Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasandra Rafter.
Hi Kasandra, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually started out as Creative Director at Thomas Hayes Studio, which gave me such a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and the art world. It was a place where furniture and sculpture blurred together, and I really fell in love with the idea of design as storytelling.
From there, I spent over ten years as a Senior Designer with RH. That chapter taught me scale, discipline, and how to translate big visions into layered, livable homes. I was lucky to work with clients who challenged me creatively—people who wanted more than just “pretty rooms.” They wanted homes with soul.
Eventually, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. Canyon Creative started as a design business—just me, a small team, and clients who trusted us to create spaces that felt deeply personal. Over time, it grew into something bigger than I imagined.
That growth sparked the birth of Canyon Creative Studio. It’s our retail and e-commerce concept, but more than that, it’s an immersive design destination. The Studio carries furniture, vintage finds, art, and custom pieces that reflect the spirit of rebellion and refinement we’ve built our brand on. For me, it’s the culmination of everything—my years learning craft, scaling design, and ultimately creating a world that feels both soulful and a little rock-and-roll.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not smooth at all. But I don’t think smooth roads make for the best stories anyway. Building something creative takes grit. There were plenty of late nights and long weekends working through problems, moments of doubt, and curveballs like supply chain delays or a client changing direction halfway through a project.
Lately, the 2025 tariffs have caused more than a few sleepless nights. We’re working through it, finding solutions where we can, and staying focused on the bigger picture but it has really been front and center of our business decisions in an very unexpected way.
When we launched Canyon Creative Studio, the challenges got even bigger. Suddenly we weren’t just designing homes. We were juggling a retail location and ecommerce site, working with vendors, solving logistics, and making sure the space felt layered and soulful every single day. That was a completely different muscle to build.
But all of it pushed me to grow. It taught me resilience and how to find beauty in the mess. Every obstacle, big or small, shaped the Studio into what it is today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Canyon Creative Studio ?
Canyon Creative started as a design studio, and that’s still at the heart of what we do. We create spaces that feel soulful, layered, and deeply personal. For us, design is about more than just a look. It’s about telling a story through furniture, finishes, art, and objects that feel collected and meaningful.
From there, we expanded into Canyon Creative Studio, which is our retail and e-commerce concept. The Studio is part gallery, part showroom, part playground. You’ll find custom furniture we design under our Linea Kasandra line, vintage pieces we’ve sourced from around the world, curated works from trusted makers, and art that brings real energy into a space. It’s a place where rebellion meets refinement, rooted in the Laurel Canyon spirit but open to a wide range of influences.
What sets us apart is that we don’t chase trends. We believe in timeless design with a bit of edge. A space that feels as good in ten years as it does today, but also has that spark that makes you stop and feel something.
I’m most proud that our brand has become a destination for discovery. Whether you’re a designer sourcing for a project, a collector searching for the right piece, or someone who just loves design, the Studio is meant to inspire. At the end of the day, we want people to walk in and feel like they’ve stepped into a world that’s creative, soulful, and alive.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson has been to trust myself. I’ve faced plenty of challenges along the way, and at times I’ve felt that being a brown woman in this industry meant people doubted me before they even saw what I could do. Those moments were tough, but they also pushed me to dig deeper and prove, first to myself and then to others, that I could rise to the occasion.
Over time, I’ve learned that obstacles aren’t the end of the road—they’re part of the process. Each one has made me stronger and more confident in my vision. Now, even when things get messy or uncertain, I know I can find my way through. And that trust in myself has been the biggest gift of this whole journey. I always think of the Robert Frost quote, “The only way out is through.”
Pricing:
- When it comes to the Studio (Retail and Ecom), we’ve carved out a lane that feels right for us. We can’t compete with the scale of the Targets of the world, so we don’t play in that lower tier. On the other end of the spectrum, high-end antiques and super expensive designer pieces are really businesses unto themselves. That carves our lane in between. It’s a space where design feels both accessible and elevated. Our curated pieces, custom designs, and vintage finds balance craftsmanship with attainability. They’re meant to feel special, soulful, and lasting without tipping into either mass-market or ultra-exclusive.
- On the design side, our historical business has always been bespoke and full service. That’s our most immersive offering, where we collaborate on everything from architecture to custom furniture, and naturally it comes at a higher price point. But with Canyon Creative Studio, we’ve added new pathways for people to access design. These Studio-level services create an onramp for almost anyone who wants help shaping their dream space, whether it’s furnishing a single room or layering in finishing touches. So no matter the scale—whether you’re building a home from the ground up or just want guidance to bring personality into your space—we now have a way to meet you where you are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://canyoncreative.studio
- Instagram: @canyoncreativestudio
Image Credits
Bravo Image
