I just read such a lovely interview with former Domino magazine Editor-in-Chief Deborah Needleman over on Natalie Walton’s blog Daily Imprint.
If you didn’t catch that, you must check it out. I have to quote Deborah for just a moment because I love how she defines what she thinks makes a truly stylish person. I think it shakes up the typical impression one has when they think of successful New York stylist, writer, designer… I once only imagined ruthless and pretentious types (ha ha Hollywood films and television series didn’t help!) but Domino did a great job of bringing in those who possessed genuine passion for the magazine and decorating vs. those who simply had talent for design and a massive attitude problem. Domino had heart and soul.
Natalie asked Deborah who inspires her and she replied so perfectly, “People with great style who live easily and happily with it. Many seemingly stylish people are pretty awful — fussy and uptight. But I am interested in style that is expansive, that makes lives more beautiful and the people in your life happier. This goes back I guess to the team we put together at domino: I am really inspired by many of the people there like Rita Konig, Dara Caponigro, Sara Costello, Stella Bugbee. I am also really inspired by women who are focused, smart and accomplish a lot while never becoming one of those scary businesswomen, if that makes any sense.”
I also love her thoughts on how she created a strong team and how she views that as her proudest career achievement. “It was a collection of the most talented, wonderful, kind and hilarious people ever. We never made a space for someone who might have been gifted but was difficult or tricky.” Truly great words!
The above photo was shown first in the NYTimes in 2007, you simply must view her home tour there if you didn’t see that already.
(images: deborah needleman, her home in NYC)
February 9th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Her home is beautiful. I enjoyed the tour the first time and am jumping over now to check it out again :)
February 9th, 2010 at 8:15 am
great thoughts from deborah
February 9th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Boy, how I still miss Domino – I used to get so excited when it came in the mail and then I would make a special event of reading it by going to get a mocha and relaxing at the coffee shop while pouring through the pages….oh how I miss that!
And you’re so right, they had such a way of conveying style without the arrogance or uptightness. I love what she said…that she likes style that is expansive and about making your life beautiful and the people in it happier…what a great statement!!
Piper´s last blog ..{shake it up 2010 – week 6 scoop}
February 9th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Lovely thoughts. Sort-of reminds me of the reverse of The Devil Wears Prada. :)
Tricia McKellar´s last blog ..Concord (Ocean and Sky), 8×10 Fine Art Photograph by Tricia McKellar, No. 8638
February 9th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Deborah is so amazing and inspiring! I wish so much that I had known about Domino earlier on. My girlfriend let me borrow a few of her issues that her mother had sent to Morocco and I completely flipped out over them!
With so many of us so completely nuts about the publication I do not understand why it is no longer on the stands. Do you know if there are any plans of bringing it back or recreating the magic in another publication? I have been reduced to purchasing old copies off ebay and they are quite pricey… but, of course, will be so worth it!
February 9th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Makes me so nostalgic for Domino. I loved the day it would come in the mail and I’d wait until evening, eyeing it in the wrapper, enjoying the giddy anticipation of opening it. Finally, after dinner Husband would mind the kiddos and I’d take it into a bubble bath with a cup of tea and lose myself in all that design love. That Deborah made a great team isn’t surprising – I think it really came through in the publication, and I really appreciate her philosophy, which I’m sure is uncommon. I miss Rita, Scrappy Girl, Muse Marian, “Spotted it Found it!” and all the others. They were so down to earth and lovely. Oh my, I’m getting all sentimental.
casapinka´s last blog ..Wrist warmers
February 9th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Great highlight and quote! I love it when people care about other people’s spirits and not just the end result. In the corporate world where I reside, I sometimes get a lot of the opposite – it doesn’t matter that the person is a horse’s rear if they get things done… I also love the move away from fussiness in style.
Valerie´s last blog ..The monstrous necessity of organization
February 9th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Thanks for sharing this. I missed it the first time and truly miss Dominio! The apartment is partical yet stylish, but one would expect nothing less. I love the mixtures.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:08 am
So wonderful and inspiring….I love that. Thanks for sharing it with us hun!
xo
Melis
February 9th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Oh Domino, how I miss it so.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Very nice interview.
I still miss DOMINO. There is no other American shelter magazine like it.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Deborah is one of my heros–both for her incredible sense of style and for her grounded approach to decorating. The fact that she founded one of the best magazines of all time doesn’t hurt either. What a great sneak-peek into her mind!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Thank you for sharing this.
I appreciate this point of view and couldn’t agree more!!
Jaclyn Ehrlich´s last blog ..Focus on Style: Making Shelves Beautiful
February 9th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Amen! “Style that is expansive, that makes lives more beautiful and the people in your life happier” – I love that! I also really look up to those people who are able to achieve a lot, to live out their dreams, while still being able to remember to be real and generous…hm, kind of like you, Holly ;)
Laura Gaskill´s last blog ..Inspiration Assignment
February 9th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Valerie – OH YES you are sooooo right about that. I remember those days very well. It’s annoying isn’t it?
February 9th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Casapinka – I miss Scrappy Girl too!!! She was the best, most down-to-earth editor and she did a great job on their dot com site. I also miss Rita traveling around and of course Muse Marian — I liked how she tried all these cool things for her column, made me jealous of her job!
February 9th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Traveling Mama – No, I’ve heard of no plans to relaunch it. I also don’t understand because so many others survive and I sit here wondering how can it be? I personally think it could be resurrected — perhaps if the economy picks up, who knows? But I see nothing to replace it because it was really the people behind it and Deborah’s eye that made that magazine so exceptional.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Tricia — ha ha, exactly!!!
February 9th, 2010 at 11:18 am
She rocks. I miss Domino!
The Shutter´s last blog ..Clog Heaven
February 9th, 2010 at 11:34 am
This is such an incredible quote. Quite inspiring to many.
xx,
Samantha @PrettyLovely
Sam´s last blog ..Foyer
February 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Hi there!
I just learned about your blog from my friend Anna-Malin (Helt Enkelt) and what a treat it is. I’ve been reading now for quite a while and I like what I see. Thank you! :)
Jenny
Lilla huset på prärien´s last blog ..Beautiful stuff….
February 9th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
great quote. so many feel they need to buy into the “image” of what a designer is, but it really should be just about great work. it’s great when clients are gifted enough to recognize talent without all the drama. we all have to sell ourselves, but it’s not necessary to become a diva.
maja´s last blog ..tikolish: @loopy_lala thanks for the RT :)
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
I wasn’t aware of Domino – don’t know if it was ever available in UK? But I have heard so many good things about it since it folded, I feel like I am missing the opportunity to read it.
Back issues anyone?
Anna´s last blog ..Lego moments
February 9th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Oh wow, this is how I want to decorate my basement!! Where did she get those lovely gray chairs, I LOVE them!! The green table behind the couch is a great space saving idea too!!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Damn it. (Sorry for the “strong language Holly. Darn it doesn’t seem to fit though.) This just made me miss Domino all over again. =( I hope all those people can somehow come together again, or at least find an equally enjoyable experience, and can somehow share it with Domino’s readers again.
Shanon´s last blog ..You’re invited!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Great interview and I love her apartment! Makes me miss Domino oh so much!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Beautiful and inspiring! I love this!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Hello Holly,
Nice post, I just checked the whole interview and blog, how are things in Germany?
Regards from grey/cold London
marga
Margarita Lorenzo´s last blog ..misako mimoko
February 9th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
i LOVE domino and i miss it so bad! :)
February 9th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
What a beautiful living space… so serene and stylish.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
She is so right…. only true style remains…
Thanks for the link Holly!
Nuit´s last blog ..HOT colors of the Season
February 9th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
thanks for sharing this. it was nice to be reminded about how great domino was. ‘expansive style’…i’m going to remember that.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Wow! Those are great words. And VERY true. Lovely home, too!
thedoodlegirl´s last blog ..Homemade Dolls and an Alien
February 9th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Hey Holly, Glad you enjoyed the interview too. I was completely blown away by how down to earth Deborah was in my dealings with her. While I was shaking in my boots, she was just being herself – giving, inspiring and unpretentious. What an amazing woman. And thanks for alerting your readers to the post, too xxx
February 9th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I miss Domino so much! At least Rita Konig and Nick Olsen are still online, but I am very interested to see if Deborah will be involved with more print mags in the future.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Oh Natalie hello! So then, did you conduct the interview in person or over the phone? What an honor!
February 9th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Margarita – All is well, thank you! We have had some sun today and then tonight — huge white snowflakes as I walked home from the movie theater… It was so still and peaceful, and I could smell the wood stoves burning… I really do love it here though some days I feel like I need to live in a larger city. Then when I visit them I’m reminded of how much I live it here better.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
ugh, how I miss Dominio!
I love what she had to say – I think you could feel some of that through the magazine.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Great interview! I still miss Domino….what a wonderful magazine to have enjoyed!
February 9th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Oh Wow…I loved her take on decorating.;)
Cary´s last blog ..I heart ….
February 10th, 2010 at 5:52 am
just via email – but it was one of those chats, if you know what I mean. to-ing and fro-ing. was still nervous/thrilled/thinking “is-this-really-happening-to-me”. I’m a magazine groupie, what can I say?!
February 10th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Holly, Thanks for keeping a part of the Domino spirit alive by featured the people and creative designs that made it so special. Domino was young spirited, modern, classy and featured decor in such a way that no other publication has been successful in capturing. Only good can come out of such a creation, even if it is no longer published. Thanks, love your blog.
manette´s last blog ..Blue Dream Sea Glass Necklace
February 10th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
This is just a beautiful interview. I’ve had the photo of her living room saved since I think it comes out, her style is my idea of perfection!
Mary Jo´s last blog ..grateful giveaway!
February 11th, 2010 at 12:42 am
True……We are still mourning the loss of so many magazines but the new online lonny is the best I’ve seen and measures up to some of our long lost faves…Check it out.
lonnymag.com
February 11th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Very nice, Domino was such a great magazine. It had a real knack at finding inspiring, approachable homes…
What a great post thank you so much Holly
February 11th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
i too miss domino. i was recently trying to search online for dara caponigro and wondering what she is doing now, she has such amazing style. i’d love to see her again, anyone know what she’s up to?
February 19th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I’m blushing!! You guys are the best!
February 19th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Deborah – Hi! :) Okay so everyone wants to know… When/If you will head up another amazing magazine anyway? Or website? Or something? Do you know how strong your magazine still is, because I think you really have something there that so much would support if you decided to bring it back. I’d love to see you relaunch it somehow. Nothing can replace Domino except, well, another Domino! :)