A home office headquarters for journalist and podcaster Kanika Gupta
What Kanika Gupta wanted
Rather than create a formal living room in their newly built New Jersey home, Kanika Gupta, the host of That’s Total Mom Sense, and her husband decided to reallocate the space as her dedicated home office. Through her podcast, Kanika encourages parents to trust their instincts — but with three young children at home and a growing media platform, she knew designing a workspace would require more than intuition. Armed with photo inspiration for her dream office, she turned to California Closets of Northern New Jersey to create a space that felt warm and elevated — one where she could record her podcast, take virtual meetings, and channel creativity. Her biggest needs: ample built-in storage, an open desk surface, and shelving to display books, awards, and personal mementos.
“I love the combination of finishes in Kanika’s office. Together these elements provide a sophisticated, upscale look.”
How California Closets designed it
Designer Rebecca Fiorini partnered closely with Kanika from their very first consultation, where she shared a 3D rendering based on Kanika’s inspiration photo. To solve for a very high ceiling and oddly-placed outlets, Rebecca made multiple in-person visits to take precise measurements and tailor the design to the room. The result of all that tinkering: a clean-lined wall system featuring a mix of open shelving, upper and lower cabinetry, soft-close drawers, and a designated desk area for Kanika to comfortably broadcast. A center niche neatly encases her laptop and monitor. Two contrasting finishes for the desktop and shelves paired with brass hardware keep the design bright and contemporary. The installation was swift, then Kanika’s new office was move-in ready, blending thoughtful function with sophisticated style.
“This office turned out even better than my inspiration photo! I spend a lot of time here, and it sparks joy instead of stress.”
Final result
A stunning home office designed to elevate every moment — from podcast interviews to focused work. Thanks to a custom system that mixes display, storage, and grommets to hide cords, Kanika’s space feels both polished and personal, with plenty of room to house her media equipment, books, and decor. Warm tones and soft lighting keep the room cozy and camera-ready, sparking creativity for Kanika’s various pursuits.
