By Emily Riehl
Holiday shoppers looking to keep their dollars in the neighborhood have a new option on 15th Ave E that also features sustainable products, accessible design services, and a commitment to causes like fighting homelessness.
Rufous and Co. in many ways is a front-end, user friendly interface for interior design — a new home decor and design shop on the street level of the new Hilltop Apartments building that serves as a fun place to shop and the start of working with owner Jim MacLean to shape Seattle living spaces.
“My design approach is very client driven. When a client has an aesthetic, I make sure it’s appropriate for the house, the architecture of the home, and I try to push them to think of things they didn’t think of before or provide them with resources that they didn’t have before,” MacLean says. “I try to make it very collaborative and keep the client thoroughly involved in the process.”
After studying design at Cornish College of the Arts, MacLean developed a strong interest in visual merchandising and spent 20 years at Nordstrom, starting as a part-time employee in college, and eventually rising to the role of a regional manager. He has collaborated with renowned brands like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, and for nearly 24 years, has led his own design firm, working with at least a dozen clients, some including the Seattle Art Museum and Saint Mark’s Cathedral. He has contributed to in-store development and visual merchandising for companies like L’Oréal, Clarisonic, Sur La Table, and Things Remembered.
On 15th Ave E, MacLean is sharing that experience through the first Rufous and Co. store — inspired by the rufous hummingbird known for its resilience and good fortune.
In addition to offering design services, Rufous and Co. sells ethically sourced and sustainable household decor. From luxury grade pillows to an assortment of glassware, diffusers, and throws, MacLean is very selective about the products Rufous and Co. carries. The design shop has partnered with small scale manufacturers in the United States and brands from France, Sweden, Japan, and the UK, ensuring products are unique and can’t be found at big chain stores.
Rufous and Co.’s mohair pillows are one of their staples. Made of wool velvet from alpaca, it is a very hardy, durable fabric where MacLean says that some of the pillows he’s made for clients have lasted 25 years and still look brand new. The fabric is milled in North Carolina with repurposed, cleaned runoff water, and then sent to Seattle to be created into pillows.
MacLean and his partner in love and life keep Rufous humming (Image: Hilltop Apartments)
Maclean has deep roots in Capitol Hill—his parents grew up in the neighborhood, as did many of his cousins and grandparents, all within walking distance of each other. He also raised his own two children in the neighborhood. MacLean felt as though Capitol Hill was the perfect location for Rufous and Co. because of his strong connection to the neighborhood and emphasizes the importance of supporting and uplifting the local community.
The design shop also sets aside 10% of their net profits to The Home for Good Fund, an organization that helps young adults and families at risk of becoming homeless.They also donate to Treehouse, another organization with a program called Fostering Futures that works to prevent children aging out of Foster Care from becoming homeless.
MacLean feels a strong personal connection to this cause. His son is adopted, and his son’s biological mother, along with her own mother and grandmother, all experienced homelessness. He describes the adoption of his son “as the most incredible gift a human being can give to another” and has since worked hard to fight homelessness and support those like his son’s biological mother.
Looking ahead, MacLean hopes the first Rufous and Co. on Capitol Hill is the beginning of a family of stores in neighborhoods like 15th Ave E, not malls or retail developments like University Village or Bellevue Square.
“You want us to survive, you want this shop here? You need to support not just us, but Red Balloon company, and the restaurants, and the gift shop down the street,” MacLean says. “We need you. We’ve invested in this neighborhood because we believe in this neighborhood. Now it’s time for you to invest in us.”
Rufous and Co. is located at 555 15th Ave E. Learn more at rufousandco.com.
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I’ve already bought stuff there – the guys are super sweet without being pushy. This is exactly the type of shop 15th needs.
Thank you so much for the kind endorsement.
And yet, disdain, already on the FB group that this locally oriented business, that supports area non profits,“doesn’t fit” with the area. Throw pillows are too pricey. Order off Temu. I am sorry to inform some residents, that we have individuals that like high end products and will use high end design services. No one is forcing you to patronize expensive homeware or shoe shops.. or anything else that doesn’t agree with your ideology.
Thank you for your support. We are unapologetic regarding our pricing. Simply put, when the people on the production side are earning a fair wage and the materials used are better quality and sustainably sourced, the end users pay a little more. The best part is that our products don’t look tired after a short use ending up in a land fill. Just because we live in a world of “fast fashion” doesn’t mean we have to be part of it.
AMEN!
Quality always justify the price. Add in the fact that you’re involved with non-profits and making it a value added purchase.
Just found out you’re in the ‘hood. I can’t wait to check the shop out when I’m back in town in the new year. Too bad I didn’t know about it whilst Xmas shopping.
Welcome to the area! And happy holidays
(Ps. We are local sauce artisans who uses only premium ingredients so we fully support the theory of “you get what you pay for” )
Also, it does fit with 15th Ave, or at least what businesses used to be on 15th Ave before COVID. 15th was always the nice part of the hill. And the prices are absolutely what you’d find at most mid-priced stores that aren’t fast fashion places these days. And let’s face it, most of us on the hill these days can afford these stores. If we couldn’t, we couldn’t afford to live on the hill.
This shop looks great, careful sourcing for timeless well made and sustainable products. Much of it is out of my price range, but I like what they are going for.
There’s always been an effort to sell rare and/or expensive as luxury, but this is on hyperdrive right now, with fashions and rarity being manufactured by global corporations to drive demand. Another side of luxury is really well made items that aren’t necessarily full of frills but designed to last, be repaired, and not look embarrassing after a few years. Ideally this would just be more common, but advertising is really effective and most people are convinced they need to consume massive amounts of material items to make themselves feel like a successful part of society.
I’m thrilled to have a new home goods store with well curated, long lasting, and timeless products. My parents still use their classic wedding gifts from the 1960s because they weren’t designed to be short lived – still beautiful and in perfect condition. I’d rather spend for a quality product. I am more annoyed by the gate keeping of what small business should be ‘allowed’ to operate in this area and a modern take of what this neighborhood “should be.”
I have my eye on some bar ware that might make it under my holiday tree. ..and who knows, someday they might have an item or two on sale.
You’re so right, Matt! It’s the difference between being expensive rather than costly. Expensive is typically a product that carries high margins where costly is related to the cost of production. The products we sell reflect not only the quality of the materials used, but the skills of the people making them.
Congratulations, Jim. I hope your business does well.
Thank you so very much! Excited to be here.
Welcome to the neighborhood! Love having more quality retail stores.
Thank you! From one Hiller to another… There’s no place better.
I am really excited to check out this store. Seems like a great addition to the lineup on 15th and to the neighborhood.
If you haven’t already, please come see us! I look forward to meeting you.