose Beyoncé—both selections reflecting their admiration for creativity and individuality. Their choices align with their design values and aspirations to work with clients who push the boundaries of personal style.

20. They View Their Show as Both Entertainment and Education

Ray and Eilyn noted that their show blends design competition with informative content for viewers. They emphasized that whether someone is tackling a $5 project or a $500,000 renovation, there are takeaways and tips that can be applied universally.

21. They See Representation as a Core Mission

Ray expressed pride in showcasing Latino professionals on a mainstream design platform, calling it one of their most meaningful accomplishments. Their presence on television reflects a commitment to broader representation in the interior design industry.

22. They Shared Their Favorite Summer Design Trends

Ray pointed to vintage neutrals—subdued shades like periwinkle, burgundy, and off-white—as a growing design movement. Eilyn highlighted the blending of indoor and outdoor spaces as a continuing trend, promoting flow and continuity in residential design.

Sections 23 through 27 are based on Ray and Eilyn Jimenez’s September 23, 2022 interview with Manny the Movie Guy on the occasion of Designing Miami’s Netflix release. Used with reference to the extended video interview published on MannyTheMovieGuy’s official YouTube channel.

23. He Chose Interior Design as a Middle Ground Between Fashion and Architecture

Ray explained that he initially considered careers in both architecture and fashion, but found interior design to be the ideal middle ground. Architecture, he noted, was too technical and math-heavy, while fashion was too competitive. Encouraged by a longtime friend, he discovered interior design as a field that allowed him to express both structural creativity and visual flair.

24. They Sometimes Compete for the Same Clients Without Revealing They’re Married

Ray shared that while they often support one another, there are moments when they unknowingly compete for the same design projects—without clients realizing they’re married. Regardless of who secures the job, they both see it as a win, since it ultimately supports their shared goals.

Ray Jimenez Wiki Bio (Quick Facts)

Field	Details
Full Name	Raymond Jimenez
Born	November 17, 1986
Age	38 years old
Birthplace	Puerto Rico
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Dominican-American
Residence	Miami, Florida
Profession	Interior Designer, Entrepreneur, TV Personality
Known For	Designing Miami (Netflix), Divided by Design (HGTV)
Company	Raymond Nicolas Design House (RNDH*)
Education	BFA in Interior Design – Miami International University of Art & Design
Marital Status	Married
Wife	Eilyn Jimenez (m. October 16, 2019)
Children	None (as of 2025)
TV Debut	Designing Miami (2022)
Latest Show	Divided by Design Season 1 Finale (Feb 6, 2025 – Episode: Villa Jimenez)
Net Worth	Not publicly disclosed