Skip to content
  • Articles
    • Design
      • Architecture
      • Art & Antiques
      • Books
      • Garden
      • Gifts
      • Interior design
    • Entertainment
      • Entertaining
      • Food and drink
      • Holiday
      • Tabletop
    • Style
      • Fashion
      • Jewelry
    • Travel
      • Nantucket
    • Threads of Time and Taste: The Art of Dressing in Pierre Frey
  • Shop
    • Home & Decor
      • Accessories
      • Antiques
      • Art
      • Lighting
      • Trays
    • Tableware
      • Baskets
      • Glassware
      • Linens
      • Flatware
      • Plates
    • Fashion
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Jewelry
    • Exclusives
      • Tableware
      • Fashion
      • Home & Decor
    • Peony & Thistle Linen Tea Towels
  • Video
    • Exclusive insider tours visiting top designers and tastemakers at home around the world
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home with John Lyle
    • At Home in Paris with the Hurleys
    • At Home with Veere Grenney in his Extraordinary Gardens in Tangier
    • At Home with Veere Greeney in Tangier, Morocco
Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

  • Books
    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
      VIEW ALL
    • 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
  • About
  • Articles
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Books
  • About

Interior design

At Home with Carolyne Roehm in Charleston
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Carolyne Roehm in Charleston

Ever since watching Gone with the Wind as a child, Carolyne Roehm has long had a predilection for the South…. Read More

Frank de Biasi x Christie’s Rockefeller Collection Auction
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Frank de Biasi x Christie’s Rockefeller Collection Auction

The next Christie’s collaboration celebrating the upcoming Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection auction is with designer Frank de Biasi. The… Read More

Lunch with Martha Stewart & Kevin Sharkey at Christie’s
Art & Antiques, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design

Lunch with Martha Stewart & Kevin Sharkey at Christie’s

While the latest nor’easter blew through with a vengeance last week, causing event cancelations and delays, I was delighted to… Read More

The Return of Poiret
Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Interior design

The Return of Poiret

While today we are accustomed to the close connection between fashion and decor, with designers often crossing the divide, a… Read More

The Sorcerer’s Apprentices Work Their Magic in Milan
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

The Sorcerer’s Apprentices Work Their Magic in Milan

It is a special treat whenever a new project from the extraordinary Studio Peregalli is unveiled. And when it is… Read More

At Home in Los Angeles With Lulu Powers
Design, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Los Angeles With Lulu Powers

While celebrity chef and author Lulu Powers is primarily known for her entertaining expertise, her creativity known no bounds. With… Read More

Soane Spring 2018
Design, Interior design

Soane Spring 2018

Twice a year, it has been my privilege to share with you sneak peeks from the beautiful new offerings of… Read More

2018 NYBG Orchid Dinner Continued
Garden, Interior design

2018 NYBG Orchid Dinner Continued

Today we continue our look at more of the beautiful tables from the 2018 NYBG Orchid Dinner. For her lovely… Read More

NY Now Spring 2018
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

NY Now Spring 2018

If you can’t get to John Derian‘s charming east village emporiums, seeing his booth at the NY Now Spring 2018… Read More

NY Now 2018
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

NY Now 2018

I hadn’t been to the gift show for a couple of years so I decided it was time for a… Read More

img_100.jpg
Antiques, Interior design, Style

Sneak Peek from Nashville

While I will be sharing a more comprehensive post from here at the wonderful Antiques & Garden Show, I thought… Read More

Prussian Blue – The Art and Science of Color
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Prussian Blue – The Art and Science of Color

As I was scrolling through Instagram the other morning, I stopped to “like” and admire a post on Charlotte Di… Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts Older Posts
Newer Posts Newer Posts
Illustration of camera

Follow

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!
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the glamorous Manhattan maisonette of designer @james_andrew and artist @scottmcbee41 where James magically transformed a characterless prewar apartment into a sparkling jewel box! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stu Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stunning countryside home of Spanish interior designer @ludovicoporta where he transformed a ruin of an 18th century palazzo into an idyllic weekend retreat ! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
© 2025 Quintessence Design LLC
Site design by The Beaux Arts Digital
FAQ & Shipping Terms of Use Privacy Policy
X Illustration of hand
Never Miss A Post
Get insider access to the most inspiring and informative design stories straight to your inbox. Satisfy your style curiosity, quench your sophisticated shopping thirst and scratch your discerning need-to-know itch - sign up so you never miss a thing.