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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
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    • 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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Interior design

Thibaut Mykonos fabric
Interior design

A Fresh Take on Tradition at High Point Market

Classic shapes and materials, historical allusions and an abundant use of trim and appliqué are just some of the themes… Read More

High Point spring 2014 collage
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

High Point Preview

Did I even mention that I was headed to High Point this weekend for the semiannual market? It’s been a… Read More

WRJ design associates sotheby’s designer show house
Art & Antiques, Interior design

The Designer Showhouse at Sotheby’s | Part II

As we continue to look at the Designer Showhouse at Sotheby’s, the middle room, created by Ryan Korban, was designed… Read More

mason’s ironstone Imari in Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse

Last week, Sotheby’s debuted its inaugural Designer Showhouse, partnering with its 1744 Young Collectors Club, targeted toward those just starting… Read More

Bertazzoni logo on burner at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design

Final Favorites from the AD Home Design Show

March went out like a lion not just in terms of the weather but also with the intensity of the… Read More

Antique & Artisan 2nd annual garden show
Art & Antiques, Garden, Gifts, Interior design

Stamford Antique & Artisan Center 2nd Annual Garden Show

Chic and unique is the moniker for the always fabulous finds at the Stamford Antique & Artisan Center. As they’ve… Read More

Antoine Dyre band at gaggenau
Food and drink, Interior design

l’Art de Vivre at Gaggenau

A celebration of luxurious creative collaboration marked the debut of the new Gaggenau showroom and intimate JCB Lounge last week…. Read More

Barneys DIFFA dining by design tabletop
Design, Interior design

Thank you Wall Street Journal Off Duty and Dining by Design Finale

The Wall Street Journal Off Duty section is one of my favorite weekend treats. So I was especially pleased to… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video de5w_zmvgre
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Video with Susanna Salk and Mary McDonald

Who wouldn’t want to spend the day with the stylish, vivacious and always entertaining Mary McDonald? With old fashioned style… Read More

Marc Blackwell dining by design
Design, Interior design

Part II of DIFFA Dining by Design 2014

While I won’t have time to cover all of the marvelous tables at this year’s Dining by Design, this second… Read More

NYDC Katie Curtis DIFFA dining by design
Design, Interior design

DIFFA Dining by Design 2014

DIFFA Dining by Design is always one of the most anticipated events associated with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show…. Read More

Wild Chairy at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Favorite Finds from the AD Home Design Show

Wallpaper is a wonderful way of imbuing spaces with instant pattern appeal. Whether textural grounds, simple stripes or more elaborate… 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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