Quintessence Sydney

Reduce Reuse Recycle

2012-03-21T22:50:00.004-07:00

What to do with all those empty candle glasses?

Pop in some flowers from the garden and present them as the perfect hostess gift.

Beautiful, personal, practical and good for the Earth.

Happy Weekend!!!

x Kim and Kell x

Easter Magic

2012-03-18T00:31:00.002-07:00

Our beautiful talented staff have again woven their magic to create our Easter windows.

Stop by and see our Easter treats at Quintessence.

x Kell and Kim x

Flowers = Happiness

2012-03-15T01:02:00.004-07:00

It's been proven in studies that the sight of flowers acutally does make people feel happier. Can you imagine how happy I felt when I saw some guys unloading theses roses from their van in Sydney City the other day! They were so kind to give me one! The Stem was longer than my arm. I just had to snap a pic with my phone. Can't believe how good the image is for an old iphone 3 camera. Just had to share!

x Happy Thursday from Kim and Kell x

Story Time

2012-02-09T15:37:00.000-08:00

At Quintessence we call it "playing with our toys". Rearranging things we love to create little stories here and there in our homes.

Making spaces we pass through many times a day just a little more beautiful.

Fresh flowers, ornaments, beautiful products we love.

Each day our talented Quintessence staff rearrange items in fresh and interesting ways demonstrating that our homes can really tell the story of who we are. From our shop windows through to the very back corners of the stores, come inside to see how our story unfolds!

x Kim and Kell x

The Perfect Stage

2012-01-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

On holidays right now after a crazy Christmas and New year. What better way to relax than to trawl for new images aand ideas for Quintessence in 2012. Loving the white ceramic jugs on the open shelving against the backdrop of the classic white subway tiles. So simple. Timeless and easy on the eye. The perfect stage upon which to arrange paitings and the little signs of life which make a house a home.

Happy New Year to all passionate homemakers!!!!

x Kell and Kimmy x

Pastel Dreaming

2011-12-03T23:24:00.000-08:00

We have just received some beautiful pastel coloured pieces in the stores including some gorgeous cushions in soft mauves and pale greens. I love these images below illustrating how traditionally girly pastels can still look so sophisticated.

The coffee table vignette is so sweet. The splash of lime green against aquas and lilacs adds a bit of spice. The white ceramic stool looks so fresh against the soft palette.

Shop Quintessence for gorgeous new pillows and ceramics in soft gelato colours along with our white ceramic stools and butlers tray tables as pictured here.

x Kim and Kell x

images from here

Hot or Cold??

2011-11-29T00:06:00.000-08:00

I love the simplicity of this image. Grey and Green. So elegant. The dusting of snow seems so alluring. There is nothing quite like a white Christmas!

BUT there is also nothing quite like the taste of fresh prawns and ice cold French Champagne. Of course there will always be the turkey and ham for the traditionalists like my husband and my mother. Christmas in the heat can be just as gorgeous and festive as those spent snowed in around a warm fire.

I love the use of turquoise in this image as an alternative to the traditional red and green. Less than 4 weeks till Christmas Day.

Enjoy the glorious build up!!!!

x Kim and Kell x

Aqua Spectacular!

2011-11-24T15:17:00.001-08:00

I opened up my House Of Turquoise blast today to find this gorgeous image. Had to share!

Happy weekend Everyone!

x Kim and Kell x

Give Thanks!!

2011-11-24T00:17:00.000-08:00

Well its Thanks Giving in America. A non-religious holiday which is pretty much all about the food. American families come together, not to exchange gifts, but just to eat together and give thanks.

I think our first Thanks Giving whilst living in America was the beginning of my love affair with a country fascinated by celebration. From that moment on we decided to celebrate Thanks Giving along with our American friends. Why not! When in Rome!

Who better to tell me how to do it in style than Martha Stewart! I remember holding my very first issue of Martha Stewart Magazine in my hot little hands. I was mezmerised! Who was this genius?

I went to the library and borrowed every issue of Martha Stewart Magazine they held. Over months I would spend night after night marvelling at her attention to detail. Below is some of her Thanks Giving magic. Enjoy!!!

Images via here x

Have YOU Met Miss Jones

2011-11-14T14:33:00.001-08:00

We are very lucky to be the exclusive stockists in our area of the wonderful whimsical works of the design team at Have You Met Miss Jones. These beautiful white fine bone china ornaments are subtle enough not to overtake a space, yet so unique that they add depth and interest to surfaces in any room of the home.

The pieces have a nostalgic feel to them. They remind me of something which might have been in my grandmother's china cabinet. Those precious little treasures I would race to see each time we visited.

Some of the Miss Jones works have a practical as well as ornamental application. Tea light holders and vases are amongst the range as well as night lights and lamps.

Amongst my favourites would have to be the Christmas ornaments. The detail in these angel's wings is extraordinary. Stop by Quintessence Lindfield or Northbridge and Meet Miss Jones!

x Kim and Kell x

Well Hello Colour!

2011-11-10T21:28:00.000-08:00

What fun we had today in Lindfield as we unpacked the Brown Trading Company delivery or gorgeous table linens, pillows and scarves. The colours are so fresh and summery. The tablecoths have a touch of red. Perfect for Christmas, yet not exclusively for Christmas.

More decorations arrived so we added more trees filled with gorgoeus ornaments both upstairs and down. Stock on our stock on our stock as we launch in to our Christmas frenzy.

Thank you Brown Trading Company for your gorgeous shipment!

x Kell and Kim x

Pop Goes the Colour

2011-11-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

What a great way to brighten up your summer outfit. Affordable and practical as well as being a bold fashion statement.

Louenhide continues to surprise us Quintessence folk as they come up with ways to reinvent their great bags.

As you can see, we are just a touch enamoured by their use of green this season. A smaller Beetle Bag in this fab colour is enough to lift your wardobe from beautiful to FABULOUS!

We also received these beautiful Louenhide leather clutches. For just over $100 we know they will fly away. Perfect for an evening dress or some extra pep for your blue jeans and a t-shirt.

Thank you Louenhide!

Points of Difference

2011-11-06T00:47:00.000-07:00

We are true lovers of Orson and Blake's ceramics this year. How lovely to unpack these little treasures the other day. We are not minimalists at Quintessence by any stretch, preferring instead to dot little points of difference in our homes here and there creating interesting vignettes.

Loving these little black and white doggies. How sweet in a boy's bedroom!

Adorable little cheetahs would be perfect on an entry table.

And the colour of these blue crackle pieces is totally bautiful. The perfect accents for a neutral palette. Pop into Lindfield or Northbridge to explore these whimsical yet sophisticated ceramics from the OB Collection.

x Kim and Kell x

Colour Splash

2011-10-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

Kimmy and I have recently discovered the gorgeous Brown Trading Company.

We are so excited to soon be receiving a selection of their gorgeous pillows, tablecloths and napkins.

I borrowed these pics from their website and facebook page. I love their use of colour against a white backdrop. New pillows and table wear a perfect way to add new life to a space without spending loads of money.

I ordered these tablecloths for this summer as they reminded me of little Christmas trees but would still be lovely to use all year round.

A gorgeous array of napery to either match or compliment the tablecloths we have ordered.

A perfect illustration of how mixing it up can sometimes be more effective than matching colours and tones.

A splash of yellow adds brightness to an otherwise muted palette.

Our Brown Trading stock will be in stores by this weekend!

Come and see us and play around with colour!

x Kim and Kell x

Fresh Flowers

2011-10-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Every morning I have the pleasure of driving past Indulge Florist.

Good for the soul I think!

Candle Candle

2011-10-23T00:39:00.000-07:00

Pillar candles grouped together make a beautifully simple statement. A collection of candles of varying shapes and sizes looks gorgeous on a mantle or in a fireplace. Cluster them in the centre of your dining table and remember that everything and EVERYONE looks better by candlelight!

Shop Quintessence for pillar candles in all sizes. Decorate for Christmas with pieces that will look gorgeous all year long.

x Kim and Kell x

Sweet Dreams

2011-10-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

We absolutely love Bianca Lorrenne's range of bedding. The soft muted palette is so easy on the eye and her fabrics are as luxurious as we can find.

We have recently rennovated our upstairs rooms in our Lindfield store. It is set out just like a home with dining room, living room, hallway and bedroom. We had such fun staging our bedroom which leads out onto a pretty little terrace. What better way to showcase our beautiful range of linens and pillows. Customers love to spread out coverlets and comforters so they can see how their own bedroom might look.

x Kim and Kell x

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like.............

2011-10-19T01:13:00.000-07:00

Christmas!

x Kim and Kell x

Console Art

2011-10-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

A beautiful console is the perfect stage for vignettes. Lean a collection of pictures up against the wall, arrange your treasures any which way you chose and change them around often to create a new look. A console with a shelf underneath provides the perfect spot for stacking books and other collectables.

Shop Quintessence Sydney for cosnoles and decorative items to create your own story. Visit our new upstairs rooms in Lindfield to see how we have used our consoles to showcase interesting and beautiful pieces.

x Kim and Kell x

image via here

Picnic Perfect

2011-10-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist posting this glorious image of a woodland luncheon. So haphazardly divine.

Thank you Greige for always sharing such gems!

x Kim and Kell x

Spring Sprigs

2011-10-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

A few blooms from the garden cheer up the kitchen window sill perfectly.

Don't you just love Spring!

We have just re-ordered these little bottles in these sweet willow holders as they have sold so quickly. So sweet and at just $20.00 they are the perfect little bit of "icing on the cake" after a good Spring clean. The narrow bottle necks mean that just a couple of sprigs in each little vessel is all it takes.

Shop Quintessence for more little gems to make your home the prettiest place on Earth.

x Kell and Kim x

Party Time

2011-10-12T14:40:00.001-07:00

Cheese Please

2011-10-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

We have received these divine cheese boards at our Lindfield and Northbridge stores. They come in a variety of sizes but personally I am loving the super large size.

I used mine on Sunday to serve a simple cheese and antipasto board to a large group. It provided the perfect rustic serving platter for beautiful fresh produce. I kept topping it up throughout the afternoon with more crackers and nuts and whatever else was disappearing fast. So easy and casual. An ideal wedding gift or Christmas gift for a male or female.

Shop Quintessence Sydney Stores for an extensive range of gifts and homewares to make your Spring/Summer parties appear effortlessly stylish.

x Kim and Kell x

Garden Fresh

2011-10-07T01:57:00.000-07:00

We have just received these ever so cute bottles in a little wicker holder. Perfect for holding freshly cut herbs. If you love your herb garden as much as we love ours, then these little vessels are the perfect way to bring a little outdoor freshness to your food preparation area. Nothing like the smell of just-picked rosemary, basil and parsley to lift your spirits! Fresh herbs in the kitchen say "potential"!

Our Murchison-Hume products have become part of the Quintessence story. Beautifully packaged to compliment almost any kitchen aesthetic. environmentally friendly and food safe to boot. Try the Heirloom Dish washing Liquid for super sparkling glassware and Counter Intelligence Spray for gleaming fresh smelling counter tops. The range goes on an on and never disappoints. A perfect hostess gift that is stylish yet practical.

x Kim and Kell x

Tray Display

2011-09-30T11:05:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the use of a beautiful tray can anchor a vignette perfectly. Interesting and beautiful items are framed when placed on a tray. They become an orderly, stylised picture which tells it's own little story.

Small collectables deserve their own stage. What better platform than a pretty silver tray!

image from here.

Books can be stacked inviting house members to peruse their pages as they relax on the sofa.

Shop Quintessence Sydney for beautiful range of trays from rattan to pewter and painted timber.

x Kell and Kim x