As an ambitious child who eagerly scoured through his mother’s design magazines, and pleaded to help with her design work, Kris Stensland’s natural talent and passion for design were apparent at a young age. 

Before establishing Design by Kris Stensland with Dotto Builders in 2022, Kris curated his entrepreneurial mindset and developed a strong business ethos working under top executives in hospitality, technology start-ups, and brand development. Ultimately, he decided to pursue his passion in design, getting a job at a leading Bay Area-based design firm and quickly rose through the ranks. His experience in business management, design conceptualization, and integration, along with honed interpersonal skills over the course of a decade, propelled Kris into spearheading a new department within Dotto, the Design Department. 

Growing up on the Massachusetts coast, then in Marin County—with frequent visits to affluent areas, such as the Hamptons, Kris’ design inspiration is a blend of old-world colonial estates and new-world simplistic modern. In his style, you will find common uses of natural stones, textiles, and polished metals blended to bring the clients a sense of serenity and joy. 

While Kris & Dotto’s projects are predominantly in Northern California’s Bay Area and Wine County, their portfolio is expanding throughout the West Coast. Kris resides in beautiful Marin County, where he and his dog chase sunsets through the hills.