Kristina Lopez Adduci is an accomplished entrepreneur, art collector, and speaker who has made a significant impact across multiple industries. As the founder and CEO of House of Puff, a New York-based lifestyle cannabis brand, Kristina has transformed the industry through her expertise in art, content marketing, and operational equity.
Before founding House of Puff, Kristina launched Art Zealous, a media company that made art collecting more accessible to her generation. She has served on the Whitney Museum Contemporary Board, the Guggenheim Acquisitions Council, and helped form the Young Patrons group for the American Folk Art Museum.
Kristina’s innovative vision for House of Puff has resulted in over 60 successful SKUs sold across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Thailand. Her robust media presence has positioned her as a thought leader in the cannabis, motherhood, and business communities. Kristina hosts the company’s Youtube Channel “At Home with House of Puff,” which has a reach of over 11M.
We speak with Kristina on her journey to starting House of Puff, her bond with the plant and what’s next for her brand.
How did your relationship with the plant begin?
My first encounter with cannabis was through a not-so-pretty and confusing bong at the age of 27. I loved how I felt, the only problem was that aesthetically it wasn’t my vibe, and plus as a new consumer I didn’t know how to really use it. Having an art magazine and a rolodex of artists, I reached out to a few of them and luckily found a ceramicist who whipped up the most elegant one-hitter you could imagine. We called it Le Pipe, and House of Puff was born.
Describe your path to starting House of Puff?
My first business was an art content platform, and I deeply understand the role art plays in advancing culture and social movements. I built House of Puff to be a vehicle for the future of cannabis, and to evolve and elevate the conversation about everything from consumption rituals to criminal justice reform. House of Puff simply wouldn’t have come to be without my involvement in the visual arts. Being steeped in contemporary arts for several years refined my eye and made me want everything around me to have more meaning. That included the ways that I use cannabis for my health.
What items were first to market for House of Puff?
Our star player was none other than Le Pipe, a sleek and stylish one-hitter that quickly became a fan favorite.Then we dove into rolling papers, and a custom candle that we created with Joya in Brooklyn. All of which came with instructions, which was important to us.
What has been your approach to creating accessories for the brand?
Art and artists are inseparable from House of Puff’s DNA. Our business model is to hire artists for our initial designs and small-batch production or to license images from them to feature on our products. Our roots in art are what make us different from everyone else who’s making cannabis accessories. We partner with artists whose practices we admire—both aesthetically and philosophically. We also listen to our customers and audience. They want a more organic way to light up? Done, we made our best-selling hemp wick holder. Through careful design and a creative approach, House of Puff has been able to bridge the gap between form and function, providing an elegant solution for those seeking a stylish and practical way to consume cannabis.
Who’s on your wishlist to create accessories for and why?
Oh, the eternal question of who’s on my dream list to collaborate with when it comes to creating accessories! It’s a tough one because my answer tends to evolve constantly. But during my recent visit to MOCO in Amsterdam, I was completely captivated by Julian Opie’s artistic brilliance. The way he blends modernity and simplicity in his work is awe-inspiring. So, for today at least, Julian Opie takes the crown.
Currently, your focus is making chic accessories. Are there plans to expand into other sectors of the industry?
You’ll have to wait and see!
In what other ways do you incorporate cannabis into your life?
I love hosting dinner parties, so whenever I can, I try incorporating it into the evening. Whether it’s a tablescape filled with House of Puff accessories or baking dessert with rich terpenes to compliment the cannabis we’re consuming.
What’s next for House of Puff?
We have a lot of exciting partnerships coming down the pipeline, and we’re excited to see those finally come to fruition. We’ve also got exciting plans for New York where we’re based.
