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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Fashion

Nye’s Cream Sandwiches at Taigan Marketplace
Fashion, Food and drink, Gifts, Holiday

Shopping the Taigan Marketplace

As you readers know, I am a long time fan of the Taigan Marketplace, an online shopping site featuring a hand selected collection… Read More

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda watch
Fashion, Food and drink, Gifts, Interior design

Christmas in July

While this week wasn’t exactly Christmas in July, it was certainly a week of major treats and peeks. Wednesday, I… Read More

Soffia B. silk robes and dressing gowns
Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Fall Product Previews

Although the last couple days have felt like monsoon season here, fall is looming on the horizon, at least according to the many… Read More

Privet Lives debuts with Madeline Weinrib
Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Welcome Privet Lives

As if the New Preston, CT outpost of Richard Lambertson’s and Suzanne Cassano’s chic shop Privet House wasn’t tempting enough… Read More

Lulu DK temporary jewelry tattoos
Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Gifts

Lulu DK Temporary Jewelry Tattoos

Sometimes the world is full of colliding coincidences that are almost uncanny in their timing. Today Susanna Salk and I were… Read More

At Ease 4th of July
Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

At Ease | 4th of July

Last summer I inaugurated a light hearted shopping series At Ease that I hope to continue occasionally this season as… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video wsfe_fpgrl8
Fashion, Gifts, Nantucket, Travel

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Jill Kargman on Nantucket

Jill Kargman is anything but your average upper east side doyenne. Daughter of Coco and Arie Kopelman, the former president of… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video idyaj_lpvky
Beauty, Fashion, Garden, Gifts, Interior design, Travel

At Home in the Hamptons with Susanna Salk and Aerin Lauder

Less than two years ago, Aerin Lauder expanded her focus beyond her role at Estée Lauder to launch her eponymous… Read More

Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2014
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Interior design

In Art It’s Called Appropriation

Ever since Natalie Massenet’s brilliant realization that online luxury shopping and editorial content are an ideal match, many have tried… Read More

cabana magazine
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Interior design

The Globetrotting Sophistication of Cabana Magazine

In this era of consolidation, cutting corners and mass market mentality, it is a rare pleasure to come across a unique… Read More

bespoke chocolates at Dragonette
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

The Art of Vintage and Modern at Dragonette

What do resourceful designers do when they can’t find what they want? Why they make it themselves of course. Befitting… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video de5w_zmvgre
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Video with Susanna Salk and Mary McDonald

Who wouldn’t want to spend the day with the stylish, vivacious and always entertaining Mary McDonald? With old fashioned style… Read More

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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!
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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!
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