We are popping the champagne for a very special episode! To celebrate the launch of his exclusive new collection with Ballard Designs, the fabulous Carson Kressley joins Caroline, Taryn, and Liz as a special co-host for a 4-part mini-series.
And for his first guest? It’s none other than his original Queer Eye castmate, best friend, and acclaimed interior designer Thom Filicia.
Carson and Thom take a trip down memory lane, revealing the hilarious story of how they first met during the “chemistry test” for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Thom opens up about his classical training at the legendary firm Parish-Hadley, his philosophy on “Democratic Design,” and why he believes every room needs a mix of price points to feel authentic.
What You’ll Hear This Episode:
- 00:00 Welcome to the Carson Kressley Mini-Series!
- 01:30 Carson introduces his new collection with Ballard Designs (and the “Cisco” side table)
- 05:00 Thom Filicia joins the chat: From Syracuse University to Parish-Hadley
- 12:00 The Queer Eye Origin Story: How Carson and Thom met
- 20:00 Thom’s philosophy on “Democratic Design” and making interiors accessible
- 28:00 Why you should treat your home like a “laboratory” for creativity
- 35:00 The “Brown” Trend: Why warm neutrals are taking over
- 42:00 How to mix high-end antiques with accessible retail pieces
- 55:00 Carson & Thom’s design dynamic: Who steals whose ideas?

Shop the Carson Kressley for Ballard Designs Collection now in-store or online!
Also Mentioned in This Episode
- Shop Now: Carson Kressley Collection at Ballard Designs
- Thom Filicia | Website
- Follow Thom on Instagram: @thomfilicia
- Follow Carson on Instagram: @carsonkressley
Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.
Happy Decorating!
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