Design Diary: Aerin Lauder’s Aspen Ski House

I have a thing for Erin Lauder; a serious girl crush, made more tangible by the fact I met her a couple of times at parties through tenuous friends of friends connections. These days, our paths are never likely to cross. Still, I admire her exquisite, understated taste. When I saw her Apsen house in Vogue, in its luxuriously simple glory, I thought “These are the most perfect interiors I have ever seen.”

The house, which Lauder bought in 2009, was relatively new. She hired architect/interior designer Daniel Romualdez, who also did Tory Burch’s Manhattan apartment, to customize with a bit of character. Every room is painted white, but walls lined in reclaimed cypress boards and wire-brushed oak. Danish modern and solid American chairs, appropriately draped with fur throws, mingle with glossy George Nakashima tables.

Although we don’t get a glimpse of these, there are baskets of shearling slippers from L.L. Bean around the house and guest beds are outfitted with plain white linens from Calvin Klein. Again, no kitchen or dining shots, but we’re told her tableware is rustic white china from Calvin Klein as well as pieces from her secret source in Austria. Napkins  are country-style—sage greens, cream, rough linens—which complement the big wooden bowls she buys at Privet House in Warren, Connecticut. Perfection.

Aerin Lauder, the epitome of cozy cool, in Daryl K leather pants, chunky cable-knit Burberry sweater, and shearling-lined L.L. Bean style duck boots.

 Jean-Michel Frank sofa, Hans Wegner hoop chairs
Cashmere-lined coyote- and fox-fur rugs made for Lauder by Pologeorgis are generously thrown over chairs and sofas;

George Nakashima table

The semi-covered deck, furnished with David Sutherland teak lounge chairs and coffee table with provisions for hot chocolate, overlooks Aspen Mountain.

the library, immaculately arranged with books, resembles a giant cigar box with breathtaking views for whoever is sitting at the desk.

low oak bed with an Andreas Gursky photograph  The bedrooms have specially made low oak beds

Rift-cut white-oak walls meet cedar marble in a bathroom.

her sons, twelve-year-old Jack and eleven-year-old Will,

Even the mud room reflects her cozy glamour. Oh, the furs.

Photos: François Halard