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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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Design

At Home in New York City with Bunny Williams
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Video

At Home in New York City with Bunny Williams

Bunny Williams has had a long and distinguished career in design yet continues to harness her unbridled creative energy, evolving… Read More

It’s a Dog’s Life with Jonathan Adler – a New Video Series!
Design, Interior design, Video

It’s a Dog’s Life with Jonathan Adler – a New Video Series!

It’s no secret that many of us who have a passion for the world of beauty and design are also totally devoted to… Read More

Five Days of Dogs and Design in LA
Design, Interior design, Travel

Five Days of Dogs and Design in LA

As Susanna Salk and I finish up five days of shooting for Dogs and Their Designers in Los Angeles, I… Read More

Stylish Yachting
Interior design, Nantucket, Style, Travel

Stylish Yachting

Life on Nantucket revolves around the water. Whether you are in it, on it or just enjoying the view, the endless… Read More

Leon leon furniture
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Favorite Finds at the Architectural Digest Design Show

Nature is the ultimate backdrop for any vignette as we saw in our look at going green at the Architectural Digest… 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

The Brilliant Beauty of Belperron
Books, Fashion, Gifts, Jewelry

The Brilliant Beauty of Belperron

It was in the 1960’s and early 70’s, when Ward Landrigan, then head of Sotheby’s jewelry department, first spied the distinctive work… Read More

Design Leadership Summit in Los Angeles
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Travel

Design Leadership Summit in Los Angeles

Last week the Design Leadership Summit marked its tenth anniversary with an impressive line up of events in Los Angeles. Now over… Read More

Spring Design Auction at Christie’s
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Spring Design Auction at Christie’s

The intersection of art and design frequently raises many questions. Is art considered not inherently as important or valuable when it… Read More

Final Favorites from the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Final Favorites from the AD Home Design Show

One of the best aspects of the AD Home Design Show is that it covers the full gamut of design…. Read More

The Irrepressible Charm and Chic of La DoubleJ
Design, Fashion, Interior design, Travel

The Irrepressible Charm and Chic of La DoubleJ

Today we move north in Italy to Milan where fashion and design journalist J.J. Martin lives. Known for her enviably chic vintage wardrobe,… Read More

Lilly Pulitzer for Target
Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

Yesterday evening, in the iconic Pool Room of the Four Seasons Restaurant, Target announced their latest design collaboration with another iconic American… Read More

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Bridging the seasons with soft pink and amber, a b Bridging the seasons with soft pink and amber, a bevy of dahlias and beautiful hand blown Brume de Verre glasses from @ascherparis
40 years ❤️ 40 years ❤️
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.
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