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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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Books

At Home on Vashon Island with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive
Books, Design, Entertaining, Food and drink, Interior design, Style, Tabletop, Travel, Video

At Home on Vashon Island with Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive

Most Saturdays, after closing up their two Watson Kennedy shops in Seattle, Ted Kennedy Watson and husband Ted Sive, head… Read More

Pomellato: Since 1967
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Fashion, Jewelry

Pomellato: Since 1967

The 60’s ushered in an era that would change forever the cultural and social landscape, particularly for women who discovered… Read More

The Authentics
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

The Authentics

In a world driven by speed, sameness and recycled imagery and content, where the word authentic is batted around as… Read More

Remodelista The Organized Home
Books, Interior design

Remodelista The Organized Home

Most of you readers know by now, I am not a minimalist. Living with what I love (all of it)… Read More

Roomscapes
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Roomscapes

For those of you who just can’t get enough of the masterful vision of Renzo Mongiardino, add the reissue of… Read More

Renzo Mongiardino: A Painterly Vision
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design

Renzo Mongiardino: A Painterly Vision

The current return to maximalism can, in all likelihood, be traced to a single source – Renzo Mongiardino. Even those… Read More

At Home with Dogs and Their Designers
Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

At Home with Dogs and Their Designers

When Susanna first suggested that I shoot the photos for her book At Home with Dogs and Their Designers, I… Read More

Villa Astor
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design, Travel

Villa Astor

The subtitle of the beautiful new book on Villa Astor says it all – “Paradise Restored on the Amalfi Coast.”… Read More

New York Botanical Garden Celebrates 125 Years
Architecture, Books, Design, Garden

New York Botanical Garden Celebrates 125 Years

This year the New York Botanical Garden celebrates 125 years. One of New York City’s most prized cultural institutions, the Botanical… Read More

Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design & Decoration
Books, Interior design

Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design & Decoration

“I am lucky. I wake up each morning knowing that whatever that day brings, I will have been creative, designed… Read More

A Day at Château de Fontainebleau
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design, Travel

A Day at Château de Fontainebleau

Whereas many chateaux are associated primarily with a particular resident or royal, Chateau de Fontainebleau represents almost 1,000 years of… Read More

Prince Rainier and Grace Kelley in Celebrity Pets
Art & Antiques, Books, Travel

Celebrity Pets

Anyone who has a pet in their life knows all about the unconditional love they provide. Perhaps that’s why even the… Read More

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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
Very excited to be returning to @eleishvanbreems o Very excited to be returning to @eleishvanbreems on Nantucket for a 2 day trunk show next Thursday and Friday! If on island, do stop by! There will be many new introductions you will be the first to see!!
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