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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
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Kips Bay Show house

Final Look – 2018 Kips Bay Show House
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Final Look – 2018 Kips Bay Show House

Today we start our final look at the 2018 Kips Bay Show House on the fourth floor with Alexa Hampton‘s… Read More

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2018 – Part II
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2018 – Part II

Walk up to the second floor of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2018 edition and you are met with… Read More

First Look – 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

First Look – 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Tomorrow marks the opening of the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Now in its 46th year, the annual event… Read More

The Art of the Story at the 2017 Kips Bay Show House
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

The Art of the Story at the 2017 Kips Bay Show House

The most successful interiors effectively tell the stories of their owners. But at a show house with no client is when the art… Read More

Global Chic at the 2017 Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Global Chic at the 2017 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Continuing our look at the 2017 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, we go upstairs to Nick Olsen‘s stylish Salon du Beau… Read More

Kati Curtis at the 2016 Kips Bay Show House
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Kati Curtis at the 2016 Kips Bay Show House

Design Kati Curtis leads us up the staircase at the 2016 Kips Bay Show House with a spiritual metaphor. For… Read More

Drake Anderson Kips Bay Bedroom
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Drake Anderson Kips Bay Bedroom

Inspiration for the Drake Anderson Kips Bay bedroom began on a trip the design partners took to London, where a state… Read More

Timothy Whealon Kips Bay Show House White Orchard Room
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Timothy Whealon Kips Bay Show House White Orchard Room

Inspired by great English country houses of the 1920’s, the Timothy Whealon Kips Bay Show House White Orchard Room is… Read More

Olasky & Sinsteden Kips Bay Guest Bedroom
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Olasky & Sinsteden Kips Bay Guest Bedroom

I have been tracking Catherine Olasky and Max Sinsteden of Olasky & Sinsteden ever since spying their stylish Sotheby’s Showhouse drawing… Read More

Sawyer Berson Kips Bay Show House Petit Salon
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Sawyer Berson Kips Bay Show House Petit Salon

Influenced by one of the great examples of 1930’s Italian residential architecture, the Sawyer Berson Kips Bay Show House Petit… Read More

Alex Papachristidis Kips Bay Show House Dining Room
Architecture, Art & Antiques, Interior design

Alex Papachristidis Kips Bay Show House Dining Room

Enter Alex Papachristidis‘ Kips Bay Show House dining room and you are transported to a tour de force of enchanting elegance. Shades of… Read More

memorial-day
Design, Interior design

More From Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2013

As I start to continue my coverage of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2013, I am longingly looking at… 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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