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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Stacey Bewkes

Setting the Table with Bunny Williams
Garden, Interior design, Video

Setting the Table with Bunny Williams

Celebrated interior designer Bunny Williams is known not only for her stunning interiors but refreshing and authentic approach to gracious living…. Read More

Christmas on Fifth Avenue
Holiday, Interior design

Christmas on Fifth Avenue

Friend, designer Phillip Thomas loves the holidays and so earlier this week I stopped by to see what he was… Read More

Patrick Mele The Store
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Patrick Mele The Store

Since he was a young boy, designer Patrick Mele has always wanted to have his own store. And now he… Read More

More from Middlefield
Architecture, Garden, Interior design

More from Middlefield

Since Susanna’s and my video visit with Gil Schafer at his country house, Middlefield, seemed to resonate with so many,… Read More

The Authentics
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

The Authentics

In a world driven by speed, sameness and recycled imagery and content, where the word authentic is batted around as… Read More

At Home in the Country with Gil Schafer Video
Architecture, Garden, Interior design, Video

At Home in the Country with Gil Schafer Video

I first became familiar with architect Gil Schafer when his own country home in upstate New York, Middlefield, was published… Read More

The Spirit of Christmas at John Derian
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Holiday

The Spirit of Christmas at John Derian

Few places in New York City evoke the holiday spirit quite like Christmas at John Derian‘s enchanting east village shop…. Read More

Remodelista The Organized Home
Books, Interior design

Remodelista The Organized Home

Most of you readers know by now, I am not a minimalist. Living with what I love (all of it)… Read More

Giving Thanks
Holiday

Giving Thanks

There is always so much to be thankful not the least of which is having all my chicks home in… Read More

Highlights from Christie’s Sale of The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller
Art & Antiques

Highlights from Christie’s Sale of The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller

As you may remember from my post on the Rockefeller Homes and Gardens, next spring Christie’s will offer The Collection… Read More

More from 2017 Rooms with a View
Art & Antiques, Interior design

More from 2017 Rooms with a View

For the 2017 Rooms with a View, designer Robert Passal assembled a vignette entitled The Joy of Eating, celebrating the… Read More

The Salon Art + Design 2017
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

The Salon Art + Design 2017

Tomorrow marks the final day to visit The Salon Art + Design 2017 at the Park Avenue Armory. Including 56… Read More

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In this snowy January weather, see how @timothycor In this snowy January weather, see how @timothycorrigan uses a plethora of @benjaminmoore whites to full advantage in his elegant Paris apartment. Full home tour on the Quintessence YouTube channel!
Quiet breakfast on this snowy morning. I cross sti Quiet breakfast on this snowy morning. I cross stitched these placemats for my mother YEARS ago when I was living in Switzerland. They have recently come full circle back to me and on this holiday are a lovely reminder of both her and my time spent there. Grounding tablecloth from @heathertaylorhome  @latuilealoup aptware and mini baskets. Flatware from @alain_saint_joanis in my shop and last, but certainly not least, my spectacular handpainted pitcher and glassware set by the talented @margotlar (available by special order through the shop).
Let the family festivities begin. All four chicks Let the family festivities begin. All four chicks are in the nest, the table is set, the tree is decorated. A Merry Christmas Eve to all from our Nantucket home to yours!

And don’t forget to enter your table in the @academia_de_la_mesa table contest. There are amazing prizes to enhance your tabletop repertoire
The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! Fr The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! From this moment until midnight on January 7, 2026 you can post photos of your tables to win the contest and a myriad of incredible prizes. To take part you need:

1. To post photos on a public IG account
2. ⁠To tag in the picture of your post @Academia_de_la_mesa & mention you are taking part in the Contest 
3. You can publish as many photos of your table as fit in a single POST (no reels, no stories, no videos please). We need to see AT LEAST 2 pictures of your table showing the entire table and one placesetting.
4. ⁠You can take part a maximum of 3 times, with 3 different tables (one single post for each)
That’s it!! Winners will be announced in January. Please post pictures of your own tables at home, no event or magazine pictures 🙏🏻 (and no AI). 

The winner will receive a wonderful prize of the best of the best that there is in tableware kindly donated by @alain_saint_joanis @artel_glass @noel_lingedemaison_paris and @raynaud_porcelaines AND just for taking part you will be eligible for 7 additional magnificent  prizes by @aquazzuracasa (in conjunction with @incasastudio) @elalmacendeloza @erbavoglio.milano @gordiola_vidrios @palmira_decoracion @staub.es and @thetablelove (see stories for details). (NB: unless otherwise stated by the donors all prizes will be delivered in Spain but we can help winners arrange shipping) 

We can’t wait to see your tables! Happy tablesetting with love from the jury, made up of: 
@amarosanchezdemoya @azarraluqui @bea_satrustegui @bonadeaofficial @carmencarooneill @casa__lopez @paz_qb @quintessence @raulromeropress @vanessacraccoliving and @vioscooking
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the welcoming Connecticut retreat of designer @tamara_meadow_interiors where lake views and meaningful furnishings distinguish this stylish custom built home! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
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