Skip to content
  • Articles
    • Design
      • Architecture
      • Art & Antiques
      • Books
      • Garden
      • Gifts
      • Interior design
    • Entertainment
      • Entertaining
      • Food and drink
      • Holiday
      • Tabletop
    • Style
      • Fashion
      • Jewelry
    • Travel
      • Nantucket
    • Threads of Time and Taste: The Art of Dressing in Pierre Frey
  • Shop
    • Home & Decor
      • Accessories
      • Antiques
      • Art
      • Lighting
      • Trays
    • Tableware
      • Baskets
      • Glassware
      • Linens
      • Flatware
      • Plates
    • Fashion
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Jewelry
    • Exclusives
      • Tableware
      • Fashion
      • Home & Decor
    • Peony & Thistle Linen Tea Towels
  • Video
    • Exclusive insider tours visiting top designers and tastemakers at home around the world
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home with John Lyle
    • At Home in Paris with the Hurleys
    • At Home with Veere Grenney in his Extraordinary Gardens in Tangier
    • At Home with Veere Greeney in Tangier, Morocco
Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

  • Books
    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
      VIEW ALL
    • 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
  • About
  • Articles
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Books
  • About

Interior design

Urban Electric
Design, Food and drink, Interior design, Travel

Southern Hospitality

Having just returned from my amazing trip to the Charleston, I am organizing both thoughts and photos as I revel… Read More

P1180308
Architecture, Design, Interior design, Travel

Celebrating in Charleston

For the past few days, I have been honored to be participating in a press trip to Charleston, South Carolina,… Read More

Wadia Associates at Rooms with a View
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View Continued

I love how this year’s Rooms with a View designers really embraced and interpreted the theme of Americanism: Timely and… Read More

Corbett Wright Koi Home Office
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View 2013

This year’s Rooms with a View 2013 was the 19th year of one of my favorite design events in Connecticut. Originally… Read More

Dior Diorette ring
Design, Fashion, Interior design

Preserving the Craft

I realize it was only a few weeks ago that I referenced an article in T Magazine, but this week’s… Read More

Jacques Garcia Chateau de Bataille
Architecture, Design, Interior design

High Point Picks | Jacques Garcia Collection for Baker

One of the most talked about events at High Point this fall market was the unveiling of the new Jacques… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video ksna3n8ttds
Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Scot Meacham Wood

A love of tartan, plaid and the romance of Scotland has earned San Francisco interior designer Scot Meacham Wood a… Read More

Jacques Garcia for Baker
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design

Comings and Goings

It seems that The Season is upon us. So as assiduously as I attempt to catch up around here, ever… Read More

Design Leadership Summit
Design, Interior design

2013 Design Leadership Summit

This week I am privileged to be attending the 2013 Design Leadership Summit in New York. The premier event of the… Read More

Classical Invention | The Architecture of John B. Murray
Architecture, Books, Design, Interior design

Classical Invention | The Architecture of John B. Murray

We really have the author’s mother to thank for John Murray‘s elegant new volume Classical Invention | The Architecture of… Read More

Wesley Hall Concavo ottoman
Design, Interior design

High Point Highlights | Wesley Hall

I was delighted to have Wesley Hall as one of my co-sponsors again this market. As a privately owned made-in-America… Read More

Jamie Drake Designer Visions
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Jamie Drake for House Beautiful at Designer Visions

In the Designer Visions apartment designed by Jamie Drake for House Beautiful, it’s not surprising that color plays a major… Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts Older Posts
Newer Posts Newer Posts
Illustration of camera

Follow

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
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the welcoming Connecticut retreat of designer @tamara_meadow_interiors where lake views and meaningful furnishings distinguish this stylish custom built home! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in stor While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in storage, I managed to pull together a simple table for a small family dinner to give thanks on this special day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the glamorous Manhattan maisonette of designer @james_andrew and artist @scottmcbee41 where James magically transformed a characterless prewar apartment into a sparkling jewel box! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stu Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stunning countryside home of Spanish interior designer @ludovicoporta where he transformed a ruin of an 18th century palazzo into an idyllic weekend retreat ! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
© 2025 Quintessence Design LLC
Site design by The Beaux Arts Digital
FAQ & Shipping Terms of Use Privacy Policy
X Illustration of hand
Never Miss A Post
Get insider access to the most inspiring and informative design stories straight to your inbox. Satisfy your style curiosity, quench your sophisticated shopping thirst and scratch your discerning need-to-know itch - sign up so you never miss a thing.