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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

  • Books
    • 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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Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design & Decoration
Books, Interior design

Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design & Decoration

“I am lucky. I wake up each morning knowing that whatever that day brings, I will have been creative, designed… Read More

Out and About
Art & Antiques, Books, Fashion, Interior design

Out and About

While I’ve been busy out and about, I’ve been bookmarking a few interesting tidbits to circle back around with to take a… Read More

More Patina Farm Style
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Travel

More Patina Farm Style

Thank you to so many of you who stopped by and left such lovely comments about Susanna’s and my video visit to Brooke… Read More

It’s the Little Things in New Preston
Books, Design, Garden, Gifts, Interior design

It’s the Little Things in New Preston

The town of New Preston, CT may be tiny but it looms large as a design destination. And this weekend, seven… Read More

Past Perfect: Richard Shapiro Houses and Gardens
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Garden, Interior design

Past Perfect: Richard Shapiro Houses and Gardens

Enter Richard Shapiro’s new book Past Perfect and prepare to be transported. Dive into its pages of exquisite photography by Jason… Read More

It’s the Little Things
Books, Design, Interior design

It’s the Little Things

“In my own home, it’s the combination and juxtaposition of meaningful details that bring emotion to every room and make… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Hutton Wilkinson
Architecture, Books, Garden, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

At Home with Susanna Salk and Hutton Wilkinson

A multi-talented creative force, Hutton Wilkinson began his career at the age of 18 as apprentice to design icon Tony Duquette. He went… Read More

Weekend Inspiration
Books, Interior design, Travel

Weekend Inspiration

Before it’s time for the many upcoming spring design events, I wanted to share some weekend inspiration I’ve been stockpiling over… Read More

Inside Venice
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Garden, Interior design, Travel

Inside Venice

Celebrating the best of Venetian decorative arts, Inside Venice offers us a private view of the city’s most beautiful and rarely seen… Read More

2016 Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Travel

2016 Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville

I am very excited to be heading south this weekend to the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville where I will… Read More

A Day at Château de Fontainebleau
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design, Travel

A Day at Château de Fontainebleau

Whereas many chateaux are associated primarily with a particular resident or royal, Chateau de Fontainebleau represents almost 1,000 years of… Read More

The Brilliant Beauty of Belperron
Books, Fashion, Gifts, Jewelry

The Brilliant Beauty of Belperron

It was in the 1960’s and early 70’s, when Ward Landrigan, then head of Sotheby’s jewelry department, first spied the distinctive work… 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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