Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia right outside of Washington, DC,  Kristen attended Syracuse University. After spending eight years in Washington, DC working on humanitarian aid and security issues in Africa, Kristen moved to Lemoore, California where her husband, a US Navy pilot, was stationed at the time. Since then she has been able to pursue her passion for interior design full time. In January 2020, Kristen and her husband moved to Virginia Beach, VA.