THOM FILICIA

In the premiere episode of ANDMORE’s new podcast, CEO Jon Pertchik sat down with celebrated interior designer and television personality Thom Filicia to discuss creativity, career evolution, and the role Markets play in today’s design landscape. From his early years in Syracuse to designing showrooms, furniture, and global pavilions, Filicia’s career is marked by fearless curiosity, deep intentionality, and a love of meaningful design. 

 

A Design-Driven Life 

Filicia’s design journey began as a child in a 1920s Syracuse neighborhood filled with architectural charm. From sketching houses in sixth grade to studying interior design and architecture in college, Filicia pursued his passion early and often. His path led him through some of New York’s most respected firms, including the iconic Parish-Hadley, before launching his own firm, Thom Filicia Inc. 

 

What sets Filicia apart is his wide-ranging approach: he doesn’t just design interiors—he creates immersive experiences through product collections, showrooms, and television. “Everything I do, whether it’s furniture, bedding, or an interior space, it’s all connected,” he said. “Design should be contextual, livable, and human.” 

 

Design as a Sensory Experience 

Throughout the conversation, Filicia emphasized the emotional and sensory impact of great design. “When a space works, you feel it—even if you don’t know why,” he said. For him, design is a balance of symmetry and asymmetry, raw and refined, planned and intuitive. “Clients may not know why a space feels off,” he noted, “but designers should.” 

 

From texture and lighting to layout and acoustics, Filicia designs spaces to feel inviting, intentional, and authentic. He’s not interested in themes—he’s interested in people. “The theme is you. Your lifestyle, the architecture, the location. That’s the starting point.” 

 

Markets as Design Ecosystems 

Filicia is no stranger to Markets. He attends Las Vegas Market, High Point Market, and Atlanta Market regularly—not just as a product partner with brands like Vanguard, Eastern Accents, and Wendover, but as a connector. 

 

“I go to Market to launch products, yes, but also to talk to designers, architects, and buyers,” he shared. “What are they excited about? What do they think is missing? Markets are where we share ideas, where we listen, and where we grow as a community.” 

 

He sees Market evolving—and applauds the shift. “Markets are becoming more fun, more layered, more design-driven. The design community is holding everyone to a higher standard, and that’s a good thing.” 

 

The Takeaway: Design Is Personal

For Filicia, design is more than aesthetics—it’s storytelling. Whether working with a family on a ski house or designing for a global expo in Japan, he approaches each project with empathy, curiosity, and a deep respect for context. “Design isn’t plug and play,” he said.

 

“It’s about nuance. It’s about knowing the difference between designing for someone and designing about someone.”