ShulmanSays:  What effect did being on the Emmy-winning Bravo series, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (later, simply Queer Eye) have on your design career?

Thom Filicia:   Actually, we were having dinner, the other night – Kyan (Douglas), Carson (Kressley), Ted (Allen), and me – and we were all talking about this; so I actually have an answer!

Being on Queer Eye had a major effect on my life, more so than my career; because television and high-end design are not necessarily best friends.  So, Queer Eye was really great in terms of putting me out there as a recognizeable name and face – in terms of building a brand and developing the products that are out there, now.

In terms of my interior design business, I had to run a bit faster and dance a little bit harder and sing a little bit louder to keep my business moving forward.  I had to make sure I was doing at least two or three show-houses each year, and that I was in certain magazines.  I really just had to push it a little bit farther, when I was doing Queer Eye (which was a bit difficult), because it was basically like having two careers; one in television design and one in high-end design.

Overall though, it was fabulous; because in a lot of ways, it pushed me to do a lot more very quickly than I probably would’ve done, otherwise.  As an artist, to have that other medium in which to work – it was fantastic.  But at the same time, it presented a really interesting dichotomy, because no one wants to hire a television designer to design their home in the Hamptons, or their Park Avenue co-op, you know?  They want to hire a really great reputable designer – so, I had to make sure I was both.  And that was a great challenge for me.

It certainly opened far more doors to me, than it closed.  After Queer Eye, I went to Style Network for three years, and did Dress My Nest, then Tacky House.  Then I went to HGTV, and was there, for a year; so it definitely created some wonderful opportunities.  But in terms of my career, what being on television has really fueled, are all of my licensed relationships, like my textiles with Kravet [click HERE to view], my furniture with Vanguard [click HERE to view], my rugs with Safavieh [click HERE to view]; you know, all of those kinds of things.  And even other things that we’re developing.  We’re doing bedding and bath, and all of these other categories, like curtain hardware and accessories and wall-coverings.  And all of that was fueled more so by my being a recognizeable name, and also having the interior design component (and keeping it at a high-end level) – and that was very appealing to a lot of people.  So it’s that synergy that became very defining, in terms of moving my career forward.

Next, in Part 3, enjoy the conclusion of the interview, and a review of Thom's newest book, American Beauty.

Thom Filicia
American Beauty
Click HERE for info

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