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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

A Flagship for Bunny Williams Home
Art & Antiques, Interior design

A Flagship for Bunny Williams Home

Bunny Williams has long had tempting outposts to purchase her chic products and finds. Whether shopping for Bunny Williams Home… 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

October Inspiration Overload
Architecture, Books, Interior design

October Inspiration Overload

The lazy days of summer seem long gone as fall has shifted into high gear. October inspiration is already on… Read More

Palm Beach Chic
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Palm Beach Chic

Just in time for the weekend, we can all take a vicarious visit to that tropical bastion of sunny style in Jennifer… Read More

Giving Design a Voice
Interior design

Giving Design a Voice

As we were all reminded by Deborah Needleman in her revelatory editor’s letter in this week’s inspiring issue of T magazine,… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Michael Bruno in Tuxedo Park
Architecture, Art & Antiques

At Home with Susanna Salk and Michael Bruno in Tuxedo Park

Not only is Michael Bruno, founder of 1stdibs and now Housepad App (more on that in a bit) a man of… Read More

Sneak Peek of Our At Home with Video at Tuxedo Park
Interior design

Sneak Peek of Our At Home with Video at Tuxedo Park

Last month, Susanna and I were thrilled to visit 1stdibs and Housepad founder Michael Bruno at his majestic house at… Read More

Carrier and Company Positively Chic Interiors
Books, Design, Interior design

Carrier and Company Positively Chic Interiors

Like everything that comes out of the offices of Carrier and Company, their new book, Positively Chic Interiors, makes it… Read More

Showhouse on the Green Sneak Peek
Architecture, Interior design

Showhouse on the Green Sneak Peek

What to do when a 19th century church on a historic town green in Connecticut needs to restore its rectory,… Read More

Nantucket House Tour | Stylish in Sconset
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design

Nantucket House Tour | Stylish in Sconset

Most Nantucket regulars would agree that September is the most beautiful month on island. The throngs of tourists have left, you… Read More

Madeline Weinrib Pop-Up at Barney’s
Art & Antiques, Design, Fashion, Gifts, Interior design

Madeline Weinrib Pop-Up at Barney’s

Madeline Weinrib travels the world to bring bring her authentic aesthetic home for her eponymous brand. And so it is particularly appropriate… 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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