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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Auctions

Catching Up Out and About
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Catching Up Out and About

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind and while I am just about on my way to Paris (more… Read More

Putting on the Ritz
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Putting on the Ritz

There are so many wonderful upcoming auctions, it’s difficult to keep up. First on my calendar is French house Artcurial‘s… Read More

Frank de Biasi x Christie’s Rockefeller Collection Auction
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Frank de Biasi x Christie’s Rockefeller Collection Auction

The next Christie’s collaboration celebrating the upcoming Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection auction is with designer Frank de Biasi. The… Read More

Sotheby’s Collections and Curiosities
Art & Antiques

Sotheby’s Collections and Curiosities

Please excuse the brevity of this post but I wanted to make readers aware of a marvelous auction tomorrow at… 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

Sotheby’s Fall Auctions
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Sotheby’s Fall Auctions

Anticipating next week’s Fall Market at the D&D Building (more exciting news about that next time) followed by the first ever TEFAF New York… Read More

Sotheby’s Fine Jewels Auction
Fashion, Jewelry

Sotheby’s Fine Jewels Auction

As with furniture, fine and decorative art, buying jewelry at auctions is a great way to learn as well as often… Read More

First Look at the Sotheby’s Showhouse 2016
Antiques, Art & Antiques, Decorative Arts, Interior design, Style

First Look at the Sotheby’s Showhouse 2016

This week, At Home, the Sotheby’s Showhouse 2016 opened. Running through next Saturday, the third annual Designer Showhouse and Auction… Read More

Discoveries in June
Art & Antiques, Books, Fashion, Garden, Travel

Discoveries in June

If there is going to be a lull in the summer season, it certainly hasn’t started yet. Between interesting shows,… 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

Sotheby’s Bunny Mellon auction
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Designer Picks from the Sotheby’s Bunny Mellon Auction

You have no doubt by now read about the upcoming Sotheby’s Bunny Mellon auction. The much anticipated event will be spread over… Read More

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As we start the new year, taking a deep fresh brea As we start the new year, taking a deep fresh breath with inspiration from Spanish designer @ludovicoporta . See how he creates a sense of calm elegance using curated collections and negative space in his magnificent renovated 18th century palacio. Watch the entire house tour on the Quintessence YouTube channel.
Monday blues with an international cadre of artisa Monday blues with an international cadre of artisanal tableware from our @shopqworthy collection. Shop it all through link in profile.
And the winner of the @academia_de_la_mesa table c And the winner of the @academia_de_la_mesa table contest is… (drumroll please!) this extraordinary table by @Monicabardaji!! She entered on the very last day of the competition and completely won us over! With this table, Mónica has managed to create something both modern and classic, using completely unexpected elements. Nothing on the table is unnecessary and yet nothing is missing. The mix of wood and silver is phenomenally chic, the color and size of the flowers are perfect and we found it extremely elegant! It was a tough choice for us judges, as there was strong competition right on her heels!

Mónica is the lucky winner of the best prize we have ever given (what you see in the last photo), consisting of a Limoges porcelain tableware set, Cristóbal Marine, offered by @raynaud_porcelaines; six hand engraved glasses from @artel_glass; six embroidered placemats with their napkins from @noel_lingedemaison_paris; and six Tokyo Noir cutlery sets from @alain_saint_joanis.

All the finalists’ tables were wonderful, each with something that made it extraordinary, and we can only congratulate you on your creativity and craftsmanship!

Congratulations to Mónica as the winner, but also to all the other participants—each of you, with your tables, makes this possible! Over the coming days we will be raffling off the remaining prizes!!

Heartfelt thanks to the “usual” jury (@azarraluqui @amarosanchezdemoya @bea_satrustegui @carmencarooneill @paz_qb @raulromeropress and @vanessacraccoliving) and to our guest stars @bonadeaofficial @casa__lopez @quintessence (honored to be included) and @vioscooking — it has been a fantastic edition! ♥️
In this snowy January weather, see how @timothycor In this snowy January weather, see how @timothycorrigan uses a plethora of @benjaminmoore whites to full advantage in his elegant Paris apartment. Full home tour on the Quintessence YouTube channel!
Quiet breakfast on this snowy morning. I cross sti Quiet breakfast on this snowy morning. I cross stitched these placemats for my mother YEARS ago when I was living in Switzerland. They have recently come full circle back to me and on this holiday are a lovely reminder of both her and my time spent there. Grounding tablecloth from @heathertaylorhome  @latuilealoup aptware and mini baskets. Flatware from @alain_saint_joanis in my shop and last, but certainly not least, my spectacular handpainted pitcher and glassware set by the talented @margotlar (available by special order through the shop).
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