Innehållsförteckning för May/June 2021 från Victoria

Dear Friends As the calendar turns to May, the gentlest breeze wafts through an open window, whisking my thoughts to distant lands. Although I am still physically present in my study, in daydreams I stroll through the City of Light, revisiting sites that take my breath away. My initial sojourn was decades ago, but I remember clearly the sensory delights of that week abroad. Closing my eyes, I survey the magnificence of centuries-old architecture, inhale mingling fragrances in a brimful garden while listening to the burbling of a nearby fountain, and later pause to run my fingers over antique embroidery in a brocante or to taste an exquisite offering at a tempting pâtisserie. If springtime encourages a similar wanderlust in you, escape with us into Victoria. Photographer Georgianna Lane shares…

To look at the cover of any Victoria issue is to gaze upon peace, beauty, and quiet romance. All of which occurs to me as charmingly ironic. For all Victoria’s gentle appeal, our 2021 artist-in-residence, Annie Sloan, just happens to be an out-and-out revolutionary. For decades, I thought Benjamin Moore hung the moon. Indeed, a good, conventional paint was historically the go-to when it came to refreshing our walls and spirits. But Annie had a smashing idea—Chalk Paint®! Chalk? In paint? Absolutely, and she mixed the stuff up herself. To cover not only walls but any surface whatsoever, including mahogany—gasp!—and without prep. It took me awhile, but I decided that my English blanket chest absolutely had to go. It was smothering. I supposed I could donate it, but who would…

SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 103, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION.…

Asign of truly skilled interior designers is their ability to capture the spirit of their client in the environs they shape. This end—a home that reflects the owner’s personality—is one of the two chief goals that Carter Kay and her talented design team have for every residential project. The second is that the homeowners would be able to feel truly comfortable in the finished spaces. After all, a home is not merely a museum of beautiful furnishings. It must be lived in. Leaning on thirty-five years of industry experience, Carter Kay Interiors staff take pride in their ability to discern their clients’ desires and give them more than they expected. The brand has grown organically over the decades, with one person referring another, passing on the confidence that the company…

“I REACH OVER AND PICK UP A MACARON, THE TEXTURE, WEIGHT, AND BALANCE ALL PERFECT.”—Hannah Tunnicliffe SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 103, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION. Find delectable macaron recipes at victoriamag.com.…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite May/June features: A Parisian Stroll With esteemed photographer Georgianna Lane as our guide, take in the beauty of springtime during a walk to remember through the City of Light. Lovely Confections Find a selection of recipes for macarons in a pastel rainbow of genteel flavors—tasty meringues sure to add delicate grace notes to an afternoon teatime. At Home in France Entrepreneur Jackie Kai Ellis lends her design acumen to the renovation of a chic apartment that offers space for her talents to flourish while she is in Europe. View Palatial Splendor Boasting eight hundred years of royal history, the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau was…

As an expert in the field of decorative art, Annie is well-versed in combining colors for a pleasing effect, and she especially appreciates the properties that make the pairing of blue and white so appealing. “White can be relied upon to maximize the light in a room, whilst blue has recessive qualities that fool the eye into believing a space to be larger than it truly is,” she explains. “Who doesn’t wish their home to appear larger and lighter?” Annie suggests the best way to use blue is by incorporating textures and shades that bring warmth, character, and informality; offset blues with rich, complex whites, like her Old White Chalk Paint® or the warmer-toned Original. “Throw in a soft pink for bonus points,” she recommends. “This is especially effective with…

Described by Napoleon Bonaparte as “the true residence of kings,” Château de Fontainebleau was occupied and shaped by esteemed magnates for nearly eight centuries. In its earliest form, the property was a hunting estate, a haven where rulers would retreat to enjoy the forest’s abundant wildlife. As early as 1137, Louis VII and his successors took reprieve here, establishing their own additions to the grounds. What some would call the palace’s “second birth” came at the hands of Francis I, who commissioned a near total transformation of the medieval fortress into a Renaissance-style palace, leaving only the foundation and a single tower from its previous iteration. Subsequent rulers made notable expansions, designing great new wings, courtyards, and gardens to both house and entertain their courts. The castle’s rooms, of which…

From the rich hues of Indiennes and the pastoral scenes of toile to linens embroidered with elegant monograms, French textiles are beloved mainstays of the decorating world. Block-printed Indiennes, which were first manufactured in Marseilles in the seventeenth century, are so called because of their resemblance to similar fabrics made in India. Toile originated in Ireland, but when German-born Christophe-Phillipe Oberkampf established France’s first factory in Jouy-en-Josas in 1760, the popularity of these enchanting patterns quickly spread across the country, and henceforth became known to all as toile de Jouy, which simply means “cloth from Jouy.” While living in London, avid collector-turned-entrepreneur Wendy Lewis made frequent visits to neighboring France. On one of her trips, she came across a length of eighteenth-century fabric that spoke straight to her heart and…

THE FRENCH BREADBASKET Begins on page 37 Raspberry-Nectarine Bostock p.40 Makes 8 1⅔ cups superfine blanched almond flour9 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided¾ teaspoon kosher salt⅓ cup unsalted butter, cubed and softened1 large egg, room temperature¾ teaspoon almond extract½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste3 tablespoons water8 (1-inch) slices day-old brioche (see Note)2 tablespoons raspberry preserves2 medium firm ripe nectarines (approximately 10 ounces)16 ripe fresh raspberries⅓ cup sliced almonds1 tablespoon finely chopped raw shelled pistachiosGarnish: Confectioners’ sugar 1. In the work bowl of a food processor, combine almond flour, 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, and salt; pulse until well combined. Add butter, egg, almond extract, and vanilla bean paste; pulse until smooth and well combined, scraping down sides as needed. 2. Transfer almond mixture to a small bowl; cover and set aside. 3. In…

Despite health concerns of 2020, I traveled from New Jersey to Florida for the wedding of my niece Anna. Frankly, if she had not been family, I would have sent a gift and stayed home. But having no children of my own, my sister’s four are “my” kids, and I would not have missed this family celebration. Anna was planning her wedding during widespread closures, sure only that she would be married on the appointed day, even if other festivities had to be postponed. Fortunately, all went as scheduled. The service, conducted by Anna’s brother, reflected the contemporary tastes of the couple while bridging generations of family marriages through familiar ritual. The reception was smaller than originally hoped, but guests cheerfully donned masks and socially distanced at the semi-outdoor venue,…

“A WALK ABOUT PARIS WILL PROVIDE LESSONS IN HISTORY, BEAUTY, AND IN THE POINT OF LIFE.”—Thomas Jefferson Through the lens of photographer Georgianna Lane, survey the romance of Paris at victoriamag.com.…

The redolent perfume of roses mingles with the aromatic scent of lavender in Fatema Hijazi’s brimful garden. Though situated near Dearborn’s downtown district, it mirrors those tucked amid the gently rolling terrain of Provence. Hydrangeas and lilacs keep company with viburnum and sprays of lily-of-the-valley in this idyllic space, where the joyful laughter of children is joined by the clink of teacups settling in saucers. The daughter of Lebanese immigrants who spoke fluent French, Fatema grew up hearing the quaint wisdom of Gallic proverbs, admiring her mother’s china collection, and watching her grandmother stitch beautiful embroideries. It was only natural she would be drawn to the elegant French style. “As I grew older, I found myself increasingly inclined toward such sentimental aspects that reminded me of those fond childhood memories,”…

After rising from graphic designer to art director to senior designer before starting her own strategic branding firm, Vancouver, British Columbia, native Jackie Kai Ellis suddenly found herself at loose ends. She’d ticked off most of the boxes on her life-goals list at a remarkably young age, and to counteract the ensuing ennui, she decided to take a year-long sabbatical to travel and try to rediscover her creative spark. Among the many wonderful experiences gleaned during that time was studying pâtisserie in Paris. Since gathering around the table with family and friends had always been central to Jackie’s life, the idea of opening an eatery felt like the next natural move. Upon returning to Vancouver after her journeys, she launched the lyrically named Beaucoup Bakery & Café, which was an…

“IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO ME AS IF THE LAVENDER WAS A LITTLE WOMAN IN A GREEN DRESS, WITH A LAVENDER BONNET AND A WHITE KERCHIEF … AND HER SWEETNESS LINGERS LONG AFTER SHE GOES AWAY.”—Myrtle Reed…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 17–18: Jan Karon is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of twenty-five books. Set to open this year in Hudson, North Carolina, The Mitford Museum pays tribute to the novelist and her beloved Mitford series. To learn more about Jan, visit her website at mitfordbooks.com. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 19–21: Annie Sloan, a decorative painter, invented and manufactures Chalk Paint®. She has written 26 books and produces The Colourist, a bookazine dedicated to her passion for color. To learn more about Annie’s work, visit her website at anniesloan.com. ROMANCE ON THE RIVIERA Pages 23–24 and 26: French antiques and relics provided by Maison de France, 205-699-6330, Instagram @maisondefrance. Busatti 1842: Mirto Kitchen Towel in French Blue, $30, Francesca Tablecloth, $350, Mirto Runner with Linen Lace Hand Finish, $108, Zodiaco…

Sabrina, Paris, and Me “Everyone should get to come here,” Sabrina swoons, as we amble down another positively charming Parisian street. I agree. I don’t say it, but I think to myself, every mother should get to come here with her daughter. The only thing more beautiful than the City of Light is watching my daughter discover Paris and thinking back on our journey. “She is the one who locks her arm in mine, as we roam the winding Parisian streets, giddy with shared joy.” I’d had no inklings, only longing. I wanted her to be a girl so much, I had convinced myself of the crazy notion that if I didn’t find out ahead of time, I’d get Sabrina. That would be her name. If childbirth is any indication…