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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Tabletop

Happy Mother’s Day
Entertaining, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Mother’s Day

Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there – birth moms, adoptive moms, stepmoms, foster… Read More

Happy 4th of July
Entertaining, Holiday, Nantucket, Tabletop

Happy 4th of July

It seems like two seconds ago it was Memorial Day and now summer here on Nantucket is in full throttle…. Read More

Happy Easter
Entertaining, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Easter

It’s a beautiful day here on Nantucket and finally feels like spring might actually be arriving sometime soon – a… Read More

At Home in Paris with Eric Goujou
Decorative Arts, Tabletop, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Eric Goujou

In the heart of old Paris, in the 5th arrondissement, La Tuile à Loup has been a go-to source for… Read More

Happy Thanksgiving
Entertaining, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Thanksgiving

Hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday. In these challenging times, it’s important to be grateful for family and friends and… Read More

Daring to Dream with The Ark Elements
Entertaining, Entertainment, Tabletop

Daring to Dream with The Ark Elements

Daring to dream is the vivid ethos behind the layered and storied brand, The Ark Elements. Founder Kate Holt, below,… Read More

Happy Easter
Entertaining, Entertainment, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Easter

From my table here on Nantucket to yours, wishing all of you readers who celebrate a very happy Easter. With… Read More

National Place Card Day™
Entertaining, Gifts, Tabletop

National Place Card Day™

Created in 2018 by Karen Suen-Cooper and Martin Cooper, the co-founders of The Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co., National Place… Read More

Merry Christmas 2022
Entertaining, Fashion, Holiday, Tabletop

Merry Christmas 2022

Hoping all who celebrated had a very Merry Christmas! This year I was delighted to collaborate with The Ark Elements… Read More

Happy Thanksgiving and Exciting News
Entertaining, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Thanksgiving and Exciting News

There is always much to be thankful for at this time of year – family and friends, health and a… Read More

Late Summer Entertaining with Addison Ross
Entertaining, Nantucket, Style, Tabletop

Late Summer Entertaining with Addison Ross

Labor Day may have passed, but there are still weeks left to enjoy late summer entertaining. In fact, this is… Read More

At Home on Vashon Island with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive
Books, Design, Entertaining, Food and drink, Interior design, Style, Tabletop, Travel, Video

At Home on Vashon Island with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive

Most Saturdays, after closing up their two Watson Kennedy shops in Seattle, Ted Kennedy Watson and husband Ted Sive, head… Read More

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Monday blues with an international cadre of artisa Monday blues with an international cadre of artisanal tableware from our @shopqworthy collection. Shop it all through link in profile.
And the winner of the @academia_de_la_mesa table c And the winner of the @academia_de_la_mesa table contest is… (drumroll please!) this extraordinary table by @Monicabardaji!! She entered on the very last day of the competition and completely won us over! With this table, Mónica has managed to create something both modern and classic, using completely unexpected elements. Nothing on the table is unnecessary and yet nothing is missing. The mix of wood and silver is phenomenally chic, the color and size of the flowers are perfect and we found it extremely elegant! It was a tough choice for us judges, as there was strong competition right on her heels!

Mónica is the lucky winner of the best prize we have ever given (what you see in the last photo), consisting of a Limoges porcelain tableware set, Cristóbal Marine, offered by @raynaud_porcelaines; six hand engraved glasses from @artel_glass; six embroidered placemats with their napkins from @noel_lingedemaison_paris; and six Tokyo Noir cutlery sets from @alain_saint_joanis.

All the finalists’ tables were wonderful, each with something that made it extraordinary, and we can only congratulate you on your creativity and craftsmanship!

Congratulations to Mónica as the winner, but also to all the other participants—each of you, with your tables, makes this possible! Over the coming days we will be raffling off the remaining prizes!!

Heartfelt thanks to the “usual” jury (@azarraluqui @amarosanchezdemoya @bea_satrustegui @carmencarooneill @paz_qb @raulromeropress and @vanessacraccoliving) and to our guest stars @bonadeaofficial @casa__lopez @quintessence (honored to be included) and @vioscooking — it has been a fantastic edition! ♥️
In this snowy January weather, see how @timothycor In this snowy January weather, see how @timothycorrigan uses a plethora of @benjaminmoore whites to full advantage in his elegant Paris apartment. Full home tour on the Quintessence YouTube channel!
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
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