EVERYTHING in Laura's house was so EXPENSIVE!! It was almost too much...

Even her clothes were obscenely pricey.

I guess, to me, when everything in the house is top dollar, it seems almost too easy. Like she bought her style and didn't really have to work at it. Maybe because its Charlotte, and I'm from NC, or maybe because so was so young... I wanted to relate to her, but I couldn't. Her house didn't seem sincere to me.

Thoughts?

that was supposed to read...
"because she was so young"

I loved the north carolina home and the closet makeover. However I was somewhat disappointed that the cover lines weren't actually in the mag, the whole issue is called the organized home but there was very little about organization and the article about the butler school didn't actually offer any cleaning tips.

Agreed, Laura! That's totally what I thought when I got through the whole mag. Very disappointing and misleading.

I third the disappointment.

Right, exactly what were the 29 designer tricks for organizing small spaces?

Unfortunately I am a Domino subscriber. I am so disappointed in this magazine. OTT should be it's name. I have yet to see a layout that isn't in pre-war building or with large sq footage. Can I ask just how many of you, have a spare room to change into a closet or a room in your parents home to use as storage? or how about how many of you work for an interior designer who will decorate your apartment for you using his trade connection. I don't think Domino is "designed" with ATTers and I can't get my money back!!

I usually pee my pants with excitement when my Domino issue comes, but this month I gotta say, I was a bit dissapointed. Nothing that inspiring!

OK, these comments are making me laugh because i was having the same exact disconnect between the cover headlines and the interior content too -

and then i discovered a feature that i never noticed before in the table of contents section (page 14 in this issue)...

they have a little picture of the cover with page numbers surrounding it, pointing out where in the issue you can find each thing.

Funny that is seems to be a very necessary feature for all of us this time around...

Why does there have to be an awkwardly-posed designer/model on the cover?

Hear hear!

Looking at the cover, I thought it would be their best issue to date. What a bummer! Hopefully they will feature small space solutions in future issues, I feel like that was a strength in the first few issues. Not as relatable now.

Also, what's up with all the featured furniture no longer being available? Seems like a waste of a sales opportunity for Target and JCP.

I do like the new website however. I think I am done complaining now.

Bring back the old Domino!

Killorn is on the money about the discontinued items. But the deal seems to be that this was donated merchandise. These retailers have regular, seasonal sales and clearance. (And why not donate pretty stuff that's on it's way out anyway?)

Sometimes domino's talkin' to me and sometimes it ain't.

disappointment was the theme this month. i wasn't impressed by the featured home, and i really wasn't impressed by the out-of-focus photos used to document it. i thought this issue was more female-oriented than recent issues (i.e., $5000 girly closet makeover!). i read it in about 20 minutes.

re: the southern debutante, though, i really loved her graceland poodles and that amazing gold curtain. i'm always amused when other southerners are featured in these kinds of magazines.

yeah, honestly, domino has some crappy advice. EVERYTHING is too $$$. all i ever use it for is nice pictures. as silly as that may sound sometimes it can be good inspiration. the articles are usually horrible. i do subscribe to it though. i have noticed it's been getting worse. the holiday issue was the worst.

Ditto to all the above. The magazine seems to be catering to the "decorating right out of the box" crowd, rather than those of us who like to "think outside the box". I would much prefer to see creativity and do-able solutions, rather than just a showcase of where to buy trendy and pricey items. If I want to shop, I'll get a catalog. To me, if the main headline of the cover states "the organized home" then the prominent theme of the issue should be on organization.

I like their recipes, but the botox ad in this month's issue was a bit disturbing...

I usually rip right into the magazine with glee, but this month...meh

glad to see I wasn't the only one.

Maureen -- perhaps it's something to do with the title of their webpage: "The Shopping Magazine for your home". That doesn't imply creativity or DIY to me.

Do you readers always expect a magazine to provide you with affordable products? Isn't the point of reading a magazine on home design to gain inspiration and creative ideas to inspire your own decorating? When you read Elle Decor or House and Garden things aren't affordable either...You're probably more likely to find affordable items in Domino than anywhere else. Plus at least with Domino you don't necessarily need an interior designer to get you the products you see in those other magazines.

I have to admit, I was a charter subscriber and have let mine go. I have always hated the layout of this magazine. The articles are uninspiring and I would never refer back to it when I would be contemplating something for my own home.

I also find it funny that people are comparing about the prices of items shown for this particular issue. All of those rooms shown that were designed for charity are chock-a-block with furniture and accessories from Pier 1, Ikea, Target, JC Penney ... how much more affordable can you get?

However, I do agree that the coverlines didn't quite match up to the content.

I always find that the cover headlines are never the same as they appear in the magazine...that seems to be the lucky/domino way. That's why I don't bother reading the cover just skimming the photo. And that's probably why I enjoyed the magazine this month more than other people. The design project that domino did for aids patients was really cool. I'm glad they did so many different designers and that each apartment was unique. And I really liked the ideas and products used which has inspired me for my own apartment. I think the most dissapointing was cleaning tips from the top cleaners or whatever that article was....there were not very many tips for cleaning. but I'm always dissapointed with that section (I forget her name but I think its the writers general tone...I can't relate). I have to say, compared to other home/design/style mags, Domino probably presents the most affordable things that still look great. And if I can't afford those things I still get very inspired.

Another one who was disappointed. I normally have a thrill of excitement every time I get my new issue of Domino in the mail . . . but this month, it was a big blah.

First of all, the cover advertised a "chic, cheap" closet makeover. In what parallel universe does $5000 for a freaking closet equal cheap?

I wasn't feeling the North Carolina home. I don't know what it was . . . it was like they were trying too hard, or something. There were some beautiful things, but it just didn't seem very cohesive.

And the musician's apartment was maybe the ugliest space I've ever seen in that magazine.

Although I didn't like all the accesories, I did think it was a good example of understated elegance...

Allison-
I haven't viewed their webpage, but the magazine's intro line states "the guide to living with style", and while I do realize that they have advertising sponsors whom they want to keep happy, it is after all a decorating magazine and I'd just like to see more creativity, similar to some of the house tours on AT. I see "style" as being the result of "creativity".

Everything in Laura's house was beautiful. Instead of looking at the prices, look at all of the pieces in her house as an investment and a piece of art work that will be passed on to her precious daughter. I have visited her store, Capitol as well as The Poole shop, which are equally beautiful.

I agree that the cover did not seem to convey the issue content, which is really weird.

Still, I have to say I loved Laura Vinroot Poole's home. It was an interesting integration of color and pattern that I found inspirational. Especially loved the wallpaper in her dining room next to the midcentury credenza.

As far as prices, Domino can frequently be out of reach but I thought the Woodycrest House spread did a great job of showing how design professionals put together a room that showcases their signature styles using mostly mass-market and budget items.

DIY-ers might want to check out the magazine Cottage Living. It is a surprisingly hip read with GREAT projects that have easy-to-follow instructions for making items that look very high-end. A good deal of the content is geared toward living in small spaces. It may also appeal to suburbanites who can find little to relate to in the pre-war apartment dwellings showcased in Domino.

Laura - why would suburbanites have a different sense of style than those living in pre-war apartment dwellings? If you're creative and stylish, you should be able to take the ideas and inspiration you see and translate that into your home whether it was a 3 bedroom home or a one bedroom apartment.

CS-I agree that magazine images primarily provide inspiration and usually don't literally translate into people's homes. Still, some people live in homes that have very "suburban standard" architecture or finishes (I'm one of them!) and it can be interesting to see what people in similar homes have done to work within that situation.

I loved the Blonde Redhead's home lol, one of my favorite layouts. I agree that the items in Poole's home are expensive, but I mostly use magazines for inspiration, and getting info on more expensive items I might want to splurge on. I agree with the Chantecaille closet overhaul being boring, but I guess with the money she has, $5000 is being on a budget. I'm in the minority but I really liked this issue.

Not only was Laura Vinroot Poole absolutely stunning in all of her photos, her home was the most interesting I've everseen in Domino. Unlike traditional Charlotte homes, her home is elegant and tasteful with a touch of her own personal style. She is a fashion icon in so many different ways.
p.s. Her store, Capitol, is GORGEOUS!

I was so excited when I saw that a Charlotte home was on the cover of Domino. Laura Vinroot Poole has such exquisite taste.