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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Month: January 2017

Paris Deco Off 2017 Color and Pattern
Interior design, Travel

Paris Deco Off 2017 Color and Pattern

Of the colorful and pattern laden fabrics of the Paris Deco Off 2017 collections, many were conceived from travel and nature inspired sources…. Read More

Paris Deco Off Preview
Design, Interior design, Travel

Paris Deco Off Preview

While I continue to edit my photos from Paris, I bring you a quick Deco Off preview. Among the showrooms I… Read More

A Visit to Ancien et Moderne
Design, Interior design, Travel

A Visit to Ancien et Moderne

Last week in Paris, my colleague Beth Dempsey and I unveiled this year’s version of Ancien et Moderne, the second… Read More

Paris Peek
Interior design, Style, Travel

Paris Peek

As always Paris Deco Off has been a whirlwind week. Our Ancien et Moderne pop up has been hopping and I’ve… Read More

Bonjour from Paris
Style, Travel

Bonjour from Paris

A quick bonjour from Paris. It was a beautiful sunny but FREEZING day as I arrived yesterday. The city is… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Nathan Turner & Eric Hughes
Architecture, Food and drink, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Susanna Salk and Nathan Turner & Eric Hughes

While both California natives, it took designers Nathan Turner and Eric Hughes years before they would have a Malibu beach… Read More

Prepping for Paris
Books, Food and drink, Travel

Prepping for Paris

Next week marks the start of the design shows in Paris as well as the second edition of our Ancien… Read More

Puntacana Resort & Club
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Puntacana Resort & Club

As we endure these tundra-like temperatures here in the northeast, it’s the perfect time to dream about a tropical destination. High on… Read More

Foraged Flora – A New Vision for the Art of the Arrangement
Books, Design

Foraged Flora – A New Vision for the Art of the Arrangement

As we enter the new year, it seems the perfect time to share Louesa Roebuck’s wholly original and fresh vision on plants… Read More

Planet Earth II – Living Wonders of our Natural World
Entertainment

Planet Earth II – Living Wonders of our Natural World

It is not often that you can find amazing, visually stunning and fascinating content that is mostly appropriate for the… Read More

Ancien et Moderne 2017 – the Paris Pop Up Returns
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

Ancien et Moderne 2017 – the Paris Pop Up Returns

Now that the new year is here, the biggest design destination on everyone’s calendar is Paris for Maison et Objet… Read More

Tradition Meets Technology
Architecture, Interior design

Tradition Meets Technology

As we ease into a new year, it is about both looking back and moving forward. And these days, in our… 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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