Indholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2018 i Victoria

“BRUNCH, FOR ME, IS AN EXTENDED BREAKFAST THAT SHOULD BE ENJOYED WHENEVER YOU HAVE TIME PROPERLY TO ENGAGE IN COOKING AND EATING.” —Yotam Ottolenghi…

At an age when other girls were playing with dolls and skipping rope, Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon preferred exploring the nooks and crannies of her grandmother’s garden or wandering through the wildflower fields of her family’s estate near Princeton, New Jersey. The sons of famed landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted managed the grounds, offering ample inspiration for her fledgling interest in gardening and garden design. When Bunny married philanthropist Paul Mellon in 1948, the couple established their primary residence amid rolling acres of peaceful Virginia farmland a few hours’ drive from Washington, D.C. Employing a simplicity-is-best philosophy, she designed the gardens with stone and gravel paths, plots of vegetables and dwarf fruit trees, and an abundance of flowers, both planted and potted. And while some might have seen weeds as…

To most people, a tiger lily may be just a pretty blossom, but to Bridget Collins, the spots remind her of a cheetah, much like a fuzzy magnolia bud makes her think of a moth, and black elder leaves resemble crow’s feathers. Where others might see a weed growing in a sidewalk crack, she sees a potential component in a new work of art. Growing up in the seaside town of Edmonds, Washington, with mountains, forests, rivers, and the ocean at her doorstep, Bridget garnered a unique perspective of the wonders of the natural world. She inherited artistic genes from both of her grandmothers, and drawing was her favorite childhood pastime. Although she was a stage actor during her school years and earned a degree in theater, her creativity soon…

Through vibrant photography, D. Porthault: The Art of Luxury Linens celebrates the storied legacy of the D. Porthault brand and its history-making contributions to textiles. Begun in 1920s Paris by Madeleine Porthault—whose background in fashion developed her eye for quality, design, and detail—and her husband, Daniel, the company’s early successes helped define its trajectory and made a lasting impact on the way fabrics are produced. When Princess Marina of Greece commissioned for her wedding trousseau hand-painted bedding to match the flowers Madeleine had painted on her peignoir, D. Porthault became the first to produce printed bed linens. White and ivory sheets had, until that point, been the order of the day. Block printing methods soon followed, and continually increasing demand led to the opening of a second factory in 1950;…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite May/June features: Touring France Rich in history, the landscape of northern France once saw the epic battles of World War I. Come along as we honor the past and celebrate the resilient beauty of the present. A Lasting Legacy Philanthropist and garden designer Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon’s Oak Spring Garden Foundation ensures the continuance of her life’s work through teaching and research. Writing Her Own Story On the outskirts of a peaceful village in Normandy, author and entrepreneur Sharon Santoni has made an oasis of a mid-nineteenth-century maison de maître. Delightful Indulgences From macarons to mascarpone, our delectable meringue recipes contain a little ooh la la in every bite. Pastel hues, swirls of cream, and bright notes of citrus add that…

In early June, the gardens surrounding the impressive Georgian Revival mansion on the Hildene estate in Manchester are in full and glorious bloom. Built over a two-year period by Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln when he was president of the Pullman Car Company, the house was completed in 1905. Initially intended as a summer retreat, the fresh air and awe-inspiring views of the Taconic and Green mountains in the distance encouraged longer and longer stays. Laid out like a stained-glass window, with privet hedges acting as the leading between panes and flowers lending color and form, the Hoyt Formal Garden is the masterstroke of Robert’s daughter Jessie, who designed it in 1907 as a birthday gift for her mother, Mary Harlan Lincoln. She drew her inspiration from both the…

“THERE ARE AS MANY KINDS OF BEAUTY AS THERE ARE … WAYS OF SEEKING HAPPINESS.” —Charles Baudelaire For over two decades, stylist Marie-Paule Faure has brought her elegant taste and innumerable talents to the pages of magazines seen throughout Europe and America, including Victoria. When she published her first book, Recevoir Simple & Chic: Idées Déco, Art de la Table, Recettes (Simple & Chic Entertaining: Décor Ideas, Art of the Table, Recipes), two years ago, it opened the door to some wonderful opportunities, as people began asking her to teach them the secrets behind her gracious settings. At first, she resisted the idea. “I find it difficult to theorize something that has always been very natural and intuitive for me,” she explains. “But at the same time, I realize this…

Nova Scotia native Sharon MacDonald was smitten with Paris the moment she arrived for a project related to her architectural studies. “I loved living where there was such a bond to the past,” she explains. “I loved the streets of Paris and the French way of life, the epicurean wine culture, the commitment to all things beautiful and all things delicious.” After graduation, she followed her dream with a move to the city that captivated her heart. After working as an architect with a variety of firms, Sharon yearned to express her creative side in a different way. She began designing and printing her own fabrics, and made a collection of soft furnishings before branching out into children’s clothing. She often set up a stand at local fairs, decorating the…

“RANGING FROM SIMPLE FARE TO COMPLICATED CONFECTIONS, FRENCH DESSERTS ARE SOMETHING TO BE SAVORED SLOWLY.” —Gigi Starr SEE MORE ON THE WEB at victoriamag.com…

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 2, 7, 17, and 21: To learn more about Valerie Greeley, visit her website, valeriegreeley.com and her shop at etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14: Rebecca McClanahan, a poet, essayist, and memoirist, is the author of ten books. To sample more of Rebecca’s work, please visit her website, rebeccamcclanahanwriter.com. VIVE LE BLEU ET BLANC Page 15: Gien: Oiseau Bleu 5 Piece Setting, $135, Pivoines Bleues Creamer, $220, Pivoines Bleues Sugar Bowl, $350, Pivoines Bleues Teapot, $630; 800-834-3797, fxdougherty.com. Indigo Home Shop, LLC: Initial Ginger Jar Napkin Ring, set of 4, $68; 757-291-7705, indigohomeshop.com. Hermès: Bleus d’Ailleurs Dessert Plate, $120; 800-441-4488, hermes.com. Lifetime Brands, Inc.: Mikasa Italian Countryside 20 Piece Flatware Set, $120; 866-645-2721, mikasa.com. Page 16: Oriental Danny: Blue and White Hexagonal Lidded Jar, $345, Blue and White Rectangular Lidded…

I love the way the French embrace simplicity, aging, and imperfection without prejudice, as demonstrated by Coco Chanel when she made her comeback in the early 1950s with her boxy, two-piece suit. Elegant, accessible, and timeless, it epitomized how charming an outfit can be when it is created by a woman who is comfortable with herself. When I was working toward my degree in fashion merchandising, I embraced Chanel and the French way of dress because it fit my thrift-store budget and student’s lifestyle. For very little, I put together a classic black-and-white wardrobe that consisted of a black silk crepe dress from the 1960s that I bought for $5, a white button-down shirt, a white T-shirt, a black blazer, a pair of black pants, a black skirt, and a…

hen the United States came to the aid of its allies by entering World War I in April 1917, the arrival of the first troops in France was a momentous event. But a military presence was only one way America lent a hand to a country that had responded when our colonies were in need during the fight for independence. By the time The Great War broke out, the Franco-American friendship was firmly established, and United States citizens wanted to help in ways both big and small. New York philanthropist Anne Morgan, daughter of eminent financier J. P. Morgan, was one figure whose remarkable efforts stood out. She was spurred to action by the destruction of the lovely Gallic villages laid waste by battle and was determined to assist with…

The quiet of early morning finds Sharon Santoni taking in the wonders of her surroundings. The calendar promises a shopping excursion to Paris—an easy distance from her home in Normandy—but even the City of Light’s most notable brocantes cannot compete with the natural gifts found within this pastoral oasis. Cup of tea in hand, she surveys cascades of roses, tangles of nigella, and clusters of foxgloves while her dogs frolic nearby. “As soon as I saw this house, it felt just right,” Sharon says. “We are on the edge of a small village, and my children grew up riding in the forest, canoeing on the river, and hosting many a great party in the garden.” Built in the late 1850s, the classical maison de maître features the symmetrical design and…

Much like artists Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh, Anne and Philippe Poutoire were drawn to the sweeping lavender fields, fertile vineyards, and beguiling villages of the renowned Provence region. Four years ago, the couple purchased a circa 1850 mas (farmhouse) near the town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and embraced these beloved environs. The two-story main house embodies quintessential Provençal architecture, with a locally sourced stone façade crowned by a multihued tile roof. Slate-gray shutters lend a contemporary touch, and the annex was transformed into a luxe holiday let. The couple added a swimming pool, edged in a fine-grained white stone known as pierres des baux, along with wooden decking that has silvered in the sun. Anne turned her avid interest in decorating into a business, and her talents as a designer…

sprightly summer breeze dances through centuries-old oaks on the grounds of the Château Dumas, lifting the leaves to offer a clear view of the Pyrenees mountains in the distance. Ensconced on a hilltop near the village of Auty, the château boasts a long roster of owners, beginning with Bertrand des Près, Lord of Montpezat, who acquired the land in 1347. Although the original building was all but destroyed during the French Revolution, the neoclassical-style structure that rose from the rubble still graces the lush landscape today. The mansion’s current chatelaine is Elizabeth Hulme, who divides her time between France and her native England. With a diverse resume that includes work as an au pair, a copywriter, and a researcher for an interior designer, Lizzie, as she prefers to be called,…

I first discovered the language of flowers in Germany in 1977 while planning my wedding. At the time, brides in the United States weren’t aware of, or didn’t pay much attention to, the meaning of flowers—but Europeans did. I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not use yellow roses in my bouquet. Yellow roses symbolize jealousy and infidelity. The marriage didn’t last, but my interest in how flowers can convey a message did. Years later, when I became a writer, I was finally able to incorporate this knowledge into my work. And I’ve always been careful to ensure my hero sends the right message. Historically, if a gentleman wished to tell a lady what he thought of her, how would he accomplish his goal? During the Regency…

My grandmother, Mollie, was the perfect image of what grandmothers used to look like. A plump, gray-haired woman, her face lined with life, apron tied around her middle, she baked delicious treats from scratch. She styled her wavy silver hair in a roll at the nape of her neck, always wore dresses, and often went visiting in her big-collared, blue-grey coat and hats with tiny veils. Her only jewelry was a beautiful gold wedding band, an heirloom sapphire-and-diamond cocktail ring, and a heart-shaped sterling silver pin. Growing up, I saw that pin almost daily on her dresses or her coat—so much so that I began to equate it with her. My grandmother’s story was not unlike that of many other women of her time. She left Poland in 1920 to…