As the heir to the Lauder throne, Aerin Lauder is practically beauty royalty – but lest you think Lauder is content to rest on her laurels, she’s also a burgeoning lifestyle mogul, with her own lifestyle line, AERIN, doing big business in accessories, home decor, and of course, beauty. Lauder appears to be in the business of living beautifully, and let’s be clear: she’s looking damn good while she does so. Lauder is perhaps as well known for her oft-photographed homes (there’s the Aspen home, the East Hampton home, and of course, the Park Avenue apartment) as she is for her style. In fact, AERIN the brand was born out of her love for interior design. As it turns out, as the press of her gorgeous residences went live, people came calling: where did she get that light fixture? Where was this rug from? What was that paint color on her walls?
It became clear: Lauder was a tastemaker not just in the fashion and beauty industries, but also in the interior realm as well. Hence, AERIN was born. The brand is a true lifestyle outfit; Lauder designs not just interior pieces but everything from ballet flats to sparkling gold baubles. Her inspiration? Grandmother Estée Lauder, of course. She tells Elle Decor, “Estée taught me to love experimenting with color,” says Lauder. “One time, I must have been three or four years old, she let my parents sleep in and took me for a walk. She dressed me in all different shades of red: red ribbons in my hair, a turtleneck in red, red pants, red sneakers. I think that was the Hungarian in her.”
She continues, “Estée always taught me the significance of living with style,” says Lauder. “I think there’s something really important about living in your home and enjoying it.” As Lauder would have it, it all comes down to carefully curated pieces, plus a little quick thinking: “One day I walked in and my sons were having a Nerf-gun fight—that’s when the glass went on the Klein. We do only laser tag in the house now.”
And what a house it is: Lauder’s Manhattan abode is a perfectly curated mix of textures and colors, one design style layered atop the next. It is at once classic and eclectic, well-styled but also well lived in. It’s clear that Lauder isn’t afraid of color – but she’s also not afraid to go neutral when she needs to. The library above is a study in neutrals; Lauder has used texture instead of color to make the space come alive.
In the dining room, she’s gone the opposite route, with highly saturated black walls and a funky zebra print table cloth in a muted purple tone. The kitchen is also colorful, all punchy light blue and fun art pieces. In true New York City Style, she’s got banquet seating, which is perfectly complimented by white Chippendale chairs and a vintage light fixture that hangs atop the table.
Words can barely express the beauty of Lauder’s dressing room. With stunning hand-painted wallpaper, a gilded gold desk and a crystal chandelier, this room is a study in opulence. With a mirrored chest of drawers and a brass desk that appears to shine in the sunlight, this room is fit for a princess. And it’s fitting, isn’t it? Because that’s what Lauder is: a modern-day princess, heir to the beauty throne.
And, just for fun: here are a few pieces to help you achieve an Aerin-esque look in your own home.
