Aerin Lauder opens a gorgeous "pop up" home design shop in the Hamptons, AERIN Southampton

In case you missed my story in print over at Dan's Papers magazine,
I wanted to print my story here as well on Nest by Tamara. 
It's all about Aerin Lauder's new pop up shop in the Hamptons this summer.  As many of you know, Lauder has lots going on in home design these days, so take a look at the latest news.  Lauder is a local resident of the Hamptons and a friend, and this is special for me to cover in my East End Nest column.  I wish you great success Aerin, and we are all very excited for Aerin Southampton this summer:

Article in Dan's Papers magazine today -- Friday, May 31

Dan's May 31 editorial

photographs provided by Aerin Lauder

The Lauder Legacy Lives On

by Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

Summer 2013 promises to bring a plethora of interior design inspiration to the Hamptons.  With two designer showhouses, quality antique shows, and a select group of new shops planned to open this summer from Southampton to East Hampton, local residents will have access to even more items and services to help curate a beautiful and well-lived in “nest”.  One special and exciting new addition in the area is the opening of a seasonal store, AERIN Southampton.  Located conveniently downtown in Southampton at 83 Main Street in the village, this shop debuted over Memorial Day weekend.  AERIN Southampton will feature an array of hand-picked wares by founder, creative director and local Wainscott resident, Aerin Lauder.  Like her talented and stylish grandmother Estee Lauder, she has an impeccable eye for design.  With the introduction of Lauder’s luxury lifestyle brand, AERIN, she utilizes her own personal lifestyle as the inspirational jumping-off point and is deeply influenced by art, travel, fashion, and design.  The company is based on the belief that living beautifully should be effortless, and Lauder curates collections in the worlds of beauty, fashion accessories, and now this home décor collection.  The boutique is perfectly timed, since Lauder recently launched her new home collection to the design industry this spring at Highpoint Furniture Market in North Carolina. 

At Highpoint, Lauder showed collections of furniture with EJ Victor, lighting with Visual Comfort and rugs and fabrics with Lee Jofa.  The AERIN collection is getting lots of attention in the design world, and we are fortunate to have our very own shop here in the East End to keep an eye on her musings. I had the opportunity to see some of Lauder's fabrics launched with Lee Jofa, and there is a good mix of velvets, prints and wovens with a classic aesthetic, yet keeping a fresh, modern vision.  I hope to see some of these designs in her new shop. 

The boutique will stay open for summer, fall, and through the holiday season to offer the brand’s variety of quality, select products and to accommodate the changing seasons in the Hamptons.  For the Southampton store, Lauder collaborated with Jacques Grange to bring unique pieces from AERIN’s timeless staples and in-store exclusive items to accommodate the changing seasons.  During the fall months, pieces from the new home collection will debut at the shop.  For summer, AERIN Southampton will stock up on warm-weather essentials while offering eclectic wares, including select AERIN beauty products, vintage jewelry and home decorative items.  The store’s home products will range from accent pillows in AERIN’s own fabric and distinctive new furnishings, to Lauder’s favorite brands, and some exclusively for the Southampton space. A few exclusive pieces will include Jo de Mer bathing suits (one in a signature AERIN ikat print); tunics and cover-ups from Irving & Fine; cashmere shawls from Italian brand Ambas; jewelry from AERIN Erickson Beamon; prints from illustrator Happy Menocal; AERIN dinnerware; Assouline coffee tables and more. 

As a local resident, Lauder values the importance of casual, stylish entertaining here in the East End.  Having had the honor of being invited over to Lauder’s home for dinner, I can tell you firsthand she is the consummate host, at once making her guests feel comfortable and at home, while offering delicious food, set on a pretty table and injecting a keen sense of design with a sophisticated palette.  The shop is geared up to offer a variety of products and possibilities to help us become the consummate host, including many perfect hostess gift items as well.  One exciting new addition to the store’s offerings is a unique collaboration with the Bridgehampton Florist to bring “Floral Fridays,” to the Southampton shop, providing a weekly exclusive arrangement available for same-day delivery in the area.  I look forward to popping into Aerin Southampton to see what Lauder has up her design sleeves, and pick up a few select items to freshen up my home for summer.   

Happy Nesting XO