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Quintessence

Quintessence

Lifestyle blog | Living Well with Style and Substance

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Tabletop

Raymond Jungles designed garden
Garden, Interior design

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Preview

One of my favorite events of the winter design scene is The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Dinner. Serving as… Read More

aerin lauder new year’s lunch
Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design

Rustic Chic New Year’s Lunch with Aerin Lauder

Attending elaborate parties thrown by her legendary grandmother, Estée Lauder, certainly influenced Aerin Lauder’s entertaining style. And tempered by her… Read More

My Christmas Table
Entertainment, Holiday

Merry Christmas

To all who celebrate, wishing you a very Merry Christmas, from my home to yours!

Thanksgiving tablescape
Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design

Happy Thanksgiving

From my home to yours, wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. This year my table started with the… Read More

Howard Slatkin Fifth Avenue apartment
Art & Antiques, Books, Design, Gifts, Interior design

Howard Slatkin on One Kings Lane

For those of you who couldn’t get enough of Howard Slatkin’s amazing Fifth Avenue apartment, I am delighted to report you… Read More

Fourth of July
Fashion, Food and drink, Gifts, Holiday

At Ease | Low Key Luxe for the Fourth of July

Starting with this shopping collage for the fourth of July, I am hoping to inaugurate a light summer series entitled… Read More

Jars detail
Design, Interior design

The New York Tabletop Show | A First Look

The New York Tabletop Show at Forty-One Madison is always a treat. For those of us enchanted by designs for… Read More

Marie Daâge Limoges
Design, Gifts, Interior design

The Charm of Marie Daage Limoges

The beautiful porcelain line of Marie Daage is the perfect follow up to the fabulous tabletop designs from the recent… Read More

Christopher Spitzmiller table at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House spring 2013 gala
Design, Interior design

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Spring Gala

The Lenox Hill Neighborhood House tabletop event is one of my very favorites. Benefitting this well respected and worthy organization,… Read More

Echo DIFFA table detail
Design, Interior design

DIFFA Dining by Design Continued

There were many glamorous tables at this year’s DIFFA Dining by Design. Luxury living was exemplified at Inson Wood‘s table… Read More

Vicente Wolf Orchid Dinner table detail
Design, Garden, Interior design

NYBG Orchid Dinner Finale Redux!

Today we will take our final look at the tables of the NYBG Orchid Dinner. This event always immediately precedes… Read More

FlowerSchool NY Orchid Dinner table detail
Entertaining, Interior design, Tabletop

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner Finale

Today we are starting to wrap up coverage of the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner, where, to use our… Read More

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Some people never seem to run out of ideas. Design Some people never seem to run out of ideas. Designer @maxsinsteden is one of them!

Tag along with me and @susannasalk as we visit Max at his wonderfully inventive Rhode Island cottage.
From clever custom details and ingenious decorating solutions to extraordinary collections and plenty of personality, Max has created a house that’s as elegant as it is relaxed. And he’s wonderfully generous about sharing the thinking behind it all.

Trust me, there are plenty of ideas worth stealing!
Watch the full episode on Quintessence and YouTube. LINK IN PROFILE.
Bridging the seasons with soft pink and amber, a b Bridging the seasons with soft pink and amber, a bevy of dahlias and beautiful hand blown Brume de Verre glasses from @ascherparis
40 years ❤️ 40 years ❤️
A magical retreat on Paros. There’s something so c A magical retreat on Paros. There’s something so compelling about the home of an artist and collector and @toddmarshard’s is as distinctive and personal as his work @Marshard.Paros . The ceramic artist has filled his stunning home with art and collections gathered over a lifetime. Our latest At Home With is now live - LINK IN PROFILE

Architecture: ALONI | Architects — Elena Terzi @iaveria & Dimitris Popotas
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.
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