Table of contents for Rooms of Bliss 2010 in Victoria

Just the mention of the word “home” conjures up a variety of memories: my childhood dwelling, where my mother waited in the open doorway to welcome me home from school; settling into a new house after my dad’s work took us to a new city; and the sanctuary that is my home today. I think that within our homes we all have those special spaces that beckon—where we feel most sheltered, most serene, and most joyful. I call these rooms of bliss. Over the years, as I absorbed the lovely magic of the photographs featured in those first issues of Victoria magazine, I studied the elements that made each home, each room rich with emotion. Through those pages, I developed an understanding of various décor types and gravitated toward a…

"Is it possible to love the past and live in contemporary comfort ? Yes, these rooms reply, most certainly yes.” —CLAIRE WHITCOMB Steeped in architectural integrity and wrapped in layers rich with history, classically inspired interiors continue to strike a chord among those who possess an eye for refifinement and a passion for elegance. There is something inherently familiar and comforting about living among fifinely crafted antiques, intricately woven textiles, and treasured personal collections. In these rooms, we sense an immediate connection to the past—an unequivocal emotional attachment that stirs from within our souls. Refined Rooms At home, a well-dressed room infused with Old-World style should never overwhelm, but instead speak softly with balance, symmetry, and quiet restraint. Let magnifificent pieces—such as an intricately detailed plaster moulding in bas-relief and…

“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace.” —ANONYMOUS Victoria readers have always cherished the cottage—idyllic retreats that immediately conjure up images of flflowering rose gardens, serene spaces dappled with sunlight, vintage furnishings, and faded chintz. Synonymous with escape, cottage-style homes offer their inhabitants a dream away from the grind of the city—a charming and peaceful refuge nestled somewhere amid the rural countryside or along the shoreline of a vast blue ocean. Dreamy Whites Amidst this ethereal palette lies the trade secret of true serenity—interiors that breathe effortlessly within a tableau of varying shades and textures of white. Through the decades, many of us have continually celebrated these blissful spaces that today still exude sheer comfort, tranquility, and functionality. Here, treasured antiques, wicker chairs, windows, and walls—all whitewashed…

“How can one help shivering with delight when one's hot fingers close around the stem of a live flower, cool from the shade and stiff with newborn vigor!" —COLETTE In prolifific splendor, nature’s impressive color palette is perhaps best revealed to us when flflowers are in bloom. With the sweet simplicity of a single rose or the jubilation of a multicolored mixed bouquet, flflowers have the ability to breathe life into our tablescapes and rooms by conveying a feeling, evoking a mood, or reflflecting a season. Along the Garden Path From relaxed cottage charm to storied townand- country style and lavish Old-World elegance, fresh flflowers from the garden add an element of vibrancy and celebration to our lifestyle vignettes. Whether you choose to amass a bunch by color to create…

“ … our objects, bibelots, whatnots, and knickknacks say the most about who we are. They are as honest as a diary.” —CHARLOTTE MOSS Beyond furniture and fabrics, it is unquestionably our personal treasures that suffuse our homes with heart and soul—those thoughtfully acquired pieces and handmade expressions that instantly create a mood or call to mind a special memory. Either humble or grand, these are the objects that carry our emotions, reaffifirm our individual style, and make our rooms complete. Creative Endeavors Our personal pursuits and artful curiosities are mysteriously at their most sincere when poised within the spontaneous vignettes of home—a mélange of watercolor birds and botanicals in progress, a storytelling tableau of correspondence from both past and present, and a basket of diminutive sewing sundries that are…

“Where to nest with the proverbial cup of tea? … Anywhere will do if the colors soothe and the environment is designed to nurture the soul.” —CLAIRE WHITCOMB Acompelling balance of rustic elegance, town-and-country style is a celebration of simplicity and tradition that uncompromisingly pays tribute to the well-regarded ideals of hearth and home. Whether tucked away in the French countryside or hidden amidst the Lowcountry of South Carolina, true townand- country style is much more a philosophical mind-set than a geographical location—a personal quest for a slower pace of life and an intrinsic appreciation for history, functionality, and nature. A Moment’s Solitude Paying homage to vernacular architecture and regional landscape, the town-and-country home articulates a historical sensibility that inspires an ambience of warmth, comfort, and utility. Hardwood flfloors are…