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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Travel

Visiting Italy with Trust & Travel
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Visiting Italy with Trust & Travel

It’s August, the official vacation month of the year. So as I think of future travel and its infinite possibilities, high on… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds V
Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds V

Today’s first pick of our Friday Five Favorite Finds is Flowers on Chestnut. The place to go on Nantucket for beautiful… Read More

ReMain Nantucket
Architecture, Nantucket, Travel

ReMain Nantucket

Behind the charm of the cobblestone streets and rose covered cottages, Nantucket is a real-life, year round community that has… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV

This week’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts off with a bit of Nantucket history. In the early 18th century, the… Read More

At Home with Liz Lange at Grey Gardens
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Liz Lange at Grey Gardens

Few homes elicit the same obsessive intrigue as Grey Gardens. Made famous by the late David and Albert Maysles’ 1975 documentary, the house was subsequently featured… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds III
Art & Antiques, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds III

Today’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts with a pick from an iconic Nantucket institution. Founded in the 1950s by artist… Read More

Stylish Yachting
Interior design, Nantucket, Style, Travel

Stylish Yachting

Life on Nantucket revolves around the water. Whether you are in it, on it or just enjoying the view, the endless… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds 2
Beauty, Design, Food and drink, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds 2

For the second installment of my Friday Five Favorite Finds from Nantucket, we start by visiting the far northeast end… Read More

Back to the Land
Architecture, Travel

Back to the Land

While we just celebrated the birthday of our own “land” this weekend, there seems to be a more widespread undercurrent… Read More

Happy Fourth of July!
Architecture, Holiday, Nantucket, Travel

Happy Fourth of July!

From a quintessential American setting, wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July! The Nantucket fireworks were last night, and… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design, Jewelry, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds

For this summer, I am initiating a fun little weekly series, Friday Five Favorite Finds, which I find on my travels out… Read More

The Return of the Woody
Nantucket, Travel

The Return of the Woody

As I’m Nantucket bound, excited to be getting ready for an extended stay, I was thinking of past journeys and… Read More

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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!
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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
The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! Fr The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! From this moment until midnight on January 7, 2026 you can post photos of your tables to win the contest and a myriad of incredible prizes. To take part you need:

1. To post photos on a public IG account
2. ⁠To tag in the picture of your post @Academia_de_la_mesa & mention you are taking part in the Contest 
3. You can publish as many photos of your table as fit in a single POST (no reels, no stories, no videos please). We need to see AT LEAST 2 pictures of your table showing the entire table and one placesetting.
4. ⁠You can take part a maximum of 3 times, with 3 different tables (one single post for each)
That’s it!! Winners will be announced in January. Please post pictures of your own tables at home, no event or magazine pictures 🙏🏻 (and no AI). 

The winner will receive a wonderful prize of the best of the best that there is in tableware kindly donated by @alain_saint_joanis @artel_glass @noel_lingedemaison_paris and @raynaud_porcelaines AND just for taking part you will be eligible for 7 additional magnificent  prizes by @aquazzuracasa (in conjunction with @incasastudio) @elalmacendeloza @erbavoglio.milano @gordiola_vidrios @palmira_decoracion @staub.es and @thetablelove (see stories for details). (NB: unless otherwise stated by the donors all prizes will be delivered in Spain but we can help winners arrange shipping) 

We can’t wait to see your tables! Happy tablesetting with love from the jury, made up of: 
@amarosanchezdemoya @azarraluqui @bea_satrustegui @bonadeaofficial @carmencarooneill @casa__lopez @paz_qb @quintessence @raulromeropress @vanessacraccoliving and @vioscooking
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the welcoming Connecticut retreat of designer @tamara_meadow_interiors where lake views and meaningful furnishings distinguish this stylish custom built home! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in stor While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in storage, I managed to pull together a simple table for a small family dinner to give thanks on this special day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the glamorous Manhattan maisonette of designer @james_andrew and artist @scottmcbee41 where James magically transformed a characterless prewar apartment into a sparkling jewel box! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
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