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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

Point-Architects-table-detail-at-the-Red-Cross-2012-Red-&-White-ball
Entertaining, Food and drink, Interior design, Tabletop

Red Cross Red & White Ball Redux

As with many such tabletop fundraisers, it is impossible to feature all the tables in a single post – hence part… Read More

Olga-Adler-table-detail-for-Greenwich-@012-Red-Cross-ball
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop

When Help Can’t Wait: the Red Cross Red & White Ball

On April 28th, the Metro New York North Red Cross held its annual Red & White Ball, one of the largest… Read More

James-Andrew-&-Melissa-Morris
Books, Entertaining, Gifts, Interior design, Tabletop

The Fund for Park Avenue – Beautifying the City

If you have ever appreciated the beautiful flowers in the spring lining the malls down Park Avenue or the sparkling… Read More

Frederick-P.-Victoria-Lenox-Hill-gala-table-detail
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala Finale

Kudos to all the designers who created tables for this amazing event. Today is the last grouping of inspiration for… Read More

More Tabletop Inspiration from the Lenox Hill Gala
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop

More Tabletop Inspiration from the Lenox Hill Gala

Welcome to part two of the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala, featuring more of the spectacular designer tables. It was… Read More

Nick-Olsen-The-Cult-of-Persephone-table-for-Lenox-Hill-Gala
Entertaining, Food and drink, Interior design, Tabletop

Spring Fever at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala

The Lenox Hill Neighborhood House is one of the most well respected and popular nonprofit organizations in New York City…. Read More

Poggenpohl-+Artesio-kitchen-drawer-details
Design, Food and drink, Interior design

Creative Collaboration: Poggenpohl and Blanco

Along with a few other alumnae of the original BlogTour in London last September, I was invited by Modenus to… Read More

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Entertainment, Fashion

At the Movies + Bonus

To be honest, I was going to write about a different movie today to kick off the Oscar season, but… Read More

Ravensburger dragon 1,000 piece dragon puzzle
Art & Antiques, Design, Entertainment, Fashion, Gifts, Holiday, Interior design

Happy Chinese New Year

Today is the beginning of the new lunar year in China. As the most important holiday in the country, people… Read More

Embroidery on Joan Fontaine’s dress in Suspicion
Entertainment

At the Movies

Considering my posts this week, you’ve probably guessed the feature today is a British film (even though Dark Shadows is… Read More

Hugh Henry flat sitting room in Earls Court
Architecture, Design, Entertainment, Fashion, Interior design, Travel

British Style Bonanza

Between the mania for Downton Abbey and the popularity of Will and Kate, it’s clear British style is making a… Read More

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Architecture, Design, Entertainment, Interior design

Dark Shadows

I knew it would happen eventually. With the vampire mania of the last few years, it was just a matter of… Read More

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Some people never seem to run out of ideas. Design Some people never seem to run out of ideas. Designer @maxsinsteden is one of them!

Tag along with me and @susannasalk as we visit Max at his wonderfully inventive Rhode Island cottage.
From clever custom details and ingenious decorating solutions to extraordinary collections and plenty of personality, Max has created a house that’s as elegant as it is relaxed. And he’s wonderfully generous about sharing the thinking behind it all.

Trust me, there are plenty of ideas worth stealing!
Watch the full episode on Quintessence and YouTube. LINK IN PROFILE.
Bridging the seasons with soft pink and amber, a b Bridging the seasons with soft pink and amber, a bevy of dahlias and beautiful hand blown Brume de Verre glasses from @ascherparis
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.
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