Thom Filicia Takes On a Fixer-Upper in 'American Beauty'
Follow the 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' designer's lake house renovation and dive into his practical and valuable remodeling advice
It's a book that offers great pragmatic advice. But it's also the perfect book for when you want to lock yourself in the bathroom, hide from your children, and look at pretty pictures. — Tina Fey, introducing Thom Filicia's American Beauty (Random House, 2012)
This is a book about falling in love with a house with good bones and a superb location along with a lot of flaws, and lovingly renovating it to live up to the potential Thom Filicia envisioned.
It's a book that makes me want to weekend on the lake in Skaneateles, New York, mixing up cocktails, taking them down to the lakeside fire pit and contemplating a sunset cruise in Filicia's Chris-Craft.
As for the pragmatism, it also makes me believe I can buy a house that needs some love and nurse it back to life with the book as my guide (and with a contractor and an architect the book will help me pick as my other guides). Filcia walks readers through how to know if a home is a sound investment, how to hire a contractor and an architect, how to make decisions, how to figure out what to preserve and what can go, and how to capture the spirit you want for your home.
He frames all of this within a wonderful story narration, a story that begins on the fateful day he saw a for-sale sign and ends with a description of the joyous lifestyle his labor of love provides. Here's a sneak peek and some valuable renovation advice from Filicia. (All quotations are from the book.)
This is a book about falling in love with a house with good bones and a superb location along with a lot of flaws, and lovingly renovating it to live up to the potential Thom Filicia envisioned.
It's a book that makes me want to weekend on the lake in Skaneateles, New York, mixing up cocktails, taking them down to the lakeside fire pit and contemplating a sunset cruise in Filicia's Chris-Craft.
As for the pragmatism, it also makes me believe I can buy a house that needs some love and nurse it back to life with the book as my guide (and with a contractor and an architect the book will help me pick as my other guides). Filcia walks readers through how to know if a home is a sound investment, how to hire a contractor and an architect, how to make decisions, how to figure out what to preserve and what can go, and how to capture the spirit you want for your home.
He frames all of this within a wonderful story narration, a story that begins on the fateful day he saw a for-sale sign and ends with a description of the joyous lifestyle his labor of love provides. Here's a sneak peek and some valuable renovation advice from Filicia. (All quotations are from the book.)
Consider the overall mood while you're pondering practicality. "In 1917 — or 1947 or 1967, for that matter — going out to the lake was supposed to be more like camping ... you were roughing it, even if you still had indoor plumbing and a kitchen stove," Filicia writes. He kept this spirit of a lake house in mind when planning the renovations.
While his lake house clearly has his designer stamp all over it, he envisioned a modernized, low-maintenance retreat that inspired relaxed living. "I planned to achieve this by investing in the context and vocabulary of the house itself: practical solutions, natural materials, and details that were consistent with the original building," he says.
Respect the historical architectural period but don't get stuck in a time warp. "This indelibly American structure over the years had lost its point of view. My job was to give it back its relevance — to take the fundamentals of its design, what was authentic and beautiful, and update them for a modern lifestyle," he explains.
While his lake house clearly has his designer stamp all over it, he envisioned a modernized, low-maintenance retreat that inspired relaxed living. "I planned to achieve this by investing in the context and vocabulary of the house itself: practical solutions, natural materials, and details that were consistent with the original building," he says.
Respect the historical architectural period but don't get stuck in a time warp. "This indelibly American structure over the years had lost its point of view. My job was to give it back its relevance — to take the fundamentals of its design, what was authentic and beautiful, and update them for a modern lifestyle," he explains.
Root the design in materials. Know what is worth saving or repurposing and plan around it. Filicia chose to save the five-plank wooden doors, a large fieldstone fireplace and the paneled walls inside the home.
Make one design decision and let it help you with all the later decisions. For example, Filicia's door hardware needed to honor the heavy grooved wooden doors. The way the doors turned out influenced how the window panes would look and, in turn, the types of window treatments he would choose. The fieldstone fireplace kept him from adding any textures that were too polished anywhere in the house, in deference to its rough natural texture. He chose B-grade white oak floors because they were right in the middle of too delicate (A grade) and too rough (C grade).
Create style continuity throughout the house. Filicia's cabinet style, colors and pulls all play off the aforementioned grooved wood doors, the paneling continues along the walls, and the white oak wood floors continue into the kitchen. In addition, the designer added subtle nautical touches, like marine-ish ceiling lamps throughout the home, without going overboard on the theme. The papier-mâché trophy is a nod to rustic camp-cabin nostalgia.
Make one design decision and let it help you with all the later decisions. For example, Filicia's door hardware needed to honor the heavy grooved wooden doors. The way the doors turned out influenced how the window panes would look and, in turn, the types of window treatments he would choose. The fieldstone fireplace kept him from adding any textures that were too polished anywhere in the house, in deference to its rough natural texture. He chose B-grade white oak floors because they were right in the middle of too delicate (A grade) and too rough (C grade).
Create style continuity throughout the house. Filicia's cabinet style, colors and pulls all play off the aforementioned grooved wood doors, the paneling continues along the walls, and the white oak wood floors continue into the kitchen. In addition, the designer added subtle nautical touches, like marine-ish ceiling lamps throughout the home, without going overboard on the theme. The papier-mâché trophy is a nod to rustic camp-cabin nostalgia.
Create your own style if your house doesn't have a clear one. Filicia recommends researching prevailing local styles during the era when your house was built. If you see that your house has some elements from a particular style in your reserach, you may want to enhance those elements and play off them.
For instance, diamond-shaped windows are typical of Tudor revival, Queen Anne and shingle-style homes that are prevalent in the area of Filicia's lake house. He used them in a fresh way by adapting them for indoor use.
Let budget restraints inspire creativity. Filicia originally envisioned circular windows, but as it turned out, rotating square windows 45 degrees to create diamonds is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying and installing circular windows. This lucky money saver also creates more X shapes with the window panes, which tie in with other X shapes he used throughout the home.
For instance, diamond-shaped windows are typical of Tudor revival, Queen Anne and shingle-style homes that are prevalent in the area of Filicia's lake house. He used them in a fresh way by adapting them for indoor use.
Let budget restraints inspire creativity. Filicia originally envisioned circular windows, but as it turned out, rotating square windows 45 degrees to create diamonds is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying and installing circular windows. This lucky money saver also creates more X shapes with the window panes, which tie in with other X shapes he used throughout the home.
Imagine yourself using your renovated rooms. When planning out the kitchen, Filicia thought very specifically about how he and his partner would use it. "I'm not found in the kitchen too often (other than to grab mixers)," he writes. His partner, Greg Calejo, didn't want to miss out on the fun with guests when cooking, so they opened up the kitchen and included some perches where observers can entertain the cook.
Create distinct areas for different kitchen activities. Filicia incorporated spots for coming in and dropping off groceries; writing; drinking coffee; storing food, cookware and china; mixing cocktails; storing wine; placing an ice machine; cooking; socializing; cleaning up ... he even took potential spills and splatters into account.
Create distinct areas for different kitchen activities. Filicia incorporated spots for coming in and dropping off groceries; writing; drinking coffee; storing food, cookware and china; mixing cocktails; storing wine; placing an ice machine; cooking; socializing; cleaning up ... he even took potential spills and splatters into account.
Plan for guests in a weekend home. Part of Filicia's vision for this house was creating a gathering place for lots of friends and family. Thus, a very long sofa and plenty of extra seats pack the living room. He also put a lot of thought into privacy for the bedrooms and guest baths, which were part of the modern update.
Plan for activities. Filicia wanted his guests to feel at home coming in the house in wet bathing suits and attending dinner parties in jeans and T-shirts. "I keep things simple, local and casual, with enough hints of glamour to make my guests feel something special is in store," he says.
Plan for activities. Filicia wanted his guests to feel at home coming in the house in wet bathing suits and attending dinner parties in jeans and T-shirts. "I keep things simple, local and casual, with enough hints of glamour to make my guests feel something special is in store," he says.
The author, hunting and gathering logs for the fire pit in his all-American preppy red pants. After everything was in place and the project was complete, he waxed poetic:
"In the end," he writes, "the lifestyle you create for your house is the final piece of the decor. How you use your house ... is what gives your home a soul. All the time and effort spent collecting and purchasing is just the beginning. The design is in the living."
Info: American Beauty (Random House, 2012)
"In the end," he writes, "the lifestyle you create for your house is the final piece of the decor. How you use your house ... is what gives your home a soul. All the time and effort spent collecting and purchasing is just the beginning. The design is in the living."
Info: American Beauty (Random House, 2012)
Find an architect who is willing to collaborate on your vision and shares your sensibility. The sensibility thing comes into play when your vision is fuzzy — you'll like the architect's suggestions if you're on the same design wavelength.
Find an architect who is plugged in to the community. A respected community member who has already stood before town boards can craft presentations that follow town rules and please board members.