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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Month: July 2016

Visiting Italy with Trust & Travel
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Visiting Italy with Trust & Travel

It’s August, the official vacation month of the year. So as I think of future travel and its infinite possibilities, high on… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds V
Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds V

Today’s first pick of our Friday Five Favorite Finds is Flowers on Chestnut. The place to go on Nantucket for beautiful… Read More

ReMain Nantucket
Architecture, Nantucket, Travel

ReMain Nantucket

Behind the charm of the cobblestone streets and rose covered cottages, Nantucket is a real-life, year round community that has… Read More

Behind the Scenes at Christie’s
Architecture, Art & Antiques

Behind the Scenes at Christie’s

This year, Christie’s is celebrating its 250th anniversary. And while there have been many special exhibitions and events this year… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV

This week’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts off with a bit of Nantucket history. In the early 18th century, the… Read More

Websites that Inspire
Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Websites that Inspire

During my online wanderings, I am often underwhelmed by the sameness of so many sites. With the ubiquitousness of certain… Read More

At Home with Liz Lange at Grey Gardens
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Liz Lange at Grey Gardens

Few homes elicit the same obsessive intrigue as Grey Gardens. Made famous by the late David and Albert Maysles’ 1975 documentary, the house was subsequently featured… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds III
Art & Antiques, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds III

Today’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts with a pick from an iconic Nantucket institution. Founded in the 1950s by artist… Read More

Stylish Yachting
Interior design, Nantucket, Style, Travel

Stylish Yachting

Life on Nantucket revolves around the water. Whether you are in it, on it or just enjoying the view, the endless… Read More

Paradise Found – Gardens of Enchantment
Books, Garden

Paradise Found – Gardens of Enchantment

Anyone who has perused the pages of books or magazines or even Pinterest boards that feature beautiful gardens, is familiar… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds 2
Beauty, Design, Food and drink, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds 2

For the second installment of my Friday Five Favorite Finds from Nantucket, we start by visiting the far northeast end… Read More

Back to the Land
Architecture, Travel

Back to the Land

While we just celebrated the birthday of our own “land” this weekend, there seems to be a more widespread undercurrent… 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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