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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Gifts

At Home in Seattle with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive
Entertaining, Gifts, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Seattle with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive

Inspired by an article they read, shop owner and author Ted Kennedy Watson and partner Ted Sive read, they decided… 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

At Home in the Hudson Valley with Martin Cooper and Karen Suen-Cooper
Architecture, Gifts, Interior design, Video

At Home in the Hudson Valley with Martin Cooper and Karen Suen-Cooper

After years of urbane sophistication, living in New York, London and traveling the world, fashion designers Martin Cooper and Karen… Read More

John Derian Picture Book Project
Design, Gifts, Interior design

John Derian Picture Book Project

Straddling past and present with aesthetic aplomb, John Derian has created a world that is as unique and transportive as… Read More

Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2018
Food and drink, Gifts, Holiday

Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2018

As tomorrow is (shockingly) the last day of December, the time has come for the Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2018… Read More

New Soho Design Destinations – One Kings Lane
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

New Soho Design Destinations – One Kings Lane

My how things have changed in Soho! During the 10 years I lived there, it was primarily art-focused with galleries… Read More

Alex Papachristidis Trunk Show at Moda Operandi
Design, Gifts, Interior design

Alex Papachristidis Trunk Show at Moda Operandi

Designer Alex Papachristidis is known not only for his elegant interiors but his layered and luxurious entertaining style. Incorporating collections… Read More

Jessica McCormack at Moda Operandi
Fashion, Gifts, Interior design, Jewelry

Jessica McCormack at Moda Operandi

Originally founded as the exclusive online destination to preorder runway collections, Moda Operandi has, since its inception, branched out to… Read More

Summer Entertaining Favorites
Entertaining, Food and drink, Gifts, Nantucket, Tabletop, Travel

Summer Entertaining Favorites

While I edit my shots from my latest Nantucket house tours, I thought I would share an easy summer entertaining… Read More

An Invite and What’s on the Agenda!
Gifts, Interior design, Style

An Invite and What’s on the Agenda!

This is a very busy time of the year for design, with tons of events and lots on the agenda…. Read More

Spring 2018 Tabletop Market
Entertaining, Gifts, Interior design, Tabletop

Spring 2018 Tabletop Market

While the Lenox Hill gala has provided inspiration for warmer weather entertaining, the Spring 2018 Tabletop Market offers a glimpse… Read More

Setting the Table with Charlotte Moss
Books, Entertaining, Gifts, Interior design, Tabletop, Video

Setting the Table with Charlotte Moss

Charlotte Moss is not only a celebrated decorator and prolific author but a consummate and creative hostess. And although the… Read More

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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.
August, stay a while. August, stay a while.
Charleston has a way of drawing people back again Charleston has a way of drawing people back again and again—and homes like this remind us why.
Tag along as designer @michaelmitchelldesigner welcomes us inside his gracious home, where layers of history, thoughtful collecting, and a deeply personal approach to design make every room a reflection of both its owner and the city itself.
LINK IN PROFILE.
One of my favorite things about setting a table is One of my favorite things about setting a table is that it never has to begin from scratch.

The most beautiful tables are collected over time—mixing old favorites with new discoveries, heirlooms with contemporary pieces, and the things you’ve loved for years with something that brings fresh perspective.

For this table, I’ve paired PeterDunham + Hudson Grace’s (@peterdunhamdesign @hudsongracesf ) beautiful salad and bread plates and napkins with Blue Carnation dinner plates, table linens, glassware, and flatware from my shop, alongside a few favorite pieces from my personal collection.

I hope this table is a reminder that you don’t need everything to match—or come from one place. The magic is in the mix. Every new piece should make you fall in love with the pieces you already own all over again.

That’s the joy of collecting—and the beauty of a table that reflects your own story.

Shop the table through link in profile
Very excited to be returning to @eleishvanbreems o Very excited to be returning to @eleishvanbreems on Nantucket for a 2 day trunk show next Thursday and Friday! If on island, do stop by! There will be many new introductions you will be the first to see!!
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