W Hotels Teams up with Thom Filicia

The new W Atlanta-Buckhead will open in June 2008.

by Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 5/14/2007

Can’t get enough of Thom Filicia? Well now the designer—also known as one of the Fab Five on NBC/Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy—will offer his expertise to luxury hotel brand W Hotels. The designer and his award-winning namesake firm will take on three of W’s U.S. properties.

For the next 14 months, Filicia will oversee and finalize the W Atlanta-Buckhead (formally the Crowne Plaza), redesign and renovate the W Los Angeles-Westwood property, and renovate the Living Room space at the W San Diego. More partnerships are in the works. The W Atlanta, offering 291 rooms, is slated to open in June 2008. Here Filicia will apply a muted palette with splashes of bold color, textures, and patterns. The W Los Angeles will feature luxurious materials such as mother of pearl, white cerused oak, lacquer finishes, honey comb acrylic and chrome and blackened steel. Organic touches and flexibility will be central to the design of the Living Room space at the W San Diego.

“We were inspired by Thom’s hands-on ability to bounce off ideas with our design team and spontaneously create real eclectic juxtapositions, cross referencing regional tones while integrating his style with that of W,” says Ross Klein, president of Starwood’s Luxury Brands Group. “What our guests will experience on each of these very unique and distinct W properties is the perfect balance of Thom’s signature couture comfort style infused with the voice of W.”