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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Furniture

Ralph Lauren Home Fall 2016
Interior design

Ralph Lauren Home Fall 2016

Yesterday evening Ralph Lauren Home celebrated their fall 2016 collections and new dedicated Instagram feed at their expansive Chelsea headquarters. Here,… Read More

AD Design Show Part 2
Art & Antiques, Interior design

AD Design Show Part 2

With such a wide and deep variety of categories, the AD Design Show makes picking just a few favorites a… 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

Soane Britain Jumps the Pond
Interior design

Soane Britain Jumps the Pond

While craft and the art of bespoke are experiencing a resurgence in appreciation, it’s always been the singular mission at Soane Britain…. Read More

A Milan Townhouse Mix of Old and New
Architecture, Interior design

A Milan Townhouse Mix of Old and New

The holiday festivities have begun and while I certainly enjoy celebrating with the design community, it doesn’t always leave time for… Read More

The World of Romeo Sozzi and Promemoria
Design, Garden, Interior design, Travel

The World of Romeo Sozzi and Promemoria

Designer Romeo Sozzi sees the world through a lens of beauty, passion and creativity. Continually curious, endlessly inspired, he carries… Read More

Anthony Lawrence Home Comes to Greenwich
Interior design

Anthony Lawrence Home Comes to Greenwich

With a little Thomas Wolfe pulsing through their piping, Anthony Lawrence proves that you can indeed go home again. The… Read More

Sotheby’s Auction of a Distinguished Estate
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Sotheby’s Auction of a Distinguished Estate

While it would be impossible to top the enormity and stellar selections of the milestone Bunny Mellon sale last fall, an upcoming Sotheby’s auction… Read More

Chairs for Charity with Promemoria at Dragonette
Design, Interior design

Chairs for Charity with Promemoria at Dragonette

While I was not able to stay for the week of festivities at La Cienega Design Quarter‘s Legends, I was… 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

A Kindel Furniture Update with Eric Cohler
Interior design

A Kindel Furniture Update with Eric Cohler

Since 1901 Kindel Furniture has been hand making fine American furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Whether their own designs or… Read More

Black and White at NY Now
Design, Gifts, Interior design

Black and White at NY Now

While there was certainly quite a bit of color to be found at NY Now (we’ll get to that soon),… 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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