Ben and Cristi Dozier Biography: HGTV’s Building Roots Stars, Root Design Founders, and Creative Entrepreneurs

Ben and Cristi Dozier are the husband-and-wife team behind HGTV’s Building Roots and the founders of Root Design Company, a design and construction firm known for creating legacy homes with heart. Their journey—from launching a small family-run business in Austin, Texas, to starring in a nationally televised series—reflects a deep commitment to faith, family, and storytelling through design. Blending creative risk-taking with spiritual resilience, the Doziers have transformed their personal trials into a mission-driven life of building spaces that matter. This biography explores their early struggles, creative rise, and lasting impact through their nationally recognized design work and media presence.

Early Life and Childhood Struggles

Birth and Background

Cristi Dozier was born in October 1976, and Ben Dozier was born in June 1977. Both were born and raised in Austin, Texas—a city that would remain central to their early lives and the foundation of their careers.

Ben Dozier’s Difficult Upbringing

Ben Dozier’s early life was marked by trauma and instability. His father abandoned his mother upon learning she was pregnant, and Ben was raised by a single mother who had survived an earlier abusive relationship. The family struggled financially, at times living in cars with broken windows and warm floorboards as their only source of heat.

Ben was frequently expelled from daycare and became a case study at the University of Texas Psychological Department, a necessity for his working mother to secure free childcare. He witnessed domestic violence, substance abuse, and suicide attempts in his family. At age 10, Ben’s older brother—who was 20 at the time—died by suicide, a moment that became a turning point in Ben’s spiritual journey.

Despite lacking formal design education, Ben developed his creative talent by tracing and copying drawings his brother created in jail. These early artistic experiments unknowingly laid the foundation for his future career in design.

Cristi Dozier’s Suburban but Shaken Childhood

Cristi grew up in a more stable suburban neighborhood, but her life changed dramatically at age 13 when her father left the family for another woman. She described herself as a shy, quiet child who internalized insecurity. The sudden divorce left her devastated, and she often believed she had to be “pretty enough” or “put together enough” to make her father return.

She was deeply influenced by her mother’s response to the separation. Instead of bitterness, her mother turned to prayer and personal growth—an act that profoundly shaped Cristi’s values and perspective on healing.

How Ben and Cristi Met: A Youth Group Encounter

Ben and Cristi met as teenagers in a church youth group. At the time, Ben was reuniting with his father, while Cristi was mourning her father’s departure. Their spiritual and emotional paths intersected, and their bond deepened over time despite being complete opposites—Ben, a spontaneous risk-taker; Cristi, a cautious planner.

Their romance blossomed through their faith and mutual support, leading to marriage in their early twenties.

Marriage, Family, and the Hiking Boots Symbol

Ben and Cristi married on March 18, 2000, and symbolically wore hiking boots at their wedding—a choice that would come to represent their adventurous, faith-led life journey. The couple has four children: three sons and one daughter, Adalyn, who was born on March 25, 2002 and currently attends CU Boulder.

Over the years, they’ve coined the life motto “Vamos Afuera” (Spanish for “Let’s Go Outside”), which refers not only to exploring the outdoors but also stepping outside fear, comfort zones, and societal expectations.

From Ministry to Design

Ben and Cristi Dozier both grew up in Austin, Texas, and after college and marriage, they spent several years involved in ministry—traveling, speaking, and connecting with communities. Their path to entrepreneurship began in 2004 when they launched Root Design Company out of their small home in Austin. At the time, they were just 23 years old and caring for their 9-month-old first child, the first of four. Cristi had recently graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station. Ben, meanwhile, had earned a degree in Recreation Business from Western Colorado University, where he also played Division II football in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Before starting their business, Ben gained hands-on experience through outdoor and service-oriented roles. From 1996 to 2000, he worked as a ski instructor at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and served with Young Life’s Wilderness Ranch in Creede, Colorado. He later entered the landscaping industry—first with a small firm and then a larger one—developing foundational skills that shaped the early direction of Root Design Company, which initially focused on landscaping and pool design.

The name “Root” was selected by Cristi for its symbolic meaning—growth, foundation, and origin—and the couple envisioned a brand that would reflect meaningful design rather than surface-level aesthetics. A major turning point came when a high school friend invited them to take on a full-scale architectural and interior remodel. The success of that project opened the door to a new creative direction: legacy home design, centered on multi-generational living and storytelling through space.

Cristi and Ben brought different strengths to their business. Cristi was cautious and reflective, while Ben was bold and spontaneous. Ben’s adventurous nature is well-documented—he’s broken bones skiing, flipped a jeep on a mountain pass, and once ignited a bonfire explosion. Cristi, by contrast, had never experienced those extremes, but she credits Ben with teaching her to push beyond fear. Together, they embraced a mindset they call “failing forward”—the belief that setbacks are part of growth. That mindset became a cornerstone of their design process, business culture, and marriage.

Founding Root Design and Building a Life in Colorado

After spending over 15 years building their business in Austin, the Doziers relocated to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, seeking a slower pace of life and deeper purpose. Their new headquarters became a creative campus surrounded by the San Juan River and rugged mountain beauty:

• These days, Ben spends most of his time sketching and designing inside a historic barn from the 1800s. Just steps away, their design team works out of a 1909 log cabin that once served as a schoolhouse, blending heritage with creativity in their day-to-day process.

Ben’s drawings are still done by hand—many of them created on his grandfather’s old Air Force mechanic desk. It’s a meaningful habit that traces back to childhood, when his older brother would hand him sketches during jail visits. Those early moments shaped his artistic identity and remain part of his creative process today.

Together, Ben and Cristi have built a growing set of ventures rooted in purpose:

• Root Design – architectural and construction services
• Root House – a riverside coffee shop with retail space
• Field by Root – an apparel brand inspired by action and simplicity
• A nonprofit organization – focused on building up people and communities

HGTV’s Building Roots: Behind the Scenes

The call from HGTV came unexpectedly, just as Ben and Cristi were settling into a new rhythm in Colorado. By then, Root Design had been running for nearly 20 years, and television had never been part of their plan. It started with a simple Instagram message, followed by a conversation with producers, a sizzle reel, and eventually a pilot episode. After much prayer and hesitation, they said yes.

Building Roots officially debuted on HGTV on Sunday, April 10, 2022, with a first season of eight episodes, each centered on designing second homes and legacy retreats. The show’s fresh storytelling and emphasis on family connection struck a chord with viewers and critics alike.

Season 1 was filmed primarily across remote parts of Southern Colorado, with 25 projects spread across seven towns in two states. Each episode required approximately 80 hours of raw footage, later edited down to just under 47 minutes. Filming took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented major challenges: staffing shortages, delayed supplies, long shooting days, and intense emotional and physical strain. Still, the Doziers stuck to their values—prioritizing people over production timelines.

The second season premiered on September 17, 2023, expanding beyond Colorado to feature new destinations like a riverfront property in Nashville, Tennessee. This time, with a stronger production structure in place, filming ran more smoothly and allowed for greater creative expression. The focus remained the same—legacy-driven design—but now with a broader reach and more complex renovations.

While the experience brought national recognition, it also came with stress: lawsuits, rumors, blackmail, and even hospital visits due to exhaustion. The experience also introduced new dynamics—connecting with more people, managing behind-the-scenes pressures, and expanding their reach through national storytelling.

Personal Faith and Their Mission: “Root for Each Other”

Ben and Cristi openly credit their success to faith in Jesus Christ. They believe their journey was divinely guided—even through trauma, grief, and failure. Ben stated during the LU Convocation livestream on April 10, 2024, “I met God long before I was formally introduced to Him… He was with me in the closet, under the bed, and in the back of the cop car.”

Their daughter coined the phrase “Root for Each Other” during the cultural unrest of 2020. It has since become both a mission statement and a product line. For the Doziers, it’s not just about what they build—it’s who they build up.

Cristi’s Turning Point: The Legacy of Her Mother

A significant moment in Cristi’s life came when her mother passed away from cancer. During her final days, her mother expressed regret that she had never fully chased her dreams. This moment ignited Cristi’s commitment to living a better story—to dream boldly and act courageously. It gave her the strength to leave Texas and embrace life in Colorado.

Present Life and What’s Next

As of now, the future of Building Roots is uncertain. A third season has not yet been confirmed, but Ben and Cristi are actively exploring new media and storytelling opportunities.

They continue to operate their businesses in Pagosa Springs while mentoring others, raising their family, and sharing their message nationwide.