We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maya Newlin & Jasmine Krause a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maya & Jasmine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Although KAMO Studio was formally founded in April of 2024, both of us had dreams of starting an interior design business prior to meeting one another in 2022. It did take several months after meeting and coming together before we finally pulled the trigger.

Cofounder Maya says, “It was a dream each of us had individually, then intertwined when we were aligned and both felt it was the right time. There will never be a perfect moment to start the journey of entrepreneurship. You’ll always wish you had more experience, more connections, or more stability. Taking the leap and just starting is the first step toward gaining those things.”

“Yes, you can legally start a business in a day or two, but the foundation for successfully running one takes months, even years, to figure out. It’s a series of trial and error,” says cofounder Jasmine. “We have an ongoing vendor databases that we’ve been curating for years, hand-picking our favorites and those we work best with. We’re always looking for new contacts, vendors, and connections, constantly updating it daily.”

In the end, we are grateful we started our studio when we did. We know that each day, week, and year we are open, we get closer we get to reaching our internal goals and expanding collectively as a brand. We hope readers continue to follow us along on our journey through our social media networks linked below!

Maya Newlin &, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We design in a way that feels authentic to our clients, while still ensuring that all the necessary functional elements are met. One of the greatest misconceptions in design is that something has to be brand new to be desirable. We challenge that by infusing the unique with the ordinary and the vintage with the modern–creating spaces that make sense for each individual project. Every space has its own personality, and we approach each one as a unique opportunity to reflect our clients’ lives, tastes, and needs.

We work with clients of all styles and generations, but our focus is always on crafting environments that are as functional as they are beautiful. We understand that finding the right designer is a process–it’s a true duel-sided matchmaking experience. Our mission is to create spaces that embrace the beauty of imperfection and celebrate the in-between moments of daily living, all while making the design process seamless and enjoyable. Yes, you can have it all!

One project we’re particularly proud of is a cozy winter cabin in Arnold, CA, which we recently wrapped up. The design paid homage to the property’s existing architectural history, opting not to follow the common trends of rustic, overly polished lodge interiors or overly simplistic modern designs that are often seen in the area. For us, it was important the interior and exterior had a cohesive, symbiotic relationship. You can still have modern luxury features that integrate seamlessly with the character of the home through carefully chosen finishes and built-ins.

The balance between interior and exterior design is at the heart of our approach. We’re not just an interiors-focused studio–we treat the landscape and exterior spaces as a critical part of the process, too. Our trusted set of contractors plays an essential role in bringing our vision to life. Looking ahead, we’re excited to take on more projects that combine both interior and exterior renovations, continuing our work to create beautifully cohesive spaces.

Ultimately, what sets us apart is our dedication to making the design process as personal, easy, and meaningful as possible. We take the time to understand our clients’ stories and bring those stories to life through thoughtful, unique designs. We want our clients to feel not only proud of their spaces, but truly connected to them.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

We both met while working for an architecture firm in Venice shortly after the pandemic. “We immediately clicked when we first met,” says Jasmine. With similar views in styles on design and architecture, paired with the fact we even had the same breed of dog, we instantly knew we would become friends outside of the workplace! Although we had never worked together on the same project, we always enjoyed each other’s company and design insights when sharing advice or praise on our current work.

While juggling a few freelance gigs on the side for friends and family, we realized we enjoyed and felt more fulfilled working on these side projects than at our official day jobs. “Design should be fun! It’s an ever-flowing creative process meant to be collaborative and inspiring–something that was lost while caught up in our daily routines,” says Maya.

After a few months of feeling this way, we reignited our passion by leaving the comfort of our 9-to-5s, by starting fresh and launching KAMO Studio. Running and owning our own interior design studio has been one of the most rewarding things, and we are so lucky to have one another and our existing clients as we foster and continue to grow on our journey.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As designers, we have the ability to help shape the future of how we explore, shop, play, and most importantly, live. We contribute to developing the built environment of tomorrow, advancing the current standard of living to our advantage. We like to push the narrative of how and why things are designed a certain way. At KAMO Studio, we prioritize the use of sustainable materials within our projects, reducing carbon footprints where possible and overall creating greener, more sustainable designs.

In addition to guiding clients to their dream projects, we find it incredibly rewarding to be that missing piece that helps turn someone’s dream into reality. Most often, this means designing a home for a family to create lasting memories in. Other times, it’s about helping a small business owner realize their dream of opening a coffee shop. Whatever your story may be, we are honored to be a part of it–listening, supporting, and building that vision.

In light of the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area, we want to give back and help families or small businesses affected get back on their feet. As a growing studio, we are offering a limited number of free consultations and design meetings at no charge to outline the next steps for rebuilding the futures of those impacted by the fires. Please contact [email protected] with “Rebuild My Future” in the subject line, and one of our team members will promptly get back to you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bykamostudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bykamostudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/by-kamo-studio/

Image Credits

photography and design by KAMO Studio