Indholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2015 i Victoria

As winter days approach, our thoughts turn to the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. With hearts full of gratitude for our dear readers, we reflect on the many places we have traveled, the homes we have visited, the entrepreneurs we have interviewed, and the bountiful foods we have prepared—all so that we could fill the pages of Victoria to overflowing with the inspiration you love. For this special, celebratory time of year, we wanted to share marvelous stories, so we searched out a royal palace in the Netherlands, a remarkable Beaux-Arts-style house atop Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, and four quaint villages located in Connecticut. We also asked our resident chef to create dishes that showcase the flavor of peppermint. They are all wonderful, but my favorite is her interpretation of…

Each year, about December 25, I haul a large cardboard box of decorations from the garage into the living room. It is time to prepare the house for Christmas. I can do it with my eyes closed, hanging wreaths, lining windowsills with pinecones and candles, and clearing off the mantel for the most important prop of all—a large wooden manger with the figures of the Nativity scene inside. Every winter, I ask the same question: Where is it? I have a habit of misplacing things unless they’re large (like cars) or permanently glued down (like Jesus, Mary, and Joseph upon the manger floor). Too unwieldy to fit into the box with all the other adornments, the manger could be anywhere—on a shelf, behind the coats in the hall closet, or…

VIEW MORE OF CONNECTICUT’S YULETIDE SPLENDOR AT VICTORIAMAG.COM…

Swags of fresh-cut greenery, a glittering tree dotted with alabaster snowflakes, and vignettes featuring cherished collections bring a sense of wonder to this traditional Southern estate. Warmth characterizes the abode, thanks to the indelible imprint of the artist who lives here. “I loved every imperfection—even the cracks in the walls of this 1920s house,” says Virginie Upton of the residence she shares with her husband and children. It was built decades ago atop a rocky knoll in the woodland setting of her hometown. Soaring ceilings, expansive windows, and exquisite mouldings lend a sense of timeless grace, and elegant gardens and stone terraces offer striking vistas of the city below. Virginie’s designs for Yuletide adornment begin in her mind’s eye and evolve into elaborate sketches long before the ideas become reality.…

According to legend, the candy cane hails from seventeenth-century Germany, where a choirmaster and a confectioner collaborated to create a treat to calm little ones during Christmas Eve worship services. Red-and-white-striped candy sticks can be traced to 1844, but the origins of starlight and soft mints remain a mystery. “Winter came down to our home one night Quietly pirouetting in on silvery toed slippers of snow, And we, we were children once again”. —Bill Morgan Jr.…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite November/ December features: A Snowy Mountain Sanctuary These Tennessee homeowners adorn their Chattanooga residence in a gleaming palette of gold and white to welcome the season with sophisticated style. The Regal Paleis Het Loo Originally the home of a Dutch prince more than three centuries ago, this magnificent castle is now a museum that visitors from around the globe can enjoy. Yuletide in New England Steeped in equal measures of history and charm, the quaint small towns of Connecticut are especially inviting this time of year. Teatime by the Hearth Celebrate the gift of friendship by hosting a cozy Christmas tea featuring a menu of delectable sweets and scones. ON THE WEB Look for this symbol throughout the magazine for more…

“Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home”—W.J. Ronald Tucker…

“The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort, and refinement. ”—ARTHUR GRAY FIND MORE HOLIDAY-TEA INSPIRATION AT VICTORIAMAG.COM…

Christmas evokes images of candy canes and twinkling lights, yards of tinsel and shiny ornaments. But these owners have taken a different approach to dressing their homes for the holidays—one that showcases gleanings from orchards and greenhouses. June and Jim Odom’s historic Decatur, Alabama, abode is always enchanting, but it shines even more brightly in December, when fruits and flowers form the basis for exuberant arrangements that truly embody the joy of the season. For many years, June crafted flower displays for weddings, and her skills are evident in the graceful botanicals both inside and outside her house. With help from floral designer Carl Cassidy, she fashioned eye-catching bouquets from items available at a local produce market or gathered during walks in the woods. Standing nearly 4 feet high, the…

Palmer House Hilton Chicago, Illinois For nearly a century and a half, this Loop-area landmark has impressed guests with its refined accommodations and convenient location near theatres, museums, and shops, but the hotel is particularly festive during the holidays. In addition to the popular TubaChristmas event—four hundred tuba and euphonium players performing brass-section-accompanied renditions of traditional carols—it offers family baking classes and cookie decorating, as well as a breakfast buffet and four-course prix fixe dinners at its restaurant. The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, Colorado Often called “The Grande Dame of the Rockies,” this Mediterranean-style resort is nestled beneath the rugged peaks of Cheyenne Mountain. The breathtaking setting and a variety of fresh-air activities beckon visitors from around the world. Reminiscent of a venerable European hotel, the property’s Old-World ambience completes the…

A CUP OF HOLIDAY JOY Begins on page 33 Currant-and-Fig Tartlets Makes 30 1/ 3 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts 1/ 3 cup finely chopped toasted almonds 21/ 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced 3 egg yolks 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup currant preserves ½ cup fig preserves Coarse sanding sugar 1. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. 2. In the work bowl of a food processor, combine hazelnuts, almonds, and1/3 cup flour. Pulse until nuts are finely ground. Add remaining 2 cups flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg, pulsing to combine. Add butter, and pulse until…

hen I was a little girl, years ago, the first snowfall always came softly and silently as we walked home from school, down the long ribbon of street. So close to Christmas, we could feel the holiday tiptoeing up behind us, like the wind whistling through bare elm trees. I remember gray tabby cats sitting on the garden walls and blackbirds with sparkling wings soaring by them while we lifted our chins to the sky—our mittened hands and the pom-pommed ends of our knitted hats flying as we skipped along the sidewalk. We laughed in delight as the snowflakes floated down and landed on our heads, the tips of our noses, and our eyelashes. Candles on the windowsills of nearby houses flickered like little moons, and strings of colored lights…

I love Christmas, but there is something about Thanksgiving that is especially meaningful to me. On September 1, I always celebrate in my heart, because I feel that date is the gateway to all the happy holidays just ahead. The night before Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law arrives. The kids and I go out to meet her in the driveway and begin carrying in the wonderful things she has prepared—homemade cranberry sauce; all the fixings for her corn casserole; and pumpkin, cherry, and French-silk pies. (We somehow find a place for everything in our refrigerator.) Then I put the finishing touches on the dining-room table—china, cloth napkins, crystal goblets, candles, pumpkins, and a garland crafted from bittersweet. I try to make everything as special as I can, not only for my own…

Built in 1906 for the first permanent, year-round resident of this scenic mountaintop community, the beautiful sandstone house had all but lost its luster when Lisa and Scott Maclellan purchased it at auction in 2009. The once-grand structure had been converted to apartments in the 1930s and required a two-year renovation to restore it to its former glory. Terry Barker, senior partner of River Street Architecture, helped the couple turn an empty shell into a breathtaking residence, complete with Corinthian columns, a second-floor balustrade, and a circular staircase. Furnishing the home was a true labor of love for Lisa, who made all the design choices. She searched the country for the carved-marble mantels, period mirrors, and exquisite chandeliers that give the mansion its French flavor. The dining-room chairs are trimmed…

“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter” — JOHN BURROUGHS…

The first time Rebecca Vizard tried her hand at sewing, she stitched the material to her skirt. But she didn’t allow that small setback to discourage her. By the time she was in college, she was helping friends decorate their homes. However, it was not until after she married, had her first baby, and moved to New York City from her native Louisiana that Rebecca started decorating professionally. Immersed in the high-end world of antiques and interiors, she was able to indulge her love of vintage textiles. Searching for pillows for a client’s home, Rebecca came across a treasure trove of fabrics at a local flea market. “I found a beautiful drapery panel with gold filigree, and in the next section, there was a vestment garment featuring trim with the…

COVER Teacups and dessert plates, call for pricing; from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276, brombergs.com. D.Stevens stockings, visit website for showrooms; 623-582-9915, dstevensllc.com. Caspari wrapping paper; 434-817-4880, casparionline.com. Silver tea set, call for availability; from Tricia’s Treasures, 205-871-9779. Sugar tongs, call for availability; from Argent Antiques, 205-871-4221, argentantiques.com. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Page 2 : To view and purchase Laura Hooper’s calligraphy, visit lhcalligraphy.com, or contact her at hello@lhcalligraphy.com. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14 : For more information about author and teacher Phyllis Theroux, visit her website, nightwriters.com. FESTIVE FINDS Page 15 : Bethany Lowe Designs Traditional Silhouette Ornaments in Vintage Reproduction Box, $46, Tree Nesting Treat Boxes, $22, Vintage Krugel Ornament Box, $39; 800-944-6213, avintageholiday.com. Philippe Deshoulieres dinner plate, $95; 800-242-2210, biacordonbleu.com. PROUNA Fine Bone China Tapestry collection salad plate, $52; 408-567-9421, kiyasa.com. Greggio Silver Luigi XV…