Mori & Curll: Interior design business started together by friends

Have you ever fantasised about starting a business with a friend? Doing what you love and spending time with your pal every day? Billy Blue alumnae Alexandra (Allie) Morandini and Rhiannon Curll made that dream come true.

How Alexandra and Rhiannon met at Billy Blue

Allie is a mum, a wife and a designer who loves working with colours, textures and mid-century-influenced design. Growing up with parents who renovated, she always pictured herself in a creative career. These days, if she is not working in the studio, you can find her down at the beach with the family or travelling.

Her partner in design is Rhiannon, whose design approach is detail-oriented, with layer upon layer of colour and texture. She loves the challenge of the joinery space as that is an area typically grounded by regulation and materials having boundaries. When not working at the studio, you might find her travelling, or reading a book with a cup of tea in hand.

Allie and Rhiannon met in the last trimester of their last year of the Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial). A friendship blossomed and that was the beginning of Mori & Curll studio.

Alexandra and Rhiannon at their Graduation ceremony

Inspiration for starting an interior design firm

When Allie and Rhiannon met during the final trimester of their Interior Design course at Billy Blue, it was an instant connection. Even though they’d only just met, people around them assumed they’d known each other for years.

“My most memorable moment from uni is the day we met,” Rhiannon says. “We started chatting, went to lunch, and haven’t gone a day without speaking since.”

The idea of starting an interior business together came up during a portfolio class. These sessions often included guest designers and industry pros giving students feedback and career advice. One of them casually suggested Allie and Rhi team up, and that was all the encouragement they needed. “We haven’t looked back,” Allie says.

A standout influence during their studies was their lecturer Dan Staebe, whose approach helped shape how they think about design today.

“Dan focused on the practicality of each element we designed. Aesthetics are normally the focus of design, but behind every design decision we make there is a practical element,” Rhi says.

For Rhi, running her own business was always the goal. Both of them wanted to be across every part of the design process, not boxed into a single role or path.

“After the Industry Day at Billy Blue, it gave me the confidence to take the leap and start our own studio,” Rhi adds.

The name Mori & Curll was a suggestion from Allie’s husband. Mori is a shortened version of Allie’s last name and Curll is Rhiannon’s. Their studio line, ‘Crafting timeless spaces beyond the trends’, captures what they’re all about. They’re not interested in following short-lived trends. Instead, they push boundaries, challenge the usual way of doing things, and create spaces that are bold, thoughtful, and outside the ordinary.

Allie and Rhi both value functionality and form, and they use colour, pattern and texture to push these principles to their absolute max in their studio.

Top challenges for starting an interior design business

Like most businesses, Mori & Curll started slowly. They began with smaller bathroom and kitchen renovation projects while still working in supplier roles within the industry for the first few years. It wasn’t long before they made the leap to running the studio full-time as the business gained momentum.

While launching the studio, one of the biggest challenges Allie and Rhiannon faced was navigating the business side of things, such as insurance, invoicing, and operational setup.

They found that their studies with Billy Blue had given them a strong foundation. The practical focus of their course helped bridge the gap between classroom and real-world work: they were already familiar with industry expectations, had exposure to suppliers, and understood the importance of Australian standards and regulations.

“The focus on how a space functions and choosing materials or fixtures that will last was always front and centre during our studies, massively preparing us for real-world work,” Rhiannon explains. “The level of technical knowledge through programs was also a massive confidence booster.”

Creative differences are also a natural part of the process when two strong designers are working together, but Allie and Rhi have learned how to navigate those moments with respect and intention. When this happens, it usually means there’s a material or part of the layout that isn’t quite working. So they zoom out, rethink the concept, make a few tweaks, and from there, it all flows again.

“We just take it back to the brief and sometimes we just restart the component we can’t agree on,” Allie adds.

But for all the challenges, their different opinions are also what makes the partnership thrive. Each brings something unique to the table.

“Rhi has a lot of patience and is a total joinery whiz,” says Allie.

“Allie is a lot better on social media than I am; we’d have zero online presence if I was doing this solo! She is also the most knowledgeable person when it comes to tiles and hard surfaces I have ever met,” Rhiannon added.

Mori & Curll studio

Tips for starting an interior design studio

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably inspired by Allie and Rhiannon’s story. You might even be considering one of these many interior design careers available for yourself. While the creative side of interior design is what draws most people in, running your own business is so much more than mood boards and material selections.

Allie and Rhi have a few tips for aspiring studio founders.

Know that it’s not just about design

There’s a lot more to it than just designing beautiful spaces. The non-design elements, such as understanding clients' needs, coordinating with suppliers and contractors, and managing budgets, are time-consuming and essential.

Prioritise relationship building

“Designing the space is the easiest part, it’s the supplier and client relationships that require the most amount of work and are the most necessary,” Rhiannon says.

It’s not just what you design, but how you work with people that counts. Strong relationships with suppliers, clients, and collaborators are the backbone of a successful studio.

Get industry experience

Hands-on experience is invaluable. Whether it’s part-time work with a supplier or an internship, those early connections and industry insights will pay off when you’re ready to go out on your own.

Your suppliers are your secret weapon

Behind every successful design project is a network of trusted suppliers. Build relationships with them and lean on their expertise.

“Your suppliers are your greatest asset – without them and their knowledge, we couldn’t do our job,” Rhi says.

Invest in your education

Both Allie and Rhiannon credit their Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial) from Billy Blue as preparing them with everything they needed to launch their studio.

“The confidence, knowledge, and industry understanding you gain through a degree is so valuable,” says Allie.

“The industry can be competitive, and education can set you apart – clients are really valuing the extra study,” agrees Rhiannon.