Kristen was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Westchester, Connecticut and Long Island. She went to the University of Michigan, studied in London, and began her career as a graphic designer in New York City publishing, which gave her a strong grounding in form, color, and storytelling. Over time, that path evolved into interiors — first in New York, then Chicago, working on hotel and residential projects across the country. She was the founder and Principal of Studio Gild for a decade, before becoming the founder of Kristen Ekeland Interiors. Today she draws on both design and fine arts to create spaces that feel bold, personal, and deeply connected to the lives lived within them.
