Tour Mindy Kaling's N.Y.C. Apartment

By Anne Vorrasi
Updated May 18, 2017 @ 12:00 pm
David Land

If you asked us to envision what Mindy Kaling’s home might look like, we would imagine something quite similar to the space that her character Mindy Lahiri on The Mindy Project lives in: colorful and pretty feminine. Upon taking a peek at her real N.Y.C. abode, we can confirm that the brilliant comedian/actress/author’s personal style is quite the opposite. “My home in New York is a more sophisticated and minimalist,” she says, but she didn’t pull this zen apartment all together on her own. When she was ready to update her East Coast residence, Kaling got some much-needed help—"I’m a very indecisive person,” she says—from decorator Sally Gotfredson and One Kings Lane.

First, the actress had to draw up some inspiration and for that she looked to where else but Instagram. “My favorite sites to follow are One Kings Lane, the interior designer Katie Ridder, and a bunch of beautiful celebrities because sometimes they post the inside of their house and you can try to check out their style from stalking them online.” Then, she handed off her wish list to Gotfredson's team and let them do their thing. "I had the benefit of working in L.A. when they were decorating, which was great because I couldn’t micromanage, which would have driven them crazy. And also, I got to be surprised like in a reality television show when I walked in."

Click through to check out the funny lady’s sweet new digs and head over to onekingslane.com if you want to scoop some of her cool furnishings for yourself.

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THE LIVING ROOM

Credit: David Land

"I don’t have an office here, but the truth is that I don’t write in an office. Any time I have a desk it just goes to waste. So, I like to sit on my sofa, with my laptop, look out the window and just get inspired. This corner of my living room is where I’ve done the most writing in the past year because everything is just so pleasing to the eye.”

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LIVING ROOM DETAIL

Credit: David Land

"I love working from this space because it’s so filled with light and I’m not used to that being in New York. The other apartments I lived in have been small and dark whereas this is big and bright." 

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LIVING ROOM DETAIL

Credit: David Land

"My favorite pieces in this apartment are this amazing square moroccan pillow (which looks like it’s for the chicest, most elegant dog, ever, to hang out on, but I would never let a dog sit on it) and this glass coffee table. It’s a really beautiful shape, but can also withstand the weight of my heavy feet."

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TV CONSOLE

Credit: David Land

On her TV console: “I watch so much TV and my eye falls to it all the time. It’s just the most beautiful color wood and I think it’s mid-century, but it’s an antique and it’s amazing.”

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MASTER BEDROOM

Credit: David Land

This cozy room is where Kaling rests her head each night to recharge for the next day. 

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MASTER BEDROOM DETAIL

Credit: David Land

"This might seem boring, but I love reading in bed now because I used to put a really bulky lamp on my nightstand so I could never keep anything else on my nightstand, except for a pair of glasses, which would fall on the ground, or a bottle of water. But Sally had this really brilliant idea of putting sconces on the wall so that you have all this room free for all your things like your prescription medicines, which I have very many. (I’m just kidding, I don’t but that was brilliant and I love that). I was like this is a game changer. Great job, Sally.”

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MASTER BEDROOM DETAIL 

Credit: David Land

This dresser, in the bedroom, is one of many mid-century storage pieces in Kaling’s place. 

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GUEST ROOM

Credit: David Land

"One thing I love about this bedroom is that it’s very cheerful and bright, but it’s not overtly or exclusively feminine. I think I could have a man stay here for a while and they would find it really charming. So if George Clooney he needed a place to stay in New York City (if he’s not in Lake Como or his mansion in the Hollywood Hills), I think he and Amal would enjoy this room and there would be something for each of them to love."

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GUEST ROOM DETAIL

Credit: David Land

Here’s a detail shot of the bed in which the Clooneys could enjoy during their stay. The sconces on the wall would provide ample lighting for the couple to cuddle up and read scripts and court briefings into the night.  

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GUEST ROOM DETAIL

Credit: David Land

This ceiling lamp in the guest bedroom is pretty eye-catching, but we’re really digging the modern detail on the drapes.  

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KITCHEN

Credit: David Land

"We are in my kitchen, a room I love, but I don’t use a lot because I don’t cook, but I love my marble countertops and I love that the marble goes over the side, which I think is called 'waterfall style'?"

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BREAKFAST NOOK

Credit: David Land

"My little breakfast area, again is not huge, but I find it incredibly cheerful because there’s this great colorful print on the wall (which is my two favorite colors) and also because my awesome light fixture.” P.S. It’s made of wine glasses.

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