The passage provides insights into the interior design and personal spaces of Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, the senior vice president and creative director of the beauty company Estée Lauder. It describes her homes in East Hampton, New York, and Manhattan, highlighting her design choices, the influence of her legendary grandmother Estée Lauder, and the integration of her family life and work. Here are the key details:
East Hampton Home: Aerin Lauder inherited her East Hampton home from her grandmother Estée Lauder, the founder of Estée Lauder. The house is a Greek Revival-style residence surrounded by gardens filled with white flowers like roses, peonies, and hydrangeas. The design preserves many of the rooms as her grandmother left them, featuring blue-and-white Chinese porcelain that Estée loved.
Design Influences: Estée Lauder had a distinctive and elegant taste that is reflected in the design of the home. She worked with designer Mark Hampton, and her preference for blue and white is evident in the color choices used throughout the house. The color combination was a part of her personal style, reflected in her decor, linens, and even the packaging of her beauty products.
Honoring Tradition with Modern Updates: While Aerin Lauder respects and honors her grandmother’s style, she has made updates to the house to accommodate her family’s active lifestyle. She and her husband have expanded the house and introduced modern elements to create a balance between tradition and functionality.
Interior Design Approach: Lauder’s interior design approach is described as “heritage with a twist.” She collaborated with designers like Victoria Borus and Donald Kaufman to update various rooms. For instance, the dining room now features a lively china-blue shade with white trim, and her son’s room is characterized by navy blue and modern artwork by Andy Warhol.
Manhattan Apartment: Lauder’s Manhattan apartment showcases a blend of tradition and modernity. French decorator Jacques Grange designed the entrance hall, library, and living and dining rooms. The spaces incorporate French furniture from the ’30s to the ’50s, with shots of color introduced through artworks by Yves Klein, Robert Ryman, and Lucio Fontana.
Influence of Work: Aerin Lauder’s work is deeply integrated into her life and spaces. She oversees Estée Lauder’s presence in retail locations worldwide and was tasked with designing a unique counter for Selfridge’s department store in London. Her design for Selfridge’s draws inspiration from her grandmother’s aesthetic, and she takes pride in creating something innovative that reflects her personal style.
Library: Lauder spends much of her time in the library, where she finds evidence of her family’s active life in large red leather-bound photo albums. This room reflects her love for family and her dedication to her work.
Integration of Family Life and Work: Lauder’s life mirrors her grandmother’s in the way her work and personal life are intertwined. She seamlessly combines her love for design, family, and work, creating spaces that reflect her unique style and legacy.
The passage provides an intimate glimpse into Aerin Lauder’s approach to design, her family’s history, and how she translates her grandmother’s legacy into her homes and work.