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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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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

Springing into Color at NY Now 2015
Gifts, Interior design

Springing into Color at NY Now 2015

With the wild winter weather this week, it was encouraging to get a glimpse of spring at this edition of… 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

Thibaut bungalow
Interior design

Creative Collaboration | Oomph & Thibaut at NY Now

Sometimes two companies’ visions are so in-synch that a collaboration is almost inevitable. This seems the case with Oomph and… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video k-ujgueqcqi
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design

At Home with Susanna Salk and Robert Couturier

Robert Couturier is the ultimate embodiment of old school meets modern world. Raised in the elegant 16th arrondissement of Paris… Read More

Michele Aragon pottery
Design, Gifts, Interior design, Travel

Favorite Paris Finds | Michele Aragon

With the power of the internet and communicative nature of the blogosphere, undiscovered Paris finds are few and far between…. Read More

Doris Leslie Blau Oushak
Interior design

Doris Leslie Blau | Expanding the Tradition

Founded in 1965, Doris Leslie Blau’s rug emporium is the stuff of design legends. For decades it was known as… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video zggbyugw0w4
Art & Antiques, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Alex Papachristidis

To quote my video partner in crime, Susanna Salk, Alex Papachristidis is just yummy. And it’s so true! His enthusiasm… Read More

chateau de grand luce_c
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Timothy Corrigan on Antiques and Interiors Part 2

Today we continue our conversation with Timothy Corrigan on antiques and interiors. I am a fan of his great use… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video yff-vujn8ys
Design, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Dividend | Bunny Williams Home at John Rosselli

Just as Alexa Hampton described the John Rosselli showroom as an embarrassment of riches in Susanna Salk’s and my stylish… Read More

Gaston y Daniela Jaen
Design, Interior design, Travel

A Taste of Paris Deco Off

In this fourth edition of Paris Deco Off, over 70 houses have participated in presenting their latest collections throughout the… Read More

SFERRA Lose Count
Interior design

SFERRA | The Luxury of Quality, Values and Style

If luxury is determined by value, quality and craftsmanship and the sign of true authenticity is a vision that has… 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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