Skip to content
  • Articles
    • Design
      • Architecture
      • Art & Antiques
      • Books
      • Garden
      • Gifts
      • Interior design
    • Entertainment
      • Entertaining
      • Food and drink
      • Holiday
      • Tabletop
    • Style
      • Fashion
      • Jewelry
    • Travel
      • Nantucket
    • Threads of Time and Taste: The Art of Dressing in Pierre Frey
  • Shop
    • Home & Decor
      • Accessories
      • Antiques
      • Art
      • Lighting
      • Trays
    • Tableware
      • Baskets
      • Glassware
      • Linens
      • Flatware
      • Plates
    • Fashion
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Jewelry
    • Exclusives
      • Tableware
      • Fashion
      • Home & Decor
    • Peony & Thistle Linen Tea Towels
  • Video
    • Exclusive insider tours visiting top designers and tastemakers at home around the world
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home with John Lyle
    • At Home in Paris with the Hurleys
    • At Home with Veere Grenney in his Extraordinary Gardens in Tangier
    • At Home with Veere Greeney in Tangier, Morocco
Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

  • Books
    • Books that I have collaborated on, as photographer, with design author Susanna Salk
      VIEW ALL
    • At Home with Dogs and Their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life
    • At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and Their Dogs
    • At Home with Designers and Tastemakers: Creating Beautiful and Personal Interiors
    • Making a House a Home: Designing Your Interiors from the Floor Up
  • About
  • Articles
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Books
  • About

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2012
Design, Fashion, Travel

Coming Soon

I lost my fight against time yesterday and just couldn’t manage to get it all done. There is a bit… Read More

Nanette Lepore fall 2012 collection look 15
Fashion

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012: Nanette Lepore

While I always appreciate the youthful exuberance of Nanette Lepore‘s collections, this was by far my favorite collection of hers… Read More

J. Mendel Fall 2012
Fashion

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012: J Mendel

J Mendel cited two seemingly disparate inspirations for his luxe fall collection: a Helmut Newton editorial shot at a Gaudi building… Read More

Pamella Roland Fall 2012 show at New York Fashion Week
Fashion

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Pamella Roland

With a very pretty set, that my photo does not even remotely do justice to, Pamella Roland set out to… Read More

Dennis Basso Fall 2012 41
Fashion

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Dennis Basso

CBS Sunday yesterday morning did a segment on the new Boeing 787, interviewing the aerospace company’s executives who explained they were… Read More

Vera Wang Fall 2012 collection
Design, Fashion

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Vera Wang

Of all the shows at fashion week, I found Vera Wang‘s to be the most artistic, connecting all elements involved… Read More

Peter Gray curling hair at Badgley Mischka fall 2012 show
Fashion

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Badgley Mischka

Using Fritz Lang’s hallmark German Expressionist masterpiece Metropolis as inspiration, Mark Badgley and James Mischka presented an amazing homage full… Read More

Naeem Khan gown for his Fall 2012 collection
Fashion

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Naeem Khan

Naeem Khan has always designed with a nod toward his native India. But this season, inspired by a trip home… Read More

Tory Burch Fall 2012
Fashion

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012: Tory Burch

They say you should write what you know – and perhaps it’s the same with fashion design.  Tory Burch describes… Read More

Lorena Sarbu Fall 2012
Fashion

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012: Lorena Sarbu

I must admit I was not that familiar with Lorena Sarbu‘s line when I arrived at her presentation, but I… Read More

Lela Rose Fall 2012
Architecture, Fashion

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012: Lela Rose

As soon as I read Lela Rose‘s inspiration in the show package, I had a feeling I was going to… Read More

Monika Chiang croco embossed leather opera gloves in grape
Fashion

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012: Monika Chiang

Monika Chiang continues to her hone her vision as I saw in her capsule spring collection. With strong tailored lines,… Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts Older Posts
Newer Posts Newer Posts
Illustration of camera

Follow

The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! Fr The Christmas Tablesetting Contest starts now!! From this moment until midnight on January 7, 2026 you can post photos of your tables to win the contest and a myriad of incredible prizes. To take part you need:

1. To post photos on a public IG account
2. ⁠To tag in the picture of your post @Academia_de_la_mesa & mention you are taking part in the Contest 
3. You can publish as many photos of your table as fit in a single POST (no reels, no stories, no videos please). We need to see AT LEAST 2 pictures of your table showing the entire table and one placesetting.
4. ⁠You can take part a maximum of 3 times, with 3 different tables (one single post for each)
That’s it!! Winners will be announced in January. Please post pictures of your own tables at home, no event or magazine pictures 🙏🏻 (and no AI). 

The winner will receive a wonderful prize of the best of the best that there is in tableware kindly donated by @alain_saint_joanis @artel_glass @noel_lingedemaison_paris and @raynaud_porcelaines AND just for taking part you will be eligible for 7 additional magnificent  prizes by @aquazzuracasa (in conjunction with @incasastudio) @elalmacendeloza @erbavoglio.milano @gordiola_vidrios @palmira_decoracion @staub.es and @thetablelove (see stories for details). (NB: unless otherwise stated by the donors all prizes will be delivered in Spain but we can help winners arrange shipping) 

We can’t wait to see your tables! Happy tablesetting with love from the jury, made up of: 
@amarosanchezdemoya @azarraluqui @bea_satrustegui @bonadeaofficial @carmencarooneill @casa__lopez @paz_qb @quintessence @raulromeropress @vanessacraccoliving and @vioscooking
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the welcoming Connecticut retreat of designer @tamara_meadow_interiors where lake views and meaningful furnishings distinguish this stylish custom built home! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in stor While much of my tabletop arsenal is still in storage, I managed to pull together a simple table for a small family dinner to give thanks on this special day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susan Our latest video visit is here! Join me and @susannasalk at the glamorous Manhattan maisonette of designer @james_andrew and artist @scottmcbee41 where James magically transformed a characterless prewar apartment into a sparkling jewel box! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stu Our latest video visit is here! Join me at the stunning countryside home of Spanish interior designer @ludovicoporta where he transformed a ruin of an 18th century palazzo into an idyllic weekend retreat ! LINK IN PROFILE (latest video).
© 2025 Quintessence Design LLC
Site design by The Beaux Arts Digital
FAQ & Shipping Terms of Use Privacy Policy
X Illustration of hand
Never Miss A Post
Get insider access to the most inspiring and informative design stories straight to your inbox. Satisfy your style curiosity, quench your sophisticated shopping thirst and scratch your discerning need-to-know itch - sign up so you never miss a thing.