When asked the meaning of her unusually named Interior Design firm Bruit de la Mode, Inc., Kristen always likes to explain.  “It’s slang that translates from French to ‘the gossip of fashion’, which pretty much encapsulates my world,” she says.  To Kristen, the gossip of fashion means the collaboration, the variety, and the inspiration of what makes the world interesting, beautiful and unique - via clothing, art or interior design. 

Raised in the Twin Cities, Kristen Sheikh has always been passionate about fabulous design. Showing great interest and aptitude for fashion and art beginning in her teens, she followed her passion earning a degree in Textile and clothing with a minor in Art History at the University of Minnesota.  Her education led her to the center of the fashion industry, New York City, where she was first influenced by the minimalist, refined aesthetic of Calvin Klein while working alongside the menswear design team. From Calvin Klein she moved on to Prada, entering into one of the most influential design houses in the world. It was at Prada where Kristen learned the art of elegance by mixing prints, textures and thematic inspiration. 

After marrying, newlywed Kristen and her husband moved to Washington, D.C. where her husband was pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Maryland. Still driven by ‘the gossip of fashion’, Kristen decided to become a student again, enrolling in Marymount University to study Interior Design.  While working her way through school, Kristen secured a position at DBI Architects, a leading design firm in Washington, D.C. specializing in corporate and government buildings and interiors.  She was a team member on high-profile projects such as The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, The Department of Energy Building, and the Securities and Exchange Commission Headquarters. Her experience at DBI Architects was essential, giving her valuable training in design project management, and the confidence to strike out on her own.  Post graduation, Kristen opened Bruit de la Mode, Inc., specializing in residential and commercial interior design. 

After expanding her design company from Washington, D.C. to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, Kristen is creating beautiful spaces for clients with her design aesthetic that is fresh, innovative, and elegant. It is paramount to her that the client’s daily functionality needs of space are met in every design she does. Highly experienced in renovations/remodel projects, Kristen’s strength in space planning creates stunning new environments beyond her client’s expectations. 

Kristen is an ASID member and an IIDA member.