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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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INSIDER INFO ON THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
The Met x Sabyasachi: A Conversation Across Cultures

The Met x Sabyasachi: A Conversation Across Cultures

Every so often a collaboration is announced that makes so much sense you might wonder why it took this long…. Read More

If You Missed It: Painters, Ports, and Profits at the Yale Center for British Art

If You Missed It: Painters, Ports, and Profits at the Yale Center for British Art

There are exhibitions that come and go quietly, and then there are the ones you wish you’d made the trip… Read More

A Treasured History: The Stream Family Collection

A Treasured History: The Stream Family Collection

Every great collection tells a story. Often, the most fascinating story is not that of the objects themselves, but of… Read More

The Collection of Charlotte Moss at Stair Galleries

The Collection of Charlotte Moss at Stair Galleries

Charlotte Moss is one of the great tastemakers of our time. Her rooms are the stuff of legend: deeply layered,… Read More

Gainsborough at The Frick Collection

Gainsborough at The Frick Collection

When The Frick Collection opens Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture on Thursday, it will offer New York its first exhibition… Read More

Welcome Westmoreland – The Frick’s New Café

Welcome Westmoreland – The Frick’s New Café

It was a long awaited and much celebrated occasion when The Frick Collection reopened in March, unveiling its stunning five… Read More

Iris Apfel Collection at Christie’s

Iris Apfel Collection at Christie’s

The more is more spirit of the exuberant Iris Apfel is coming to Christie’s at the end of this month…. Read More

Suzanne Rheinstein Collection at KRB

Suzanne Rheinstein Collection at KRB

There are few contemporary design icons today as missed as the much loved Suzanne Rheinstein. Her refined yet casually chic… Read More

Paris, City of Pearls

Paris, City of Pearls

Whether you are traveling to Paris for pleasure or for the upcoming design events (Maison et Objet and Deco Off),… Read More

Tony Sarg: Genius at Play

Tony Sarg: Genius at Play

Never was a tag line more apt. Tony Sarg was a true multi hyphenate whose ebullient creative endeavors knew no… Read More

Buccellati Tahiti Picnic Basket

Buccellati Tahiti Picnic Basket

This past week saw an enthusiastic and monumental turnout for Salone in Milan. While many major exhibits, installations and new… Read More

Rigal Jewelry by Hayley Sarno

Rigal Jewelry by Hayley Sarno

Artist Hayley Sarno exudes creativity from every pore with a quiet elegance and charm. Her style is as fresh as… 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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