Backyard Bliss

I just found some backyard inspiration photos that I downloaded from Domino before the website was dismantled. Gosh I miss that magazine and website. But I'm glad to see these pics again!

I love our backyard in large part because it is essentially a blank slate. It's a big fenced-in rectangle with grass in the middle and some trees, bushes and flowers along the edges. And we have a simple wood deck above.

Gardening and landscaping intimidates me a bit, so it's fun to look at photos of people who really do their yards up well.

I love the geometric planes and right angles -- not to mention the crisp white -- in this modern yard.

Isn't this deck sexy? It's perfectly bohemian and messy.

Maybe a yard needn't be more complicated than this. The simple, natural and utterly beautiful color palette is great.

I bet this patio is fantastic for outdoor parties.

Photos from dominomag.com.

Hitting the Book

It's official, Domino is gone. The March issue was the last and the magazine's website is officially shut down. 

Anticipating this loss, I hurried out to the bookstore and nabbed a copy of Domino: The Book of Decorating. And I'm so glad I did. The book is positively chock full of inspiring ideas and photos. I read it cover to cover within the first days of buying it, and yet I keep reopening it and finding new ideas. 

The book is a resource I definitely plan to hang on to and use. Having bought our first home a year and a half ago, I'm pretty much constantly tweaking rooms and making both big and little changes to various spaces. It's an ongoing -- and usually fun -- process, and it looks like this book might be able to keep up with me!

Super Sofas

Since we've been married, my husband and I have had two sofas. One, which we still have, use and love, is a deep blue. The other was a white sectional, but unfortunately that one didn't last.

Here are eight great white sofas from Domino.

Blue, white and brown are a great color palette for clean-lined furniture.

I like how the yellow and pink play off one another, and how the white keeps both bold hues in check.

Somehow, white seems quite masculine in this space.

A white sofa shakes off its minimalism when it's placed amid rich prints, wood, a shaggy carpet and a roaring fire.

A cool, clean, easy space -- and I'm digging the striped ottoman.

Creamy white upholstery provides a balance to the bold wallpaper and mirror.

White is so right, not just for the couch but also for the shelving that gives the room character.

And here -- because I just can't resist -- are three wonderful blue sofas.

I like the juxtaposition of this tailored sofa and the more wild printed pillows, tree and zebra rug.

This casual, comfly and clean-lined room, with just enough texture and color, is perfect to me.

I like how low these sofas are -- they play up the height of the room.

Photos from dominomag.com.

Craving Cool Kitchens

The kitchen is such an important room in a home, yet it can be hard to get right. I always think if I could just get my kitchen perfect, then I'd definitely cook more.

While this might be wishful thinking, these Domino kitchens and dining rooms are places I'd surely spend some serious time.

I love this combination of white, light wood and natural light.

Maybe it's all the black and white, but I'd like to sit down with a newspaper and cup of coffee.

Deep purple seems unusual -- but so right -- for a formal-ish dining room.

I like the variety of shapes going on here.

Black, white, blond wood and a vibrant green work in a clean, graphic way.

Why not show off a wildly ornate wallpaper in the kitchen?

I'm digging the layer upon layer of pattern here. And since most of it is blue, it works.

Who needs more than minimalistic furniture when your table overlooks this gorgous yard?

This dining room reminds me of a cheery, simple bistro.

Photos from dominomag.com.

Dream-Worthy Bedrooms

Like so many people, I'm saddened that the March issue of Domino is the magazine's last. I loved discovering new ideas each month and appreciated the young, upbeat, give-it-a-shot approach.

The following are a few of my favorite Domino bedrooms.

Soft, muted neutrals provide such a soothing color palette.

A piece of art as a headboard is such a good idea.

This dark purple is great -- and the lime lamps really pop against it.

More pops of color, this time as clever foot-of-the-bed seating.

I'm a sucker for natural light, so I don't know if I'd ever leave this room.

I love how different patterns of red and white look so good near one another.

Blue, blue and more blue look amazing, especially accented with doses of yellow.

The cripness of this room is so appealing to me.

The moodiness of the dark walls is nicely offset by the bed's white linens.

A bed surrounded in curtains is both romantic and cozy.

Photos from dominomag.com.