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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

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Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Magic in Marbella

As many of you know, Friday is normally At the Movies  but because I delayed my post intended for yesterday… Read More

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Books, Gifts, Holiday

Books for Lovers

What a fun evening I had yesterday at Assouline’s social media event at their charming shop at the Plaza. I… Read More

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Art & Antiques, Books, Entertainment, Food and drink, Gifts, Travel

Year of the Rabbit

As everyone now knows, this is the year of the rabbit, the 4th animal in the 12-year cycle of the… Read More

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Art & Antiques, Books

Dear Diary

Diary of Sophia Peabody Hawthorne (1809–1871), 1862. Gift of Lorenz Reich, Jr., 1980. Photo courtesy of The Morgan Library. I… Read More

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Entertainment, Interior design

To the Manor Born

I am already mourning the end of Downton Abbey. Oh how is it possible that we have in such a… Read More

the_wind_42
Art & Antiques, Fashion

Art & Commerce

photo by Bruno Gaget We’re starting to see a lot more of Marissa Webb, Head of Women’s Design at J…. Read More

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Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Entertainment

Lego Love

My daughter is lego obsessed. And I couldn’t be happier. What a wonderful creative outlet for kids. With all her… Read More

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Art & Antiques

Auction Update

Last weekend I wrote about the (then) upcoming auction at Doyle that I thought had many appealing and reasonably priced… Read More

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Art & Antiques

Thinking Outside the Box

I love how the Met is using items from their collection to create smaller accessible shows that, like their new… Read More

new inside
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Provencal Perfection

When I read about the renovation of this beautiful house in the Luberon Valley in France, it captivated my imagination… Read More

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Art & Antiques, Interior design

Doyle Delights

When my sister phoned yesterday to ask if I had seen the upcoming auctions at Doyle, I suspected they must… Read More

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Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Viva Vivat

There are many agencies and organizations that rent houses, apartments or villas for vacation throughout the world, but none that… 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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