TV Designer Thom Filicia Analyzes My Three and Three

Three and Three - It's a very simple yet revealing way to really hone in on how to decorate a room so it represents you, and will make you feel at home! If you've watched the Style Network TV Show, Dress My Nest, Hosted by TV Designer, Thom Filicia ( of Bravo's Queer Eye show fame), you've seen his insightful design philosophy in action. He visited me as a guest on my radio show and went thru my own three and three.  I think it's a great tool to finally figure out why a certain room doesn't feel right and how to change it.

To get started, walk around your home in search of your own three and three - but try not to over analyze what you select. Just quickly grab three special personal things that tell your story,(a picture in a special frame, a favorite piece of art or sculpture, tickets to a concert or game you'll never forget, etc) and then go to your closet and pick three things you love to wear- those jeans you love, a suit, a hat or scarf. Note they don't have to all go together.

For example:

My three personal items:

1-A gold basketball charm and chain from my Dad's winning the L.A. City Championships! He gave this to  my Mom as high school sweetheart.

2-A silver butter butler dish, that opens up and down and stands gracefully on it's claw feet. This was always on the table for holidays and a fond memory.

3-An onyx bird bath decorative bowl - also from my Mom and Dad's decor and a piece of nostalgia. To this day I use it for candles and flowers.

My three fashion/style items:

1-Grey suede knee-high boots. I love charcoal grey as a neutral color and they are go -anywhere shoes for instant comfort and style.

2-Black military style leather jacket that has been worn for several years and is showing that natural weathered look, like a great pair of jeans.

3-A bright pink T-Shirt, with a Fleur-de-Lis and a rough embossed fabric surrounding it. I love bright pops of color and this is one of them!

What does this mean? Designer Thom Filicia says my personal things show I'm nostalgic, and love family memories around me. And while the personal things I've chosen are more formal, ( the sterling silver, the onyx) in terms of what they are made of, he and I agree they are more about what they symbolize as a memory, a tradition.  Then you look at my fashion style items, all on the comfy and fun side, (the worn in leather jacket, the grey suede boots, yet a pop of color with a pink t shirt) Thom says this shows how my sense of a great room blends both the comfortable with the nostalgic and symbolic mementoes.  Then in terms of color, note the grey boots as a great choice for wall color while introducing some pops of color, like the pink T-Shirt, but perhaps as a pillow, or artwork.   You get the idea?

Walk around your home and look for your own 3 and 3 ! It's lots of fun! And let me know how it goes.

Thom by the way just launched a new furniture line, go here to see some of the great stylings.

And starting in late April, he'll be on another TV show, Tacky House, also on the Style Network.  More info go to www.thomfilicia.com

Check back tomorrow to listen to my interview with Thom in the On Air section.

And PS - while Thom already had an amazing career as a Designer with his own firm, it was when he was stuck in an elevator for almost an hour with a Talent Scout, that his life changed forever. He was picked to be part of the Fab Five on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and now two shows later, a couple books, a furniture line and more, the rest is history!~ Note to self, be friendly to those folks you're with in an elevator, never know who you'll meet!

cindy@cindydole.com