Shonda Rhimes doesn't just build television empires; she builds worlds. If you’ve ever found yourself lost in the rapid-fire dialogue of Scandal or the lush, heaving-bosom romanticism of Bridgerton, you know she has a specific eye for atmosphere. But for years, fans wondered if her real-life surroundings matched the high-octane drama of a Grey Sloan memorial OR the Regency-era opulence of the Ton.
Honestly? It's even better.
For a long time, the residence Shonda Rhimes called home was a sprawling 1920s Italianate villa in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park. It was beautiful, sure. But in a move that felt like a series finale plot twist, she recently packed up her awards and her three daughters to relocate to the East Coast. Now, her real estate portfolio spans a "regal" New York City penthouse and a record-breaking estate in Westport, Connecticut.
The $15 Million "Toy" Mansion in Westport
In late 2022, Rhimes made a massive splash in the Connecticut real estate market. She dropped $15.17 million on an estate in Westport that was previously owned by Doug and Melissa Bernstein. Yes, the people who made your kids' favorite wooden puzzles.
This wasn't just a house; it was a compound. We're talking 38,000 square feet.
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- The Stats: 11 bedrooms, a bowling alley, and a home theater.
- The Vibe: Classic New England Colonial on 7.5 acres of land.
- The Perks: A basketball court, an arcade, and—perhaps most importantly for a foodie—a kitchen equipped with a professional pizza oven.
Why Westport? Rhimes has been pretty vocal about it. She told a crowd at the Westport Library that she loves the town because people there are "unimpressed with celebrity." In a world where she is one of the most powerful women in entertainment, she just wanted a place where she could be a mom who happens to write a lot of scripts. It's a "Year of Yes" move if there ever was one.
That "Bridgerton" Inspired New York Penthouse
While the Connecticut house is for the family, her New York City apartment is where the Bridgerton magic lives. Located on the Upper East Side, the penthouse at 765 Park Avenue is a masterclass in "Regencycore" meets modern Manhattan.
She bought the place for about $11.75 million, and it’s basically a jewel box. Working with designer Michael S. Smith—the same guy who did the Obama White House—she turned the space into a reflection of her creative brain.
The living room is wrapped in hand-painted De Gournay wallpaper featuring lush trees and flowers. It feels like stepping into a garden in 1813 London, but with a view of Park Avenue. There are pops of bright yellow everywhere. Why? Because her mother’s house always had yellow wallpaper. It’s a nostalgic thread that connects her past to her current status as a mogul.
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The LA Villa She Left Behind
You can't talk about the residence Shonda Rhimes without acknowledging the house that started the "home as a story" obsession. Her former Los Angeles home was a 1923 Elmer Grey-designed villa. When she first bought it, she described it as "ugly and wrong."
She spent years stripping it to the studs. She didn't want a "celebrity" house; she wanted a home that felt lived-in. She filled it with art by Black artists, specifically surrealist painter Hughie Lee-Smith. In her study—which she called her favorite room—she kept her trophies hidden in a closet for years until a friend told her she needed to celebrate her wins.
Eventually, she put them on the shelves. But then, she sold the house for $21 million in 2022. It was time for a new chapter.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Homes
People assume that because she's worth hundreds of millions, her houses are just cold, marble museums. They aren't.
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Rhimes has a specific philosophy: a house has to "tell a story." She isn't interested in trends. If she likes a weird orange tree or a specific shade of pink for a library/guest room/dining room hybrid (which she actually has in New York), she does it.
The Westport estate might be 38,000 square feet, but she fills those rooms with "nooks." She told Michael S. Smith that as a writer, she likes to wander. She needs a place to sit and "invent" in every single room. Her homes are essentially giant writing labs with very high-end snacks.
Practical Lessons from Shonda’s Style
If you're looking to bring a bit of the "Shondaland" aesthetic to your own space without the $15 million price tag, here is how she does it:
- Meaningful Art First: Don't buy art to match the sofa. Rhimes collects Hughie Lee-Smith because his work moves her. Build the room around the art.
- The "Yellow" Rule: Find a color or a texture that reminds you of home or childhood and weave it into every residence you own. It creates a sense of continuity.
- Create "Zones": Even in a small apartment, use lighting and furniture placement to create a "nook" where you can be creative.
- Function Over Show: She turned a formal dining room into a library/guest room because she actually uses books more than she hosts formal 20-person dinners.
The evolution of the residence Shonda Rhimes is really just the evolution of Shonda herself. From the "ugly" house she fixed in LA to the regal penthouse in NYC and the massive family sanctuary in Connecticut, she’s shifted from proving she belongs to creating a world where she can finally breathe.
Next Steps for Designing Your Space:
Start by identifying one room in your home that feels "static" or unused. Instead of following a Pinterest trend, ask yourself what "story" you want that room to tell. Like Rhimes, prioritize a comfortable "nook" for thinking over a showy piece of furniture that nobody actually sits on.