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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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Art & Antiques

A Week’s Worth of Inspiration
Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design

A Week’s Worth of Inspiration

With a whirlwind of activities, I haven’t had a chance to edit photos and share this week’s worth of inspiration. Between… Read More

Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch
Art & Antiques, Gifts, Interior design

Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch

In the Slim Aarons era of Palm Beach life, potter Dodie Thayer was a name known to all fashionable hostesses. Self taught… Read More

Geoffrey Bennison Master Decorator
Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Geoffrey Bennison Master Decorator

Designer Mark Hampton perhaps described legendary decorator Geoffrey Bennison best. “Like some Proustian arbiter of taste and manners, he knew exactly… Read More

Penny Morrison Then and Now
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Penny Morrison Then and Now

Several years ago I wrote a piece about Guy and Penny Morrison’s charming house in Wales, below. Since then, I… Read More

Weekend Update
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

Weekend Update

Sometimes, I’ve put something on the back burner for whatever reason and a nudge from my wanderings online and elsewhere… Read More

Weekend Wandering at the Met
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Food and drink

Weekend Wandering at the Met

Tag along for a visit to the Met for a peek at the not-to-be-missed Madame Cézanne show and a couple smaller exhibitions.

Ottoman Chic
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Ottoman Chic

Clearly a trip to Turkey should be on my docket. Having tempted you in the fall with the beautiful Cornucopia… Read More

Exotic Chic
Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Exotic Chic

There is so much theses days, in fashion and in our homes, reflecting a love for exotic chic. Even long before these far off… Read More

Winter Antiques Show 2015
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

Winter Antiques Show 2015

The Winter Antiques Show 2015 is, as always, a great way to kick off the year. The 61st edition of… Read More

Looking Back to Move Forward
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design, Travel

Looking Back to Move Forward

Having just immersed ourselves in the dazzling world of Duke Fulco di Verdura, it was fortuitous to learn, via T magazine,… Read More

Travel the World with Stefano Scatà
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Travel the World with Stefano Scatà

A small wrench in the system unfortunately meant a last-minute cancellation for my trip to Paris. While I regroup, I didn’t want… Read More

The Intricate World of Saint-Louis Paperweights
Art & Antiques, Design

The Intricate World of Saint-Louis Paperweights

While you may know crystal maker Saint-Louis  primarily for their elegant glassware and lighting, throughout their distinguished history they have also produced… Read More

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40 years ❤️ 40 years ❤️
A magical retreat on Paros. There’s something so c A magical retreat on Paros. There’s something so compelling about the home of an artist and collector and @toddmarshard’s is as distinctive and personal as his work @Marshard.Paros . The ceramic artist has filled his stunning home with art and collections gathered over a lifetime. Our latest At Home With is now live - LINK IN PROFILE

Architecture: ALONI | Architects — Elena Terzi @iaveria & Dimitris Popotas
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.
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