For me, interiors are more than walls and furnishings — they’re stories told through texture, light, and detail. They transform how we live, not just about where we live. I love curating homes that are perfectly designed for the people living in them. Homes that bring joy, create calm, and inspire. Things will get dented and patina over time; you just have to let go and appreciate that it’s going to age and that someone is going to spill wine. Our favorite materials are meant to get more beautiful with use; our favorite furniture selections are the ones that already have a history and story to tell.
Begins with collaboration and programming. We love discussing the habits of each person in the home; pinpointing what works and doesn’t work in relation to how the home supports these daily functions. From there we review photos and inspiration imagery, may it be pages torn from magazines or an entire Pinterest board. These revealing discussions become the foundation that guides our design decisions. The insight gained helps us to create spaces that function and inspire; to make a house a home.
I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Westchester, Connecticut and Long Island. I went to the University of Michigan, studied in London, and then began my career as a graphic designer in New York City publishing, which gave me 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. For a decade I was a founder and Principal of Studio Gild. Today, as Founder of Kristen Ekeland Interiors, I draw on both design and fine arts to create spaces that feel bold, personal, and deeply connected to the lives lived within them.
Founder & Principal / Kristen Ekeland
MEET THE TEAM
Senior Designer / Kristin Luber
Designer / Hannah Safter-Brown
Project Coordinator / Corinne Rocca, Christine Bayles
Junior Designer / Trinity Quillin
“We aren’t afraid to push boundaries to create something fresh but durable for life’s daily routines. After all, homes are meant to be lived in and enjoyed.”