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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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Travel

Coming Soon
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design, Travel

Coming Soon

I’ve been out and about and will have lots to share but until I have a chance to catch up,… Read More

de Gournay Willow
Design, Interior design, Travel

De Gournay at Home in New York

The mere mention of the name de Gournay instantly conjures up images of timeless elegance, of exquisite hand painted wall… Read More

Ambiente-Club
Design, Travel

Italo | Chic Train Travel in Italy

Train travel is not what it used to be here in the states. When I was little, my mother, sister… Read More

Mayflower Inn Shakespeare Garden vignette
Garden, Interior design, Travel

The Mayflower Inn Shakespeare Garden

While all the grounds at the Inn are beautiful and immaculately groomed, the Shakespeare Garden at the Mayflower Inn is an… Read More

Mayflower Inn spa tea
Architecture, Beauty, Garden, Interior design, Travel

The Mayflower Inn Spa

While the sumptuous Mayflower Inn is, in and of itself, enticing, it is the Spa that seals the deal. There is… Read More

Mayflower Inn porch
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Food and drink, Garden, Gifts, Interior design, Travel

Welcome to the Mayflower

A mere two hours from New York City, nestled in the heart of rural Connecticut, sits an idyllic luxury resort… Read More

Masseria Castellini
Architecture, Design, Interior design, Travel

At Home in Italy

As many of us are celebrating the long weekend here in the States, perhaps some are still on vacation, enjoying… Read More

Jonathan Charles etagere
Design, Interior design, Travel

Trends at Las Vegas World Market Part 2

As we know, interiors tend to follow fashion. Those of you who saw my coverage of fashion week last spring… Read More

Lexington Furniture Althena Chaise
Design, Interior design, Travel

Las Vegas World Market with Traditional Home

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to Las Vegas with a small group of bloggers sponsored by… Read More

Decorex International
Design, Garden, Interior design, Travel

Thank You Decorex!

Decorex International, the legendary British interior design show, just announced its #DECOREX100 – a list of the top 100 interior… Read More

Deborah Needleman
Beauty, Design, Entertainment, Fashion, Gifts, Travel

Ten Picks for a Simply Splendid Summer

As some of you know, I also moonlight over at the worthy non-profit Women’s Voices for Change. “Celebrating the potential,… Read More

Chairs-at-Hollyhock
Design, Garden, Interior design, Travel

L.A. Style File – At Home at Hollyhock

The Sunday evening before the Design Bloggers Conference was one of supreme visual artistry. First was an awe inspiring visit… 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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