Skip to content
  • Articles
    • Design
      • Architecture
      • Art & Antiques
      • Books
      • Garden
      • Gifts
      • Interior design
    • Entertainment
      • Entertaining
      • Food and drink
      • Holiday
      • Tabletop
    • Style
      • Fashion
      • Jewelry
    • Travel
      • Nantucket
    • Threads of Time and Taste: The Art of Dressing in Pierre Frey
  • Shop
    • Home & Decor
      • Accessories
      • Antiques
      • Art
      • Lighting
      • Trays
    • Tableware
      • Baskets
      • Glassware
      • Linens
      • Flatware
      • Plates
    • Fashion
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Jewelry
    • Exclusives
      • Tableware
      • Fashion
      • Home & Decor
    • Peony & Thistle Linen Tea Towels
  • Video
    • Exclusive insider tours visiting top designers and tastemakers at home around the world
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home with John Lyle
    • At Home in Paris with the Hurleys
    • At Home with Veere Grenney in his Extraordinary Gardens in Tangier
    • At Home with Veere Greeney in Tangier, Morocco
Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

  • Books
    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home with Dogs and Their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life
    • At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and Their Dogs
    • At Home with Designers and Tastemakers: Creating Beautiful and Personal Interiors
    • Making a House a Home: Designing Your Interiors from the Floor Up
  • About
  • Articles
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Books
  • About

Entertainment

secret_of_roan_inish004
Entertainment

At the Movies

It’s back to school on Monday, so for our last weekend of vacation, I have another selection for the family…. Read More

Screen shot 2011-03-23 at 6.46.16 PM
Entertaining, Food and drink, Style

Wednesday Wine

I do of course realize it’s Thursday – we took a little vacation yesterday! And Terry, our wine expert, was… Read More

1195498685
Food and drink, Travel

The Ravishing Rhone

I am excited today to talk about one of my favorite French wine regions – the Rhone Valley. And within… Read More

GetDynamicImage.aspx
Food and drink, Garden, Holiday

Cognac 101

After reviewing the elegant Van Cleef exhibit yesterday, I wanted to do a wine post with the same sense of… Read More

making cheese
Books, Food and drink, Garden

A Country Life

Bunny Williams’ chicken coop via Vignette Design There is a new trend it seems for those of us who live… Read More

mlsfcurling
Entertainment

At the Movies

How appealing is Colin Firth!! I think many of you would agree that he is a very captivating combination of… Read More

le toiny  – see copy
Entertaining, Food and drink, Style, Travel

Wednesday Wine

At this point I think it is safe to say that we are all craving spring. So try not to… Read More

Screen shot 2011-02-09 at 11.28.44 PM
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

Hyde-vineyard2.jpg_e_666d2dc9b00c959939d0e6a7287197d6
Food and drink, Holiday

Wednesday Wine

As we approach Valentine’s Day, we recognize that everyone celebrates in their own way. Terry, our Wednesday Wines collaborator, has… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video q1cftmdjkym
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

Hollywood’s Greatest Year: The Best Picture Nominees of 1939
Entertainment

At the Movies

One of the diaries included in the Morgan exhibition that I covered yesterday is that of Charlotte Bronte. And although… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video iaqze5zftzi
Food and drink

Mixology and the Healthy Cocktail

So do you have a favorite mixologist? Someone at your local haunt who’s an expert at mixing up luscious libations?… Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts Older Posts
Newer Posts Newer Posts
Illustration of camera

Follow

Quiet breakfast on this snowy morning. I cross sti Quiet breakfast on this snowy morning. I cross stitched these placemats for my mother YEARS ago when I was living in Switzerland. They have recently come full circle back to me and on this holiday are a lovely reminder of both her and my time spent there. Grounding tablecloth from @heathertaylorhome  @latuilealoup aptware and mini baskets. Flatware from @alain_saint_joanis in my shop and last, but certainly not least, my spectacular handpainted pitcher and glassware set by the talented @margotlar (available by special order through the shop).
Let the family festivities begin. All four chicks Let the family festivities begin. All four chicks are in the nest, the table is set, the tree is decorated. A Merry Christmas Eve to all from our Nantucket home to yours!
.
.
And don’t forget to enter your table in the @academia_de_la_mesa table contest. There are amazing prizes to enhance your tabletop repertoire
The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! Fr The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! From this moment until midnight on January 7, 2026 you can post photos of your tables to win the contest and a myriad of incredible prizes. To take part you need:

1. To post photos on a public IG account
2. ⁠To tag in the picture of your post @Academia_de_la_mesa & mention you are taking part in the Contest 
3. You can publish as many photos of your table as fit in a single POST (no reels, no stories, no videos please). We need to see AT LEAST 2 pictures of your table showing the entire table and one placesetting.
4. ⁠You can take part a maximum of 3 times, with 3 different tables (one single post for each)
That’s it!! Winners will be announced in January. Please post pictures of your own tables at home, no event or magazine pictures 🙏🏻 (and no AI). 

The winner will receive a wonderful prize of the best of the best that there is in tableware kindly donated by @alain_saint_joanis @artel_glass @noel_lingedemaison_paris and @raynaud_porcelaines AND just for taking part you will be eligible for 7 additional magnificent  prizes by @aquazzuracasa (in conjunction with @incasastudio) @elalmacendeloza @erbavoglio.milano @gordiola_vidrios @palmira_decoracion @staub.es and @thetablelove (see stories for details). (NB: unless otherwise stated by the donors all prizes will be delivered in Spain but we can help winners arrange shipping) 

We can’t wait to see your tables! Happy tablesetting with love from the jury, made up of: 
@amarosanchezdemoya @azarraluqui @bea_satrustegui @bonadeaofficial @carmencarooneill @casa__lopez @paz_qb @quintessence @raulromeropress @vanessacraccoliving and @vioscooking
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the welcoming Connecticut retreat of designer @tamara_meadow_interiors where lake views and meaningful furnishings distinguish this stylish custom built home! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in stor While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in storage, I managed to pull together a simple table for a small family dinner to give thanks on this special day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
© 2025 Quintessence Design LLC
Site design by The Beaux Arts Digital
FAQ & Shipping Terms of Use Privacy Policy
X Illustration of hand
Never Miss A Post
Get insider access to the most inspiring and informative design stories straight to your inbox. Satisfy your style curiosity, quench your sophisticated shopping thirst and scratch your discerning need-to-know itch - sign up so you never miss a thing.