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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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Design

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Art & Antiques, Gifts, Interior design

In the Studio with Vladimir Kanevsky

When House Beautiful suggested we visit the studio of celebrated porcelain artist Vladimir Kanevsky (who Charlotte Moss chose to feature… Read More

Wesley Hall Margot Dining Chair
Design, Interior design

High Point Fall Market Coming Soon

It’s hard to believe that this year’s High Point Fall Market is less than two weeks away. I am delighted… Read More

The Gores Pavillion New Canaan
Architecture, Design, Interior design

Celebrate Archtober in New Canaan, CT

Did you know that October is also Archtober, the third annual month-long festival of architecture, activities, programs and exhibitions in New York… Read More

SFC&G Cover
Architecture, Interior design

Designer Page Turners in Connecticut Cottages and Gardens

This month’s Connecticut Cottages and Gardens celebrates design with a beautiful issue that I am proud to be a part… Read More

Superwong Wall_Close Up
Interior design, Style

Rubelli Presents Walls of Venice

What happens when a historic heritage brand combines a century old textile tradition with modern technological ingenuity? Rubelli proves that… Read More

Cullman & Kravis
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design

The Detailed Interior | Decorating Up Close with Cullman & Kravis

We all know that the devil is in the details and in The Detailed Interior, Elissa Cullman and Tracey Pruzan… Read More

collage of what’s in the works
Architecture, Books, Interior design

In the Works

September means not only back to school but the onset of many great events, design books in anticipation of the… Read More

Branca at Bergdorf’s
Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Branca at Bergdorfs

Not only has Alessandra Branca launched her fabulous new fabric line with Schumacher, but she also partnered with Bergdorf’s to… Read More

Gary McBournie designed NYC bathroom
Books, Design, Interior design

Gary McBournie Living Color

How could I not be won over by designer Gary McBournie, whose favorite color is orange and cites Auntie Mame… Read More

John Richard
Design, Interior design, Travel

In the Spirit of New Orleans at What’s New What’s Next

What is it exactly about the seemingly symbiotic relationship between New Orleans and New York? As author Debra Shriver’s phrase… Read More

honey bear fountain by G.R. Roth
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Garden

Central Park NYC | An Architectural View

Ever since the 2008 publication of their superb volume on Chinoiseries, many have been eagerly awaiting the next publication from… Read More

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk & Peter Dunham
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk & Peter Dunham

It’s hard to precisely pin point the style of designer Peter Dunham. The LA Times used the term “Merchant Ivory… 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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