Olive Ateliers on the Imperfect Charm of Vintage-Inspired Interiors

Rip & Tan: Having just launched in 2021, you already boast an impressive following of vintage-minded devotees. Can you tell us more about the journey from Olive Ateliers’ inception to where it is today?

Olive Ateliers: We started Olive Ateliers as a side hustle and from a genuine love of old objects and vintage furniture, dropping small, curated collections on Instagram. Less than 6 months later we opened doors to our flagship Atelier, a five thousand square foot warehouse based in Culver City, California, where we now import, source, and curate containers worth of goods from all over the world. We serve designers, trade, and retail consumers opening to the public with a new “drop” about twice a month. It’s been a wild ride, and we’re only just getting started.

Rip & Tan: Is there a particular story or meaning behind the business’ namesake?

Olive Ateliers: The olive tree represents peace, tranquility, and abundance. It is also widely found in regions of the old world, the same regions from which we source many of our goods. We sourced an ancient olive tree (Odette) from Northern California and she is now the center of our Atelier. She’s over 100+ years old, can you imagine holding that much wisdom? We wanted our Atelier (workshop in French) to feel welcoming, peaceful, and uncomplicated. Our objects with old souls are the heroes of the space and there’s something for everyone.

Rip & Tan: Your ethos revolves around the sustainability of rehoming objects with old souls—why is it so important for us to incorporate vintage pieces into our homes?

Olive Ateliers: We strongly believe in the importance of prioritizing natural, organic fibers and materials and preloved pieces where possible. Not only do vintage or antique items make for a more conscious or sustainable living environment but we feel they add charisma and uniqueness to any space.

Rip & Tan: Each of the pieces curated for this collection truly feels so special. What was the process like sourcing these one-of-a-kind vessels?

Olive Ateliers: We worked with our incredible source over in Istanbul, Turkey to collect an array of Odemis pots and olive jars, previously used to store olive oil. We prioritized texture and warm, natural shades of terracotta that complimented Jenni Kayne’s quintessential Californian palette. Many of these pots are nearly 100 years old, meaning they’re vintage and come with patinas and imperfections that make them truly one of a kind.

Rip & Tan: Whether indoor, outdoor, or in transitional spaces—do you have any guidelines for styling one of these pieces in our own homes?

Olive Ateliers: Style with simplicity. Whether they hold your foraged branches or dried posies, we encourage you to embrace their stoicism.

Rip & Tan: What advice would you give to someone with perhaps a more modern interior sensibility who might struggle to imagine styling a vintage piece in their space?

Olive Ateliers: Many of our clients balance out their modern home decor by incorporating our vintage decor and refurbished pieces. Adding texture and warmth by way of something old goes a long way.

Our advice is to start small. Let the vessel find you and build from there. You’ll quickly find yourself noticing a patina of a pot that matches a piece of art and all of a sudden you’ll have built a perfect harmony.

Rip & Tan: What are a few of your favorite ways to incorporate a vessel into a space?

Olive Ateliers: We’ve used ours to store kitchen utensils, we’ve sprinkled them through bookcases, and scattered them throughout our summer tablescapes. There’s no rule book.

Rip & Tan: How can these pieces help us embrace a philosophy of living well?

Olive Ateliers: As mentioned earlier, we like to say we rehome objects with old souls. By introducing a piece to your space that’s lived many lives, you can instantly create a lived-in, tranquil atmosphere. By introducing imperfection, you’re taking the stigma out of styling a space. It’s okay for things to be a little worn around the edges. In our opinion, everything gets better with age—the more living and loving one does, the more beautiful one becomes.