Homeowners often struggle to visualise new design ideas, even when presented with detailed mood boards or high-quality renderings. While these tools are helpful, nothing compares to experiencing a design concept in a real-life setting.
That’s exactly what WOW!house offers. Running this month through to 3 July 2025 at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, London, the event presents an unparalleled opportunity to explore fully-realised interiors brought to life by some of the world’s leading interior designers.
WOW!house features 22 meticulously designed rooms and outdoor spaces, each created in collaboration with globally recognised design brands and suppliers. These full-scale environments—constructed within the Design Avenue—offer visitors a rare chance to walk through, feel, and truly experience design concepts as they would appear in a real home.
Starting at the newly reimagined classical façade, visitors enter a 600-square-metre show-house that offers an immersive exploration of luxury interior design at its finest.
For those seeking to understand how creative concepts evolve into fully realised spaces, WOW!house serves as the ultimate source of inspiration.
The Façade, by Darren Price of ADAM Architecture, introduces a refined classical character to this year’s WOW!house. It is accompanied by a beautifully planted Entrance Garden and a lush Garden Terrace, created by garden designer Alexander Hoyle. The façade design takes its cues from the elegance of a Georgian townhouse, featuring handmade cornices and heritage-style lighting. However, this is no period pastiche. Instead, it offers a contemporary reinterpretation of classical architecture—“a demonstration that the timeless language of classicism remains as relevant and inspiring today as it was 250 years ago.”
The Fromental Drawing Room, designed by Texas-based Chad Dorsey, exudes the atmosphere of an exclusive private club. A bespoke Strike fireplace, sumptuous furnishings, and a raised ceiling adorned with statement chandeliers set a tone of understated luxury. The space is wrapped in Kiku—a series of exquisite hand-painted panels by room sponsor Fromental—bringing artistry and depth to every surface. Natural motifs are thoughtfully echoed in both the chandeliers and the decorative ceiling wallcovering, creating a harmonious and immersive environment.
The Media Room, designed by Alex Dauley, offers an intimate, cocooning retreat in rich tones of amber, walnut, and antique brass. The atmosphere is relaxed yet refined—both sophisticated and sensuous. Created in collaboration with sponsor Nucleus, renowned for crafting immersive environments, the space is a sanctuary of texture and contrast. Thoughtfully layered materials highlight the harmony between craftsmanship and comfort, while discreetly integrated surround sound speakers ensure a seamless and enveloping audio experience.
Designer Brigitta Spinocchia Freund, in collaboration with STARK, presents the Curator’s Room—integrating two connecting rooms - that celebrates collectible furniture, fine art, and exceptional artisanal craftsmanship. With a strong focus on female creative talent across generations, the room highlights influential women in art and design from the past, present, and future. Visually striking and richly tactile, the space is both a tribute and a showcase, honouring the enduring impact of women’s contributions to the creative world.
The Primary Bedroom, designed by Tomef Design, transports visitors into the master suite of a luxurious Venetian hotel, where layers of detail, colour, pattern, and texture come together in perfect harmony. The palette is rich and inviting, with deep burgundy and ruby tones accented by gold, amber, brown, black, and varied shades of green—evoking a sense of tradition and timeless elegance. Tommaso Franchi, founder of Tomef Design, has partnered with three of Italy’s most revered heritage brands: renowned fabric house Fortuny, handcrafted rattan specialists Bonacina, and master glassmakers Barovier & Toso. Together, they have created a space that beautifully celebrates the artistry and legacy of Italian craftsmanship.
The adjoining Primary Bathroom by 1508 London is a contemporary sanctuary dedicated to ancient cleansing rituals, sponsored by House of Rohl.
Next door, the Morning Room features soaring ceilings and walls dressed in cotton poplin, hand screen-printed with a trompe-l'œil design inspired by 20th-century garden room treillage. Interior designer and antique dealer Daniel Slowik has curated an elegant collection of paintings, furniture, and objets d’art sourced from exhibitors at The Treasure House Fair—the prestigious summer art fair founded by Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry Van der Hoorn, which also sponsors the room.
The Courtyard Room, designed by Emma Sims-Hilditch, is a charming blend of classic elegance and playful practicality. Conceived as a refined back-of-house space, it seamlessly combines form and function with thoughtful features such as a boot room and a dedicated dog room. Antiques, fine art, decorative wall finishes, and carefully considered architectural details lend the room a sense of history and permanence—creating the impression of a newly built space that feels as though it has always belonged.
The Living Room, designed by interior designer Kelly Hoppen, is a masterclass in tactile sophistication—moody, unexpected, and richly layered. Created in collaboration with lighting specialists and room sponsor Visual Comfort & Co., the space strikes a delicate balance between beauty and function. Hoppen’s earthy palette of deep browns, terracottas, and soft neutrals evokes a sense of warmth, comfort, and tranquility. Natural materials—such as wood, honed stone, rose quartz, suede, and linen—enhance the room’s grounded elegance. “The room blends asymmetry, history, and personal storytelling,” said Hoppen, bringing a deeply personal narrative to a serene and thoughtfully composed space.
The Library offers an experience that celebrates both the power of silence and the expression of sound. This extraordinary circular space is the creation of Clémence Pirajean Lees and James Michael Lees, founders of the creative direction and design studio Pirajean Lees, in collaboration with the Italian fabric house Dedar, the room’s sponsor. The room is wrapped in Dedar’s sumptuous wool satin, while the rug—crafted by Jennifer Manners—transforms A440Hz, the musical tuning standard, into a visible and striking pattern, blending artistry with sound.
In contrast, the Dining Room is a vibrant feast of colour inspired by Australia. Designed by Australian-born, London-based designer Peter Mikic and sponsored by Benjamin Moore, a leading manufacturer celebrated for its premium-quality paints, the space bursts with energy and character. Dominating the room is an abstract artwork by Billy Metcalf, paired with a bespoke round dining table by British furniture brand Kaizen, adorned with semi-precious stones—adding a touch of luxurious craftsmanship to the bold, colourful setting.
The final space at WOW!house is the Garden Terrace, designed by Randle Siddeley and sponsored by McKinnon and Harris. Enclosed by an ornate trellis, meticulously handcrafted for the space by The Garden Trellis Company, the terrace features a striking stone fireplace framed by a lush green wall that serves as a focal point. Surrounding this, intimate seating areas are embraced by vibrant greenery, creating a serene oasis.
One of the best ways to experience WOW!house and deepen one's understanding of the creativity behind the rooms is by joining a complimentary guided tour that goes with the entry ticket. Visitors gain exclusive insights into how world-class designers transformed their concepts into spectacular, fully realised spaces.
also troughout the month, there is a talks programme featuring many of the WOW!house designers who provide deeper insight into the creative intentions behind the rooms and the collaborative processes that brought the schemes to life.
For the programme of WOW!Talks, click HERE.
As a dedicated centre for luxury interiors, the Design Centre is celebrated for its distinctive architectural style—modern, elegant, and designed to maximise natural light. Its main building is arranged around a central atrium, creating an inviting and uplifting environment for all who visit.
Originally part of a wider regeneration project transforming Chelsea Harbour from a commercial dock into a vibrant district, the Design Centre has become an international destination for sourcing the finest interior products and exploring the latest design trends. It is widely recognised as one of the country's if not the world’s foremost design destinations.
All images by Lucia Carpio.
