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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
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    • 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

Room 125 limited art editions
Design, Interior design

Old & New at the Architectural Digest Home Show 2012

What a fabulous show this year! With the British and American participants from BlogTourNYC here and Modenus‘ fun Marys and… Read More

Libby-Langdon-for-Liebherr-DIFFA-Dining-by-Design-table-detail
Design, Interior design

DIFFA Dining by Design 2012 Part 2

All the tables at the DIFFA Dining by Design event this year were beautiful. Editing the selection down was a… Read More

Chairs-at-Hollyhock
Design, Garden, Interior design, Travel

L.A. Style File – At Home at Hollyhock

The Sunday evening before the Design Bloggers Conference was one of supreme visual artistry. First was an awe inspiring visit… Read More

Elva Fields
Design, Interior design, Travel

L.A. Style File – House of Honey

It’s true – all the clichés and jokes about the traffic in L.A. – the ubiquity of cars is not… Read More

lawson-fenning
Design, Interior design, Travel

L.A. Style File – Design Digs About Town

Los Angeles seemed such a long way to go for just the two days of the Design Bloggers Conference, so… Read More

Haus-in-Los-Angeles
Design, Interior design, Travel

A Haus in L.A.

1. Large Copenhagen Carafe  2. Silver Rope Pitcher  3. Facet Medium Candleholder One of my first stops in Los Angeles… Read More

chamberlain
Design, Interior design, Travel

L.A. Style File – The Chamberlain Hotel

As most of you know, I was at the Design Blogger’s Conference last week in Los Angeles. I hadn’t been… Read More

Beeline Punta Cana sofa
Design, Interior design, Travel

High Point Happy

So I am beyond excited to share more good news. A few weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to… Read More

Allison Hennessy
Design, Interior design

The New TradHome

I am beyond excited to announce that my pick for Traditional Home‘s new TradHome designers was selected. You may remember… Read More

Berdie Brady and Beth Dempsey’s shoes
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Black & White Carpet: Stéphane Kossman

Between fashion week and the upcoming Oscars, the latest offering at the Samuel Owen Gallery is perfectly timed. Last week… Read More

Group at The Orchid Dinner
Design, Garden, Interior design

The New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner

Wednesday evening I was thrilled to attended the New York Botanical Garden‘s annual Orchid Dinner. This year’s event honored Tiffany… Read More

Wood shop clocks
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Wood Shop

This past week I visited the fun concept store, Wood Shop, in NoLIta. The brainchild  of David Stark, the art… 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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