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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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Interior design

tea with cary
Entertainment, Food and drink, Interior design

Skating with Mr. Grant

My favorite scene in The Bishop’s Wife, my At the Movies pick yesterday, is when Cary Grant and Loretta Young… Read More

soane bath range
Interior design

Soane Contract Range

In addition to their spectacular regular collection, Soane also has an extensive range of furniture, lighting and upholstery designed and priced… Read More

my thanksgiving table
Entertaining, Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design, Tabletop

Happy Thanksgiving

From my home to yours. Here is where we will be having our meal later today. I wish you, dear… Read More

1670890-orange-setting-xl
Entertainment, Food and drink, Interior design

Turkey Tabletop

Before we are catapulted into the “big” holiday of the season, I wanted to pay un petit homage to, what… Read More

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Fashion, Interior design

I’m Ready

I must admit that although we’ve had several beautiful days, I am definitely tiring of our overly warm November weather… Read More

bernardau
Design, Entertainment, Garden, Holiday, Interior design

Holiday Preview

Last night I attended my first holiday event of the season and what a lovely introduction it was! Held at… Read More

Screen shot 2010-11-08 at 10.55.07 PM
Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design, Travel

The Royal Oak Foundation

Anglophiles unite! The byline of the Royal Oak Foundation is “Americans in Alliance with the National Trust of England, Wales… Read More

thomas jayne room
Entertainment, Interior design

Rooms With A View

I just got back from the Rooms With A View Gala Preview party. Despite the dismal weather, there was a… Read More

alexa hampton p 159
Books, Interior design

Alexa Hampton | The Language of Interior Design

With an Ivy League degree, graduate work completed at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts in both Florence and… Read More

Screen shot 2010-10-23 at 4.18.25 PM
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Penthouse Panache

In researching another post a while back, I came across the remarkable work of Champalimaud Design. Although a full service… Read More

cocktail napkins
Design, Interior design

Magnificent Monograms

Unfortunately, since I wrote this post several years ago, the owner, Caroline Breckenridge, has passed away. Please continue on to read… Read More

Screen shot 2010-10-18 at 8.22.54 AM
Architecture, Books, Design, Interior design

Interior Portraits

There are so many wonderful design books making their debut this fall. I have already covered David Easton’s beautiful Timeless… 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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