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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

First Look 45th Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

First Look 45th Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Opening on May 2, the 45th Kips Bay Decorator Show House brings the creativity of eighteen top designers and architects to… Read More

Setting the Table with Marian McEvoy – A New Video Series
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Video

Setting the Table with Marian McEvoy – A New Video Series

Regular readers know my longstanding love of tabletop so I am especially thrilled to announce the debut of a new… Read More

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala 2017 Part II
Design, Interior design

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala 2017 Part II

With so many beautiful tables, it was impossible to fit them all in a single post so today I bring you… Read More

One Kings Lane Connecticut House
Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Interior design

One Kings Lane Connecticut House

Welcome to a refreshing new notion in residential retail. Taking the show house concept to the next level, the One Kings Lane Connecticut… Read More

A Busy Week in Design
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

A Busy Week in Design

For those who follow along on Instagram, I had the best intentions of posting the full tour of One Kings… Read More

DIFFA Dining by Design 2017
Interior design

DIFFA Dining by Design 2017

On Monday evening Dining by Design 2017 marked the 20th anniversary of DIFFA‘s (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) landmark event,… Read More

Thought for the Day
Design, Interior design

Thought for the Day

After a spring break week of college touring with my youngest (hence my absence here), I returned home, as we… Read More

Architectural Digest Gets a New Look
Design, Interior design

Architectural Digest Gets a New Look

It’s not often that I write about recently published magazines or share new stories (unless I am lucky enough to be… Read More

Signature Spaces by Paolo Moschino & Philip Vergeylen
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design

Signature Spaces by Paolo Moschino & Philip Vergeylen

“Style is a simple way of saying complicated things.” Jean Cocteau’s perceptive aphorism opens Signature Spaces with a taste of what… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Sara Ruffin Costello
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Susanna Salk and Sara Ruffin Costello

As the founding Creative Director of the original beloved Domino magazine, Sara Ruffin Costello proved she knew a thing or… Read More

At Home With Alexa Hampton in Manhattan
Design, Interior design

At Home With Alexa Hampton in Manhattan

Designer Alexa Hampton needs no introduction. With a successful interiors career since 1998 as owner and president of her father’s legendary… Read More

Shop Talk: The New KRB
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Shop Talk: The New KRB

Kate Rheinstein Brodsky has design and shopkeeping in her blood. Her mother is celebrated designer Suzanne Rheinstein who also owns… Read More

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It’s astonishing to see the resurgence of interest It’s astonishing to see the resurgence of interest in Nantucket baskets this summer. They’re suddenly everywhere — 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.

Several 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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