Kristen Ekeland 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