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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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    • At Home with Dogs and Their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life
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    • At Home with Designers and Tastemakers: Creating Beautiful and Personal Interiors
    • Making a House a Home: Designing Your Interiors from the Floor Up
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Traditional Home magazine

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Design, Food and drink, Holiday, Interior design

Bilotta and Bernardaud At the Table

Last week Bilotta Kitchens and Bernardaud, the 5th generation French porcelain company, co-sponsored the second annual Art of the Table… Read More

Lexington Furniture Althena Chaise
Design, Interior design, Travel

Las Vegas World Market with Traditional Home

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to Las Vegas with a small group of bloggers sponsored by… Read More

Katie Leede and Patrick Lonne
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Bedroom

Katie Leede‘s rooms always have an alluring artsy edge with an interesting narrative. Her bedroom at the Hampton showhouse is again… Read More

tara_seawright-5094
Design, Fashion, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Pool Area

My visit to the showhouse included the evening of the opening night party. And thanks to the beautiful weather, everyone… Read More

2011_07_17 Tony 010
Design, Garden, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Front Garden

Over the next several days, we will be finishing up our look at the Hampton Designer Showhouse. For the weekend,… Read More

Robert Passal Hampton Designer Showhouse master bedroom
Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Master Bedroom

Robert Passal‘s master bedroom at the Hampton Designer Showhouse has major wow power. With a fresh eye popping color scheme… Read More

House of Honey
Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Nursery

Tamara Kaye-Honey has a distinctive point of view and her creative nursery at the Hampton Designer Showhouse is a perfect… Read More

Designer Tammy Connor Hampton Designer Showhouse
Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Guest Retreat

There was something not quite definable but so very appealing about Tammy Connor‘s bedroom at Traditional Home‘s 2012 Hampton Designer… Read More

New Ravenna custom mosaic backsplash
Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Kitchen

As you would expect, the showhouse included a large bright modern kitchen with tons of storage, tailored Caged Lanterns from… Read More

Pearson guest suite at Hampton Designer Showhouse
Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Guest Suite

Clearly the Hamptons’ natural environment made an impression on all the designers. What is so interesting is how each interpreted… Read More

Mabley Handler dining room in 2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse
Art & Antiques, Design, Interior design

2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse Dining Room

Through the elegant entry to the right you can glimpse a sea of color. Segueing from the refined aqua of… 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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