Breaking News: AERIN Lifestyle Brand

High Point Market isn't the only exciting thing happening this week.  It was just announced that Aerin Lauder will launch her own lifestyle brand named what else but AERIN.  The brand would include a cosmetics line to be sold at Estée Lauder counters as well as fashion, accessories, housewares, china, and jewelry much of which would be inspired by pieces owned and collected by Aerin's grandmother, Estée Lauder.  “I’m thrilled to continue playing an active role in the iconic Estée Lauder brand, including serving as global brand ambassador and spokesperson,” she said in the statement. “At the same time, I look forward to pursuing my vision to create the AERIN brand.”

I for one applaud her.  It would have been very easy for her to continue on at Estée Lauder but to tackle a new project is always exciting and challenging and what makes life interesting.  Aerin Lauder is one of the most searched names on my blog so I know that this new venture will be a huge success.  I'm especially excited about her plans to enter the home market and who knows, maybe we will see her at High Point someday!  In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of her own fabulous homes including the one in the Hamptons that she inherited from Estée Lauder.  It was shot most recently for Elle Decor but also for Vogue Living and decorated for Christmas for House & Garden.  Her Manhattan apartment isn't too shabby either and the closet which was photographed by Harper's Bazaar is still one of my favorites.  I will definitely keep you posted when I hear more about AERIN the brand and woman.

Aerin Lauder's New York apartment was designed by Jacques Grange.  The living room includes art by Yves Klein and Lucio Fontana.

The arm chairs in the living room are by Jean-Michel Frank while the floor lamp is by Alberto Giacometti.

In the Manhattan dining room, the ceiling fixture is Ruhlmann, the painting by Alberto Burri and don't ask me the paint color because it's a custom color by Donald Kaufman.

"I like houses that are cozy but not cluttered," Aerin Lauder told The New York Times. "And I like things that are inviting and warm — plump pillows, soft blankets, comfortable sofas. Even the colors I favor — browns, golds, soothing blues — are welcoming."

In the library in New York, the coffee table is by Jean Royere.

The chairs in the entry also seem to match the one in her dressing room.

Framed artwork by her sons hang along side portraits by Neil Winokur in the breakfast area in the kitchen.

The enviable dressing room that also serves as a home office features gorgeous hand painted wallpaper by Gracie.

The vintage desk from the 1970's by Gabriella Crespi came from Estée Lauder.

A dressing table tableau of children's toys and jewelry.

Another view of the dressing room.

Shoes glorious shoes!

Aerin and her family expanded the East Hampton house she inherited from her grandmother to suit the needs of her family.

Love the burnt orange walls in the Hamptons living room.

The coffee table is by Willy Rizzo.

The main living room mixes pale lavender walls with blue and white porcelain.

Another view of the main living room.

When the main living room was shot for House & Garden, you could see the fireplace wall.

The blue dining room with more blue and white porcelain that Aerin says Estée loved.

In the House & Garden feature, a console was filled with holiday treats.

And the table was set with gorgeous china and presents for Christmas.

The kitchen in East Hampton also features her son's artwork and an Elsworth Kelly.

Aerin in the kitchen for House & Garden.

A Chip Hooper photograph sits behind the desk in the library in East Hampton.

Another shot of the library as seen in House & Garden.

I love the graceful curving staircase.

The master bedroom features fabric by Michael Divine and linens by Leontine.

Mementos on the bedside table.

Another view of the master bedroom.

A guest bedroom is clad in toile. 

In Estée Lauder's former bedroom, Pierre Frey fabric covers the walls, chairs and bed.

The dressing table with a photo of Estée Lauder and lots of her perfumes.

One son has an Andy Warhol silkscreen hanging in his room.

Her other son has a room clad in fabric from Quadrille and a stuffed animal chair by Fernando and Humberto Campagna.

The beautiful gardens in East Hampton.

Aerin was photographed for Jonathan Becker in 2005 for Vogue.

The chic pool house and a fabulous vintage Mercedes convertible outside the house below.

Photos by Francois Halard for House & Garden, William Waldron and Simon Upton for Elle Decor and Eric Boman for Vogue Living

High Point 2011: Century Furniture

One of the best parts of High Point Market is seeing how each showroom interprets the season.  Century Furniture also embraced spring in the their main lobby.  It was inspired by the botanical fern print on the sofa above and grew into "a full blown garden" complete with a fountain.  I absolutely fell in love with the covered outdoor chaise below and can't wait to have a terrace so I can order it.  Keep in mind that this is only one part of their huge showroom and it's amazing how much work goes into putting everything together for High Point.  

I always worry about posting too much about one topic or trip but I think there is so much to take away from High Point that I think you will enjoy it.  Even if you think you have no interest in High Point or aren't in the market for new furniture, you can always be inspired by the showrooms.  The room vignettes rival the best I've seen in magazines and I'm always seeing styling ideas to use in my own projects.  There are always great colors too like the blue inside the Hickory Chair cabinet (you could do that yourself) and the green chair at Bunny Williams.  I saw a lot of stripes at Century Furniture and it made me want to come home and paint my walls in stripes or upholster my sofa in stripes.  I hope you will find lots to be inspired by too!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

High Point Spring 2011: BeeLine Home

I took over 700 photos at High Point Market and wasn't quite sure where to begin.  So I decided to start with the smallest but chicest showroom, BeeLine Home by Bunny Williams.  Unlike many furniture shows, most of the exhibitors at High Point have permanent showrooms.  That means they have real walls in which to create a gorgeous backdrop to their fabulous furniture and accessories.  In Bunny's case, she decided to bring the outdoors in by blowing up a photograph of a hedgerow and having it made into wallpaper.  The green was so so refreshing and of course, a compliment to the spring temperatures in High Point.  Actually, it felt a little more like summer at 80 degrees but I certainly wasn't complaining!  All of the mirrors in the first room brought in even more light and the comfy upholstery and drinks cabinet in the second room made you want to stay there all day. I am especially excited that Bunny is carrying a reproduction of Albert Hadley's famous etegere and I completely feel in love with the green leather upholstered Star Chair.  Just another example of green is good!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

High Point Highlights

I'm back from my whirl wind trip to the High Point Market furniture show and have so much to share.  Before I start my in depth posts, I thought I would give you the highlights.  High Point Market invited a group of bloggers down to tour five showrooms including one of my favorites Hickory Chair above.  We were also invited to lunch with their fabulous designers Alexa Hampton, Suzanne Kasler, Mariette Himes Gomez and Thomas O'Brien who later walked us through all their spaces.

I love family owned companies and Comer Wear, the marketing director and third generation at Century Furniture gave is the tour of their huge showroom. They too have many different lines including Oscar de la Renta, Bob Timberlake, Archive Home, and the garden inspired collection above.

There were also a few showrooms we visited that I wasn't familiar with including Hooker Furniture.  That mirror trimmed and tufted bed definitely caught my eye though!

Another interesting showroom we visited was Sligh who is known for their home office furniture and entertainment units that incorporate state of the art technology.

I was also not familiar with Theodore Alexander who has a line of furniture reproduced from Althorp Estate which is over 500 years old but most known as the childhood home of Princess Diana.  Theodore Alexander also carried the furniture collection of Leigh and Leslie Keno better known as the Keno Brothers from Antiques Roadshow.  I would have expected them to design antique reproductions and their furniture collection of antique inspired modern furniture was my favorite discovery at High Point.  It also helps that their are so passionate and enthusiastic about furniture.

I've seen Halo Styles at the NYIGF but their booth there is nothing like their amazing showroom in High Point.  They have the entire building which is perfect for their mix of vintage finds and new furniture.  I especially loved this light fixture made from bowler hats.

We couldn't visit High Point without stopping to see Bunny Williams in her BeeLine Home showroom.  Bunny is one of the nicest designers and immensely talented.  Just wait until you see her inspiring showroom when I post more photos later.

BoBo Intriguing Objects is another favorite from the NYIGF who has a whole building full of vintage treasures in High Point. You know everything is authentic when it's still covered with a layer of dust!

The highlight of High Point are all the fun parties.  We stopped by the Halo soiree on Sunday where we ran into interior designer Philip Gorrivan and Michelle Adams of Lonny.  We also made it to the Elle Decor party for Barclay Butera on Monday night at Eastern Accents. That's Barclay with Elle Decor editor in chief Michael Boodro above. I was able to pick up the May 2011 issue early and can tell you that it's gorgeous! We also raised a glass with Architectural Digest where chatted with our friends from Edward Ferrell + Lweis Mittman and One Kings Lane.  Later, we danced the night away at Four Hands before heading back to our hotel to pass out. 

It was a very busy few days and I'm sorry we couldn't see everyone.  I will definitely give myself more time if I attend High Point Market in the fall.  The only low points were being turned away from Baker for not having an apointment and the huge storm that knocked out the power in our hotel for six hours Tuesday morning.  Other than that, we had a great time and would like to thank High Point Market for their lovely Southern hospitality.  It was so much fun seeing what was new and meeting so many lovely people but as we all in the design world know, there is no place like home. Check back for more complete High Point posts soon!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic