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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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Travel

At Home in Paris with Eric Goujou
Decorative Arts, Tabletop, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Eric Goujou

In the heart of old Paris, in the 5th arrondissement, La Tuile à Loup has been a go-to source for… Read More

At Home in Seattle with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive
Entertaining, Gifts, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Seattle with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive

Inspired by an article they read, shop owner and author Ted Kennedy Watson and partner Ted Sive read, they decided… Read More

At Home in Paris with Bambi Sloan
Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Bambi Sloan

It’s hard to imagine a decorator who embraces irreverent interiors more than designer Bambi Sloan. Whether reimagining a hotel or… Read More

Virtual Postcard Egypt
Travel, Video, Virtual Postcard

Virtual Postcard Egypt

In our latest Virtual Postcard, join Susanna Salk as she visits Egypt, a multidimensional country that celebrates both the ancient… Read More

Nantucket by Design 2023
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Decorative Arts, Design, Garden, Interior design, Jewelry, Nantucket, Style, Travel

Nantucket by Design 2023

I am honored to again co-chair, with Olivia Charney, Nantucket by Design, the premier summer fundraiser for the island’s largest… Read More

At Home in Paris with Pierre Sauvage
Architecture, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Pierre Sauvage

While designer, shop owner and author Pierre Sauvage was only vaguely considering moving to a new apartment in Paris, little… Read More

The Stylish Traveler II Collection
Fashion, Travel, Video

The Stylish Traveler II Collection

Expanding on global inspiration culled from our continued travels, Susanna and I are excited to share our new Stylish Traveler… Read More

Virtual Postcard Tokyo
Travel, Video, Virtual Postcard

Virtual Postcard Tokyo

In our latest Virtual Postcard, join Susanna Salk as she visits Tokyo and discovers it’s a city that has its… Read More

Delft Dreams
Interior design, Nantucket

Delft Dreams

Four years ago, Delft ceramics celebrated its 400th anniversary. For centuries, the versatility of its designs has lent its charms… Read More

At Home in Paris with Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani
Antiques, Architecture, Art & Antiques, Decorative Arts, Design, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Paris with Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani

Jamie Creel and partner Marco Scarani are men of sophistication and refinement, whose world travels and global collections inform their… Read More

Virtual Postcard Paris
Travel, Video, Virtual Postcard

Virtual Postcard Paris

In our latest Virtual Postcard video, join us in Paris as Susanna visits the City of Light and discovers that… Read More

The Stylish Traveler
Fashion, Style, Travel, Video

The Stylish Traveler

Many of you have admired over the years the stylish dresses Susanna sports in our video series. We are both… 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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