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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Architecture

At Home With Susanna Salk and Brian McCarthy
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design

At Home With Susanna Salk and Brian McCarthy

At the venerable Parish-Hadley firm, interior designer Brian McCarthy learned from the best of the best. An Architectural Digest AD100 and… Read More

Design Leadership Summit 2016 Preview
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

Design Leadership Summit 2016 Preview

One of the highlights of last year’s design calendar was the Design Leadership Summit in Los Angeles. Celebrating ten years… Read More

NYSID at Nantucket by Design
Architecture, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

NYSID at Nantucket by Design

As a board member of both the Nantucket Historical Association and the New York School of Interior Design, Maria Spears… Read More

Ike Kligerman Barkley at Nantucket by Design
Architecture, Books, Design, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Ike Kligerman Barkley at Nantucket by Design

After almost four decades of presenting the Nantucket Antiques Show as their major annual fundraising event, the Nantucket Historical Association updated… Read More

Sneak Peek: The Box Updated in Galerie Magazine
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sneak Peek: The Box Updated in Galerie Magazine

When Hudson News founders Lisa and James Cohen came to the conclusion that most art magazines were a tad dry and unapproachable,… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Christopher Spitzmiller
Architecture, Garden, Interior design

At Home with Susanna Salk and Christopher Spitzmiller

During the week, gifted ceramicist and lamp designer Christopher Spitzmiller is in his New York City studio, busy creating the exquisite lamps, plates… Read More

Nashville Travels with Jonathan Savage
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Nashville Travels with Jonathan Savage

The first time I became acquainted with Nashville designer Jonathan Savage was several years ago on the stylish shopping site Taigan, where he… Read More

Visiting Italy with Trust & Travel
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Visiting Italy with Trust & Travel

It’s August, the official vacation month of the year. So as I think of future travel and its infinite possibilities, high on… Read More

ReMain Nantucket
Architecture, Nantucket, Travel

ReMain Nantucket

Behind the charm of the cobblestone streets and rose covered cottages, Nantucket is a real-life, year round community that has… Read More

Behind the Scenes at Christie’s
Architecture, Art & Antiques

Behind the Scenes at Christie’s

This year, Christie’s is celebrating its 250th anniversary. And while there have been many special exhibitions and events this year… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV

This week’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts off with a bit of Nantucket history. In the early 18th century, the… Read More

At Home with Liz Lange at Grey Gardens
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Liz Lange at Grey Gardens

Few homes elicit the same obsessive intrigue as Grey Gardens. Made famous by the late David and Albert Maysles’ 1975 documentary, the house was subsequently featured… 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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