Share and Follow
Kelly Killoren Bensimon’s sunny, loft-style apartment is nestled within The Police Building — a historic architectural gem that once served as the New York Police Department’s headquarters and has since become a home to several A-list celebrities.
The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star — who has hopped from apartment to apartment within the gilded downtown Manhattan property over the last few decades — took Page Six on an exclusive tour of her current pad.
“I just love living here. I love the vibe. I love the area … I mean, you’ve had everyone here,” Bensimon gushed, listing off past residents like Calvin Klein, Steffi Graf, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista.
“All the supermodels, all the super elite, the best bankers, designers, artisans, everyone has lived [in] or come through this building,” she continued.
“If these walls could talk — you have no idea what it would tell you!”
The Douglas Elliman Real Estate agent, 57, is the building’s broker specialist, making her longtime home that much more special.
“240 Centre Street in New York City is a living landmark,” she said, noting the address of her apartment. “I just feel so honored that I get to live and work in one of the coolest, coolest buildings.”
Upon entering the luxury co-op, dwellers are immediately greeted with an ornate lobby featuring Beaux-Arts architectural details, such as hand-sculpted ornamental ceilings, a grand staircase, marble columns and grandiose crystal chandeliers.
Bensimon’s two-bedroom apartment reflects that old-world classic aesthetic — but with a French twist. The Bravolebrity’s living room features a towering mirror wall with grey accents, which she says gives the space a “very Parisian vibe.”
“It opens up the space, but it also makes it super cozy,” she said.
Bensimon turned to celebrity-loved creative consultant Gregory Bissonnette to help her design the interiors.
She doesn’t shy away from mixing bright colors and bold textures, with artworks by Julian Schnabel, Ghada Amer and, perhaps her favorite piece, a painting by one of her daughters that she displays in a Chrome Hearts frame.
Another sentimental touch is a gorgeous Parsons table that she took from her parents’ home in Illinois. She uses the reclaimed wooden surface as a vessel for coffee table books, lamps, vases and other artistic trinkets.
Standing in the corner of the room is a massive horse statue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, gifted to Bensimon directly by Anna Wintour.
“He’s a celebrity in this apartment,” she joked, noting that the leather saddle resting atop the stationary steed was given to her by the late Italian fashion executive Carla Fendi.
The avid equestrian’s marble breakfast table is surrounded by 18th-century dining chairs that came from her ex-husband Gilles Bensimon’s family art collection. The floor beneath is tucked under a soft pink carpet from fellow “RHONY” alum Jill Zarin’s eponymous homeware brand.
Nearby, Kelly filled a shelf with Moët & Chandon Champagne, each bottle representing one of her many home sales across the country.
“Every single listing that I sell deserves a bottle of Moët. So, every single listing, from $42 million to $5 million, they’re all here,” she said. “Maybe one day, I’ll pop them to celebrate!”
The “sun-drenched” primary bedroom features an en-suite bathroom, plenty of natural light and an entire wall dedicated to her impressive purse collection.
Notably on display is a Louis Vuitton handbag given to her by the French fashion house’s president when she was the editor of Elle Accessories, as well as a gold Tom Ford clutch that she wore to the 2023 Oscars.
Some of her favorite pieces in her bedroom include the black-and-white Chanel throw blanket on her queen-size bed and a KAWS sculpture gifted to her by Karl Lagerfeld.
“This is an iconic room because it’s where Tarzan sleeps,” she said of her cuddly white canine. “And we also have a lot of different things from my life.”
“It’s just a very cozy vibe … I love waking up here,” she added.
The second bedroom is lofted above her living area and is accessible via a sleek white staircase.
“What I love about the Police Building and these apartments is that the closet space is unbelievable. I actually have my own shoe closet,” she shared.
Kelly flaunted her massive collection of fancy footwear and pointed out her favorites — a gold pair of Tom Ford stilettos that she once wore to BravoCon.
Always thinking outside the box, Kelly transformed several of her Hermès scarves into decorative pillows.
“What’s a better way to eat popcorn and hang out watching your favorite TV shows than lying against an Hermès pillow?” she asked, adding that she also frames the silk scarves to hang on her walls for an added pop of color around her home.
She cleverly transformed one of her jumbo Hermés Birkin bags into a throw pillow holder that she keeps on the floor.
“It’s one of my favorite bags. I use it to store my throw pillows, and I’ll even take it with me to the Hamptons,” Kelly said.
For the “RHONY” alum, creating a home is all about “decorating and living with what you love.”
“That is the ultimate lifestyle,” she said.