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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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Art

At Home with Susanna Salk and Hunt Slonem
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

At Home with Susanna Salk and Hunt Slonem

There are few places where inspiration and art are so fluidly connected as in the former Chelsea loft of Hunt… Read More

The Art of Trompe l’Oeil in Sicily
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

The Art of Trompe l’Oeil in Sicily

In the May Architectural Digest, Mitch Owens’ engaging story on the Sicilian Palazzo di Lorenzo Castelluccio details the remarkable lengths the… Read More

A Busy Week in Design
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

A Busy Week in Design

For those who follow along on Instagram, I had the best intentions of posting the full tour of One Kings… Read More

Flowers Through Art at Bunny Williams Home
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Flowers Through Art at Bunny Williams Home

Deborah Needleman began her Sign of the Times piece in last week’s T Magazine Design issue, “This country is in… Read More

The Stickwork of Patrick Dougherty
Art & Antiques, Travel

The Stickwork of Patrick Dougherty

Travel always yields delightful discoveries and my trip last week was no exception. An unseasonable cold spell in Virginia and North… Read More

Carolyne Roehm Watercolors at Mecox
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Carolyne Roehm Watercolors at Mecox

Carolyne Roehm has proved herself in the atelier with a fashion collection, at home with beautiful interiors, in the garden, behind… Read More

The Salon Art + Design
Art & Antiques

The Salon Art + Design

Monday is the final day to visit The Salon Art + Design at the Park Avenue Armory. In its fifth… Read More

Pamela Jaccarino at Mecox
Art & Antiques

Pamela Jaccarino at Mecox

All who follow the printed world of beautiful homes and interiors, know Pamela Jaccarino as the VP, Editor in Chief of… Read More

Peter Hone Collection at Christie’s Interiors Sale
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Peter Hone Collection at Christie’s Interiors Sale

Of all the auctions this month, none could be more charming than the Christie’s Interiors Sale of the Hone Collection in… Read More

TEFAF New York Fall Preview
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Jewelry

TEFAF New York Fall Preview

TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair) is widely regarded as the world’s most distinguished art and antiques fair. Established in 1988, it has showcased… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds VII
Art & Antiques, Food and drink

Friday Five Favorite Finds VII

This week’s Friday Five Favorite Finds begins downtown at The White Elephant, the sister property of the Wauwinet Inn, which I… Read More

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Interior design, Nantucket, Travel

Friday Five Favorite Finds IV

This week’s Friday Five Favorite Finds starts off with a bit of Nantucket history. In the early 18th century, the… 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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