About this episode
In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast Jo chats to Sophie Rowell, interior designer and founder of Cote de Folk. Sophie shares her transition from a 24-year career in fashion styling and art direction to interiors after a difficult period that included her marriage breaking down, becoming a single mother, her best friend dying of cancer, and a health crisis that prompted her to rethink her life. After moving from Hackney to Folkstone and renovating a Georgian townhouse, she committed fully to a career change with a three-month deadline and landed her first interiors job three weeks before it ended, quickly gaining more work through referrals. Sophie discusses relying on self-trust, managing imposter syndrome with help from a business coach, and viewing success as a mix of opportunity, effort, and determination rather than luck. She explains her intuitive approach to colour and her focus on how spaces feel, not trends. Sophie talks about scaling the business, hiring staff including her right hand Sarah, bringing in a CFO for financial strategy, and expanding into furniture, fabric, and wallpaper. She also describes her preferred working environment (tidy and uncluttered), the importance of rest for creativity, her working culture mantra 'work hard, rest hard', and generous leave policies. 00:00 Welcome + the mission behind The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast00:54 Meet Sophie Rowell: from fashion stylist to interiors with soul02:34 The breaking point: single motherhood, burnout, and a health scare04:11 Leaping without training: the 3‑month deadline and going all in06:56 First commissions to steady pipeline08:54 Drive and the ‘why’11:45 Building confidence in a new career13:04 The signature style: colour as a gift and reading a home’s energy15:19 Collaboration with clients: trust, pivots, and letting the building lead16:43 Scaling the studio: hiring, interns, CFO support, and product expansion18:11 Design philosophy: simplicity, warmth, and how spaces make us feel22:43 Founder realities: time, holidays, rest, and creating space for creativity29:17 'Rest Hard': Building Recovery Into Creative Success29:28 Designing a Rest-First Work Culture 30:33 Early Nights, Deep Sleep & Finding Your Rhythm31:37 Kids, Co-Parenting & Looking Forward to More Time33:29 Redefining Success35:36 3-2-1s: Best Investments39:43 Imposter Syndrome in Creative Work 43:04 What I’d Do Differently47:07 One Person to Thank50:07 Closing ThoughtsVisit https://www.cotedefolk.com/ Shop https://www.cotedefolk.com/shopFollow @cotedefolkSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings:
