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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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Style

04
Design, Fashion, Interior design

Hanging out at Fashion Week – the Mercedes Benz Star Lounge

I’m always amazed by all the towering shoes I see at Fashion Week. Between waiting for shows and standing in… Read More

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Fashion

Fashion Week Spring 2012 – CHADO Ralph Rucci

CHADO Ralph Rucci’s Spring 2012 collection was nothing short of breathtaking. It is in a league of its own.  The… Read More

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Fashion, Interior design

Fashion Week Spring 2012 – J. Mendel

I’m always interested in the synergy between different design venues, so I was very curious when Gilles Mendel cited Dorothy… Read More

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Fashion

Fashion Week Spring 2012 – Michael Kors

Although we’re anticipating fall soon, this week in NYC was all about spring. Yesterday I attended some of the Spring… Read More

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Fashion, Interior design, Jewelry

Brimfield Bounty 2

As a neophyte Brimfield attendee, I must admit the enormity of the event was a tad overwhelming. Luckily, after checking… Read More

love story
Fashion

Happy Labor Day

While we all enjoy what most of us consider the last weekend of summer, let us remember why we have… Read More

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Garden, Style, Travel

Country Charm in the Garden

On our way to visit Dominique Browning for our BEHIND THE Q weekend, Dr. Pat and I first stopped in… Read More

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Architecture, Entertainment, Fashion

Fantastical Friday!

Please stop back tomorrow for At the Movies. We’ve had a lot of comings and goings at the quintessential home… Read More

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Fashion, Jewelry

Marcella’s Magic

Last spring I wrote about Camilla Dietz Bergeron, that elegant bastion of antique gems upstairs on Madison Avenue. While they are… Read More

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Fashion, Gifts, Interior design, Travel

Behind the Q – Both Sides Now

As many of you now know, after BEHIND THE Q, I run an additional post from my side of our… Read More

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Architecture, Art & Antiques, Fashion

À la Turc

Sometimes size just doesn’t matter. The exquisite small exhibit Turkish Taste at the Court of Marie-Antoinette currently at the Frick, organized… Read More

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Fashion, Jewelry

NYC Shopping Spree with Liz – My Picks

Although today is normally Wednesday Wines, Terry was having technical difficulties. Luckily I remembered I had never shared with you… Read More

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40 years ❤️ 40 years ❤️
A magical retreat on Paros. There’s something so c A magical retreat on Paros. There’s something so compelling about the home of an artist and collector and @toddmarshard’s is as distinctive and personal as his work @Marshard.Paros . The ceramic artist has filled his stunning home with art and collections gathered over a lifetime. Our latest At Home With is now live - LINK IN PROFILE

Architecture: ALONI | Architects — Elena Terzi @iaveria & Dimitris Popotas
Nantucket baskets are suddenly everywhere this sum Nantucket baskets are suddenly everywhere this summer — filling Instagram feeds, appearing in the pages of The New York Times and garnering attention in publications around the world. Coveted by collectors and a whole new generation of enthusiasts, these iconic baskets are having an undeniable moment. Yet behind all the current excitement is a fascinating story of history, tradition, ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship.

Five years ago, I had the privilege of making this film with @Mary_emery_design, Director of Heritage Craft for the @nantuckethistoricalassociation , exploring the history and evolution of Nantucket lightship baskets through the people who know them best. We visited master basket makers Karl and Susan Ottison, Tim Parsons and Nap Plank, and heard about legendary maker José Reyes from his son-in-law, Maurice Gibbs. We also spent time with Nantucket scrimshander Michael Vienneau, whose work illustrates another chapter in the continuing evolution of the basket.

The film was made at the time the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum became affiliated with the Nantucket Historical Association, bringing its extraordinary collection — and the stories and traditions it represents — into the care of the NHA.

With Nantucket baskets now capturing the attention of an entirely new audience, it seemed the perfect time to revisit the film and celebrate the remarkable makers, history and craftsmanship behind this enduring Nantucket tradition.

Watch the full film at the link in bio.
August, stay a while. August, stay a while.
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.
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