Mindy Kaling made her television debut 15 years ago on The Office as Kelly Kapoor, the chatterbox customer-service representative with a cluttered desk in Dunder Mifflin’s annex. Since then, the actress/writer has become a force in Hollywood with shows like The Mindy Project, two best-selling memoirs, and now her latest effort, Never Have I Ever, a teen comedy inspired by her childhood that debuts today on Netflix. Clearly, Kaling has come a long way—and now she finally has a real office to match her Tinseltown stature.
The newly designed space on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, which was completed just before the studio closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic, was designed by Megan Cossette from one of our favorite brands, Serena & Lily. The space comprises a reception area, a writer’s room, and Kaling’s private office. We chatted with Kaling about her fabulous new setup—which she looks forward to actually using once she no longer has to work from home—and what she has been cooking up while sheltering in place. Check it all out and shop the look below.
ELLE Decor: This is such a glamorous office. What do you like best about the new space?
Mindy Kaling: I love my new office. It’s hard to pick, but my favorite pieces are probably the leather blush coffee table–slash-ottoman, sofa, and diamond-print rug.
ED: The team behind Serena & Lily collaborated with you on the design. Are you a fan of the brand?
MK: I didn’t learn about Serena & Lily until a few years ago, and I immediately loved their line. But I had already designed my home in L.A., so I had been looking forward to a chance to work with them.
ED: So how involved were you in the design process?
MK: I was very involved. I’m super opinionated about my office decor because I’m there so much. My home is very colorful, with big statements. For my office, I wanted something a little more neutral, but still fun. I had a vision, but I trusted Megan and her team.
ED: You wear so many hats—writer, actress, comedian. Which hat is your favorite?
MK: I love how many different skills I have had to learn. Editing is so different than acting, which is so different than writing, which is so different than producing! I have had 16 years to work on them all, and I feel really lucky about that.
ED: What’s your typical outfit when you’re working—in this office or at home?
MK: The office is so pretty, I feel like I have to step it up, so I will rock a lewk more often at work. At home, it’s yoga pants and a hoodie, or if I’m feeling fancy, a matching Tory Burch sweatsuit set.
ED: What can you tell us about your new Netflix show, Never Have I Ever?
MK: The cast is so good, especially the lead actress Maitreyi [Ramakrishnan], whom we found from a massive online open call. Another tidbit: Tennis legend John McEnroe does the narration, and he is absolutely hilarious.
ED: Is everything else on pause for you right now with the stay-at-home orders?
MK: I’m actually incredibly busy writing! I’m finishing up a movie I’m writing for Priyanka Chopra and me, together with my writing partner Dan Goor [co-creator of Brooklyn Nine-Nine]. I’m also finishing up the pilot for my new comedy about college girls for HBO Max. And I’m on my last edits for some essays I wrote for Amazon.
ED: Any words of wisdom for our readers trying to adjust to WFH life?
MK: It’s such a tough and sad time, so finding lightness is hard. I will say, the only other time I was able to wear elastic pants and no makeup for two months was when I was on maternity leave. And that was a great time for bonding with my daughter and for self-reflection! So I’ve been modeling my time after that to the degree that I can.
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