Aerin Lauder at her Palm Beach home. Photo: Thomas Loof @ Art Department NY
Flowers and their wondrous aromas have captivated Aerin Lauder’s imagination since childhood. An affinity for blooms runs in the family—some of the lifestyle brand founder’s most cherished memories involve her grandmother, the makeup magnate Estée, mixing floral scents like rose, lily, and tuberose when devising fragrances. Her mother, the trendsetter Jo Carole, potted geraniums at her birthday parties. Lauder would go on to parlay these experiences into a successful career as the style and image director for Estée Lauder Companies as well as her own lifestyle brand Aerin, which offers floral-inspired objets such as ceramic soap dishes with vivid relief patterns, porcelain vases with petal-shaped rims, and gilded cachepots perfectly suited for orchids, as well as an expansive range of fragrances infused with the flowery notes.
“Flowers and photographs are what make a house a home—what makes it personal and welcoming,” Lauder writes in the introduction to Living With Flowers (Rizzoli), a lavish new tome in which she divulges her favorite ways to enliven interiors through radiant blooms and décor. “Whether it’s a bouquet of daffodils in the kitchen, a cheerful nosegay on my desk, or a lush centerpiece for a dinner party, flowers are an essential part of how I like to decorate and entertain.” The book journeys into her homes to provide a deeply personal glimpse at her tips in action and unpacks the symbolism behind some of her favorite blooms. There are also an abundance of personal anecdotes, such as Estée purchasing a expansive set of Herend porcelain in a classic 1860s garden-inspired pattern during a trip to Austria.
Below, in an exclusive interview with Galerie that has been edited and condensed for clarity, Lauder unpacks how fragrance is deeply entwined with memory and shares how to bring garden elements indoors in ways that feel chic and timeless.
Aerin Freya Wicker Ice Bucket, Shell Dish Set, Spotted Glass Set, Raffia Coasters, Optic Carafe, Clementina Bud Vases, and Vittoria Cocktail Napkins. Photo: Mark Lund
An informal buffet on Lauder’s kitchen island featuring a stack of modern marbleized plates from Christopher Spitzmiller, colorful Murano glasses, floral-sketched napkins from Willow Crossley, and masses of bright flowers. A Jeff Koons Puppy vase holds daffodils, a simple white cachepot offers up an abundance of green parrot tulips in bud, and a statuesque vase by Frances Palmer with large flowering branches of quince. Photo: Mark Lund
I dedicated this book to my mother because she shared the joy of flowers with me from a young age. From mini potted geranium favors at my childhood birthday parties to a bouquet waiting for me when I arrive home from a business trip, she nurtured a lifelong love of nature, flowers, and all things beautiful.
My earliest memory of my grandmother, Estée, was the way she smelled. She was always trying out new fragrances she was working on, which were usually floral forward. A memory that I recall most was getting into the car with Estée when she was working on the “Beautiful” fragrance; I was immediately greeted by the smell of rose, lily, and tuberose, which are still three of my favorite flowers.
My grandmother had this incredible quote where she said that “one exquisite flower in a simple container can be as magnificent as a roomful of flowers.” This is so true and often a simple starting point for someone who is new to decorating with flowers. I love the idea of a single stem in a bud vase on my desk or vanity to brighten my day. The beauty of flowers is that it can be effortless and beautiful, without feeling complicated.
A children’s tea party set up in the garden on a miniature rattan table and chairs with small-scale bouquets of blush-pink anemones and delicate lily of the valley in silver julep cups. Photo: Thomas Loof @ Art Department NY
The guest room in Lauder’s Palm Beach home is wrapped floor-to-ceiling in Bennison’s Chinese Paper and is balanced by the natural textures of sisal matting and a rattan bedside table; white hyacinths and roses offer a welcoming touch. Photo: Thomas Loof @ Art Department NY
My favorite flower is the rose. There are so many variations of this special flower, and I am so inspired by its symbolism. Pink roses symbolize grace, happiness and gentleness, while white roses symbolize new beginnings, purity, and innocence, and red roses represent passion and romance. The original inspiration for the AERIN Beauty collection was a pink rose, and it is still very iconic to the brand today.
I have always been deeply inspired by nature, and the beauty of the elements around me have become key elements to the AERIN brand. From flowers and plants to soothing color palettes and mesmerizing landscapes, I tend to bring the outdoors in as much as possible. Throughout my brand and my home, my inspiration is clear—no matter the season or the destination, there is an obvious sensibility of indoor-outdoor living. I gravitate towards natural materials and textures like wicker and rattan, along with organic hues and of course, fresh flowers.
The dining room in our New York City apartment has the most magical floral wallpaper that I immediately fell in love with. The wallpaper panels date from the 1700s and had been installed many decades ago. What makes the wallpaper particularly special are the pairs of birds, often looking at each other, which signify friendship and love. What I love most about unexpected décor elements such as this one is the unparalleled storytelling. The wallpaper features leafy branches and birds against a pale-pink ground, setting a beautiful backdrop for some of my favorite nights spent at home with family and friends. This is also the room where we shot the cover image for Living with Flowers.
“Aerin Lauder: Living With Flowers” (Rizzoli). Photo: Thomas Loof
In Living with Flowers, I shared how I incorporate flowers into my home and lifestyle in ways that are unexpected and timeless. I like to bring garden elements indoors through décor such as floral wallpaper in the dining room or floral drapes in the bedroom. Floral patterned tabletop collections can also add a modern yet effortless feel to entertaining for any occasion.
I’m especially excited about this book because it shares my favorite ways to live with flowers, inspiring beauty and joy in both special occasions and everyday moments. Flowers have always been a source of joy, inspiration and a way to bring nature and beauty into my every day. Flowers are calming and offer a sense of optimism, while allowing me to create inviting and personal spaces.
