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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Entertaining

Daring to Dream with The Ark Elements
Entertaining, Entertainment, Tabletop

Daring to Dream with The Ark Elements

Daring to dream is the vivid ethos behind the layered and storied brand, The Ark Elements. Founder Kate Holt, below,… Read More

Happy Easter
Entertaining, Entertainment, Holiday, Tabletop

Happy Easter

From my table here on Nantucket to yours, wishing all of you readers who celebrate a very happy Easter. With… Read More

Late Summer Entertaining with Addison Ross
Entertaining, Nantucket, Style, Tabletop

Late Summer Entertaining with Addison Ross

Labor Day may have passed, but there are still weeks left to enjoy late summer entertaining. In fact, this is… Read More

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

Merry Christmas
Entertaining, Holiday, Tabletop

Merry Christmas

While we all hoped for a more convivial holiday, with the ability to travel to loved ones and gather together… Read More

At Home on Clove Brook Farm with Christopher Spitzmiller
Architecture, Books, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Video

At Home on Clove Brook Farm with Christopher Spitzmiller

During the week, gifted ceramicist and designer Christopher Spitzmiller is busy creating his exquisite lamps, tableware and accessories found in the most stylish… Read More

My French Country Home Magazine
Food and drink, Travel

My French Country Home Magazine

Over the last ten years Sharon Santoni has been sharing her life in France on her popular blog My French… Read More

Summer Entertaining Favorites
Entertaining, Food and drink, Gifts, Nantucket, Tabletop, Travel

Summer Entertaining Favorites

While I edit my shots from my latest Nantucket house tours, I thought I would share an easy summer entertaining… Read More

Spring 2018 Tabletop Market
Entertaining, Gifts, Interior design, Tabletop

Spring 2018 Tabletop Market

While the Lenox Hill gala has provided inspiration for warmer weather entertaining, the Spring 2018 Tabletop Market offers a glimpse… Read More

At Home in Los Angeles With Lulu Powers
Design, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home in Los Angeles With Lulu Powers

While celebrity chef and author Lulu Powers is primarily known for her entertaining expertise, her creativity known no bounds. With… Read More

Setting the Table with Bunny Williams
Garden, Interior design, Video

Setting the Table with Bunny Williams

Celebrated interior designer Bunny Williams is known not only for her stunning interiors but refreshing and authentic approach to gracious living…. Read More

Setting the Table With Carolyne Roehm in Charleston
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop, Travel, Video

Setting the Table With Carolyne Roehm in Charleston

When Susanna and I decided to launch our new Setting the Table With video series, filming Carolyne Roehm in Charleston at… 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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