apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

While I enjoyed the photo spread of Jonathan Adler's beautiful and fun design for Liz's home, I was vaguely annoyed with the advice given in the Black Book. Designers polled on how many throw pillows belong on a bed? This is their great design insight culled from years of experience?

I liked the idea but I thought the content was sorely lacking.

kelly, i was equally underwhelmed, i must say. the marfa home was the true highlight. maybe it was too insidery, janel? anyway, not one of my fave issues even tho i thought it would/should be....

I, too, just flipped through this mag at the bookstore yesterday and found myself disappointed. Also a little annoyed that there seemed to be a lot of contradictory advice, which ended up confusing me more than helping.

And, yeah, what was up with the throw pillow poll? What exactly is so bad about using decorative pillows on the bed? I never heard of that being a point of controversy (60% or so designers said "no" to throws on the bed), and the ones that said "no" didn't really explain their reasoning.

I was also very disappointed. The section on must-visit hotels was random, not to mention useless to anyone who can't spend $$$$ on "relentlessly posh" rooms. And the best stores to visit in NYC are Bergdorf Goodman and Moss? How boring and elitist. What happened to the Domino i knew and loved?

My most favorite thing to do with Domino is to leave it in its plastic covering, bring it to work, and abandon it in the mail room. Thank Heavens someone ENJOYS that recycled trash. I wish I had my twelve bucks back for the subscription, but that little bag they sent as a perk comes in handy, even tho' it's "oh so trendy" blue and brown. I hung it on my backstairs kitchen door and drop used wash rags and kitchen towels in it. When it's full I take it to the basement to the washer.

The reason for the section on must visit hotels is obvious...the over-hyped designers featured were the ones who designed the interiors of those posh digs. It was all a big advertisement!

Kurt -

Most magazines do let you cancel subscriptions anytime. They will refund you the cost of however many issues are left. It's a pretty painless process.

I always enjoy the eye candy offered up by Domino and this issue was no exception. I really enjoyed the "Black Book" section. I read it more in the vein of "If I like the advice/suggestion, I'll take it - if not, I'll ignore it." It was quite amusing to hear the tricks designers resort to even though they are cliches and they admit to it as much. I do agree with the posters above about the hotels and the stores-to-visit. Those were weak.

I was also a little disappointed with the sources. I hoped to discover some new sources, but there really wasn't anything that unexpected.

I too am an avid Domino fan, and was glad to come across this thread and see I wasn't alone in feeling let down by this issue.

My monthly routine of squealing with excitement as I remove the plastic covered jewel from my mailbox was replaced by my repeatedly returning to the cover to confirm I was in fact reading Domino.

If a may borrow jerseyfresh's phrasing, the entire spread was a"relentlessy posh" advertisement for the featured designers.

What happened to the flea market-finds sprinkled alongside the OCCASIONAL $$$$$ piece?

I couldn't even afford the throw pillows, let alone take the discussion about them seriously.

Being a pottery addict, I, of course love Adler's pottery and think he is such a cutie. He makes me happy just seeing his picture. That smile.

Usually I don't like the rooms he decorated, just too over the top for my taste. But that is by far the most beautiful place he's designed in my opinion. I think it worked for me because it was just a plain white box. The items have so much personality of their own they don't need to compete with architectural details.

I think I could live in that apartment.

Just read comments, sorry. I usually find Domino disappointing, though I continue to read it. I love their covers so am usually enticed. It's just too commercial for me, and I can't afford anything in it.

Kurt, you made me laugh!

I've been a subscriber to Domino for about 2 years and I am almost always happy with their issues. The last couple, though, I have found a bit lacking. I was very excited when I saw they were doing an article featuring an apartment decorated by Jonathan Adler, but I think the outcome was somewhat generic. If I hadn't known it was done by the designer himself, I would have thought it was an upper east side matron trying to "do" Johnathan Adler. And not really succeeding. I was kind of amazed at how much money went into decorating an apartment for fairly lack-luster results.

My favorite part of this issue was a sidebar in the Black Book section, where the designers were asked what their favorite cure for clutter was. Best answer: "Ziploc bags and antidepressants."