Why Olive Ateliers is Designers’ Go-To for Storied Pieces
In our ongoing Beautiful Brand Series, we spotlight brands that embrace beautiful design and thoughtful craftsmanship. Discover Olive Ateliers, a Los Angeles–based design destination known for its weekly drops of antique, vintage, and reclaimed objects, curated with a reverence for patina, provenance, and timeless beauty.
Step into Olive Ateliers and you enter a world where history feels tangible: stone troughs worn smooth, reclaimed wood darkened by time, vessels that carry the quiet dignity of their making. From its Los Angeles atelier, the brand has cultivated a devoted following around weekly drops: curated edits of antique, vintage, reclaimed, and artisan pieces that sell out almost as quickly as they appear. Its newest chapter, Lieu de Vie, is Olive Ateliers’ own collection of furniture and décor, pieces designed to carry the same storied, soulful spirit as the antiques that inspire them.
From monumental stone troughs to sculptural planters and reclaimed wood furniture, Olive Ateliers curates one-of-a-kind furniture and decor that feel enduring by nature. Sourced globally, each piece is chosen with intention, woven into collections such as Provençal Flea, sourced from the markets of southern France, and Orchard Lore, drawn from pastoral life, turning curation into an act of storytelling that evokes a sense of time and place.
With a following that stretches from interior designers to Hollywood names like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Kristen Bell, the brand has secured a reputation as both a design insider’s resource and a coveted cultural favorite.
True beauty endures not in perfection, but in provenance.
Olive Ateliers Origin Story
Olive Ateliers was founded in 2021 by friends Kendall Knox, Ben Knox, and Laura Sotelo, born from a fascination with vintage relics they call “objects with old souls.” Their first offerings appeared as biweekly Instagram drops—small, globally sourced, considered edits of antique and reclaimed pieces that vanished within hours.
The response quickly spilled into real life, with pop-ups across Los Angeles drawing lines around the block. By early 2022, Olive Ateliers had established a permanent home in a soaring warehouse in the Arts District, where the cadence of discovery became ritual. Today, that rhythm continues online, with weekly drops that extend the brand’s curated treasures far beyond Los Angeles.
As a natural evolution of the brand, Olive Atelier has expanded from sourcing to creating. Its design arm, Lieu de Vie, translates the same ethos into original furniture and décor, conceived with the same reverence for patina, permanence, and narrative.
“Objects with Old Souls.”
Why It’s Uncommon
One of the most unique aspects of Olive Ateliers is its retail space, which is as inspiring as the objects it curates. Inside the warehouse-style space, visitors are greeted by thoughtfully arranged vignettes, sun-lit corners, and the trademark presence of a century-old olive tree at its center, a quiet marker of the brand’s identity and spirit. The showroom’s layout emphasizes discovery: objects are spaced to breathe, layered with texture and story, encouraging lingering and exploration rather than rushed retail browsing. This sensory, tactile experience carries through to the website. Olive Ateliers’ online platform mirrors the showroom’s aesthetic via immersive imagery and narrative-driven storytelling. From in-person to online, there’s no touchpoint with Olive Ateliers that’s not considered, intentional, and unique.
Patina Revered
“Objects with Old Souls” is the guiding doctrine for Olive Ateliers. The brand gravitates toward objects that bear the touch of time: pieces with worn edges, weathered surfaces, and the quiet dignity of long use. Rather than concealing signs of age, Olive Atelier embraces them as part of the story, treating patina as provenance and wear as a testament to endurance. Pieces are chosen not for flawlessness but for the history they hold.
Drops as Ritual
At Olive Ateliers, the drop is a ritual of anticipation. Each week brings a curated edit of antique, vintage, reclaimed, and artisan objects, pieces defined by their rarity and quiet beauty. Offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, they disappear quickly, turning every drop into a fleeting moment, a brief chance to collect something truly singular.
Curated Collections
One of the brand’s signatures is its ability to assemble collections rooted in provenance. Collections like Provençal Flea sourced pieces directly from the markets of southern France, while Orchard Lore brings together objects that echo the quiet rhythm of pastoral living. In these collections, vessels, mirrors, and furnishings are not presented as isolated finds but as part of a larger narrative. Each collection is assembled with intention, offering not just objects but an invitation into the worlds that shaped them.
Concierge Access
Olive Ateliers extends its philosophy of intentional living into a Concierge service designed for those who want a more personal touch. Unlike other retailers that simply display their inventory, Olive Ateliers offers private consultations, access to pieces not available online, and a process that transforms sourcing into a tailored experience.
Quiet Restorations
Olive Ateliers treats vintage cabinets, dressers, and sideboards like living archives—preserving what matters, then thoughtfully reimagining what’s missing. Pieces are hand-finished and updated for modern function without erasing the character that drew you in: the patina, the wear, the sense of a previous life. The result is furniture that feels quietly elevated—restored with restraint so it can slip into today’s rooms while keeping its history intact.
From Curator to Creator
In a notable evolution, Olive launched Lieu de Vie, its first original homeware line. Roughly 40 pieces channel French farmhouse living, including spindle stools, scalloped candle holders, baskets, nightstands, and bespoke linens inspired by the inner sleeves of vintage French novels. Prices begin around $35, bringing the brand’s rustic-luxe sensibility into reach while preserving its devotion to honest materials and lived-in charm.
Storied Living
Olive Ateliers earns its place for its devotion to pieces that carry both form and memory. It champions age and authenticity, invites serendipity through weekly drops, and lends its eye through its concierge services so discovery feels personal. With Lieu de Vie, the brand proves it can design with the same quiet conviction it curates with objects and furnishings that hold space for life, gather marks with grace, and make the everyday feel a little more storied.
