Exploring Life & Business with Kendall Knox of Olive Ateliers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Knox

Hi Kendall, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from the brand marketing side of fashion—PR, talent, and influencer relations—working at Revolve, FWRD, and Thrive Market. Ben comes from an entrepreneurial background, having built and sold a packaged goods brand, with experience at Red Bull and Super Coffee. Laura studied interior design and has a background in estate management. We each bring different strengths, but at the core, we share a deep love for the objects we source.

Olive Ateliers started as a side project. We were searching for what we call “Objects with Old Souls”—storied, beautiful pieces that were either hard to find or overpriced. We saw a gap in the market and filled it. At first, we operated on a drop model, launching small collections on Instagram from our backyards. When our first pop-up had a line around the block and nearly sold out, we knew we were onto something.

What started as a side hustle from our backyards has grown into a permanent retail space in LA and a shoppable e-commerce platform. In under three years, we’ve built an eight-figure home brand without outside capital, scaling in a way that stays true to our vision—thoughtfully, strategically, and with our customers in mind.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all—but that’s part of what’s made it so rewarding.

In the beginning, we were shipping everything ourselves, launching small drops, and opening our doors just once a month. Demand grew quickly, and we had to scale just as fast while keeping the experience curated and special. Listening to our customers has been key. They wanted more access, so we expanded our retail hours and launched e-commerce., alongside nationwide shipping. The trade needed consistency, so we built a structured inventory system, designed a trade portal, and built a team to support trade demand.

Through it all, our mission remains the same: offering Objects with Old Souls in a way that feels abundant, immersive, and inspiring. While vintage will always be our foundation, we’re now designing and producing our own vintage-inspired collections—expanding what Olive Ateliers can be while staying true to what makes us unique.

As you know, we’re big fans of Olive Ateliers. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Every piece we source is either truly aged or inspired by time-worn materials. But beyond aesthetics, what sets us apart is our approach—curated yet abundant, premium yet accessible.

Unlike traditional retailers that rely on exclusivity and high markups, we focus on fair pricing and an immersive, plentiful shopping experience. Our space isn’t a minimal showroom—it’s overflowing with objects, designed for discovery.

We also take sourcing seriously. We work closely with vendors around the world to ensure authenticity and ethical practices—whether that’s collaborating with museums in Turkey to verify objects or providing communities in Indonesia with newly carved replacements when we source vintage limestone troughs. It’s not something we talk about often, but it’s at the heart of what we do.

Most importantly, we’re entering a new chapter—designing our own collections in-house for the first time. This is a huge milestone for us. We’ve built our reputation on sourcing the best vintage and antique pieces, and now we’re taking that expertise and applying it to our own designs. It’s a natural evolution, and one that further solidifies Olive Ateliers as a leader in the home space.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people don’t realize that, beyond our retail and online shop, we also offer a concierge service that blends personal shopping with design guidance. Some clients use it to source objects remotely, while others want help styling their space. It’s not full-scale interior design, but it bridges the gap—offering expert curation and a bit of guidance without the commitment of a designer. It’s another way we’re evolving to meet our customers where they are, making Olive Ateliers more than just a place to shop, but a resource for how people live.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oliveateliers.com
• Instagram: @oliveateliers

Image Credits
Michael Clifford, Bailey Templeton,