Victoria May/June 2023

Dear Friends The scent of lavender, with its gentle mingling of delicate floral and evergreen aromas, transports me to the most beautiful destinations in France. I close my eyes and hear the hum of village life in a town recognized as a Petite Cité de Caractère, a special designation for locales brimming with heritage and charm. I imagine pausing at a streetside café and can almost taste the flaky layers of a pâtisserie treat imbued with the favored herb. Aloft on a flight of fancy, imagination carries me to the rolling fields of Provence, where sunlight falls on pale purple blooms swaying in the breeze. In this issue, we invite you to become immersed in Gallic splendor, from strolling through Rochefort-en-Terre on page 25 to sampling a Lavender Cronut on page 97…

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: Gracious Influence Esteemed Artist-in-Residence Jenny Bohannon shares her most prized Gallic pieces, the stories behind these finds, and how they add beauty to life at Tallwood. Taking the Path Home Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Château de Bourneau, as the owners of this elegant property recount their restoration journey in the French countryside. An Idyllic Escape All abloom with the wonder of springtime, the characterful town of Rochefort-en-Terre beckons guests to experience the tranquil charms of village life in Brittany. Of Past & Present Hospitality and heritage mingle within the ancient halls of Château de la Villedubois, where the de Farcys serve as devoted hosts and stewards of history. We love…

Love is the source of inspiration, energy, creativity, and motivation for living graciously. Theearliest experiences most prominent in my memory were with my grandmother, who, being Ukrainian, was instinctively inclined to generous hospitality with special care put into every detail, even on a modest income. She made each meal a meaningful ceremony, from breakfast to any snack throughout a given day. She served all kinds of gloriously flavored food on her best dishes and platters. We often sat at the coffee table eating pastries, fruits, and nuts on gorgeous tin trays that remain permanently in my memory. No wonder I have my own collection that keeps growing! Like my grandmother, my mother also loved to host and serve graciously, finding beautiful antiques and items that she would incorporate into her…

FILL THE CUP Sally Clarkson I would agree with the sentiments of American author and rabbi Chaim Potok, who encouraged, “Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.” In my home, at 3:30 in the afternoon, you put away your work or study and meet expectantly in the kitchen for the brewing of tea. We light candles, prepare toast or cookies, and gather for the pleasures of comfort, companionship, and deep conversation. This has been our tradition for countless years, and my children and I are friends for life from hundreds of such times together. Teatime happens every single day, and with whomever is here, as we soak up the deliciousness of the bonds we share and the belonging we feel. To create a sense of place…

“There is perhaps no home lovelier than the collected home—one that has ‘grown up’ with a person or a family and tells their unique story,” notes Jenny Bohannon. “A fine antique discovered on holiday in a quaint European town, a beautiful eighteenth-century mirror found at an estate sale, a vintage English cupboard spotted on Facebook: these are the stories we love to tell of the pieces that have come to make our house a home.” During the thoughtful restoration of her residence, Jenny and her husband were careful to remain true to the house’s history. “The French aesthetic here at Tallwood is quite pronounced and can be traced back decades to the dining room’s rather glamorous French grisaille of the famous fountains of the Villa D’Este,” she says. “Needless to say,…