Domino Magazine Returns!!

Holiday 2013!

I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but it seems Condé Nast has finally seen the error of their ways and are actually relaunching one of the best design magazine of this generation, Domino!!! Announced last week in Women's Wear Daily, this fall will see the return of the beloved magazine. This time they are being cautious, the print magazine will appear quarterly instead of monthly, as before. Most importantly, the print editions will be accompanied by an e-commerce site developed by e-commerce design company Project Décor. 

 

March 2009

Originally launched in 2005 as a home decor-focused complement to fellow Condé Nast publication Lucky, the magazine became a near cult phenomenon in only three years. It's cancellation launched numerous blog posts mourning its demise.


November 2006

This post on E! pretty much sums up what was great about the magazine and made it stand out from all the others currently on the newsstand shelves. I will cross my fingers that they do not change it too much. I hope they remember how we mourned it in 2009 exactly the way it was, and that version of the magazine is what we want back. Except of course, hopefully they will have more advertising revenue, since that was the reason it disappeared, not lack of popularity or circulation.


October 2007

They are still being cautious, the print magazine will be quarterly this time and is accompanied by an e-commerce site. Pro: original publisher Beth Brenner returns Cons: founding editor Deborah Needleman will not and individual issues will be over $10. Let's cross our fingers, OK?

Hey Domino, see you in the fall!

Shelter giveaway winners!

I generated the winners on Random.org at 12:10 PM Tuesday afternoon, April 21, 2009.

1st number: 2 - Marcy

2nd number: 8 - Antoinette

Congrats!!!

Ladies, all you have to do now is send your mailing information to me at metamorphpursuit(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Yay, I am no longer a giveaway v*rgin!

Domino Giveaway Extended!

Hey, I've decided to extend the book giveaway deadline to Tuesday at Noon. So if you haven't left a comment on this post, go and do it now!

Giveaway!

Still missing Domino magazine like I am?

Well, two lucky readers of my blog will receive a brand new copy of Domino's The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.

Just let me know in the comments if there was a particular Domino story that influenced a specific design purchase or project in your own home?

I'll be picking the winners on Friday, probably using random.org.

Sister, can you spare a Domino?*

Update: Yes, I was an idiot. I linked the Domino magazine covers below from their website and meant to go back and save them proper. Of course, the website just went down. I am currently searching Google images and Flickr for the covers but it's so hard to read the date on the scans so the images don't match with the months listed below.

I just read this post of Holly's and realized that Domino had only published 36 issues in it's short life. How can that be possible? And really, how can it be possible that I don't have more of them? Here are the ones I wish I had at least borrowed and read when I had the chance. If you happen to have issues that you don't want (yeah, ha, ha, ha!) I would love to be the recipient of your de-cluttering. Ok?

2005

  

Missing September, October, November

2006

Missing January/February, April, June, September, October, November

2009

 

For some reason, did not buy February 2009 but now want it

*Title adapted from the 1931 Great Depression song, Brother, Can you Spare a Dime.

The demise of the hard copy decor magazine

My sister sent me a link to this article in the Washington Post. It's pretty much what I've already written here or linked to but with more statistics and $$ numbers.

I'd like to add though that even though Design Blogs are great, many of them would not exist if not for the print magazines that so many images are pulled from. I also don't really like being tied to watching a computer screen all the time.

So, we still need those mags.

Big Time.

I Have Nothing to Say

Domino to Close, Women's Wear Daily

Domino Magazine to Fold, The Huffington Post

Domino is Dead, Gawker.com

Uh oh!

I just found out my subscription to Domino has expired. I forgot it was a gift subscription from years ago. You know what that means....

I am thinking of doing a double subscription with Lucky magazine. Now, I don't want to be responsible for anything here. Should I take the chance?

I'm still mad no matter what they say...

From Time, Inc's own press release about the cancellation of Cottage Living:

Cottage Living, one of a few magazines that some had already marked for closing, launched four years ago with an editorial mission to celebrate unpretentious living. Despite initial skepticism about its name, the title quickly grew, doubling its rate base to 1 million in 2007, gathering industry nods including AdWeek’s 2005 Startup of the Year. However, the magazine remained small in terms of ad pages, which declined 5.1 percent to 514 this year, according to the Mediaweek Monitor.

“Since its inception, Cottage Living attracted significant advertiser support and fostered a loyal following among readers,” Sylvia Auton, an executive VP who oversees Time Inc.’s newly formed Lifestyle Group that includes Cottage Living, said in a statement. “However, the economic downturn has particularly affected the shelter market and while the brand was genuinely loved by readers and advertisers alike, the economy inhibited its ability to grow and therefore, sadly, we had to make the decision to close it.”

**********************

I also thought this comment found after The New York Observer's shelter magazine story was pretty astute as to why these type of magazines seem to fail despite their great missions.

googy gomez says:
Here's an editor's position: The problem is that there is a conflict of interest between the readership and the advertising base. Readers want to know how to outfit their pads without spending a small fortune. But the companies who offer these budget products and solutions tend not to have a helluva lot of money to advertise. Walmart, IKEA and Target are in the small group of exceptions, but who wants a home decorated entirely with stuff from big box stores like that, which standardize their product selections to be profitable and, in the process, remove almost every ounce of individual personality to most of that stock? And certainly the smaller stores with great stuff tend not to have the money to advertise--maybe you'll get a quarter page out of them if you're lucky. The people who do have the money are luxury companies like jewelers, car companies, fashion houses, resorts, etc. Ergo the heavy expansion of mags like Domino into fashion. Of course, this latter group of advertisers have huge overheads and want to recoup their money, so they hawk products that cost and arm and a leg. Then editors, in order to retain them, create stories in which they can feature those advertisers, which necessarily means that the stuff they're showing climbs in price. Some publications straddle the line brilliantly (Met Home comes to mind). We need more of that kind of thinking...

This is getting to be a REAL pain...

ANOTHER favorite magazine, one of the few I actually subscribe to, has been canceled. The list of magazines I have loved and lost is getting longer and longer.

Now they are taking Cottage Living away from me (and you too!) I just found out about it on Shelterrific here.

Why, why, why?

Why is it that the magazines that supported design restraint and fairly good spending habits disappear while the ones that live to showcase excess carry on forever.* When it comes to shelter magazines, I have almost nothing in common with Metropolitan Home, Architectural Digest, or even Elle Decor.

However, I could always relate to magazines like Budget Living, Bargain Style, Living Room, Blueprint, and Cottage Living, which all acknowledged that everyone really wasn't "the millionaire next door". Those canceled magazines were the ones that could have helped save this country from our immense case of "keeping up with the Joneses". However, I guess since they were already preaching to the choir (people who don't buy willy-nilly everything their advertisers were selling) they weren't making enough money. Because magazine sales are all about the advertising, not us, the readers.

Well, here's a warning to Country Home.

I love you and I will try my hardest not to get a subscription to you, but you are about the only one left out there.

So please take care of yourself, ok?

*Although Home & Garden somehow didn't survive at it's last try at bat.

Makeunder: Metallic beanbag bookends

The minute I saw these in the latest Domino I thought… $70 for a bookend/paperweight?

I can make that! Shiny fabric, square shape, something heavy for the insides and done, right? Right.

Personally, I have no need for beanbag bookends, but I did make something similar recently that might be an even more creative take on this idea.

This is the Purl frog, Rico to show later...

I called mine Rico, the flea market fancy frog. Created from Purl Fabric’s frog pattern, Denyse Schmidt fabric, and filled with lentils, he is actually on his way to a little boy in upstate New York as a toy. But, imagine if Rico was filled with the same heavier aquarium rocks I used to fill my door draft dodger? Wouldn’t he make the cutest bookend for a children’s bookshelf? gold vine brocade, $6

On the other hand, you can also buy a great panel of asian influenced brocade fabric, create coordinating or matching piping, and make more elegant paperweights in the vein of the $140 a pair Sophie Nova ones above. It only takes a little time, creativity, and a tiny bit of money.

Images: Domino magazine, Sophie Nova, Purl Soho, JoAnn Fabrics

Eye Candy Colors

In August, Domino shared Alice Turner's New York farmhouse. Her use of color and the uncluttered room layouts make me wish my place looked more like that. The opening spread shows her amazing 10-foot long custom designed couch. Wow! This couch is not only almost as wide as my living room but the backrest of it seems at least five feet high. Talk about feeling cozy and sheltered. The fact that this huge expanse of sofa is covered in a creamy white fabric keeps the room from looking crowded. Perhaps a light-covered love seat would help out my currently chaotic living room?

Also, instead of painting her walls a definite color, Alice and her friends whitewashed the entire place, even her floors are a lived-in white. She let the colors bloom instead on furniture and accessories.

When it came to her guest bedrooms, she let it bloom on the doors. See how she draped the ceilings? It not only looks cozy but it also hides the peeling plaster she hasn't dealt with yet. Smart.

I'm a big fan of painted wood furniture and love the raspberry daybed in her entry piled with graphic pillows. Unfortunately, I noticed the story doesn't source the ones that I like the best; those printed ones on the ends with just the right amount of white background.

Color does not have to be super bold, contrasting, or chaotic. Just add some color to your rooms and see if it changes the mood of your home and perhaps, your mood too.

Julianne...call me!

I don't know about you but after reading this month's Domino (oops, last month's now!) I have a little crush on actress Julianne Moore. This article about her decorating talent hit all my buttons.

She advocates smart design; nothing she chose had to be extravagantly expensive or seen everywhere to be worthy of being in her friend's home. She created a lovely and comfortable home that was remarkably affordable.



She sourced items from places such as IKEA, Crate & Barrel, Flor, and Benjamin Moore when she could have easily used DWR, George Smith, Knoll, or Bertazzoni-Italia, as other articles referenced in this issue did.

I say Yes! to more articles like this one influenced by a well-paid actress who doesn't have her head stuck in the clouds.

Getting somewhere, just don't know where...

Oh did I ever mention that I started receiving press releases from designers and artists? Yeah, wow. Blogs are most definitely being noticed for the influences that they are on the consumer public.

Though I am on Jonathan Adler's press release list I haven't received anything from Domino magazine, which seems to be the sign that your home blog has really made it. Remember all that bloggy love about Drew Barrymore's office/home a month ago?

I am already listed on their site though as I am part of Scrappy Girl's blog list. She is a kindred spirit. However, you would think that Domino would send to everyone on the blog list of one of their online blogs wouldn't you? It doesn't really matter, it was just more of a "hmmm?" situation than anything else. No matter what, I would only post about something that I personally thought was cool (not that I don't think Jonathan Adler is cool!) and I do receive the magazine every month.

Though of course it would be nice to receive it before it shows up on the newsstand!

By the way, cute bull or sun ornaments on sale for $12. ; )

I think this is the arrangement?

First, remember, my blank wall space is huge. My ceilings are 12 feet 7 inches in this room. Not only do I have this area to cover but I have a wall on the other side of the room that is just as high and 1/3 longer. Without something on the walls my furniture always seemed miniature and lost in the space.

I first tried spacing the pictures more conventionally but just couldn't make up my mind on where any one piece would go. I sat on my floor and set up an OK arrangement on the floor. Then, I started moving them a little closer and finally I just pushed them all together. I made a few substitutions, added some placeholders, and came up with this design. I feel this arrangement takes advantage of not only the height of the wall but also the width.

This is the arrangement mapped out on the wall in paper.

This is a better picture that gives you an idea of what they will look like once on the wall.

Note the blank canvas, the empty frame, and the award certificate from an old job. These will of course be changed in time.

Compare it with the inspiration picture. So, what do you think?

Picture from Domino Decorating Contest entrant Abbey from Buffalo, NY.

Update: I just noticed that Abbey said she was influenced by artist Barry McGee.

Inspiration from Domino magazine

Abbey from Buffalo, NY

Kimberly from Brooklyn, NY

Two participants in the Domino magazine Decorating Contest.
These remind me that pictures on my walls do NOT have to be centered or symmetrical. I can just breathe and not make this harder than it is.

Update: I first tried the bottom arrangement but am now working on one closer to the top one. It's much easier to put together; you just make sure that the first picture is level and go from there. I'll show you a sneak peek tomorrow.

The Kitchens of My Dreams

Over the last two years I have discovered that I REALLY don't like the stainless steel appliances and other attributes of the modern kitchen that is so popular these days. It seems I want the kitchen that everyone is getting rid of as soon as they buy a house. The ones I see on the Internet and in magazines that I like tend to be reminiscent of an older era. However, the colors scheme can be quite varied from either pale spring-like colors to a bold riot of bright colors. SUBTLE: day-lab's awesome redo Dooce's old one before the remodel Pink loves Brown BOLD: First, this great idea, in pink and then in yellow. April 2006 Domino spread Jordan's kitchen shelves Then, these multi-color examples. My House is Cuter than Yours' kitchen House Tour from AT-San Francisco firehouse kitchen from Google Supershoppertoo on Flickr My little temporary fix Last but not least, my dream kitchen floor to go with either color scheme is this one made of cut and assembled linoleum pieces, seen in the December 2005 issue of Domino. This picture from Decor8, however, is from another reader that was inspired by the same story as I. I love the mixing up of different colors intensities. I would work this out with whatever color scheme or mood I chose for the decor. Fewer colors and lighter shades for subtle; more varied and brighter for bold. Attention: day-lab is starting her own DIY-focused blog at day-lab-diy.blogspot.com. She is asking for submissions, go see more information here. Sources: Flickr, the blogs credited above, Apartment Therapy archives, and Google images.

How to wallpaper your fridge...

My 100th Post !!!
How much do I love Time Out New York? SO MUCH.

I first saw the NY travel guide after I had arrived in the big apple. That was way too late, you need this guide ahead of time so you can highlight and map all of the things that you want to check out when you get in town. Afterwards you need to take it home so that you can have the time to read the little articles that they produce for entertainment, like this one.

I remember Nick Olsen from an issue of Domino magazine where he covered his refrigerator in a floral wrapping paper.

Now, here he is in Time Out helping another New York apartment dweller do the same to her graffiti-covered fridge with the instructions included. Nick claims that it will be reversible and fine for renters.

Now their total cost came to $170 but that's only because they used $155 a roll wallpaper! One can easily do this project with less expensive but still gorgeous papers like these from Papermojo. These individual sheets range in price from $2-5 dollars for 20" x 29" sheets.








You should also check out TONY's Tossed and Found posts with the design team Wary Meyers. They take objects or furniture off of the NY streets and recreate them as new decorative items.

*For more inspiration, check out this older Shelter post about covering your cabinets with art posters.