Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2014 i Victoria

After the bustle of the holidays, the stillness of January slips in and brings welcomed serenity. Although I love the ritual of adorning a tall evergreen and placing my favorite seasonal decorations around the house, there is a peacefulness about removing these same ornaments and storing them carefully until November. My desk is neatly arranged for the new year with a fresh supply of note cards, envelopes, and stamps. I’ve added a couple of new ink colors (azure and amethyst) for the fountain pens I prefer to use. After reading that the teaching of cursive writing may soon be eliminated from some American school systems, I made a personal commitment to send more handwritten notes and letters. With all the methods of instant communication available today, I still find receiving…

“Spending cozy days flipping through, reading, and rereading them prompts the dearest memories and is a welcome antidote to winter’s cabin fever. Each selection has a story to tell, and not just the one printed inside.” When cold weather comes to our neck of the woods, we retreat to our home library. There, we keep warm by the woodstove, reading and writing—pausing only to put the kettle on or to catch a glimpse of a chickadee flying through the snowy evergreens outside our window. As inveterate readers and sometime-collectors, my husband and I have amassed more books. Housed on two tall sets of wooden shelves, they bring color and texture to the room, in the way a tapestry would. They also offer an abundance of good stories and great memories…

“Mother Nature in all her glory and the beautiful flowers around me give me endless inspiration.” DIANE PHILLIPS DK DESIGNS San Jose, California Fresh out of school with an MBA, Diane Phillips entered the corporate world of high-tech marketing. Ten years later, she realized that her heart just wasn’t in it. She had always loved crafting; in fact, her hand-stamped cards had graced a friend’s gift-shop shelves for several years. Then Diane decided to attend the DECO Clay Craft Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she learned to make faux flowers from air-dry clay. She knew her inner artist had found a voice. Savvy enough to keep her day job, this self-proclaimed “Type-A-to-the-core” artisan started off slowly, selling custom wedding stationery to supplement her clay endeavors. Word of Diane’s dazzling displays…

Antique-millinery specialist Barbara Troeller remembers the first hat that stirred her heart. A gift from her older sister in the 1970s, the chic black felt 1940s cocktail chapeau captivated the then 16-year-old with its sophisticated form, sultry veil, and glittering rhinestone brooch. The mysterious origins of the vintage find intrigued the budding fashionista—a curiosity that, to this day, is rekindled each time she takes a new discovery in hand. “I think about the woman who made this hat, the lady who wore it, and where she wore it,” she says wistfully. “I get lost in the passion.” That first hat sparked a love affair that has endured for thirty-five-plus years. The owner of the online boutique Rue de la Paix, Barbara has a private collection comprising more than eight hundred…

Like dappled sunlight on crests of new-fallen snow, glittering chandeliers cast an ambient glow on exquisite linens at The White Room in Kenmare, Ireland. Nestled between the majestic Kerry Mountains and shimmering Kenmare Bay, this enchanting home-décor shop draws travelers exploring the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara, routes that encircle peninsulas to the north and south of the bay. “The Gaelic name for Kenmare is Neidín, meaning ‘little nest,’ and it really is just that—a little haven nestled in amongst the MacGillycuddy Mountains,” says Sarah Durkin, proprietress of The White Room. Storefront windows showcase pristine white textiles, seasonal flowers, and gleaming silver accessories— a subdued counterpoint to the verdant landscapes and vibrant shops of the region. Intricately adorned antique tablecloths, bed sheets, christening gowns, and delicate laces…

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Page 7: To view and purchase Carrie Di Costanzo’s prints and original artwork, visit carriedicostanzo.com, or call 732-627-9801. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Page 15: To learn more about Rebecca Rego Barry and her work, visit rebeccaregobarry.com. BARE NECESSITIES Pages 19–20: BoBo Intriguing Objects Bone Charger and Bone Flatware Set, call for pricing; from Bungalow Classic, 404-351-9120, bungalowclassic.com. Mikasa French Countryside Smoke Wine Glass, $22; 866-645-2721, mikasa.com. Simon Pearce Cavendish Dinner Plate, $45; 800-774-5277, simonpearce.com. fog linen work natural napkin with stamp, $14; 617-714-3248, shop-foglinen.com. La Boheme Tumbler, $16; from Table Matters, 205-879-0125. Page 20: Gold Leaf Design Group Small Marble Marigold Plate, $58, and Large Marble Marigold Plate, $128; from Material Possessions, 888-241-1190, materialpossessions.com. Page 21: terre d’Oc Organic White Tea from China, $19; 800-377-8771, beautyhabit.com. Wondermade Bourbon Marshmallows and S’mores Marshmallows,…

Peaks of Perfection Discover an enchanting combination of invigorating outdoor pursuits and pampering resort amenities in an alpine escape to picturesque Park City, Utah, above. Amidst stunning vistas of brilliant skies above majestic snowcapped mountains, the canyon village beckons with alluring shops, restaurants, and galleries clustered in the quaint Old Town district. Renowned for “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” Utah’s aspen-covered Wasatch Range, at the western edge of the Rocky Mountains, draws visitors to this charming wintertime retreat. Madame Babette’s Millinery In the Victorian-era millinery salons of Paris, modistes escorted well-todo customers into fanciful ateliers brimming with sumptuous bonnets and fashionable accessories. Under the nom de plume Madame Babette, antique-millinery specialist Barbara Troeller ushers vintage-clothing enthusiasts into her inspiring online shop, Rue de la Paix—an illusory boutique replete with faithfully…

Winter is the time for comfort … for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” —EDITH SITWELL…

At whatever moment you first tuned in to the wildly popular PBS British period drama Downton Abbey, the sumptuous look of the show no doubt drew you in: the grand house and perfectly appointed décor, the verdant rolling lawns, and the aristocratic family being served by a poised, solicitous staff. But most likely, it was the gorgeous costumes that really turned your head! “Costumes assist in the transformation of an actor into a character,” acknowledges Susannah Buxton. “But literal reproduction would not necessarily achieve the dramatic quality the script requires.” Therefore, during their respective seasons as head costumer for the production, she and Caroline McCall had the task of executing magnificent “translations” in a pivotal era of women’s fashion. “The pale, heavily corseted, and laced-up world was changing,” Susannah explains.…

Passers-by could easily overlook the unassuming timber-framed structure nestled on the banks of the Rhine River in Switzerland. But history emanates from the Basel Paper Mill, also known as the Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing. Voices carry from this quiet cobblestone street deep in the heart of Europe, echoing the wisdom of the ages. Statesmen and revolutionaries, philosophers and historians, playwrights and scientists—all have achieved immortality, thanks to the artifacts and traditions showcased at this extraordinary venue for papermaking, typesetting, and bookmaking. Nineteenth-century Scottish author Thomas Carlyle proclaimed the abiding value of the written word: “In books lies the soul of the whole Past Time, the articulate audible voice of the Past, when the body and material substance of it has altogether vanished like a dream.” Housed in…

A RECIPE FOR ROMANCE Begins on page 33 Oysters with Pickled-Shallotand-Pink-Peppercorn Mignonette p.36 Makes 2 servings 1 dozen raw oysters ½ cup minced shallots 2 tablespoons chopped chives ¼ cup white-wine vinegar ¼ cup rice vinegar 1 teaspoon crushed pink peppercorns ⅛ teaspoon sugar ⅛ teaspoon salt 1. Shuck oysters, reserving shells for presentation. 2. In a small nonreactive bowl, place shallots and chives. Add white-wine vinegar, rice vinegar, peppercorns, sugar, and salt. Whisk to blend. Serve with oysters. Prepared mignonette can be stored, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Beet Carpaccio with Champagne Vinaigrette p.36 Makes 2 servings 2 small candy-striped beets, washed and trimmed 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ teaspoon sugar ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups spring-mix lettuces, divided Champagne Vinaigrette (recipe follows)…

My favorite movie is Elizabeth, starring the luminous Cate Blanchett. Her performance as the fledgling young queen of sixteenth-century England was outstanding. Beset with political and personal problems from the beginning of her reign, Elizabeth marshaled her inner strength, courage, and determination to succeed and won the hearts of her people and the court. In an era when women were viewed as second-class citizens, this formidable young woman eventually surpassed her predecessors and is regarded as one of the greatest rulers of all time. Many movies have strong female characters, but I consider Queen Elizabeth I to be the ultimate role model. She inspired me to search inwardly, to become a stronger and more courageous woman. Vulnerable and even fearful at times, Elizabeth did not shrink from her mistakes or…

Winterthur Museum opens its doors March 1 to a spectacular display showcasing forty historically inspired garments worn by characters who inhabit Downton Abbey, the sprawling country estate of Lord and Lady Grantham, in the immensely successful British drama of the same name. Set in the first half of the twentieth century, the series portrays the life and times of the Crawley family and their household staff. Photographs and vignettes common to the fictional production, as well as those that depict life during the same era at Winterthur (the splendid Wilmington, Delaware, property and former home of Henry Francis du Pont) will enhance this original exhibit. Additionally, Downton enthusiasts can participate in workshops, lectures, and presentations, including “Other Downtons,” which focuses on daily country-house life and entertaining in the early 1900s…

“I USE WAX TO PRESERVE MEMORIES— TO CAPTURE THE PLACES I’VE BEEN, THE THINGS I’VE SEEN—AND TO SHARE MY VIEWPOINT WITH THE WORLD.” —BRIDGETTE MEINHOLD Bridgette Meinhold lives her dream life amidst a snow-covered aspen grove near Park City, Utah. An avid skier and nature enthusiast, she can access hiking trails and backcountry skiing right outside the door of a cozy A-frame cabin she shares with her husband and their dog, Cooper. “Being outdoors is what has always inspired me the most,” says the well-traveled Oklahoma City native, whose diversity of accomplishments includes a B.S. in mechanical engineering from San Diego State University and an M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University. In addition, she has worked as a kitchen assistant at a New York City culinary school,…

Victoria Stroll through verdant gardens on two coasts at the elaborate European-inspired Vizcaya villa in Miami and the expansive grounds of the Huntington Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles, left. Enjoy brunch outdoors with our delicious springtime menu, above left, and beautiful floral arrangements featuring the season’s signature daffodil. Step inside a potting shed full of loveliness, above right, where you’ll rediscover the simple pleasures of puttering and planting. ON SALE 2/18/14…