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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
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Design

paris in snow
Books, Travel

This Year, Change Your Mind

Illustration by Valero Doval for the NY Times Now that it is a fresh new year, many are thinking of… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video 2sk2kbi3ymi
Interior design

Dogs and Their Designers Video

When Susanna and I thought we might like to do a year end video celebrating dogs and their designers (as… Read More

aerin lauder new year’s lunch
Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design

Rustic Chic New Year’s Lunch with Aerin Lauder

Attending elaborate parties thrown by her legendary grandmother, Estée Lauder, certainly influenced Aerin Lauder’s entertaining style. And tempered by her… Read More

Stephen Sills Decoration
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Holiday, Interior design

Design Books Round Up

Although I started this fall with the best intentions, I somehow never managed to finish writing about the overwhelming number… Read More

JAR books
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Jewelry

JAR at the Met

Not only is the JAR exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum the first US retrospective of jewelry designer Joel A. Rosenthal’s… Read More

Oberkampf Fleurs Tropicales et Palmiers
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Interwoven Globe and JAR at the Met

As many of you head into the city for a holiday visit, I would encourage you to make a stop… Read More

P1180606
Art & Antiques, Holiday, Interior design

Art at the 2013 Holiday House Finale

As the snow was falling yesterday, I was reminded of designer Darrin Varden‘s chic Winter Solstice lounge at the 2013… Read More

Peter Drayton Coffee Table
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Art at Holiday House NYC Continued

Proving that small spaces can have big impact, Patrick Hamilton imbued his tiny Holiday House NYC room with mansion-sized luxe… Read More

Mindy Shapero
Art & Antiques, Design, Holiday, Interior design

Holiday House Art Continued

Inspiration can sprout from surprising places. The spark for Susanna Salk‘s Holiday House room was triggered by stylist Caroline Sieber’s… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video rjecj1uf_ri
Design, Gifts, Holiday, Interior design

It’s a Wrap Video with Susanna Salk and John Derian

John Derian is one part Charles Dickens, one part Saint-Germain-des-Prés and one part East Village, but 100% authentic. His distinctive and… Read More

Ettore Sottsass sculpture
Art & Antiques, Holiday, Interior design

Celebrating Art at Holiday House

Holiday House is a cause easy to embrace. Founder Iris Dankner’s showhouse, now in its sixth year, celebrates the best… Read More

matisse lithograph
Food and drink, Gifts, Holiday, Interior design

Antique & Artisan Christmas Boutique

It’s no secret that the Antique & Artisan Center is one of my favorite local sources for all that is… 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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