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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Luxury

The Exquisite World of Sevan Biçakçi
Books, Design, Jewelry

The Exquisite World of Sevan Biçakçi

Earlier this week, at the Sotheby’s Important Jewels preview, I dropped my business card in a bowl for a chance to… Read More

Armchair Traveler to France
Architecture, Books, Design, Food and drink, Interior design, Travel

Armchair Traveler to France

I buy design and lifestyle books for any number of reasons – for reference, for inspiration and certainly for enjoyment…. Read More

Lalique Fine Jewelry 2014 Soleil de Gaia collection
Fashion, Jewelry

Lalique Fine Jewelry 2014

Long before René Lalique began to focus on his legendary crystal creations, he was a master of fine jewelry. Influenced by the… Read More

The Power of Style | Verdura at 75
Fashion, Jewelry

Verdura 75th Anniversary Collection

This fall, the launch of the Verdura 75th Anniversary Collection will celebrate three quarters of a century of the iconic jeweler’s legendary… Read More

JAR books
Art & Antiques, Fashion, Jewelry

JAR at the Met

Not only is the JAR exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum the first US retrospective of jewelry designer Joel A. Rosenthal’s… Read More

Verdura NYC boutique
Fashion, Gifts, Jewelry

Holiday Shop Picks | Verdura

It’s always a good day when I have a reason to visit Verdura. In their elegant boutique overlooking Fifth Avenue… Read More

Marina Cicogna in T magazine
Architecture, Design, Interior design

T Magazine Luxury Issue

Deborah Needleman always seems to say just what I have been thinking but haven’t quite gotten around to articulating. In… Read More

At Home with Howard Slatkin
Architecture, Books, Design, Food and drink, Interior design

At Home with Howard Slatkin

There aren’t very many New York City apartments these days that could justify an entire book. But then again, there… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video ujxqrn5o22q
Food and drink, Travel

Daniel Boulud & Richard David Story | Conversations on Luxury

Please allow me to set the stage. For gastronomes in the know, Daniel Boulud certainly needs no introduction. With fourteen… Read More

Puiforcat champagne beaker quintessenceblog
Design, Gifts, Interior design

The Exceptional Silver of Puiforcat

While the house of Puiforcat was founded in 1820, it was fourth generation visionary Jean Puiforcat who really established the… Read More

Video thumbnail for youtube video yabnjttcxd4
Design, Fashion, Interior design, Jewelry

Veranda Magic Makers Awards

In a world that is all too often focussed on expedience and mass market appeal, it is refreshing to read… Read More

D&D building fall market Collage
Design, Interior design

Fall Market at the D&D

What a packed day at the D&D building yesterday! From 9 am to 1o at night, it was a day… Read More

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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!!
Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. Th Some homes are beautiful. Others tell a story. 
The Yucatán home of interior designer @laurakirar and architect Richard Frazier @rwf333 is both -  a masterful reflection of its surroundings, where architecture, landscape, light, and craftsmanship come together in perfect harmony.
Tag along for a visit to this extraordinary retreat and discover how years of collecting, collaboration, and creative vision shaped a house that feels deeply connected to its place. LINK IN PROFILE
Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flow Wishing everyone a very happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Flowers from my thoughtful husband - all else from my shop (plates coming soon - DM to be notified).
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