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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds V | Nantucket by Design 2017
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds V | Nantucket by Design 2017

While Friday has somehow segued to Sunday, this week’s favorite find from here on Nantucket has to be Nantucket by… Read More

Nantucket by Design 2017
Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket by Design 2017

While the first week of August on Nantucket has in recent years always included a focus on design, this year… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds IV | Sustainable Nantucket
Food and drink, Garden, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds IV | Sustainable Nantucket

This week’s Friday finds features just one important favorite. This week I attended Sustainable Nantucket‘s Farm Fresh Feast. Held in… Read More

Villa Astor
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design, Travel

Villa Astor

The subtitle of the beautiful new book on Villa Astor says it all – “Paradise Restored on the Amalfi Coast.”… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds III
Design, Fashion, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds III

It’s been busy on island and I’m a tad late with this week’s Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds but wanted to… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds II
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Entertainment, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds II

My second installment of Friday favorite finds from here on Nantucket includes a couple island staples in the food and… Read More

Summer Staple: The Straw Bag
Fashion, Nantucket, Travel

Summer Staple: The Straw Bag

In this weekend’s WSJ Off Duty, fashion contributor Hayley Phelan extolled the virtues of the straw bag with a comprehensive… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Muriel Brandolini
Architecture, Books, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Susanna Salk and Muriel Brandolini

Few summer retreats are as well known as Long Island’s Hamptons. In communities where artists and writers, fishermen and farmers… Read More

Happy 4th of July!
Holiday, Nantucket, Travel

Happy 4th of July!

As our national holiday falls on a Tuesday, most everyone will be enjoying a long weekend. And by the looks… Read More

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds
Food and drink, Nantucket, Travel

Nantucket Friday Favorite Finds

Last year, I initiated a fun Friday series from here on Nantucket which proved to be so popular, I am… Read More

Welcoming George Home
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

Welcoming George Home

The charming depot of Washington, CT may be tiny, but it just got a big shot of chic with the… Read More

A Day to Celebrate and Remember
Nantucket, Style, Travel

A Day to Celebrate and Remember

Nothing quite says welcome to summer than Memorial Day weekend. While the official start to the season isn’t for almost… Read More

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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.
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
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