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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Stacey Bewkes

Bertazzoni logo on burner at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design

Final Favorites from the AD Home Design Show

March went out like a lion not just in terms of the weather but also with the intensity of the… Read More

Antique & Artisan 2nd annual garden show
Art & Antiques, Garden, Gifts, Interior design

Stamford Antique & Artisan Center 2nd Annual Garden Show

Chic and unique is the moniker for the always fabulous finds at the Stamford Antique & Artisan Center. As they’ve… Read More

Antoine Dyre band at gaggenau
Food and drink, Interior design

l’Art de Vivre at Gaggenau

A celebration of luxurious creative collaboration marked the debut of the new Gaggenau showroom and intimate JCB Lounge last week…. Read More

Barneys DIFFA dining by design tabletop
Design, Interior design

Thank you Wall Street Journal Off Duty and Dining by Design Finale

The Wall Street Journal Off Duty section is one of my favorite weekend treats. So I was especially pleased to… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video de5w_zmvgre
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Video with Susanna Salk and Mary McDonald

Who wouldn’t want to spend the day with the stylish, vivacious and always entertaining Mary McDonald? With old fashioned style… Read More

Marc Blackwell dining by design
Design, Interior design

Part II of DIFFA Dining by Design 2014

While I won’t have time to cover all of the marvelous tables at this year’s Dining by Design, this second… Read More

NYDC Katie Curtis DIFFA dining by design
Design, Interior design

DIFFA Dining by Design 2014

DIFFA Dining by Design is always one of the most anticipated events associated with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show…. Read More

Wild Chairy at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Favorite Finds from the AD Home Design Show

Wallpaper is a wonderful way of imbuing spaces with instant pattern appeal. Whether textural grounds, simple stripes or more elaborate… Read More

cire trudon matches
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

First Look at the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Show

The 2014 Architectural Digest Home Show features fresh finds from old favorites as well as new design discoveries. In the… Read More

TILTON-FENWICK-DIFFA-table1
Style

Out and About and Catching Up

As the spring season approaches, there is much to look forward to besides just the warming weather, from actually seeing… Read More

thomas bastide for odiot
Design, Interior design, Travel

The House of Odiot

settingMy eyes are always open for the beautiful. Beauty may be inherent in function, design, craftsmanship or mere essence but… Read More

spring break in Florida
Travel

Back from a Quick Spring Break

Followers on Instagram know that this past week our family took a quick spring break together to escape the polar… Read More

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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!
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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).
While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in stor While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in storage, I managed to pull together a simple table for a small family dinner to give thanks on this special day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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