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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

Arteriors gold  Jackson lamp
Interior design

Going for the Gold at High Point

Whether brass, gilt or gold leaf, tones of gold at High Point added a luxe touch to many showrooms. Charlotte… Read More

tillet textiles in blue at high point
Interior design

Feeling Blue at High Point Market

While other shades have come and gone, the staying power of blue at High Point this spring market proved the… Read More

fernando santangelo lenox hill gala table
Interior design

More Tabletop Creativity from the Lenox Hill Gala

Each year, in anticipation of the Lenox Hill Gala, I wonder how designers will top their creations from previous seasons…. Read More

La Cienega Design Quarter Legends Ambassadors
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Springing into Great Design

As I was looking at my calendar today, I realized they should probably rename spring the season of great design…. Read More

oscar de la renta lenox hill table
Interior design

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala

It was a Spring Affair at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala Wednesday night as designers presented their visions for… Read More

Thibaut Mykonos fabric
Interior design

A Fresh Take on Tradition at High Point Market

Classic shapes and materials, historical allusions and an abundant use of trim and appliqué are just some of the themes… Read More

WRJ design associates sotheby’s designer show house
Art & Antiques, Interior design

The Designer Showhouse at Sotheby’s | Part II

As we continue to look at the Designer Showhouse at Sotheby’s, the middle room, created by Ryan Korban, was designed… Read More

mason’s ironstone Imari in Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse

Last week, Sotheby’s debuted its inaugural Designer Showhouse, partnering with its 1744 Young Collectors Club, targeted toward those just starting… Read More

Bertazzoni logo on burner at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design

Final Favorites from the AD Home Design Show

March went out like a lion not just in terms of the weather but also with the intensity of the… Read More

Antoine Dyre band at gaggenau
Food and drink, Interior design

l’Art de Vivre at Gaggenau

A celebration of luxurious creative collaboration marked the debut of the new Gaggenau showroom and intimate JCB Lounge last week…. Read More

Barneys DIFFA dining by design tabletop
Design, Interior design

Thank you Wall Street Journal Off Duty and Dining by Design Finale

The Wall Street Journal Off Duty section is one of my favorite weekend treats. So I was especially pleased to… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video de5w_zmvgre
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Video with Susanna Salk and Mary McDonald

Who wouldn’t want to spend the day with the stylish, vivacious and always entertaining Mary McDonald? With old fashioned style… 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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