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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Flowers

Setting the Table with Cathy Graham
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Video

Setting the Table with Cathy Graham

Cathy Graham‘s party invites have always been some of the most coveted on the upper east side of New York… Read More

At Home with Carolyne Roehm – Design & Style: A Constant Thread
Books, Design, Fashion, Garden, Interior design, Jewelry, Video

At Home with Carolyne Roehm – Design & Style: A Constant Thread

We have celebrated Carolyne Roehm’s many talents here before – in the garden, setting the table, the renovation and decoration… Read More

Celebrating the English Rose
Garden, Style, Travel

Celebrating the English Rose

Just take a stroll this weekend around Instagram and you will see a plethora of roses blooming in gardens here… Read More

Lunch with Martha Stewart & Kevin Sharkey at Christie’s
Art & Antiques, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design

Lunch with Martha Stewart & Kevin Sharkey at Christie’s

While the latest nor’easter blew through with a vengeance last week, causing event cancelations and delays, I was delighted to… Read More

Merry Merry
Entertaining, Holiday, Style, Tabletop

Merry Merry

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I wish you all a very merry merry! This year for my table,… 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

More from Middlefield
Architecture, Garden, Interior design

More from Middlefield

Since Susanna’s and my video visit with Gil Schafer at his country house, Middlefield, seemed to resonate with so many,… Read More

Petal It Forward
Gifts

Petal It Forward

Flowers really do make you happy. Not only do nature’s bountiful blooms enhance any setting but bring beauty and lift… Read More

Flowers Through Art at Bunny Williams Home
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Flowers Through Art at Bunny Williams Home

Deborah Needleman began her Sign of the Times piece in last week’s T Magazine Design issue, “This country is in… Read More

NYBG 2017 Orchid Show
Design, Garden

NYBG 2017 Orchid Show

This spring, the 2017 Orchid Show celebrates its 15th year at the New York Botanical Garden with a focus on the the… Read More

Foraged Flora – A New Vision for the Art of the Arrangement
Books, Design

Foraged Flora – A New Vision for the Art of the Arrangement

As we enter the new year, it seems the perfect time to share Louesa Roebuck’s wholly original and fresh vision on plants… Read More

Orchidelirium: 2016 Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden
Design, Garden

Orchidelirium: 2016 Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden

It all started with the Victorians. Their 19th century obsession with orchids, Orchidelirium, became the foundation for our continuing infatuation with these exotic blooms today…. Read More

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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!!
Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. Th Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. 
The Yucatán home of interior designer @laurakirar and architect Richard Frazier @rwf333 is both -  a masterful reflection of its surroundings, where architecture, landscape, light, and craftsmanship come together in perfect harmony.
Tag along for a visit to this extraordinary retreat and discover how years of collecting, collaboration, and creative vision shaped a house that feels deeply connected to its place. LINK IN PROFILE
Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flow Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flowers from my thoughtful husband - all else from my shop (plates coming soon - DM to be notified).
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