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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
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    • At Home with Dogs and Their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life
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    • Making a House a Home: Designing Your Interiors from the Floor Up
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Interior design

At Home with Susanna Salk and Brooke & Steve Giannetti on Patina Farm
Architecture, Garden, Interior design, Travel

At Home with Susanna Salk and Brooke & Steve Giannetti on Patina Farm

Patina Farm is the realization of a dream that many only fantasize about. Living on a small lot in suburban Santa Monica, California,… Read More

24 Hours in Boston
Architecture, Design, Interior design, Travel

24 Hours in Boston

With many projects in the works, the last few months have been busy with filming, photographing and travel. I have… Read More

Timothy Whealon Kips Bay Show House White Orchard Room
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Timothy Whealon Kips Bay Show House White Orchard Room

Inspired by great English country houses of the 1920’s, the Timothy Whealon Kips Bay Show House White Orchard Room is… Read More

Olasky & Sinsteden Kips Bay Guest Bedroom
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Olasky & Sinsteden Kips Bay Guest Bedroom

I have been tracking Catherine Olasky and Max Sinsteden of Olasky & Sinsteden ever since spying their stylish Sotheby’s Showhouse drawing… Read More

Sawyer Berson Kips Bay Show House Petit Salon
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sawyer Berson Kips Bay Show House Petit Salon

Influenced by one of the great examples of 1930’s Italian residential architecture, the Sawyer Berson Kips Bay Show House Petit… Read More

Alex Papachristidis Kips Bay Show House Dining Room
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Alex Papachristidis Kips Bay Show House Dining Room

Enter Alex Papachristidis‘ Kips Bay Show House dining room and you are transported to a tour de force of enchanting elegance. Shades of… Read More

To Los Angeles and Back
Architecture, Interior design

To Los Angeles and Back

I’ve just returned from a whirlwind trip to Los Angeles and back with Susanna Salk that left us, as she describes it, “elated and exhausted.”… Read More

LCDQ Windows for Legends Sneak Peek
Interior design, Travel

LCDQ Windows for Legends Sneak Peek

If you’re following along on Instagram, you know that it’s been a busy few days in Los Angeles. In between… Read More

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala Tables Part II
Interior design

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala Tables Part II

As I know everyone enjoys the originality of the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala tables, today we’ll take a final look at a… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Laura Kirar
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

At Home with Susanna Salk and Laura Kirar

Laura Kirar is a designer who approaches her work with the heart of an artist. Known for her artistic approach to interiors… Read More

A Whirlwind Week of Design
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

A Whirlwind Week of Design

While spring is always bustling with events, this has been a particularly action packed week of design. I hope to be… Read More

First Look at the Sotheby’s Showhouse 2016
Antiques, Art & Antiques, Decorative Arts, Interior design, Style

First Look at the Sotheby’s Showhouse 2016

This week, At Home, the Sotheby’s Showhouse 2016 opened. Running through next Saturday, the third annual Designer Showhouse and Auction… 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.

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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