Gear for the Guys

Posted on December 1, 2010 by quintessence   •   16 Comments

Gear for the Guys

Since we are now officially in December, I thought I’d start a little shopping. I’ve come across a few fun finds for the guys, so I thought I’d share. From the modest to the mega gift, here are a few ideas to start you thinking.
Handpresso (coming in various iterations, starting at $99) is a handy little portable espresso maker, allowing you to have a delicous caffeine fix anywhere, even on a walk in the woods. Take a look at this video if you don’t believe me!

Bring a little style to your guy’s outdoor activities. For tailgating, picnicking or for an extra lap layer at a football game, how about this handsome offering from Louis Vuitton.…

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Posted in gifts, holiday | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments  

Wednesday Wine

Posted on November 30, 2010 by quintessence   •   25 Comments

Wednesday Wine

Aren’t you happy it’s Wednesday now? Last week I mentioned our exciting new collaboration with  Horseneck Wines in Greenwich. Well for the next few weeks, we will be featuring a holiday related wine post every Wednesday. I think that makes the middle of the week so much more appealing! As it is now December and the party invitations are rolling in, I asked Terry Rogers, owner of Horseneck, to suggest a pair of wines, one white, one red, that would be lovely to bring as a gift for a special occasion.

Terry’s pick for a white is the elegant 2008 Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay ($34).…

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Posted in food and drink, gifts, wine | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments  

Soane Contract Range

Posted on November 29, 2010 by quintessence   •   26 Comments

Soane Contract Range

In addition to their spectacular regular collection, Soane also has an extensive range of furniture, lighting and upholstery designed and priced especially for hotels, restaurants, board rooms and other commercial spaces. Some of these pieces are adapted from iconic Soane designs and some are commissioned for specific projects. The contract pieces are different in that the designs have been very subtly tweeked to make them slightly more affordable for a commercial application. For example, instead of using a hand tanned goat skin leather for a chair, a more readily available leather might be used. Also, all contract orders must include a minimum of six pieces.…

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Posted in furniture, interior design, lighting | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments  

Singular Soane

Posted on November 28, 2010 by quintessence   •   31 Comments

Singular Soane

I have followed Soane‘s products for years, ever since I fell in love with their charming Fireside chair, shown below, in The World of Interiors. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Sarah Meeke from Soane, who was kind enough to fill me in on the details of the company and some of their latest projects. Founded in 1997 by Lulu Lytle and Christopher Hodsoll,  Soane’s seemingly simple goal is to provide architecturally inspired bespoke furniture and lighting.

By combining the superb design and workmanship of antique pieces with the highest quality British craftsmanship and the flexibility of custom furniture, they produce over 350 pieces, all in Britain.…

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Posted in furniture, lighting, outdoor furniture | Tagged , , | 31 Comments  

At the Movies Bonus Edition

Posted on November 26, 2010 by quintessence   •   20 Comments

At the Movies Bonus Edition

As I mentioned, in honor of the long Thanksgiving weekend, I am adding an extra day of movie picks. My first pick is a particular favorite with the boys in my house. But I like it as well because John Hughes’ 1987 Planes, Trains and Automobiles is not only hilarious but also a touching film. The madcap humor of its comedic stars, Steve Martin and John Candy, is enhanced by their terrific on-screen chemistry and offset by the depth of John Candy’s character and the poignant ending. If you have never seen it, the plot is simple. Steve Martin is a businessman stranded at La Guardia trying to get home to his family in Chicago for Thanksgiving.…

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At the Movies

Posted on November 26, 2010 by quintessence   •   12 Comments

At the Movies

The title alone is cause to pick this movie for our Thanksgiving weekend selection. This 1942 romance, with Ronald Coleman and Greer Garson is a timeless classic. In fact, Greer Garson always claimed that of all the wonderful movies she made, this was her favorite. Based on the novel by the talented James Hilton, Random Harvest is an emotionally moving movie with several layers. Primarily a love story, it is also a statement about England’s class structure, and the sense of loss and identity during post WWI Britain.
This is a heartfelt movie where you will genuinely feel for the characters and anxiously await the resolution of the uncertain and winding plot.…

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Posted in children, entertainment, film | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments  

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2010 by quintessence   •   6 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving

From my home to yours. Here is where we will be having our meal later today. I wish you, dear readers, the very best wishes on Thanksgiving for you and your family.…

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Posted in dining room, entertainment, food and drink, holiday, interior design | Tagged , | 6 Comments  

Turkey Tabletop

Posted on November 23, 2010 by quintessence   •   34 Comments

Turkey Tabletop

Before we are catapulted into the “big” holiday of the season, I wanted to pay un petit homage to, what seems this year, to be the orphan child of celebrations. Thanksgiving offers so many lovely decorating opportunities that seem to be somewhat overlooked in favor of the overwhelming holiday coming down the pike. When I went around to my local establishments trying to find shots of tabletop decor to share, everyone had already moved on to Christmas – some segueing straight from Halloween with not even an acknowledgement. So, from my files, let me share some pilgrim cheer from present and past.…

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Posted in dining room, entertainment, food and drink, interior design | Tagged , , , | 34 Comments  

Windsor Wonders

Posted on November 22, 2010 by quintessence   •   22 Comments

Windsor Wonders

I’m sure many of you are aware of the upcoming (November 30) Sotheby’s auction “Exceptional Jewels & Precious Objects formerly in the Collection of The Duchess of Windsor”. The original historic auction in 1987 of “The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor” included over 300 items and brought in $50.3 million, over six times its estimate, making it the highest valued jewelry collection ever sold. Wow!! This is not a sale of that magnitude. These 20 pieces, all from a single private collection have a pre-sale estimate of $4.8 million. But there are many spectacular pieces, several of which were cornerstones of the Duchess’ collection.…

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Posted in auctions, history, jewelry | Tagged , , | 22 Comments  

The Bad Boy of Bordeaux

Posted on November 21, 2010 by quintessence   •   12 Comments

The Bad Boy of Bordeaux

I am thrilled to announce Quintessence’s new collaboration. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Horseneck Wines in Greenwich, CT. A mainstay in the community since 1934, Horseneck was owned by the same family until 1989 when the current owner Terry Rogers purchased the business. With an extensive background in sales, distribution and importation of wines, Terry brought a broad knowledge to the store but her real passion is connecting with her customers. She has a reputation for recommending wines that have quality and value that you don’t necessarily see other places. Continuing the legacy of a “carriage trade” business, Terry explains “Knowing our customers’ needs and tastes is a very important skill here at Horseneck.” Her commitment to her customer base has paid off as the store has grown to become one of the top wine sellers in the country. Whether it’s a bottle of wine for dinner or a wedding for 500, you can count on Terry and her staff to make the perfect suggestion for you.…

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Posted in food and drink, wine | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments