In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Annie Allison, founder of Allison & Co — a luxury interior design studio working on high-end residential projects across the UK and Europe.

Annie's path into interior design wasn't traditional — it grew organically from creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to follow what she loved. In this warm and honest conversation, she shares the story behind a landmark project in the south of France, the importance of not being afraid to fail, and why planning has become the unexpected cornerstone of her growing business.

This is a conversation for any creative founder who's built something beautiful from an unconventional starting point — and is now figuring out how to grow it with the right people and structures around them.

Key Talking Points

• Who Annie serves: clients seeking luxury, highly personal interior design for residential projects in the UK and Europe
• How Allison & Co delivered a seven-bedroom property in the south of France in under a year — saving the client over a million euros in the process
• Why Annie and her husband became the "guardians of the project" — bridging clients, builders, and contractors across borders
• The creative journey that led Annie to interior design: drawing with her daughter, designing wallpapers and fabrics, and growing from small projects upward
• What Annie would tell her younger self: don't be afraid of failure, and always trust your gut
• Why the unconventional route into a career is often a strength, not a weakness
• The advice Annie would pass on to her daughters: don't feel you have to follow a well-travelled path to success
• Annie's biggest obstacle: time and people — and the challenge of focusing on what truly counts
• How taking the leap to employ Freya was terrifying — and one of the best decisions she ever made
• Why planning has been a game-changer for a self-described creative who previously kept everything in her head
• How The Trusted Team's leadership and delegation frameworks have helped Annie build structure into her business
• Why people buy from people — and why a phone call still beats a website or Instagram

About the Guest Annie Allison is the founder of Allison & Co, a UK-based luxury interior design studio working on high-end residential projects in the UK and abroad, with an increasing focus on the south of France. Known for a deeply personal, collaborative approach, Annie and her team work closely with clients to create beautiful spaces that reflect individual style, function, and architecture. With a background that spans creative design, project management, and property development, Annie brings a uniquely holistic perspective to every project she takes on.

Find Out More

• Website: https://www.allisonandco.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annie-allison-2719173b

Resources & Links Mentioned

• The Trusted Team membership and community: https://thetrusted.team
• The Time Poor Entrepreneur event — The Trusted Team: https://thetrusted.team/upcoming-workshops/

About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team — helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team