Queer Eye for a Great Buy
Thom Filicia—the decorating whiz who can turn a Dumpster into a sleek bachelor pad—reveals the power of accessorizing.
Dishware
"Choosing china is like furnishing your living room," says Thom Filicia. "You don't want everything the same. Rather than one complete set, it's fun to have pieces from three sets that work well together."
Shown here:
Glassware: tumblers, storage jars, and wine glasses
Porcelain: espresso cups and saucers; dinnerware cups and saucers
Stoneware: mugs, bowls, and salad plates
Earthenware: dinner plates, serving bowls, salad plates, and fruit bowl
Shown here:
Glassware: tumblers, storage jars, and wine glasses
Porcelain: espresso cups and saucers; dinnerware cups and saucers
Stoneware: mugs, bowls, and salad plates
Earthenware: dinner plates, serving bowls, salad plates, and fruit bowl
Vases
"Vases give you an opportunity to play with different styles and materials," says Thom Filicia. "If you have a glass table, bring in a resin or wood vase—and vice versa."
Shown here:
Glassware: pink, green, lavender, and striped glass vases; smoke-colored glass bowl; large purple glass cylinder
Other: large and small mango wood vases; black and cactus-colored resin vases (on French cherrywood table)
Shown here:
Glassware: pink, green, lavender, and striped glass vases; smoke-colored glass bowl; large purple glass cylinder
Other: large and small mango wood vases; black and cactus-colored resin vases (on French cherrywood table)
Pillows & Throws
"Throws are great anywhere," Filicia says. "In bedrooms, in sitting rooms—and I'm not the fashion guy, but I can tell you I've seen them more than once worn out and about."
Shown here:
Pillows: striped silk, fern-print silk, cotton velvet, silk organza, and botanical-print silk and wool pillow with down insert
Throws: blue and coral cashmere; cashmere and mohair with fringe; cream, brown, and green cable-knit
Also shown: cotton quilt under European beechwood chair
Shown here:
Pillows: striped silk, fern-print silk, cotton velvet, silk organza, and botanical-print silk and wool pillow with down insert
Throws: blue and coral cashmere; cashmere and mohair with fringe; cream, brown, and green cable-knit
Also shown: cotton quilt under European beechwood chair
Photo: Alison Gootee
Trays
"Trays work with the way we live," says Thom Filicia. "It's nice to have a big, beautiful coffee table with wonderful things on it—and even nicer when you pick up one tray to clear the space for the Monopoly board or dinner."
Shown here (clockwise from top):
Shown here (clockwise from top):
- Plastic dish and ceramic tray on beechwood and teak serving tray
- Stoneware teapot with bamboo handle and stoneware cup on lacquered bamboo trays
- Wood dishes
- Soy, sushi, and salad plates stacked on aluminum tray, nestled within lacquered rattan tray
From the September 2004 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine