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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
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    • At Home with Dogs and Their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life
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    • Making a House a Home: Designing Your Interiors from the Floor Up
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Stacey Bewkes

rue jacob shop paris
Fashion, Gifts, Travel

Prepping for Paris | Two Faves in the 6th

As I start to prepare for my trip to Paris next week, I rediscovered some summer photos of two shops… Read More

Wendell Castle’s library steps
Art & Antiques, Gifts

Young Collectors Night at the Winter Antiques Show

Next week marks the opening of the 60th Year Diamond Jubilee of the Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory…. Read More

Pouenat
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

The Art of Iron at Pouenat

Established in 1880 as a ferronnier, Pouenat has continued to stay relevant and thrive by embracing their heritage while collaborating… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video zxfkrzqaw10
Uncategorized

At the Movies | Downhill Racer

With the recent snowstorm, I decided to post about an old favorite, Downhill Racer, which some longtime readers may remember I… Read More

Marie Christophe, Guerlain and Cour des Senteurs
Art & Antiques, Beauty, Gifts, Interior design, Travel

Marie Christophe, Guerlain and Cour des Senteurs

As Paris is only two weeks away, I thought it was an opportune time to write about the amazing confluence… Read More

Tilton Fenwick Sissy
Design, Interior design

Tilton Fenwick for Duralee Fabrics

I have known the Tilton Fenwick design team of Suysel DePedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster almost since the beginning of… Read More

paris in snow
Books, Travel

This Year, Change Your Mind

Illustration by Valero Doval for the NY Times Now that it is a fresh new year, many are thinking of… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video 2sk2kbi3ymi
Interior design

Dogs and Their Designers Video

When Susanna and I thought we might like to do a year end video celebrating dogs and their designers (as… Read More

Bollinger SPECIAL CUVEE
Food and drink, Holiday

Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2013

At this festive time of year, it’s become tradition in these parts to publish my Quintessential Guide to Champagne. For… Read More

aerin lauder new year’s lunch
Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design

Rustic Chic New Year’s Lunch with Aerin Lauder

Attending elaborate parties thrown by her legendary grandmother, Estée Lauder, certainly influenced Aerin Lauder’s entertaining style. And tempered by her… Read More

My Christmas Table
Entertainment, Holiday

Merry Christmas

To all who celebrate, wishing you a very Merry Christmas, from my home to yours!

Stephen Sills Decoration
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Holiday, Interior design

Design Books Round Up

Although I started this fall with the best intentions, I somehow never managed to finish writing about the overwhelming number… Read More

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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!!
Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. Th Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. 
The Yucatán home of interior designer @laurakirar and architect Richard Frazier @rwf333 is both -  a masterful reflection of its surroundings, where architecture, landscape, light, and craftsmanship come together in perfect harmony.
Tag along for a visit to this extraordinary retreat and discover how years of collecting, collaboration, and creative vision shaped a house that feels deeply connected to its place. LINK IN PROFILE
Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flow Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flowers from my thoughtful husband - all else from my shop (plates coming soon - DM to be notified).
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