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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
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    • 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
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Interior design

At Home and in the Office with Miles Redd
Design, Interior design, Video

At Home and in the Office with Miles Redd

With a love of timeless style from fashion to film, a deep knowledge of design and decorative arts and an… Read More

Deyrolle: A Parisian Cabinet of Curiosities
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design, Travel

Deyrolle: A Parisian Cabinet of Curiosities

When the legendary Deyrolle was decimated by an electrical fire in 2008, everyone in France and beyond rallied to the… Read More

Chinese Export at Christies
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Chinese Export at Christies

Not only is Chinese Export porcelain a visual feast but a fascinating lesson in the cross cultural exchange of art,… Read More

What’s Next in Interiors for 2018
Design, Interior design

What’s Next in Interiors for 2018

With the advent of a new year, we are always tempted to predict what’s new and what’s next. And while… Read More

Kicking Off a Year of Kitchens and Baths at KBIS
Design, Interior design

Kicking Off a Year of Kitchens and Baths at KBIS

This week found me on a quick trip to Orlando to attend KBIS. For you non-interior design professionals, KBIS is the… Read More

Dr. Zhivago: The Story Behind the Style
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design

Dr. Zhivago: The Story Behind the Style

With the arctic weather producing feet of snow and sub zero temperatures here in New England and down the coast,… Read More

Ancien et Moderne 2018
Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

Ancien et Moderne 2018

One of the most popular design destinations of the new year is always Paris Deco Off. And later this month… Read More

Cabana Comes to America: Ralph Lauren in Bedford
Architecture, Design, Interior design

Cabana Comes to America: Ralph Lauren in Bedford

For the 8th issue of their biannual magazine, Cabana comes to America, choosing five of Ralph Lauren Home’s Navajo inspired… 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

Setting the Table with Bunny Williams
Garden, Interior design, Video

Setting the Table with Bunny Williams

Celebrated interior designer Bunny Williams is known not only for her stunning interiors but refreshing and authentic approach to gracious living…. Read More

Christmas on Fifth Avenue
Holiday, Interior design

Christmas on Fifth Avenue

Friend, designer Phillip Thomas loves the holidays and so earlier this week I stopped by to see what he was… Read More

Patrick Mele The Store
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Patrick Mele The Store

Since he was a young boy, designer Patrick Mele has always wanted to have his own store. And now he… Read More

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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!!
Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. Th Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. 
The Yucatán home of interior designer @laurakirar and architect Richard Frazier @rwf333 is both -  a masterful reflection of its surroundings, where architecture, landscape, light, and craftsmanship come together in perfect harmony.
Tag along for a visit to this extraordinary retreat and discover how years of collecting, collaboration, and creative vision shaped a house that feels deeply connected to its place. LINK IN PROFILE
Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flow Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flowers from my thoughtful husband - all else from my shop (plates coming soon - DM to be notified).
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