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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

The Timeless Charm of Hayley Sarno Prints
Art & Antiques

The Timeless Charm of Hayley Sarno Prints

For those of you (and I hope that’s all of you) who follow Susanna Salk’s and my video series, you will… Read More

Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse Auction
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse Auction

Tomorrow (Monday) is the Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse auction. Whether you are attending in person or considering an online bid, I share… Read More

Last Looks at the Sotheby’s 2015 Showhouse
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Last Looks at the Sotheby’s 2015 Showhouse

Continuing our pre-auction tour of the Sotheby’s 2015 Showhouse, we visit Eric Cohler‘s family room. Inspired by the family room in the… Read More

Last Call to See the 2015 Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Last Call to See the 2015 Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse

This weekend is the last chance to see the 2015 Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse. On Monday, April 20th, the auction will begin for the… Read More

Sotheby’s Showhouse Part II
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sotheby’s Showhouse Part II

When touring the Sotheby’s Showhouse, a fellow visitor paid it an enormous compliment, explaining that to him it felt like a… Read More

Sotheby’s 2015 Designer Showhouse
Art & Antiques, Design

Sotheby’s 2015 Designer Showhouse

Having debuted their inaugural designer showhouse last year, Sotheby’s took a giant leap forward with their second iteration this year. With the… Read More

The Spirit of Water at the Antiques and Artisan Center
Art & Antiques, Interior design

The Spirit of Water at the Antiques and Artisan Center

I have written many times about one of my favorite local haunts. The Antique and Artisan Center in Stamford is… Read More

Woman in Gold at the Neue Galerie
Art & Antiques

Woman in Gold at the Neue Galerie

Yesterday’s opening of the film Woman in Gold brings to international attention the amazing story of Maria Altmann and her… Read More

Floral Finds at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Floral Finds at the AD Home Design Show

It’s not new news that florals have been making a comeback everywhere from runway to interiors. At the AD Home Design… Read More

Weekend Wandering at the Met
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Food and drink

Weekend Wandering at the Met

Tag along for a visit to the Met for a peek at the not-to-be-missed Madame Cézanne show and a couple smaller exhibitions.

Exotic Chic
Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Exotic Chic

There is so much theses days, in fashion and in our homes, reflecting a love for exotic chic. Even long before these far off… Read More

Pieter Coecke van Aelst and Renaissance Tapestry at the Met
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Pieter Coecke van Aelst and Renaissance Tapestry at the Met

If last year’s blockbuster exhibit, Interwoven Globe, proved the power of textiles as a force in the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchange… 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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