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

Schumacher Martyn Lawrence Bullard collection
Design, Interior design

Coming Soon

I must say that time got the better of me this week. There just wasn’t enough of it to get… Read More

Katie Ridder children’s bath
Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Katie Ridder Rooms

My local independent bookstore, Barrett’s, asked if I would write the design book reviews for their holiday newsletter again this… Read More

Food by Brian Lewis at interior design store Pimlico party in New Canaan, Connecticut
Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Gifts, Interior design

Pimlico Premiere

I had actually intended a different post for today but after attending  a festive event celebrating the reopening of New… Read More

Interior designer Christopher Stevens’ vignette for Rooms with a View 2011
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View Finale

Featured today are the last 4 vignettes from the wonderful Rooms with a View show house. For those of you… Read More

Interior designer Melissa Marcogliese’s heart shaped ottoman for Rooms with a View 2011
Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View – Reveal continued

Connie Cooper‘s elegant vignette was intended as a media free space for the next generation. Bombarded by electronics all day… Read More

John Todd Bishop’s vignette at Rooms with a View
Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View – Reveal #2

I had intended to share 4 rooms a day as I did for the previews, but due to technological issues… Read More

Interior designer Sam Allen in his room at Rooms with a View 2011 show house
Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View Gala & First Reveal

The Rooms With a View Gala last Thursday was a roaring success. In a festive venue, crowds gathered to see… Read More

A country kitchen designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber from his book The Way Home
Books, Design, Interior design

The Way Home with Jeffrey Bilhuber

Another reason to visit Rooms with a View this weekend is that distinguished designer and author Jeffrey Bilhuber will be… Read More

Albert Hadley design inspiration for Christopher Stevens
Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View Inspiration – Part 3

I’m so excited for the Gala Preview of Rooms with a View this evening and, in anticipation, am presenting today… Read More

Melissa Marcogliese interior designer
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Rooms with a View Inspiration – Part 2

Today we are continuing to meet the designers who will be presenting their rooms tomorrow night at the Gala Preview… Read More

Twin bedroom designed by Glenda Moralee and Polly Denham  in the guest cottage at the Connecticut governor’s residence
Architecture, Design, Interior design

The People’s Project – Pool House & Guest Cottage

The governor’s residence includes two charming outbuildings. Closest to the main residence is a pool house. From the Philip Gorrivan… Read More

Women’s powder room designed by Klaff’s in the Connecticut governor’s residence
Design, Interior design

The People’s Project: The Main House

Beyond the foyer, which I have shown before, is a reception area, linking both the front and back entrances and… Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts Older Posts
Newer Posts Newer Posts
Illustration of camera

Follow

Monday blues with an international cadre of artisa Monday blues with an international cadre of artisanal tableware from our collection. Shop it all through link in profile.
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
© 2026 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.