I first noticed Thom Filicia when he was one of the “Fab Five” on the Emmy-winning television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.  For me, he was number 1 of the 5 because he was the one that tackled the interior design part of the segment.  His witty, warm style made him a natural as an on-air personality and, after “Queer Eye”, he continued to spread his decorating advice on Style Network and HGTV.  His talent as a designer has earned him many accolades, including being named a “Top 100 Designer” by House Beautiful.

I got the chance to meet Thom when he visited Wakefield Design Center in Stamford, CT to sign copies of his newest book American Beauty:  Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat.

A fan of Thom’s design aesthetic, it was a bonus to get the opportunity to see Thom’s new fabric collection for Kravet during my visit to Wakefield, the destination for this week’s Friday field trip.

Meeting Thom was great.  His personality is consistent with his on-air persona – very warm and instantly likeable.  He spent a good amount of time socializing and telling stories as if he were attending a family gathering.

When the time came for him to sign his new book, he continued to engage everyone in stories of the fixer-upper he bought and transformed in Skaneateles Lake, New York – a place he discovered during his childhood and brought to life in his book.

Elm Street Books in New Canaan was on hand with copies of Thom Filicia’s newest book, American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat.

I couldn’t decide if he chose to sign books in orange sharpie to match some of the inside pages, or as a nod to his alma mater (Syracuse), but either way, the attention to detail was noted.

A photo of Thom Filicia, one of House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Designers”, at a recent appearance in Connecticut.

All in all, a really fun night.  I got the chance to meet some really great people at Wakefield Design Center, the opportunity to talk to some great designers, AND the chance to enjoy a glass of wine with Thom Filicia.

Thanks for visiting.  Have a great weekend, Jackie

A little trip back in time for any other “Queer Eye” fans (Don’t we all have this on our playlists?):