Meet Karen Jackson Ruffin of Memorable Spaces

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Jackson Ruffin.

Karen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I learned early on that being creative made me happy. Sitting on the floor in my room surrounded by colored paper, glue and glitter was where I could be in my own head, in a good way. When I was nine, my parents bought me my first sewing machine. By the time I reached high school, I was designing curtains, pillows and all my clothes.

I left home for Princeton University, sure that I would go to law school after college and become a lawyer like my mother. During my time in college, my passion for design continued to grow. When I wasn’t in class or writing papers, I was making clothes and decor for my dorm room. I I ventured into fashion show production and costume design for campus theatre. It wasn’t until I was about to graduate and had been accepted to law school that I decided to follow my passion. After marrying my college sweetheart and having our first child, I earned a degree in Fashion Design from FIDM. I worked as a patternmaker and designed custom clothing for private clients. Our family grew and so did our need for more space. Wanting to create a beautiful home for my family shifted my design focus from clothing to home. I have been obsessed with creating beautiful spaces for families ever since.

Has it been a smooth road?
Growing up black, female and with vitiligo? Sure, there were challenges. I thank God that I had strong, supportive parents who told me I could do, “anything you put your mind to.” Being stared at and bullied as a child helped fuel my love for design. It trained me to notice places and things that were peaceful, joyful and beautiful.. When I struggle with insecurity or Imposter Syndrome, I remember that I am good a what I do because God gave me that gift. And I remember what my mother told me.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Memorable Spaces is a residential interior decorating and design company offering individual services like color or furniture selection as well as project design and management that involve an entire room, space or home. What I do is help clients create beautiful spaces based on what they want and how they live. Listening is the most important part of my process. It is not hard to make a space pretty. Design is so much more than that. My goal is to create spaces that are an extension of the personality of my clients. People should be able to walk into your house and know that it is uniquely yours.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love working in Atlanta! There is an amazing, creative energy in this city. The housing landscape is diverse and so is the potential client base. Though I have worked with great vendors here, I do wish there were more fabric options. I work with clients with big budgets, small budgets and everything in-between. I sometimes struggle to find textile options for clients with tighter budgets. Starting and growing a business is not easy anywhere, so, how you start is far more important than where you start.

Pricing:

• Initial Consultation- $125

Contact Info:

• Website: www.memorablespaces.us
• Phone: (470) 219-8044
• Email: homeyoulove@memorablespaces.us
• Instagram: memorablespaces_atl
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/memorablespaces
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/memorable-spaces-atlanta?osq=memorable+spaces

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.