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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Travel

Marvelous on Mallorca
Architecture, Interior design, Travel

Marvelous on Mallorca

While I am happily ensconced in my summer outpost here on Nantucket, I still enjoy vicariously exploring other vacation destinations…. Read More

Friday Favorites – Nantucket On the Go
Food and drink, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Favorites – Nantucket On the Go

This week’s Friday Favorites is a tad late due to the continuing Fourth of July week. With family on island,… Read More

Happy July 4th
Architecture, Holiday, Nantucket, Travel

Happy July 4th

Wishing everyone a very happy July 4th from here on Nantucket, where the appeal of the gray lady is epitomized… Read More

At Home on Nantucket with Gary McBournie
Art & Antiques, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel, Video

At Home on Nantucket with Gary McBournie

Drive up to designer Gary McBournie‘s charming Nantucket home and you are greeted by an enormous green privet hedge punctuated… Read More

Friday Favorites – Nantucket Natural Beauty
Beauty, Food and drink, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Favorites – Nantucket Natural Beauty

Surrounded by an abundance of nature’s gifts every day, it’s not surprising that there is an emphasis on living healthfully… Read More

Happy Anniversary Maria Mitchell
Nantucket, Travel

Happy Anniversary Maria Mitchell

When you think of Nantucket, perhaps beautiful beaches, cobblestone streets and rose covered cottages come to mind, but this small… Read More

Nantucket Highlights
Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Highlights

As I prepare for my annual summer trip to Nantucket, I was reviewing some of my past posts of island… Read More

Celebrating the English Rose
Garden, Style, Travel

Celebrating the English Rose

Just take a stroll this weekend around Instagram and you will see a plethora of roses blooming in gardens here… Read More

72 Hours in France!
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design, Travel

72 Hours in France!

As mentioned in my last post, I spent 72 hours in France this week with Susanna Salk, filming two new… Read More

Out and About in Florida and Around the World
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

Out and About in Florida and Around the World

This past week I was happily out and about in Florida, visiting family and escaping the unseasonable weather. It was… Read More

At Home with Carolyne Roehm in Charleston
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Carolyne Roehm in Charleston

Ever since watching Gone with the Wind as a child, Carolyne Roehm has long had a predilection for the South…. Read More

At Home in Los Angeles With Lulu Powers
Design, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Los Angeles With Lulu Powers

While celebrity chef and author Lulu Powers is primarily known for her entertaining expertise, her creativity known no bounds. With… Read More

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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).
Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stu Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stunning countryside home of Spanish interior designer @ludovicoporta where he transformed a ruin of an 18th century palazzo into an idyllic weekend retreat ! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
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