Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

Writer and Founder of Mangomonk

Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar is an architecture, design, and art journalist who serendipitously segued into journalism in 2016, after realizing spreadsheets weren’t her thing. She lives in New Delhi with her husband and their two gremlins, ages 3 and 1.


Highlights

  • Expertise includes speed-typing one-handed, performing questionable circus acts for pint-sized humans, and writing about homes that allow her to live vicariously.
  • Interests include keeping her kiddos busy, keeping herself sane, and achieving the world’s best banoffee.

Experience

Vaishnavi spent equal parts of her childhood in New Delhi, London, and Bangalore. After graduating with an MBA in marketing in 2012, she joined the corporate world, digging into spreadsheets and samosas while stationed in various corners of India.

In 2016, she decided to give up the spreadsheets (but not the samosas) to bring to life a long-harbored dream: A sunny content studio she named Mangomonk. Then, a series of chance encounters with some very kind editors led Vaishnavi to discover her true calling in architecture, design and art journalism. In the almost seven years since, she has written about architecture & interiors, design, art, culture and lifestyle, and been published in Architectural Digest, Azure, Domino, Design Anthology, Frame, Livingetc, Sotheby’s, The Local Project, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Wallpaper*, Vogue, Yellowtrace, 1stDibs, and Houzz’s magazine editions across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Education

After completing her Bachelor of Commerce from St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bangalore, Talawadekar went on to graduate from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune with an MBA in marketing. Today, unfortunately, neither degree comes in handy.

My Most Successful DIY Hack

Without a doubt, my teapot and teacup chandeliers! All the ceiling lights in my home are handmade from bone china handed down from my grandmother. I had a glass specialist diamond-drill them and then had an electrician do the wiring. (My grandmother shuddered when I told her—how dare I damage perfectly good china?) Don’t worry—she forgave me once she saw the result. The lights are perfect for my cottage-like aesthetic and they’re surefire conversation starters.

Get the Latest From Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

yellow and blue kitchen

A “Nothing Too Shiny or New” Mantra Led These Designers to a Turmeric-Hued Kitchen

The space used to feel like the ’80s, but now it’s more 1800s.

living room with noguchilight

This Arkansas Cabin Rental Was So Groovy, a Guest Bought It for Himself

“I felt like the home was designed just for me the minute I walked in.”

lavender dining room

This Berry-Colored Bed Nook Is So Cozy, You Almost Forget You’re in a Studio Apartment

Or that the sofa is right across from the mattress.

white brick wall

This Designer Scored His Dream Log Cabin, Even After Offering $100K Under Asking

Once it was accepted, dreaming ensued.

multicolor Cubist wallpaper in hallway

She’s Into Cozy, He’s More Modern—Here’s How Their Designer Found a Colorful Middle Ground

Turns out, they can all agree on green concrete tile.

white farmhouse

This Designer’s Jewel-Box Weekend Retreat Was Once a Farmhouse No One Wanted

Deep purples turn the rustic space into a cocoon.

art filled living room

This Couple Had a Hangover, Then an Epiphany: They’d Embrace a Brownstone’s Dark Side

A lack of windows can be a good thing.

brick townhouse

This Brooklyn Home Is 1840s on the Outside, But Is Giving 2040s on the Inside

A giant octagonal skylight casts luminous light.

sofa next to stairs

A Mirrored Bar and Groovy Woven Built-Ins Helped This Laurel Canyon Home Find Its Cozy-Cool Harmony

It’s no surprise that the Doors used to live nearby.