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
    • A Long and Winding Road
  • Shop
    • Home & Decor
      • Accessories
      • Antiques
      • Art
      • Lighting
      • Trays
    • Tableware
      • Baskets
      • Glassware
      • Linens
      • Flatware
      • Plates
    • Fashion
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Jewelry
    • Exclusives
      • Tableware
      • Fashion
      • Home & Decor
    • Ilse Pitcher
  • Video
    • Exclusive insider tours visiting top designers and tastemakers at home around the world
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home on Paros with Ceramic Artist Todd Marshard
    • At Home in Charleston with Michael Mitchell
    • At Home with Laura Kirar and Richard Frazier in Yucatan, Mexico
    • At Home with designer Pierre Gonalons in his jewelbox Paris apartment
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

Style

Sneak Peek Charleston
Style

Sneak Peek Charleston

Those who follow along on Instagram know that I have been in Charleston this week, shooting with Susanna Salk. Stay… Read More

The Orchid Show – Thailand
Garden, Style

The Orchid Show – Thailand

I’ve just returned from a marvelous evening at the NYBG Orchid Show – Thailand. I’ll be back with more about… Read More

The Circle Game
Entertainment, Fashion, Gifts

The Circle Game

I get email pitches for a wide variety of products, many of which have no relevance to subjects that I cover here…. Read More

Obeetee & Tarun Tahiliani – Proud to be Indian
Design, Fashion, Interior design

Obeetee & Tarun Tahiliani – Proud to be Indian

India is renowned as a leading source for the finest embroidery in the world with a centuries long heritage of textile and weaving… Read More

A Major Milestone – One Million Views!
Style

A Major Milestone – One Million Views!

For those of you not on social media, I am thrilled to share that Susanna’s and my video series has… Read More

Paris Peek
Interior design, Style, Travel

Paris Peek

As always Paris Deco Off has been a whirlwind week. Our Ancien et Moderne pop up has been hopping and I’ve… Read More

Bonjour from Paris
Style, Travel

Bonjour from Paris

A quick bonjour from Paris. It was a beautiful sunny but FREEZING day as I arrived yesterday. The city is… Read More

Ancien et Moderne 2017 – the Paris Pop Up Returns
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Jewelry, Travel

Ancien et Moderne 2017 – the Paris Pop Up Returns

Now that the new year is here, the biggest design destination on everyone’s calendar is Paris for Maison et Objet… Read More

stag-on-silver-warming-stand-in-christies-sale-1
Holiday, Interior design, Jewelry

Setting a Holiday Table with Christie’s

Designer Alex Papachristidis and I share a love of tabletop so we were delighted when several weeks ago Christie’s asked if… Read More

What a Week!
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Jewelry

What a Week!

No one needs to be reminded of what a week this was. But besides the election, there were many opportunities to… Read More

Out and About from Christie’s to Castaing
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design, Jewelry

Out and About from Christie’s to Castaing

Now in the full throttle of fall, it is always a challenge to visit all the wonderful events, openings and introductions… Read More

TEFAF New York Fall Preview
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Jewelry

TEFAF New York Fall Preview

TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair) is widely regarded as the world’s most distinguished art and antiques fair. Established in 1988, it has showcased… Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts Older Posts
Newer Posts Newer Posts
Illustration of camera

Follow

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.
© 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.