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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

Marc Blackwell dining by design
Design, Interior design

Part II of DIFFA Dining by Design 2014

While I won’t have time to cover all of the marvelous tables at this year’s Dining by Design, this second… Read More

NYDC Katie Curtis DIFFA dining by design
Design, Interior design

DIFFA Dining by Design 2014

DIFFA Dining by Design is always one of the most anticipated events associated with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show…. Read More

Wild Chairy at the AD Home Design Show
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Favorite Finds from the AD Home Design Show

Wallpaper is a wonderful way of imbuing spaces with instant pattern appeal. Whether textural grounds, simple stripes or more elaborate… Read More

cire trudon matches
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design

First Look at the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Show

The 2014 Architectural Digest Home Show features fresh finds from old favorites as well as new design discoveries. In the… Read More

thomas bastide for odiot
Design, Interior design, Travel

The House of Odiot

settingMy eyes are always open for the beautiful. Beauty may be inherent in function, design, craftsmanship or mere essence but… Read More

Frederick P. Victoria Hollywood Regency chair
Art & Antiques, Design, Food and drink, Garden, Interior design

See You at the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Next week the world of design convenes for the 2014 Architectural Digest Home Design Show. Along with Architizer, Apartment Therapy… Read More

Meredith Hutchison Interior Design Orchid Dinner table
Garden, Interior design

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Finale

Although we took a little break last week to travel to France, I wanted to bring you a brief finale… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video blk9e4vhs_y
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design, Travel, Video

At Home with Timothy Corrigan at Chateau du Grand-Lucé

As the indomitable Ms. Vreeland taught us, the eye indeed has to travel, so today we are delighted to introduce… Read More

David handy orchid dinner table
Garden, Interior design

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Continued

For those of you who aren’t normally weekend readers, please take a moment to look back at the last post… Read More

Philip Gorrivan Carolyn Englefield and Clinton Smith
Garden, Interior design

NYBG Orchid Dinner Tables

While perhaps challenging in its specificity, the Key West Modernism theme at the NYBG Orchid Dinner couldn’t have been more… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video xlne6m5qkec
Garden, Interior design

Behind the Scenes Video at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner

Sometimes it indeed takes a village and this is often the case when the talented designers are creating tables for… Read More

Fortuny Legato cashmere & silk velvet
Interior design

Veering Toward Velvet

Many of the design developments from 2013 are still going strong for the coming year including a love of brass,… 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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