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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Gifts

On the Move with a Busy Week in Design
Garden, Gifts

On the Move with a Busy Week in Design

With a busy week in design, I am just catching up with a few highlights I thought you might enjoy…. Read More

NY Now Spring 2018
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

NY Now Spring 2018

If you can’t get to John Derian‘s charming east village emporiums, seeing his booth at the NY Now Spring 2018… Read More

NY Now 2018
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

NY Now 2018

I hadn’t been to the gift show for a couple of years so I decided it was time for a… Read More

Holiday Shopping in New Preston
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Holiday Shopping in New Preston

As seems to happens ever year, the Christmas weekend has arrived sooner than somehow anticipated. I did, however, manage to… Read More

The Authentics
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

The Authentics

In a world driven by speed, sameness and recycled imagery and content, where the word authentic is batted around as… Read More

The Spirit of Christmas at John Derian
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Holiday

The Spirit of Christmas at John Derian

Few places in New York City evoke the holiday spirit quite like Christmas at John Derian‘s enchanting east village shop…. Read More

If It’s Tuesday…
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

If It’s Tuesday…

This week felt a bit like the 60s comedy, If It’s Tuesday It Must be Belgium. With a plethora of… Read More

Special Shopping for the Chic and Unique
Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Special Shopping for the Chic and Unique

Last week was an insanely busy week of design and although I was under the weather and missed many fun… Read More

Petal It Forward
Gifts

Petal It Forward

Flowers really do make you happy. Not only do nature’s bountiful blooms enhance any setting but bring beauty and lift… Read More

At Home with Dogs and Their Designers
Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

At Home with Dogs and Their Designers

When Susanna first suggested that I shoot the photos for her book At Home with Dogs and Their Designers, I… Read More

Gucci Décor at Bergdorf’s
Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Gucci Décor at Bergdorf’s

It was only a matter of time before the brilliant Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele applied his talents to the… Read More

Scenting the Summer House
Gifts, Interior design

Scenting the Summer House

There’s nothing much better than the sound and smells of ocean breezes, drifting off the water though open windows. Scent… 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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