See You at the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Posted on March 11, 2014 by quintessence   •   5 Comments

See You at the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Next week the world of design convenes for the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Design Show. Along with Architizer, Apartment Therapy and its companion site theKitchn, The New Potato, FashionSnoops, TRNK, Stylebeat and HGTV Front Door, I am proud to be a blog ambassador partner for this premier design show geared toward the luxury market.

Hosted by Architectural Digest and co-sponsored by The New York Times, the show includes not only a wide array of innovative products divided into several categories, but seminars, design series and the popular DIFFA Dining by Design, celebrating the worthy organization’s 30th anniversary. From keynote session with AD editor in chief Margaret Russell speaking with Alexa Hampton and Jamie Drake about the business of design to publisher, editor and book consultant Jill Cohen moderating a panel of design talents Laura Bohn, Elissa Cullman, Suzanne Kasler, and Brian McCarthy, the days are packed with illuminating and inspiring programming.…

Read More »

Posted in art, design, food and drink, furniture, garden, interior design | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments  

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Finale

Posted on March 9, 2014 by quintessence   •   5 Comments

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Finale

Although we took a little break last week to travel to France, I wanted to bring you a brief finale of the beautiful tables from the Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner. Hilary Pereira referenced the Key West theme with her “Roadmap for Writers” table.

Celebrating such authors as Hemingway, Shel Silverstein, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost (who wintered there) and Tennessee Williams, she included vintage first editions from the Shire Bookshop in Franklin, Massachusetts.

The tropical locale came to life with her place setting including a fresh graphic mix of blue and green with fun cork mats.

Carolyn Gregg and Steven De La Torre teamed up for a boho chic literary table that I caught during their  set up.…

Read More »

Posted in garden, interior design | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments  

International House Guest Video with Susanna Salk and Timothy Corrigan

Posted on March 6, 2014 by quintessence   •   16 Comments

International House Guest Video with Susanna Salk and Timothy Corrigan

As the indomitable Ms. Vreeland taught us, the eye indeed has to travel, so today we are delighted to introduce a new video series, International House Guest. Our first episode takes us to the Loire Valley where designer Timothy Corrigan has meticulously renovated Château du Grand-Lucé, transforming this estate of impressive stature and significance into his chic french home. Susanna and I were thrilled to pay Tim a visit in January and even the dreary winter weather couldn’t dampen our spirits as we settled into chateau life. Join us for a visit to this remarkable residence.

While Chateau du Grand-Lucé is a national landmark in France, representing one of the purest examples of 18th century architecture, comfort reigns supreme and it’s truly a testament to Tim’s talents that, at 40,000 square feet, it is also one of the coziest and welcoming abodes I have ever visited.…

Read More »

Posted in architecture, art, interior design, International House Guest, Stylish Shopping, travel | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments  

Thank you Design Bloggers Conference and Stay Tuned

Posted on March 5, 2014 by quintessence   •   10 Comments

Thank you Design Bloggers Conference and Stay Tuned

A big thank you to all who came to hear Susanna Salk and me speak at the Design Bloggers Conference in Atlanta yesterday. We were honored to be part of such a great line up. While it was wonderful to see so many friends and meet some new members of the blogosphere our special treat was running into Timothy Corrigan, who had spoken the day before, on our way to the airport.
 

And what a coincidence, since we will be debuting our new video series “International House Guest” based on our recent stay at Timothy Corrigan’s Chateau du Grand-Lucé  on Thursday (tomorrow).…

Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments  

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Continued

Posted on March 2, 2014 by quintessence   •   7 Comments

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Continued

For those of you who aren’t normally weekend readers, please take a moment to look back at the last post covering Gloria Vanderbilt’s new exhibition. It is a testament to the power of creativity and that age is merely a number not a limitation. Moving on, today we continue our look at this year’s beautiful tables at the Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner. One of the most creative arrangements was orchestrated by Aamir Khandwala for Robert Couturier in which a halo of orchids was suspended over the table. In a clever play on negative space, a hand sculpted metal ring by artist Roque Rey functions as the centerpiece, with the overhanging florals offering an embracing yet spacious surround.…

Read More »

Posted in garden, interior design | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments  

Gloria Vanderbilt | The Left Hand is the Dreamer at 1stDibs

Posted on March 1, 2014 by quintessence   •   8 Comments

Gloria Vanderbilt | The Left Hand is the Dreamer at 1stDibs

Gloria Vanderbilt may not be left handed, but as her latest painting exhibit at 1stDibs, “The Left Hand is the Dreamer” references, she perhaps wishes she were. Alluding to mythology and palmistry, she explained the left ring finger, the only one on which she wears polish, is a direct conduit to the heart and her imagination, from which the new works emanate.
Seeing her the other evening at the opening for the show, above with 1stdibs editor Tony Freund, it was hard to imagine that she is 90 and that the 50 + paintings, mostly pastels, were all completed in the last year.…

Read More »

Posted in art | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments  

NYBG Orchid Dinner Tables

Posted on February 27, 2014 by quintessence   •   6 Comments

NYBG Orchid Dinner Tables

While perhaps challenging in its specificity, the Key West Modernism theme at the NYBG Orchid Dinner couldn’t have been more welcome in a city that has lately felt more like Siberia than Gotham. A great crowd assembled to celebrate the table designers’ creativity, perhaps purchase one of the coveted rare specimens for sale before dinner
and of course to support the New York Botanical Garden. In choosing the participating designers, Veranda Magazine brought together a group whose concepts of warm weather entertaining each expressed a separate and distinct vision.

Thomas Burak and Michael Devine (whose new entertaining book I recently reviewed) looking dapper below, created a whimsical confection of tropical hues, above.…

Read More »

Posted in garden, interior design | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments  

Behind the Scenes Video at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner

Posted on February 25, 2014 by quintessence   •   9 Comments

Behind the Scenes Video at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner

Sometimes it indeed takes a village and this is often the case when the talented designers are creating tables for the annual New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner sponsored by Veranda Magazine. We were delighted to tag along with Philip Gorrivan for the day as his vision for his Key West Contemporary table came together. Follow Susanna Salk as she learns how he creates the fantasy along with some tips for fashioning fantastic tabletops at home.

From initial concept to final fruition, Philip’s table was a true creative collaboration. The dramatic centerpiece by Olivier Giugni and Ryan Reid Zoeller of l’Olivier Floral Atelier and the art-inspired tablecloth by decorative painter Sylvie Michel Bilger of Metamorfaux were integral elements in the overall design.…

Read More »

Posted in garden, interior design | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments  

Veering Toward Velvet

Posted on February 23, 2014 by quintessence   •   9 Comments

Veering Toward Velvet

Many of the design developments from 2013 are still going strong for the coming year including a love of brass, blue, nature inspired pattern and print and the appealing tactile quality of velvet. And like the return of flowering fabrics, velvet offers a plethora of possibilities for updates on tradition. With some final picks from Paris Deco Off, here a few favorites spied in my all too brief visit to the showrooms. Dedar introduced a full line of opulent options. The star of the show was their spectacular Coup de Foudre cupro velvet.

A gorgeous hand woven jacquard inspired by Persian designs, the two toned pattern is available is five luscious colorways including the eye popping pink and orange above and a rich blue variation below.…

Read More »

Posted in interior design | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments  

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Preview

Posted on February 20, 2014 by quintessence   •   4 Comments

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Preview

One of my favorite events of the winter design scene is The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Dinner. Serving as a fundraising prelude to the annual Orchid Show, the Garden has continued its collaboration with Veranda in bringing together over 25 top NYC designers (see this year’s list below) to create spectacular orchid centerpieces and tabletops.
The theme of this year’s show, Key West Contemporary, opening March 1, should provide plenty of tropical inspiration.
Inspired by a modern garden originally designed by landscape architect Raymond Jungles for Susan Henshaw Jones, President of the Museum of the City of New York, and Judge Richard K.…

Read More »

Posted in garden, interior design | Tagged , , | 4 Comments