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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

Seaside Maximalism Out East
Architecture, Interior design

Seaside Maximalism Out East

While many of us have long loved the timeless pattern-on-pattern richness of maximalist interiors, it is currently enjoying a more widespread… Read More

At Home and Around the World with Susan Walker and Ali MacGraw for Ibu
Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Interior design

At Home and Around the World with Susan Walker and Ali MacGraw for Ibu

Susan Walker has long walked the line between style and substance. With a spiritual soul, curious mind and educated eye… Read More

Catching Up at Christies
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Catching Up at Christies

As I was catching up at Christies, I went down the rabbit hole and thought I’d share a few favorites… Read More

Valextra x Dedar
Design, Fashion, Interior design

Valextra x Dedar

The long time love affair between fashion and interiors seems to only be getting hotter lately with more collaborations coming to the… Read More

Highlights of a Busy Week in Design
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Highlights of a Busy Week in Design

While there have been a plethora of industry events, I am catching up here with a few highlights from a very busy… Read More

Join Me with Marshall Watson at D&D Spring Market
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Join Me with Marshall Watson at D&D Spring Market

This Wednesday, May 24, is Spring Market at the D&D Building. Marketing Director Liz Nightingale has lined up a blockbuster… Read More

48 Hours in Charleston
Architecture, Design, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Travel

48 Hours in Charleston

On the heels of our latest video with Carolyne Roehm, I thought I would finally share some glimpses of Susanna’s… Read More

Setting the Table With Carolyne Roehm in Charleston
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop, Travel, Video

Setting the Table With Carolyne Roehm in Charleston

When Susanna and I decided to launch our new Setting the Table With video series, filming Carolyne Roehm in Charleston at… Read More

Dark Glamour at the 2017 Kips Bay Show House
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Dark Glamour at the 2017 Kips Bay Show House

Within the classic Charles Platt house of the 2017 Kips Bay Show House, not all the rooms are airy architectural gems. A… Read More

It’s a Dog’s Life with Jonathan Adler – a New Video Series!
Design, Interior design, Video

It’s a Dog’s Life with Jonathan Adler – a New Video Series!

It’s no secret that many of us who have a passion for the world of beauty and design are also totally devoted to… Read More

NYBG Antique Garden Furniture Fair
Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design

NYBG Antique Garden Furniture Fair

In a busy week of art and design events, another stands out as a must-visit this weekend. The NYBG Antique… Read More

Introducing Schuyler Samperton Textiles
Design, Interior design

Introducing Schuyler Samperton Textiles

Known for her low-key lived-in style with flair, Schuyler Samperton has a knack for making rooms look like they’ve always been that… 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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