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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

Lillian-Bassman-Women
Books, Design, Interior design

Preparations Underway

Hello all!! A little change of plans here in the land of Q. Due to an unforeseen, uncooperative and rather… Read More

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Interior design, Travel

Bel Air Beauty

I know, I know, it’s supposed to be At the Movies today. But this week got all topsy turvy, so… Read More

IMG_0648
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop

Tabletop for the Fourth

I’m still not quite sure who is actually going to be around for dinner on the fourth. Our house has… Read More

IMG_0287
Art & Antiques, Interior design

A Home of Timeless Elegance

I am thrilled today to bring you vignettes from a beautiful vintage house never before published. This classic brick Georgian… Read More

FLYER MAY 2011 I
Fashion, Gifts, Interior design, Jewelry

Special Offer from the Empire

Many regular readers and subscribers will probably remember the wonderful offerings of Imperio jp that I profiled several months ago. From beautiful… Read More

P1010352
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Artelier

photo by Stephane Kossmann Last week I attended the opening of a wonderful new concept gallery/design space. Artelier is the… Read More

Screen shot 2011-06-12 at 9.31.33 PM
Gifts, Interior design, Tabletop

Hen House Home

As many of us are considering summer entertaining, one of the easy ways to add flavor to an event is… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video knnescj2ngw
Architecture, Design, Gifts, Interior design

The Best Kind of Story

Do you know C.S. Post? If not, you should! It is a wonderful site full of carefully vetted and super stylish products… Read More

whoopie pie
Interior design

New Canaan Field Trip Redux

Firstly let me thank all of you who helped make the debut of BEHIND THE Q such a success yesterday… Read More

Behind the Q
Food and drink, Gifts, Interior design

Behind the Q

I am thrilled to present the debut of BEHIND THE Q, a monthly feature showcasing behind-the-scenes visits with select stylemakers. In… Read More

Holland-&-Sherry-embroidered-pillow
Interior design

Holland & Sherry’s Exquisite Embroidery

I recently attended an event at the Lillian August store nearby in Norwalk, CT where various fabric lines presented their… Read More

contract
Fashion, Interior design

Behind the Scenes at Kravet

I’ve always been fascinated by textile design. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to have the opportunity, with… 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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