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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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Entertainment

FlowerSchool NY Orchid Dinner table detail
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Finale

Today we are starting to wrap up coverage of the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner, where, to use our… Read More

Gervasoni sweet 95 light
Design, Food and drink, Garden

Midipy and More from Maison et Objet

Among the thousands of exhibitors at Maison, I was delighted to discover Midipy, a French brand looking to revive the… Read More

AmericasMart collage
Design, Food and drink, Interior design

Coming Soon from AmericasMart and Beyond

As you know, I have spent the last couple of days in Atlanta, visiting an old friend as well as… Read More

Bollinger La Grane Année Rosé 1999
Food and drink

Quintessential Guide to Champagne

It has become a tradition here, in preparation for New Year’s Eve, to publish my Quintessential Guide to Champagne. Long… Read More

Lalique and Deutz
Design, Food and drink, Gifts, Holiday

Coupe or Flute | The Champagne Glass Dilemma

Each year I update this post discussing the age old champagne dilemma, coupe or flute or even tulip with some… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video rg_xwmhcmp4
Entertainment

At the Movies | Metropolitan

Metropolitan is a quirky gem of an indie movie offering a look at the holiday season through the lens of… Read More

Christmas table
Holiday

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours

Wishing everyone who celebrates the very Merriest, from our table to yours!!  

Santa
Holiday

A Note From Santa’s Workshop

Just reminding myself why I’ve been sequestered in Santa’s workshop all weekend with no time to catch up around here…. Read More

bishop’s wife
Entertainment, Holiday

At the Movies

I had another holiday move I intended to review today, but due to a tight schedule, just didn’t have a… Read More

Treillage Swedish clock with paperwhites
Gifts, Holiday, Interior design

Tis the Season at Treillage

I may be a bit lagging in my holiday preparations but it most definitely tis the season at Treillage. I… Read More

Decorators Club Lecture Series
Design, Holiday, Interior design

The Decorators Club NYC

The Decorators Club, founded in 1914, was organized by 38 original members. Meeting in the home of Gertrude Gheen Robinson,… Read More

Holiday-picks-at-The-Summer-House_mini
Design, Gifts, Holiday, Interior design

Shop Small Saturday Surprise

I try to support small local businesses whenever I can. Not only do these establishments play a vital role in creating… 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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