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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Stacey Bewkes

Virtual Postcard Egypt
Travel, Video, Virtual Postcard

Virtual Postcard Egypt

In our latest Virtual Postcard, join Susanna Salk as she visits Egypt, a multidimensional country that celebrates both the ancient… Read More

Nantucket by Design 2023
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Decorative Arts, Design, Garden, Interior design, Jewelry, Nantucket, Style, Travel

Nantucket by Design 2023

I am honored to again co-chair, with Olivia Charney, Nantucket by Design, the premier summer fundraiser for the island’s largest… Read More

At Home in Paris with Pierre Sauvage
Architecture, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Pierre Sauvage

While designer, shop owner and author Pierre Sauvage was only vaguely considering moving to a new apartment in Paris, little… Read More

The Stylish Traveler II Collection
Fashion, Travel, Video

The Stylish Traveler II Collection

Expanding on global inspiration culled from our continued travels, Susanna and I are excited to share our new Stylish Traveler… Read More

Virtual Postcard Tokyo
Travel, Video, Virtual Postcard

Virtual Postcard Tokyo

In our latest Virtual Postcard, join Susanna Salk as she visits Tokyo and discovers it’s a city that has its… Read More

At Home with Caleb Anderson and DeAndre DeVane in their Elegant Manhattan Apartment
Art & Antiques, Interior design, Video

At Home with Caleb Anderson and DeAndre DeVane in their Elegant Manhattan Apartment

When designer Caleb Anderson of DRAKE/ANDERSON purchased his 1926 Manhattan apartment, it hadn’t been touched in years. Belonging to the… Read More

Delft Dreams
Interior design, Nantucket

Delft Dreams

Four years ago, Delft ceramics celebrated its 400th anniversary. For centuries, the versatility of its designs has lent its charms… Read More

Daring to Dream with The Ark Elements
Entertaining, Entertainment, Tabletop

Daring to Dream with The Ark Elements

Daring to dream is the vivid ethos behind the layered and storied brand, The Ark Elements. Founder Kate Holt, below,… Read More

Happy Easter
Entertaining, Entertainment, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Easter

From my table here on Nantucket to yours, wishing all of you readers who celebrate a very happy Easter. With… Read More

At Home in Paris with Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani
Antiques, Architecture, Art & Antiques, Decorative Arts, Design, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani

Jamie Creel and partner Marco Scarani are men of sophistication and refinement, whose world travels and global collections inform their… Read More

At Home with Sophie Sutton in her Manhattan Townhouse
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Video

At Home with Sophie Sutton in her Manhattan Townhouse

When designer Sophie Sutton and her husband purchased their 19th century Manhattan townhouse around six years ago, it was in… Read More

National Place Card Day™
Entertaining, Gifts, Tabletop

National Place Card Day™

Created in 2018 by Karen Suen-Cooper and Martin Cooper, the co-founders of The Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co., National Place… 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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