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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 Designers and Tastemakers: Creating Beautiful and Personal Interiors
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Interior design

At Home With Susanna Salk and Brian McCarthy
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design

At Home With Susanna Salk and Brian McCarthy

At the venerable Parish-Hadley firm, interior designer Brian McCarthy learned from the best of the best. An Architectural Digest AD100 and… Read More

Beautiful by Mark D. Sikes
Books, Interior design

Beautiful by Mark D. Sikes

Anyone who follows Mark D. Sikes on his popular blog is familiar with his love of  “chic people, glamorous places… Read More

2016 Biennale des Antiquaires and Robert de Balkany at Sotheby’s
Art & Antiques, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

2016 Biennale des Antiquaires and Robert de Balkany at Sotheby’s

This week and next are going to be a very busy couple of weeks in Paris for the world of… Read More

Design Leadership Summit 2016 Preview
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

Design Leadership Summit 2016 Preview

One of the highlights of last year’s design calendar was the Design Leadership Summit in Los Angeles. Celebrating ten years… Read More

Introducing Soane Fall 2016
Design, Interior design

Introducing Soane Fall 2016

I have written about Soane on many occasions in the past as they represent all that I love in the world… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds X
Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds X

As it turns out, my final Friday Five Favorite Finds for 2016 ends today on its tenth edition. Today’s first of my… Read More

Milieu Magazine Anniversary Issue Sneak Peek
Interior design, Travel

Milieu Magazine Anniversary Issue Sneak Peek

Three years ago, Texas based interior designer Pamela Pierce was ready for a new challenge. After thirty years of designing… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds IX
Art & Antiques, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds IX

This Friday’s Five Favorite Finds kicks off with a location that celebrates two popular island categories – food and gardens. Drive about a… Read More

NYSID at Nantucket by Design
Architecture, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

NYSID at Nantucket by Design

As a board member of both the Nantucket Historical Association and the New York School of Interior Design, Maria Spears… Read More

Ike Kligerman Barkley at Nantucket by Design
Architecture, Books, Design, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Ike Kligerman Barkley at Nantucket by Design

After almost four decades of presenting the Nantucket Antiques Show as their major annual fundraising event, the Nantucket Historical Association updated… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds VIII
Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds VIII

This week’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts with a discovery that truly deserves its own post. But with many articles… Read More

Sneak Peek: The Box Updated in Galerie Magazine
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sneak Peek: The Box Updated in Galerie Magazine

When Hudson News founders Lisa and James Cohen came to the conclusion that most art magazines were a tad dry and unapproachable,… Read More

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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
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
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