At a teenager in the 1990s growing up in in west Texas before the days of the Internet, my subscription to Victoria magazine served as a monthly escape into an enchanted world full of beauty and grace. I treasured each issue and pored over them repeatedly, delighted by the beautifully decorated historic homes, the exquisitely set tablescapes, and the charmingly arranged vignettes. It was a world that embraced the traditions and beauty of the past, while making them timelessly relevant and aspirational to the day. Decades later, I still find Victoria to be a constant source of inspiration, and today I’m delighted to share an inside glimpse into one of the magazine’s recently published books, Gracious Home: Cultivating a Spirit of Welcome.
“This book has lived in my heart for many years, and I sincerely hope that its message will inspire readers to make the place where they abide a haven — one that rises up to meet them, embraces all who inhabit the space, and opens its arms wide in welcome to guests,” says the author Melissa Lester, who also serves as editor of Victoria.
Jenny Bohannon writes in her foreword, “Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis loved to send beautiful books to her friends and once wrote on a card enclosed, ‘This is an ‘escape book.’ Such is this lovely new volume by my dear friend Melissa — an escape book that will pair most beautifully with a warm cup of tea as we dream of cultivating a sense of place for those we love and a spirit of welcome for all who cross our thresholds.”
Let’s take a peek inside!
What a beautiful book, and such fun seeing homes of several friends I’ve been blessed to make over the years via The Glam Pad.
Gracious Home: Cultivating a Spirit of Welcome is a welcome addition to the library of any design afficianado, and it would also make an ideal “escape book” gift, with a handwritten note à la Jackie O!
For ongoing inspiration, please follow @victoriamagazine on Instagram, and subscription information can be found here. As an additional treat, Hayley Solano of The Enchanted Book Club, is hosting author Melissa Lester TODAY (Monday, June 23, 2025) at 7:30 p.m. EST for a Zoom discussion of this beautiful book! Please click here for additional details.
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This is absolutely lovely — Victoria has always captured that quiet, timeless elegance.