Designer Profile: Thom Filicia

Thom Filicia is an interior designer well known for his work on Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He later had his own show called "Dress My Nest," which was the inspiration for TMI's feature of the same name. Thom attended the art and design school at Syracuse University and started his own company in 1998. After a few internships, he scored a job redesigning the W Hotels (ummm this is like my dream job! I always wondered who got to do that...). He has appeared on numerous shows and even got to exclusively design the U.S. pavilion for the 2005 World's Fair. He now has his own furniture and home collection, and has released a book called Thom Filicia Style, which is essentially a how-to manual for design novices. Personally, I don't think Thom's kind of style can be taught. He is one of my all-time favorite designers, and I'd be lucky to have half the career he has had. I envy his bravery in mixing patterns and textiles, I love his ability to think outside of the box, and I adore his whimsy and his socially conscious stance on design. But here are some tips for trying to emulate his talent, taken from his book, Thom Filicia Style.

Thom’s Top Tips:

Don’t be afraid to mix Timeless and Timely
Timeless is a fresh look at traditional design and Timely is a more livable version of what we know as modern design. Pair a classic rug with more contemporary furniture. When Timeless and Timely pieces are used together you’ll create an interesting, eclectic room that’s entirely your own.

Color Your World
There’s nothing that will transform your space as easily and affordably as paint. When looking to refresh your world bring in your favorite color with the ease of a roller.And when looking to strengthen the foundation of your room bring in a stylish and bold rug layered on your basic wall to wall carpet. Pick colors that suit your personality. When painting a room don’t be afraid to be bold & choose the colors you love, not colors that are safe. And remember, a fresh coat of white paint can bring an old piece of furniture back to life and help it fit in anywhere.


Decorate Outside the Box
Don’t allow a home’s architecture to limit your decorating options. Just because your house is a colonial,it doesn't mean that you have to decorate like you’re a pilgrim. Your interior should speak as much about you as it does about your architecture, so be free in making choices and make sure your home tells your personal story.

Personalize Your Space
Your home should be an extension of your personality and reflect your individual aesthetic. Personalizing your space is key to any successful design. Choose artwork and accessories from throw pillows, to books, to picture frames, and interesting objects and artwork that collectively tells your story and make you smile.


Well Read
Layering your room with books is a great way to add depth, color and visual textures. A stack of books can make a great, interesting little side table.



Lose the Matchy Matchiness
Each piece you select in a room should have Character, be eye-catching, and tell your story. It doesn’t matter if your furniture, artwork, and textiles are collected during exotic trips or sourced from local design shops. As long as the overall look is original with intriguing juxtapositions and unexpected contrasts you’ll create a room that is interesting, unique, and beautiful.


For more on Thom's career, including his philosophy and process, his entire furniture collection, an impressive and diverse portfolio, and reviews of his book, visit http://www.thomfilicia.com/. And in a future post, expect a Dress My Nest based on Thom's own collection! Possibly even two...once you see his website, you'll understand my inability to narrow down my favorites!