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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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Design

seda
Gifts, Interior design

Exciting News!

As some of you know, I have been very lucky lately here in the blogosphere. So lucky that I am… Read More

melissa house
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Old Meets New in the Art World

A couple of weeks ago I attended an art opening at the lovely Southport Galleries here in Connecticut, which recently… Read More

AH info
Architecture, Garden, Interior design

Architecture in the Garden

One of my favorite new finds, also discovered at the Architectural Digest Home Show, is the wonderful British company Architectural… Read More

kent 4
Architecture, Garden, Interior design

A Terrific New Tome | Ferguson Shamamian

As soon as I saw this book was being published, I knew I had to have it. New Traditional Architecture:… Read More

last bag
Fashion, Garden, Gifts

Spring Synergy

Last Friday I went to shop for some pieces to liven up my spring wardrobe. I walked into Richards in… Read More

torch
Garden, Interior design

Welcoming Spring with Pennoyer Newman

I have known about Pennoyer – now Pennoyer Newman for years but it wasn’t until the recent AD Home Show… Read More

SKATEMODERNE Zen Coffee Table
Interior design

AD Home Show – SkateModerne

There were so many wonderful booths at the show that I could be filling posts all week. I was originally… Read More

IMG_2846
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Idyll in the Sun

As I am in Florida, I thought it would be nice to take a break from our regularly scheduled programming… Read More

bornholm collection
Interior design, Style

AD Home Show – Part 2

I had been hearing about the launch of the new Bornholm Kitchen line for weeks and was so looking forward to… Read More

maybelline & tracy
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Architectural Digest Home Show 2011 – Part 1

This past Thursday, I attended the Architectural Digest Home Show in NYC. There were many wonderful booths and products both… Read More

CFDA6439A
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Working the Wakefield

Tucked away in an industrial park in Stamford, CT is a wonderful design resource. Last week I attended a fun… Read More

Screen shot 2011-03-13 at 3.04.37 PM
Art & Antiques, Fashion

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Couple

Photo: Lee Clower for The New York Times I had an entirely different post planned for today, but after reading this… 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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