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

Screen shot 2010-12-28 at 4.18.08 PM
Food and drink, Travel

Wednesday Wines | Champagne 101

When considering what to feature for the Wednesday Wine post today, it didn’t take me long to decide – champagne… Read More

our tree
Holiday, Style

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours, wishing you the very merriest of holidays!

3 wheat lane
Architecture, Holiday

It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas Ev’rywhere you go… But the prettiest sight to see is the holly… Read More

Screen shot 2010-12-22 at 7.25.53 PM
Fashion, Gifts, Holiday, Interior design, Jewelry

Gold and Silver

No matter what sort of decorative theme you have going for the holidays this year, here is one that never… Read More

Screen shot 2010-12-21 at 9.16.55 PM
Architecture, Garden, Holiday, Interior design, Travel

Chateau Splendor | le Prince Jardinier

We are taking a break from Wednesday Wine today to take a look at another lovely French location. After Megeve… Read More

Screen shot 2010-12-21 at 8.53.32 AM
Fashion, Holiday, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

Winter Wonderland

Everyone loves a white Christmas. Although I live in the northeast, it actually doesn’t happen that often. I’ve always dreamed… Read More

16hepburn-tmagSF
Entertainment

Goodbye Blake

The film world lost a creative genius this week when Blake Edwards died last Wednesday at the age of 88…. Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video bfndy1rbeaw
Entertainment

At the Movies

This Frank Capra holiday masterpiece is frequently eclipsed by his more popular and uplifting It’s a Wonderful Life. Perhaps it’s… Read More

pitcher
Books, Entertaining, Food and drink, Gifts, Style

Wednesday Wines – Gifts for the Wine Lover

Instead of discussing a wine today, I would like to introduce you to a wonderful company that carries fabulous gifts… Read More

detail_IMG_0718.JPG
Art & Antiques, Books, Gifts, Holiday

From Venus to Mars: Gifts for Guys 2

This year, I found an eclectic assortment of gifts for guys of all tastes. Whether in the realm of practical… Read More

darien cheese 3
Food and drink

The Cheese Stands Alone

In my food universe, Ken Skovron is the big cheese. As the owner of Darien Cheese, Ken is one of… Read More

51DOFU4gSfL
Entertainment

At the Movies Jr.

There are obviously many wonderful family Christmas movies both old and new. I didn’t want to suggest something like It’s… 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.