DOMINO

THE BOOK OF DECORATING

by Deborah Needleman
Sara Ruffin Costello
& Dara Capinigro
TABLE OF CONTENTS

chapter 1 getting started 1

chapter 2 the entryway 25
chapter 3 the living room 51
chapter 4 the dining room 83
chapter 5 the kitchen 109
chapter 6 the bedroom 135
chapter 7 the bathroom 163
chapter 8 the office 187
chapter 9 the kid’s room 213
the decorators’ handbook 239

the big black book 251

acknowledgements 265
 building an entryway
the big piece: consoles, chests
and benches
buying an entry table
size the length of consoles varies, but the height
(30" to 32" is standard) and depth (about 14") are
fairly consistent.
placement position the piece so it’s a focal point
as you walk into your home—whether that means
it’s front and center or off to one side (ideally not
behind the door).clearance is important: there
should be enough space not just for the door to
open but for a person to enter comfortably.
 great bathrooms
& why they work
the style: girly drama
confectionery flourishes
this scheme defies the
unremarkable bones of the
space by establishing a visual
identity with color and pattern.
the pink is unabashedly
feminine, but using it in two very
different scales—wide painted
stripes and a small zigzag
shower curtain—lends itself to
spectacular sophistication.
a bit of theater bold stripes
converge on the ceiling, forming
a trompe l’oeil circus tent. the
shower curtains, treated like
fancy drapes (complete with
tiebacks) heighten the ta-da
effect; the tub becomes a stage,
a vintage chandelier introduces
a curlicue shape to counter all
of the strong lines.
small-space solutions
entryway ideas to steal

entryways to steal:
a nonspace maxed out with standout
pendants, over-the-top wallpaper and
vividly painted doors becomes an attention-
getting entry.
establish entryway with a chest
and a chair placed near the door.
rig up a vestibule that eases the transition
from outside to inside.
carve out a “coat closet” with
wall-to-wall hooks and baskets for
hats and gloves
sconces free up surface area in a petite
foyer, leaving room for favorite objects.
why not try a bold wallpaper to make
a tiny entryway have a big statement?
don’t be afraid to play with bold colors
and patterns.
“when we started domino in 2005, my fellow
editors and I began with a straightforward
and somewhat naive goal: to demystify and
democratize decorating. this book reflects
everything my co-authors and I have
learned about answeing those questions.
connoisseurs say that looking, looking, and
more looking is the key to learning about
anything visual, whether it's great rooms,
gardens, art or architecture.
but over the years I've found that I can
understand a subject more readily wand
appreciate it more deeply when I have
some context—a base of knowledge—on
which to ground my thoughts while I look.
so that's how we organized the book.”

deobrah needleman
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