At Home with Susan and Will Brinson

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Stacey Bewkes   •   10 Comments

At Home with Susan and Will Brinson

While Susan and Will Brinson have successful day jobs as professional photographers, they don a multitude of hats when returning to their 19th century home in the Hudson Valley. Here you might find them acting as painter, plumber, plasterer or any number of other home renovation specialists required in the process of renovating their Greek Revival house. Please join Susanna and me for a behind the scenes visit to the House of Brinson with this inspiring and indefatigable duo.



As self proclaimed avant revivalists, Susan and Will are fascinated with history. They love to research and understand what came before, for both context and appropriateness.…

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At Home in the Kitchen with Preppy Kitchen

Posted on February 22, 2020 by Stacey Bewkes   •   18 Comments

At Home in the Kitchen with Preppy Kitchen

Over the years, many of you readers and viewers have requested to see more kitchens in the homes featured in our video series, so I am delighted to announce we have created an entire new sub-series, At Home in the Kitchen, focusing on the stylish kitchens of designers and tastemakers incorporating design advice and some cooking/baking as well! We are excited to kick it all off with John Kanell, creator of Preppy Kitchen, the über popular food blog and YouTube cooking and baking sensation.

Growing up in Los Angeles, John found constant inspiration in the kitchen, watching, helping and learning from his mother, who made every meal from scratch.…

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Posted in At Home with, food and drink, interior design, kitchens, Quintessence video series, video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments  

At Home in Antwerp with Gert Voorjans

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Stacey Bewkes   •   10 Comments

At Home in Antwerp with Gert Voorjans

Classically trained and yet famously unconventional, Belgian designer Gert Voorjans creates interiors that are exuberant, elegantly eccentric and refreshingly unexpected! Fearlessly blending antiques, bold color and exotic influences, Gert shares his love of history, art and design throughout his work. Please join Susanna and me for a visit to the colorful and creative realm that is Gert’s atelier and home in Antwerp, Belgium.



Rather like Antwerp itself, Gert Voorjans is an authentic amalgam of old and new, of heritage and avant-garde. Steeped in the knowledge of architecture, design and the decorative arts, with both academic and practical experience (multiple degrees and years in the studio of Axel Vervoordt), Gert became known as the creative force behind the design of Dries Van Noten’s boutiques worldwide.

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Posted in architecture, art, At Home with, interior design, Quintessence video series, video | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments  

At Home in Wales with Penny Morrison

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Stacey Bewkes   •   31 Comments

At Home in Wales with Penny Morrison

Just over the British border, in the breathtaking countryside of Wales, Penny Morrison and art dealer husband Guy retreat from their busy lives in London to their beautiful country home. While the house was originally built in 1790 with an addition thirty years later, the Morrisons were thrilled to discover when they purchased the property some 30 years ago, that it hadn’t been touched since 1910.  After a sensitive 18 month renovation, Penny put her own decorative stamp on the interiors, thus catapulting her interior design career. Please join Susanna and me for a heavenly video visit with Penny at her bucolic country home.…

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Posted in architecture, art, At Home with, interior design, Quintessence video series, travel, video | Tagged , , , , , | 31 Comments  

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   11 Comments

Merry Christmas

Wishing all of you who celebrate a very Merry Christmas! As you readers know, setting the table is always one of my favorite aspects of the holiday season. This fall, I had attended a dinner to celebrate Vaughan‘s new tribal collection. While I loved many of the designs, I realized the new Eva, with its deep jewel tones and graphic pattern, would make a marvelous backdrop for a boho holiday table.

I yet again enlisted the help of Karen Legan of Lemon Dahlia Flowers, who interpreted my direction with a marvelous centerpiece anchored by dramatic proteas surrounded by other florals echoing the colors in the cloth.…

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Chateau Progress: A Sneak Peek with Timothy Corrigan

Posted on December 15, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   16 Comments

Chateau Progress: A Sneak Peek with Timothy Corrigan

Readers rejoice! In response to many requests, Susanna Salk’s and my latest video is a special sneak peek of Timothy Corrigan’s progress in renovating Château de la Chevallerie, his “new” 18th century home in the French countryside. We recently visited Tim in his Los Angeles office where he shared his creative color process and design concepts for the chateau. Join us behind the scenes to learn many of the decisions involved in bringing Timothy’s sleeping beauty back to life!

Using Benjamin Moore paints throughout the entire chateau, Tim shares his design vision, including many of his own designs from Schumacher, Perennials, Fromental and Kyle Bunting (coming soon).…

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At Home in Los Angeles with Suzanne Rheinstein

Posted on November 17, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   9 Comments

At Home in Los Angeles with Suzanne Rheinstein

Designer Suzanne Rheinstein may love a certain formality but her rooms are anything but stiff. Exuding a relaxed elegance, they are a timeless take on comfort and luxury infused with personality and a fresh and understated flair. And nowhere is her much-admired style more evident than in Suzanne’s own Los Angeles home. Here an effortless mix of antiques, art and decorative objects resonate within subtle palettes and a great attention to detail, proportions and texture. Please join Susanna and me for a visit with Suzanne at her beautiful Hancock Park home.

Suzanne’s childhood roots in New Orleans established her lifelong love of history, houses, gardens and gracious living.…

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At Home in Colonial Williamsburg with Anthony Baratta

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   16 Comments

At Home in Colonial Williamsburg with Anthony Baratta

It was a childhood trip to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia that started it all for designer Anthony Baratta. Inspired by the history, architecture and beauty of this 18th century living museum, Baratta developed his passion for history and design. Known for his bold, colorful, pattern-loving take on American style, it was not surprising that Williamsburg chose him to become their first Designer in Residence, inviting Baratta to live in the historic Palmer House and reimagine the circa 1750 residence as his own. Susanna and I were honored to visit Tony in his Williamsburg home to capture this wonderful design initiative celebrating the best of past and present.…

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Posted in architecture, art, art history, At Home with, furniture, history, interior design, Quintessence video series, travel, video | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments  

John Derian Picture Book Project

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   10 Comments

John Derian Picture Book Project

Straddling past and present with aesthetic aplomb, John Derian has created a world that is as unique and transportive as it is addictive. His enviable curiosity, fueled by a love of nature, history and craft have set him apart in the world of decorative art and furnishings. And his enchanting decoupage, where it all started, continues to attract legions of fans around the globe. This month marks the 30th anniversary of John Derian (the company) and to help celebrate, I decorated a wall with a grouping of decoupage plates based on imagery in his inspiring book. While DIY is not normally in my lexicon, this John Derian Picture Book Project seemed like a fun and manageable collaboration, especially since I was already a fan of everything John does. …

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At Home in Tangier with Nicolo Castellini Baldissera

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   5 Comments

At Home in Tangier with Nicolo Castellini Baldissera

Born into an Italian family distinguished in the world of art and architecture, it is hardly surprising that Nicolo Castellini Baldissera has chosen a career in design.  With a successful interior design firm, fueled by the knowledge and tools he was both born into and acquired, he has worked on projects around the world. But nowhere is he more at home than at Casa Tosca, his beloved house in Tangier. Please join Susanna and me for a special visit to Nicolo’s cosmopolitan and colorful home in this magical Moroccan city!

Nicolo’s great grandfather was celebrated architect Piero Portaluppi (of Villa Necchi fame, among other projects) and his father, also a prominent architect, is co-founder of C&C Milano, the exclusive Italian textile company.…

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Posted in architecture, At Home with, interior design, Quintessence video series, travel, video | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments