Welcome back to The Lounge! Today, Nick sits down with Thom Filicia and Tim Branscome at High Point Market! Thom and Nick get into the business of television and design, while Tim and Nick talk about the platform for emerging artisan designers, Plant Seven.

Thom Filicia

Although he’s now a Bravo TV star, Thom began as a designer, focusing on residential and commercial design. He always envisioned himself on a grander scale and now with his team of 25, he is the owner and principal of New York City-based design firm, Thom Filicia Inc. Today, Thom has lines in showrooms across the US, including Sedgwick and Brattle and Vanguard Furniture. He has done projects for Jennifer Lopez, Tina Fey, Delta Air Lines, and David Bowie just to name a few!

The Business of TV: Get a Room

Always a lover of design, Thom now gets to share his passion with his good friend and previous Queer Eye co-star, Carson Kressley, on Get a Room. Thom gets to share his love for design with Carson as he teaches him about the technical side of things including planning, working in a timeframe, and on a budget in the New York Tristate area.

Thom can be himself both in front of a camera and in life, which is not something many can do. He is continuously finding ways to represent himself well, all while be informative and most importantly, entertaining. The key to television is educating people in a fun way. As a creative business person, you must adapt, connect with how business is evolving, and stay on top of how things change!

Tim Branscome: Plant Seven

Mill Collective has created a new entity, Planet Seven, a building which includes showrooms, co-working space, a podcasting booth, and more! Everything at Planet Seven will live 365 days a year, not only during High Point Market. Creating an atmosphere for collaboration and working in an open environment, Mill Collective began with 25 companies, noncompeting.

Tim spent most of his professional life in Europe, influencing the concept of Planet Seven. He is giving a platform to emerging artisans that work in small companies or as individuals. It can be difficult to stand out at High Point, so by bringing designers together as a collective their work is showcased and it is only growing!

If you would like to get involved with Plant Seven, visit plantseven.com. Learn more about Thom Filicia at thomfilicia.com.