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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Stylish shopping

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Art & Antiques, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk & Ellie Cullman at the New York Art, Antique & Jewelry Show

Antique shows can be overwhelming and intimidating. Yet shopping a show with an expert can be illuminating and entertaining. We… Read More

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Fashion, Gifts, Nantucket, Travel

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Jill Kargman on Nantucket

Jill Kargman is anything but your average upper east side doyenne. Daughter of Coco and Arie Kopelman, the former president of… Read More

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Art & Antiques, Fashion, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Video with Susanna Salk and Mary McDonald

Who wouldn’t want to spend the day with the stylish, vivacious and always entertaining Mary McDonald? With old fashioned style… Read More

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk & Peter Dunham
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design, Travel

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk & Peter Dunham

It’s hard to precisely pin point the style of designer Peter Dunham. The LA Times used the term “Merchant Ivory… Read More

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Art & Antiques, Design, Gifts, Interior design, Travel

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk at Serena & Lily Beach Market

A few weeks ago, Susanna and I traveled out to the Hamptons on behalf of Serena & Lily to visit… Read More

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Eddie Ross
Gifts, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Eddie Ross

Crossing the divides of styling, entertaining, decorating and production, Eddie Ross is a whirling dervish of creativity. While his career… Read More

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Books, Garden, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm has an exquisite eye for beauty and a passion for perfection. No wonder everything she touches is divine…. Read More

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Miles Redd
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Stylish Shopping with Susanna Salk and Miles Redd

Miles Redd needs no introduction among design cognoscenti. This expert mix master represents modern glamour at its best. Combining such… Read More

Susanna Salk and Alex Papachristidis at Gerald Bland
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

Stylish Shopping Bonus at Gerald Bland

As with our last Stylish Shopping episode with Alexa Hampton, our cup runneth over with sage advice and creative ideas… Read More

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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

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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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