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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Flowers

At Home in the Garden with Carolyne Roehm Video
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Food and drink, Garden

At Home in the Garden with Carolyne Roehm Video

Carolyne Roehm is as at home in the couturier’s atelier as she is in the kitchen, in the studio or… Read More

The New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show
Design, Garden

The New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show

In the beautiful Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden, the 13th annual Orchid Show is a… Read More

A Week’s Worth of Inspiration
Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design

A Week’s Worth of Inspiration

With a whirlwind of activities, I haven’t had a chance to edit photos and share this week’s worth of inspiration. Between… Read More

flower magazine logo
Gifts, Interior design

Thank You Flower Magazine

Whether in the garden, home or art and design, flowers are nature’s beautiful bounty, enhancing every aspect of life. Seven years ago,… Read More

David handy orchid dinner table
Garden, Interior design

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Continued

For those of you who aren’t normally weekend readers, please take a moment to look back at the last post… Read More

Philip Gorrivan Carolyn Englefield and Clinton Smith
Garden, Interior design

NYBG Orchid Dinner Tables

While perhaps challenging in its specificity, the Key West Modernism theme at the NYBG Orchid Dinner couldn’t have been more… Read More

Hydrangea Collage
Garden

The Summer of My Blue Hydrangea

Actually I have never had so many different shades as this year. From classic blue hydrangea to pink and violet,… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video noufvfzamsw
Books, Garden, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm has an exquisite eye for beauty and a passion for perfection. No wonder everything she touches is divine…. Read More

Vicente Wolf Orchid Dinner table detail
Design, Garden, Interior design

NYBG Orchid Dinner Finale Redux!

Today we will take our final look at the tables of the NYBG Orchid Dinner. This event always immediately precedes… Read More

Thanksgiving florals_mini
Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design

Happy Thanksgiving

There is always much to be thankful for at this time of year – family and friends, health, and this… Read More

In the Garden by Stacy Bass
Books, Design, Garden

In the Garden with Stacy Bass

If you are a reader of such local upscale Connecticut magazines as athome, Greenwich or Westport Magazines, or national publications… Read More

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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).
Let the family festivities begin. All four chicks Let the family festivities begin. All four chicks are in the nest, the table is set, the tree is decorated. A Merry Christmas Eve to all from our Nantucket home to yours!
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And don’t forget to enter your table in the @academia_de_la_mesa table contest. There are amazing prizes to enhance your tabletop repertoire
The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! Fr The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! From this moment until midnight on January 7, 2026 you can post photos of your tables to win the contest and a myriad of incredible prizes. To take part you need:

1. To post photos on a public IG account
2. ⁠To tag in the picture of your post @Academia_de_la_mesa & mention you are taking part in the Contest 
3. You can publish as many photos of your table as fit in a single POST (no reels, no stories, no videos please). We need to see AT LEAST 2 pictures of your table showing the entire table and one placesetting.
4. ⁠You can take part a maximum of 3 times, with 3 different tables (one single post for each)
That’s it!! Winners will be announced in January. Please post pictures of your own tables at home, no event or magazine pictures 🙏🏻 (and no AI). 

The winner will receive a wonderful prize of the best of the best that there is in tableware kindly donated by @alain_saint_joanis @artel_glass @noel_lingedemaison_paris and @raynaud_porcelaines AND just for taking part you will be eligible for 7 additional magnificent  prizes by @aquazzuracasa (in conjunction with @incasastudio) @elalmacendeloza @erbavoglio.milano @gordiola_vidrios @palmira_decoracion @staub.es and @thetablelove (see stories for details). (NB: unless otherwise stated by the donors all prizes will be delivered in Spain but we can help winners arrange shipping) 

We can’t wait to see your tables! Happy tablesetting with love from the jury, made up of: 
@amarosanchezdemoya @azarraluqui @bea_satrustegui @bonadeaofficial @carmencarooneill @casa__lopez @paz_qb @quintessence @raulromeropress @vanessacraccoliving and @vioscooking
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the welcoming Connecticut retreat of designer @tamara_meadow_interiors where lake views and meaningful furnishings distinguish this stylish custom built home! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in stor While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in storage, I managed to pull together a simple table for a small family dinner to give thanks on this special day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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