MOUNTAIN CHALET
Crisp white and warm wood are the perfect choice for a modern mountain retreat with superlative views.
Aerin Lauder is a busy woman. In addition to her role as style and image director of Estée Lauder, her grandmother’s cosmetic brand, she runs her own company, AERIN, which launched a range of home accessories at Harrods last year. “Beauty is in my blood, but my passion is interiors,” she says.
While New York is where she lives with her husband, Eric, and their two teenage sons, when they need a break they head for the mountains of Colorado, to a chic, welcoming home in Aspen that Aerin has created in response to its breathtaking natural surroundings. Here, she tells us more.
What drew you to this area? My family has always holidayed in Aspen. My uncle and cousin have houses here, and I adore skiing, as do my husband and children. I walked into this house and immediately fell in love with the view. The vast windows look out onto Ajax Mountain and the aspens make it feel as if we are in a tree house. It has such a magical atmosphere, five minutes from town but seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Was the house in need of any work? Actually, it had just been built by a local architect so it was in excellent condition. We liked the flow of the space and the layout, especially the open-plan ground floor, with stunning views all around.
How did you approach the interiors? I wanted to use a lot of wood, so I had the ceilings clad in reclaimed cypress, for textural interest, and to make the house feel warmer and
more inviting. I also had wire-brushed white oak doors put on the kitchen cabinets and on the vanity unit in our bathroom.
How did the views a≠ect your design ideas? I didn’t want to compete with them. I wanted calming spaces, where we could sit back and enjoy the mountains and trees with no visual distractions. Natural materials and shades of cream and white reflect the landscape and make it feel like a winter wonderland inside as well as out. At Christmas, I take the same approach, using evergreens, berries and pine cones to create a festive look.
Did you use an interior designer? I had help from my good friend Daniel Romualdez, who is an architect and a designer. He has great taste and sensibility; I really admire the way he mixes new and vintage pieces. I wanted to make sure the house was understated and restrained, but also cosy, so Daniel helped to gave it an edited, warm palette, keeping the lines clean.
What is the house like at other times of year? We come up here to hike during the spring and summer and the neutral colours work very well then, too. I do like to change the mood, though, but very simply, by using di≠erent cushions. And for entertaining? We entertain a lot, but very casually. I tend to make something easy like pasta or fondue, to share with friends over a good bottle of wine. The layout is perfect for that sort of relaxed evening. I can chat to our guests while I cook, with the fire lit and music playing – it’s wonderful.