Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and a whole roster of tastemakers keep Olive Ateliers on speed dial when decorating with antiques. The reason is simple: they just don’t make 'em like this anymore. Or now, maybe they do.
‘History provides wisdom,’ says Olive Ateliers co-founder Kendall Knox, who, alongside Laura Sotelo and Ben Knox, has turned years of sourcing antique trends into Lieu de Vie: a 40-piece furniture and decor collection modeled on the rhythms of a French farmhouse.
‘For us, Lieu de Vie is about creating furnishings that don’t feel untouchable or precious, but instead become the cornerstones of a home that evolves over time,’ says Kendall. Each piece carries little imperfections, tactile details, and intentional wear that invite life to leave its mark.
But, to be clear, antique references do not equal outdated. ‘It’s all about balance,’ Kendall continues. ‘Let one or two farmhouse-inspired anchor pieces – a dining table with turned legs, a woven basket, a linen-covered chair – ground the space, then layer them with more streamlined, modern elements like lighting or a playful piece of art. The contrast is what makes it interesting.’
French farmhouse style, in her eyes, is humble yet soulful. As the French so often do, the look makes laissez-faire restraint appear impossibly luxurious.
Perhaps the best part? There’s no need to sheepishly say, sorry, it’s vintage. This time, you can share the source – and prices in the new collection start at just $35.
These pieces might not be one-of-a-kind, but given the sell-out success of Olive Ateliers’ outdoor line this spring, don’t expect them to last. Ahead, six pieces we’re eyeing to play farmhouse.
Few actions feel more classic than placing a real wax taper into a great candlestick. This petite 4.5-inch holder, with its scalloped base and gently fluted stem, makes an easy entrée to ambience.
Baskets appear in many shapes across the collection – très French farmhouse – but the Bordeaux baskets stand apart. ‘They have a more delicate romance,’ says co-founder Kendall Knox. Once intended for freshly picked grapes bound for wine, she now imagines them holding cut florals or a loaf of French bread at the table.
The lineup includes bobbin-legged stools of every height, but it’s the small ones that have our hearts. A style originally used for milking cows, they now, as Kendall notes, ‘shine in their versatility – a perch in the entryway, a resting spot beside the tub, or simply tucked under a table, waiting to be pulled out when an extra seat is needed.'
Maybe it’s the pre-aged wood, maybe it’s the little brass sunflower pull, but this nightstand’s got a characterful charm that just makes you smile. Drape a linen napkin across the top, add a lamp, and suddenly you have a softly lived-in bedside anchor to hold treasures old and new.
The farmhouse look isn’t one for ostentation, so instead of a full skirted chair, just a cushion will do, letting worn-in legs breathe a little. Padded for comfort, crafted from heavyweight linen, and speckled with French-lit-inspired motifs, it’s the sort of detail that makes you linger long after dessert.
This antique-style, multi-tiered shelf is so rich with detail and presence, it hardly needs to hold anything at all to justify its place on the wall. Of course, the tiers invite endless styling. Consider using the accent as kitchen storage: salt and pepper on the bottom, pantry jars in the middle, a few bud vases on top.
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