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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

Domino Magazine Shop House Video Tour
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Domino Magazine Shop House Video Tour

Leave it to Domino Magazine to create the first-ever shoppable show house.  At 15 William, a modern state of the art condominium… Read More

New York Design Center at DIFFA Dining by Design 2015
Design, Interior design

New York Design Center at DIFFA Dining by Design 2015

This year’s DIFFA Dining by Design was held at Pier 92, a short yet brisk walk from the AD Home… Read More

A Fifth Avenue Masterpiece for Sale
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Interior design

A Fifth Avenue Masterpiece for Sale

I was a bit surprised when Howard Slatkin shared on Instagram that his magnificent Fifth Avenue masterpiece was up for sale. New… 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

Floral Finds at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Floral Finds at the AD Home Design Show

It’s not new news that florals have been making a comeback everywhere from runway to interiors. At the AD Home Design… Read More

AD Home Design Show 2015 Part II
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

AD Home Design Show 2015 Part II

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing more from the AD Home Design Show 2015 in several shorter installments…. Read More

Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2015
Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2015

Last week Pier 94 was home to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2015. As DIFFA Dining by Design moved next door,… Read More

At Home with Susanna Salk and Laura Slatkin
Gifts, Interior design

At Home with Susanna Salk and Laura Slatkin

Whether at home, at work as founder and CEO of NEST Fragrances or contributing to philanthropic causes of autism and… Read More

A Week’s Worth of Inspiration
Art & Antiques, Garden, Interior design

A Week’s Worth of Inspiration

With a whirlwind of activities, I haven’t had a chance to edit photos and share this week’s worth of inspiration. Between… Read More

Lisa Perry + Schumacher
Fashion, Interior design

Lisa Perry + Schumacher

While Schumacher has had their share of designer collections in recent years, their most recent collaboration harkens back to their illustrious… Read More

Signs of Spring
Architecture, Design, Garden, Interior design

Signs of Spring

What a change a week makes! With sudden temperature rises, we are actually seeing signs of spring poking through the… Read More

Geoffrey Bennison Master Decorator
Art & Antiques, Books, Interior design

Geoffrey Bennison Master Decorator

Designer Mark Hampton perhaps described legendary decorator Geoffrey Bennison best. “Like some Proustian arbiter of taste and manners, he knew exactly… 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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