Victoria May/June 2021

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 unforgettable scenes…

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 lauded by Napoleon I as “true home of…

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, seated…

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 have…

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 strong…