MAYFIELD MUSE // KARINA VAN DE POL & OLIVIA FLEETWOOD of THE KO

Tell us about THE KO?

We’re a creative workspace in Newtown, Geelong.

We have a photography studio, art gallery and events space. We also have two beautiful creative businesses who also work alongside us here, Plot Architecture & Urbanism, and Fluent Studio, an interior design firm.

What inspired you to start THE KO?

We both met while living and working in Melbourne. We had the idea to create a beautiful studio and events space for creatives and small businesses to meet and work, the rest is history!

Describe your aesthetic in three words?

We are both the same! Minimal, classic, timeless.

Favourite professional moment?

There have been so many! We love running our own events within the space and have been proud to host many different creatives – artists, writers, designers – who are all leaders in their own fields. Being able to host these people and bring their knowledge to the Geelong community is special.

How would you describe your personal styles?

We often arrive at work unintentionally wearing the exact same thing. Jeans and a shirt in some variation of white, blue, black or beige is our go-to uniform.

We both opt to buy less but the best quality we can afford.

Who is your creative icon?

There are so many creative people out there who inspire us!

When we were starting the space we drew inspiration from London based creative Alex Eagle.

Other creatives we love and admire include Julia Busuttil Nishimura, Hannah Abbott and Megan Dicks of Otomys, chef Annaliese Gregory, interior designer Tamsin Johnson, Annabelle Hickson who is behind Galah magazine, to name a few!

First big fashion splurge you ever made?

K: A black leather jacket from Husk

O: A Jerome Dreyfuss handbag I think … and an assortment of trinkets from Lucy Folk that I still wear a lot!

Morning beverage of choice?

K: Strong, soy flat white…usually before 6am, my kids are early risers!

O: A long black with a dash of cold milk … usually quickly followed by another one to get me going for the day.

How has your work evolved over the years?

K: I trained as a chef in my early 20s before moving into food styling which I continue to do as well as running the space alongside Liv.

O: I’ve dabbled in many things … I worked in a bookshop and for an interior designer early on before landing a job in PR for a publisher. I love my job now as we are constantly discovering new things and working with different people, always keeps it interesting!

Something you’ve read or listened to that has inspired you recently?

O: I’ve just discovered Still Flower Drawing … online art classes curated by florist Ellie Jauncey with so many talented artists I love and follow. We run a book club at the studio and just read The Bee Sting by Paul Murray which I loved.

K: I’m loving the new cookbook from Julius Roberts, The Farm Table. It has lots of beautiful, seasonal recipes accompanied by stories from his UK-based farming life.

What is on your fashion wish list for Autumn / Winter?

O: I adore everything from ONTE … so comfortable and versatile! I am eyeing off the Lucia Bomber. I am a ballet flat girl so would also love another pair of those.

K: I have never invested in a trench so I have my eye on the Mayweather trench from Vik and Woods. The Chloe cardigan from Friends with Frank is also beautiful.

What’s next in the world of THE KO?

We have so many wonderful events and workshops happening throughout Autumn. We are hosting some Mother’s Day portrait sessions with local photographer Stephanie Rooney, a still life painting class with Jenna from Le Petit Atelier and will soon be hosting author Bri Lee to talk about her anticipated debut novel.

We will also reach five years in business this coming May which is an exciting milestone.

Karina's wishlist