apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I am so glad someone posted about this! I just got my Domino the other day, and I have to say it was one of the most disappointing issues ever. I found almost nothing that interested me and just thought a lot of the decor was blah or icky. I had been a huge Kelly Wearstler fan and I understand her need to push the envelope but I do not like her new direction at all. It just seems tacky and tongue-in-cheek--not what most people want to live with.

I agree with madsarah. I usually keep at least a page or two for inspiration, but this issue went straight to recycling.

I usually like her designs, but that wallpaper in the Kelly Wearstler guest suite looks like it leapt straight from the Golden Girls set, in a bad way.
I have to say that Domino did a poor job of concealing the overt advertorial nature of the Wearstler spread. In many of the photos, the same few Wearstler-designed, for-sale-at-Berdorf Goodman items were prominently displayed and were the only things that were spelled out in the captions. Um, what about the chairs, tables, rugs and paint colors that are normally itemized in the captions?!

I did like the spread on the 3 office spaces though.

kelly's posture in the top pic mirrors the way that interior makes me feel: uncomfortable, pinched, unsexy, and unsoft (sic on purpose).

why does every surface have to be crammed with stuff? you can't LIVE like that.

The whole issue was awful.

I liked Rita's apartment but I DESPISED Kelly's guest house...honestly, I can't remember rooms I liked less...I even went back and looked again, but I could not find a single redeeming quality about them.

I'm glad somebody brought up the awfulness so I could join in - I'm with the chorus of 'what the ...?!' on the eighties pool house, and lets not even mention what the black-and-white painting over the couch (not shown above) reminds me of. Am I alone on that?

Sorry. Is it me, or is her style overrated?

p_capucine, I'm with you on that painting- why would the staff at domino even publish that? I almost think it's Wearstler's private joke. The case of a the big designer seeing what she could get away with, i.e. " Let's see if they say anything about the big framed lacquered TURD on my wall." And if it isn't a joke, then seriously the emperor has no clothes....

I agree that the new turn is ugly. But if she doesn't explore the ugly unknown, how would we/she know that it doesn't work? You push the boundaries, or remain in your Danish-designed teak MCM box (even if pushing it is only for the purpose of justifying why it's good to be in the box). Personally, I'm thankful somebody is doing the dirty work for me.

mine went straight to the bin as well. so sad.

Ditto -- I quite liked Rita's apartment, but Kelly's pool house ... I just kept thinking, "is there something I don't get about this style?" -- awful.

Wow! I'm really surprised at all the negative comments.... am I the only person who liked this issue? I'm with you on the Kelly Wearstler article. While I love the Hollywood Regency glam of Kelly style, I did feel like this was a bit of an 80's overhaul. I did love the screen on page 154-55!

I tabbed a number of great pictures: Anya Hindmarch's townhouse, Rita Konig apartment (which I loved but it was a bit cluttery... sorry but I can't stand clutter), and Christiane Lemieux loft.

So I wouldn't say that all is lost. It wasn't the greatest Domino of all time, but I liked it nonetheless.

JuliaL

I am having Dejavu (yes, I know I can't spell) We all talked about this last week.

Rita's apartment - ok
Rest of the magazine - either meh or "what is this doing in here?" (in regards to the article on lingerie. Was that really necessary)

I love Domino and especially loved last month's very colorful issue but I did not care for this at all. I'm not tossing the issue, who knows, I might find something inspirational eventually but hopefully the next issue will be better.

I agree, disappointing overall. Especially the spread on Kelly's pool house. It made me want to seek refuge in the pages of Traditional Home...

Oh thank God - I'm not alone in the opinion that the 80s were a period in decor that are probably best left in the 80s, for the most part. It was, indeed, a disappointing issue, for the most part. Let's hope that some of the feedback comes their way so that the editors can take careful note....

I personally do not like her new aesthetic but I have to commend her for trying push the boundaries. We owe it designers like her for doing the 'dirty work' for us.

Just a reminder that Half Price Books PAYS for current issues of magazines to sell. They also take past issues. And what they don't sell will get donated or recycled.

So instead of just pitching your mags, consider broadening the range of affordable magazines for someone else!

I agree that Kelly W's guest house is of A Rare Ugliness. (The return of mauve mountain wall coverings- did we not see enough of that at our dentist's office 20 years ago?) The only thing I liked was the albino turd painting which made me laugh my knickers off. Clearly she was shooting for some fresh design (glam-makes-a-comeback!), but what she made was a claustrophobic THEME PARK of glam and in so doing turned it into kitsch. Don't get me wrong- I adore glam, but seriously, if I had to stay in her guest house I would have my head out the window gasping for air.

Tasteful interiors can be so boring, so it's great that Domino features spaces that might otherwise deemed as "unlivable" or "distasteful".... or "eccentric".... I can get my safe and tasteful decors in hundreds of other shelter magazine on the newstand.

Part of Domino's success is that it appeals to a younger audience of trend-setters and risk-taker. It has a more fashion-forward perspective. So I appreciate that Domino show us interiors that has a more editorial feel, and not what appears to be "beautiful" to the general public.

Similarly, this is why I like seeing an editorial shoot from W magazine. I might not wear an evening dress riding a horse with a kabuki hairdo and face paint, but it elevates the image into an inspiration-board where I can have my pick of what I can apply to real life.... and maybe it's just one or two small elements.

Imagine going to New York fashion week and seeing variations of different Banana Republic and JCrew outfits, it would be a bore. I want my Galliano, McQueen and Viktor & Rolf spectacle of a show to inspire me.

That's why I think we need more out-of-the-box interiors offered by designers such as Kelly Wearstler. No matter how contrived it might seems, the images are there to inspire or shake up your view about what is tasteful and beautiful. And I truly appreciate that.

I agree the issue was bad and has been for some time now. I am not renewing mine this year.

why is kelly sitting like that on the cover?????

Oh, noooo... that looks much too much like the hotel room we got when we were staying in the old part of Las Vegas for me to ever want to replicate it.