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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Month: May 2013

Elissa Grayer-2
Design, Interior design

2013 Designer Showhouse of Westchester

After our break for the latest Stylish Shopping episode yesterday, we continue with a look at some more rooms at… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video noufvfzamsw
Books, Garden, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm has an exquisite eye for beauty and a passion for perfection. No wonder everything she touches is divine…. Read More

Rachel Laxer ceiling
Architecture, Design, Interior design

Designer Showhouse of Westchester First Peek

From North Carolina to NYC to Westchester, each location has welcomed a designer showhouse this spring. On the heels of… Read More

West Chin spa
Design, Interior design

Kips Bay Decorator Show House Finale

It’s always takes time for me to work my way through sharing a show house, especially one like Kips Bay… Read More

memorial-day
Design, Interior design

More From Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2013

As I start to continue my coverage of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2013, I am longingly looking at… Read More

Kathryn Ireland fabrics for Scalamandre
Design, Interior design

Kips Bay Kathryn Ireland Bedroom

One of the few oddities of the Kips Bay show house is that there is only one bedroom. But Kathryn… Read More

James Magni rooftop lounge
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design

Magni Modernism

James Magni’s new volume, Magni Modernism, celebrating his 25 years of design, is a testament not only to the longevity… Read More

Dineen pillows and throw
Architecture, Design, Interior design

Kips Bay Decorator Show House Part 3

Finishing off the main floor at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House is James Huniford‘s dramatic atrium. With the feel… Read More

Kips Bay Showhouse kitchen
Design, Interior design

Kips Bay Showhouse Continued

While I am still catching up with all the recent design events this spring, the Kips Bay Showhouse is one… Read More

Thom Filicia girl’s bedroom
Design, Interior design

1st Peek | Thom Filicia Does Greenwich in ELLE DECOR

The June ELLE DECOR is all about getting inspired. And as Memorial Day approaches, it becomes for many, focussed on… Read More

Robert Brown bathroom
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Kips Bay Show House First Look

During the flurry of spring design events, Kips Bay is always on everyone’s list. This year, the anticipated show was… Read More

Lisa Mende and Traci Zeller show house
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

Junior League Show House at Adamsleigh Continued

Today we move upstairs at the Junior League Show House in Greensboro that I visited when at High Point. It… Read More

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Nantucket baskets are suddenly everywhere this sum Nantucket baskets are suddenly everywhere this summer — filling Instagram feeds, appearing in the pages of The New York Times and garnering attention in publications around the world. Coveted by collectors and a whole new generation of enthusiasts, these iconic baskets are having an undeniable moment. Yet behind all the current excitement is a fascinating story of history, tradition, ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship.

Five years ago, I had the privilege of making this film with @Mary_emery_design, Director of Heritage Craft for the @nantuckethistoricalassociation , exploring the history and evolution of Nantucket lightship baskets through the people who know them best. We visited master basket makers Karl and Susan Ottison, Tim Parsons and Nap Plank, and heard about legendary maker José Reyes from his son-in-law, Maurice Gibbs. We also spent time with Nantucket scrimshander Michael Vienneau, whose work illustrates another chapter in the continuing evolution of the basket.

The film was made at the time the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum became affiliated with the Nantucket Historical Association, bringing its extraordinary collection — and the stories and traditions it represents — into the care of the NHA.

With Nantucket baskets now capturing the attention of an entirely new audience, it seemed the perfect time to revisit the film and celebrate the remarkable makers, history and craftsmanship behind this enduring Nantucket tradition.

Watch the full film at the link in bio.
August, stay a while. August, stay a while.
Charleston has a way of drawing people back again Charleston has a way of drawing people back again and again—and homes like this remind us why.
Tag along as designer @michaelmitchelldesigner welcomes us inside his gracious home, where layers of history, thoughtful collecting, and a deeply personal approach to design make every room a reflection of both its owner and the city itself.
LINK IN PROFILE.
One of my favorite things about setting a table is One of my favorite things about setting a table is that it never has to begin from scratch.

The most beautiful tables are collected over time—mixing old favorites with new discoveries, heirlooms with contemporary pieces, and the things you’ve loved for years with something that brings fresh perspective.

For this table, I’ve paired PeterDunham + Hudson Grace’s (@peterdunhamdesign @hudsongracesf ) beautiful salad and bread plates and napkins with Blue Carnation dinner plates, table linens, glassware, and flatware from my shop, alongside a few favorite pieces from my personal collection.

I hope this table is a reminder that you don’t need everything to match—or come from one place. The magic is in the mix. Every new piece should make you fall in love with the pieces you already own all over again.

That’s the joy of collecting—and the beauty of a table that reflects your own story.

Shop the table through link in profile
Very excited to be returning to @eleishvanbreems o Very excited to be returning to @eleishvanbreems on Nantucket for a 2 day trunk show next Thursday and Friday! If on island, do stop by! There will be many new introductions you will be the first to see!!
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