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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
    • At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and Their Dogs
    • At Home with Designers and Tastemakers: Creating Beautiful and Personal Interiors
    • Making a House a Home: Designing Your Interiors from the Floor Up
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Architecture

The Colorful Pattern Filled World of Henry Wilson
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design, Travel

The Colorful Pattern Filled World of Henry Wilson

Yesterday, when single digits here in New England shocked us into acknowledging that winter was just getting started, a post by… Read More

Ancien et Moderne 2019 at Paris Deco Off
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

Ancien et Moderne 2019 at Paris Deco Off

Next week marks the start of the design year with Maison et Objet and Paris Deco Off 2019. And for… Read More

Giving Design a Voice – A Look Back and Ahead
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design, Video

Giving Design a Voice – A Look Back and Ahead

Welcome to 2019! As we all are celebrating the new year and thinking of what has passed and what is… Read More

At Home in Bellport with Thomas O’Brien
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Garden, Interior design, Video

At Home in Bellport with Thomas O’Brien

If ever there was an understated self portrait, it would be designer Thomas O’Brien’s description of himself as “basically a… Read More

At Home with Timothy Corrigan at Chateau de la Chevallerie (the before)
Architecture, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home with Timothy Corrigan at Chateau de la Chevallerie (the before)

There are few people who could not only imagine but are capable of bringing an 18th century French chateau back… Read More

At Home in Connecticut with Bunny Williams
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Video

At Home in Connecticut with Bunny Williams

Over the years, I have had the privilege of documenting many aspects of celebrated designer Bunny Williams‘ talents. And while… Read More

Château de Villette
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Château de Villette

With design attributed to François Mansart (architect to Louis XIV) and gardens inspired by, if not actually designed by Le… Read More

At Home in Los Angeles with Richard Shapiro
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Los Angeles with Richard Shapiro

Enter Richard Shapiro‘s extraordinary home and it’s difficult to believe you are in the center of Los Angeles. Created with… Read More

Sneak Peek – Veranda Wanderlust
Architecture, Books, Interior design

Sneak Peek – Veranda Wanderlust

Ask any designer to name their favorite source of inspiration and many will cite travel. Nothing quite refreshes and expands… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorites – Oldest House Reimagined
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorites – Oldest House Reimagined

For the third year, as part of Nantucket by Design, NYSID students were invited to reimagine the front rooms of… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorites – Guest House Chic
Architecture, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorites – Guest House Chic

One of the most photo friendly areas on Nantucket is the charming town of Sconset in the southeast corner of… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorites – Boathouse Chic
Architecture, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorites – Boathouse Chic

In downtown Nantucket, across from where the car ferry ushers in its seasonal visitors, sits the historic Old North Wharf…. 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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