A technicolor home office is equal parts warm sanctuary and vibrant meeting space

Fostering connection and open exchange is Kristyn Starkovich’s stock and trade. As the founder of Rivalry Communications Coaching, she spends her days helping people perfect the delicate art of effective communication. Her client list grew quickly after she launched her business in 2023, and the more relationships she strengthened, the more obvious it became that her guestroom/office wasn’t going to work out long-term. Enter Rachel Cannon, who transformed an oatmeal-colored bedroom into a vibrant, orchid-hued home office with a defined sense of purpose.

Before the transformation, Starkovich felt constricted by her guestroom nook masquerading as a workspace. A flash of inspiration courtesy Rachel Cannon Limited Interiors finally sparked the overdue change. “I had seen a post on RCL’s social media about having a sanctuary in your home—that you should have a quiet room in the house,” Starkovich says. “I have a husband, three kids, a dog and a cat who I love, but quiet is a rare thing.”

As a friend and admirer of Cannon’s talents, hiring her to revamp the home office was an easy decision. “Rachel knows me so well,” Starkovich says. “We joke that we were separated at birth. I knew I could just trust her and say, ‘Here’s what I’m thinking. I want it color-drenched. Go for it.’”

Being given carte blanche to design the office was a dream for Cannon. Starkovich’s vision was simple: a color-saturated, bold-yet-feminine study where she could work or retreat. “All music to my ears,” says Cannon. “I felt I could execute on a much deeper level, given that I require so much of the same things to feel restored and productive.”

The finished office is the epitome of striking, intentional design. Cannon marked the shift from guestroom to workspace by swapping the bed for a chaise lounge and a reading nook, framed by identical built-in bookcases providing storage and symmetry. Drapes balance differently sized windows and buffer household sounds, giving Starkovich a peaceful escape. The soft lavender ceiling, inspired by RCL Interiors’ signature color, complements the rich purple walls, while warm salmon and tangerine accents add cozy depth. Twin chairs and a burlwood coffee table offer a welcoming space for client meetings, a far cry from the room’s previous life as a multipurpose guest suite. It’s a place where business meets pleasure.

The office’s design goes beyond aesthetics, setting the stage for the kind of open dialogue Starkovich guides in her work. It’s finally a space that works for Starkovich’s clients, for her meetings and, most importantly, for her.

“It gives us a homey space that invites people to let their guard down,” she says. “Being open and vulnerable is such an important part of communications coaching. This is a space to take deep breaths, relax, and dig into what we need to discuss.”

This article was originally published in the February 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.