Meet Kris Roufa | Founder | Designer At Home With Ray

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kris Roufa founder | designer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kris Roufa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been a designer for all of my career, and have had a boutique agency since 1998. I started as a textile designer in the sports industry, and had been wanting to get back to textiles and surface pattern design. When COVID hit, I lost a handful of my best accounts which presented me with an opportunity to refocus myself. I’ve always toed the line between sports and fashion and feel that they are not mutually exclusive. In fact, there are many of us “outdoorsy” gals that love fashion. When considering how I wanted to develop my business, I turned to my favorite accessory- scarves. I love them and wear them all year for warmth to sun protection. It just seemed a natural flow for me, and I jumped in!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Every step of our journey is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and the world. I think my super power is truly paying attention. As the owner of a boutique agency, each account we worked on was a step to doing something better on the next. I’m proud of what I accomplished in those years including our awards and recognition in a number of published books about design and logo development.

I’ve always drawn from my immediate world, whether that be tangibles found in nature, or less tangible things like emotions. As my business evolved into my own brand, I was able to pour everything I’d learned into it. From the initial concepts, developing my own brand, building out my marketing materials and web site, designing of each collection, sourcing my manufacturers and packaging— all of these steps were learned along the way in my career.

It’s never easy, and actually it’s a lot of work. You have this idea, and you jump in with all of this enthusiasm, but then things don’t quite go as planned, or aspects were more challenging than anticipated. I’ve had plenty of setbacks, but I’m also incredibly determined. At Home With Ray is as much about the story telling in each piece I design as it is the luxury scarves that come out of it. My customers are looking for beautiful and different types of products- they want to make their own statement and not wear the same things as everyone else. I love that, and I love to build on those stories.

In addition to the Ray brand, I’ve also developed another aspect of this business which is developing custom designs for a variety of clients- whether that be a resort boutique or a corporate gift. There is a need for exclusive luxury products in this space, and with my ability to design and source I’m in the unique position to offer exactly this to a business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Southwest Colorado. If my friends are visiting, it’s usually because they are seeking a respite from the city! Durango is the high desert, so we are a short drive to the mountains and a short drive to the desert. Both are enticing and offer so many fun things to do depending on that time of year. That being said, my husband and I love to entertain for small groups of friends. I love to cook and he’s quite skilled at the bar, so we like to say the best night out is right here on our little Rancho Relaxo. We live outside of town, up a long dirt road with views of the mountains. When friends come to visit, we play hard during the day, then enjoy a fabulous evening at home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m surrounded by amazing women in my family. Both my grandmother and mother have always been an enormous influence in my life. Their sense of style and class left an indelible impression on me from the start. My two daughters, who astonish me daily with their perseverance and grace with which they attack their lives, have also inspired me to be better each day.

Website: athomewithray.com

Instagram: athomewithray

Facebook: athomewithray