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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Interior design

High Point style spotting
Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Gifts, Interior design

High Point Picks

As many of you know, I have spent the last four days at High Point market, scouting the enormous variety… Read More

Huron Chair from West Elm
Architecture, Design, Garden, Interior design

House Beautiful Instant Room with Alexandra Champalimaud

As the weather has been teasing us with a preview of warmer temperatures to come, the idea of outdoor living… Read More

High Point Style Spotter
Design, Interior design

High Point Style Spotting

You may remember from earlier in the year I mentioned I would be style spotting at High Point. Well the… Read More

Designers Abroad book party
Books, Interior design, Travel

Designers Abroad | Inside the Vacation Homes of Top Decorators

Who doesn’t love fantasizing about a vacation home in an exotic locale. And even better if designed by a world… Read More

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Amanda Nisbet
Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Amanda Nisbet

What could be more fun than jewelry shopping with the talented and ebullient Amanda Nisbet? It is abundantly clear that… Read More

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Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Mario Buatta

Mario Buatta is a design legend. For over 50 years the multitalented decorator has been designing rooms known for their… Read More

Timothy Corrigan | Designing and Living with Antiques
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Garden, Interior design

Timothy Corrigan | Designing and Living with Antiques

Timothy Corrigan’s tag line “A World of Comfortable Elegance” tidily sums up his distinctive design ethos. Known for his fusion… Read More

serierare verdigris mirror
Interior design, Travel

Rachel Laxer | Favorite Paris Design Finds

With offices in the States and London, Rachel Laxer is a design star on the rise. After a successful career… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video hxrawfybph8
Design, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk & Alexa Hampton

In the world of design, Alexa Hampton needs no introduction. Armed with all the right credentials, including an honorary doctorate,… Read More

Créations Métaphores at Paris Deco Off
Interior design, Travel

Créations Métaphores at Paris Deco Off

The triumverate that is Créations Métaphores represents the brilliant blending of three distinct brands that are as different as they… Read More

Decorators Club Lecture Series
Design, Holiday, Interior design

The Decorators Club NYC

The Decorators Club, founded in 1914, was organized by 38 original members. Meeting in the home of Gertrude Gheen Robinson,… Read More

AtelierAM_p154-155
Architecture, Books, Design, Interior design

Interiors | Atelier AM

Tis now officially the season of giving and receiving which means I need to catch up on my book reviews!… 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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