WOW!house, the annual showhouse exhibition held in London each summer at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, returns for another spectacular year. This immersive event brings together some of the world’s leading interior designers, who each create a full-sized room to showcase their vision, talent and craftsmanship. This year, the designs have reached new heights of sophistication and creativity. With richly layered, atmospheric spaces throughout, our team spent the day immersed in the experience and we are excited to share some of our favourite highlights from this year’s standout rooms.
We were immediately drawn to Victoria Davar’s entrance hall, created in collaboration with Cox London. Victoria, of Maison Artefact, has designed a grand, light-filled space featuring soaring ceilings, a dramatic suspended bronze chandelier and a sculptural floating staircase. Reclaimed French limestone flooring adds timeless elegance, setting the tone for a showstopping WOW!house experience.
We stepped into Alex Dauley’s moody, cocoon-like media room, an intimate sanctuary designed with date night in mind. Wrapped in rich fabric, the space felt warm and enveloping. The soft glow of Porta Romana’s wall light evoked the luminous glow of the moon, adding to the room’s romantic ambience. We were especially impressed by the discreet integration of technical details, which were beautifully concealed behind artwork, including a cleverly hidden bar that revealed itself with elegant subtlety.
The primary bedroom by Tomèf Design felt like an Italian fairy tale, with the majestic ‘Tiara’ bed at its centre and hidden details waiting to be discovered. This mocha mousse palette, draped in sumptuous textiles and accented with hand-blown glass, patina mirrored walling and intricately woven rattan, was utterly enchanting. We were especially charmed by the decorative cabochons accenting the mirror joins, an unexpected and quirky detail. A bold contemporary fireplace added a striking contrast, balancing the space between tradition and modernity, making this layered retreat a celebration of romance and craftsmanship.
The Curator’s Room by Spinocchia Freund is portrayed as a sanctuary for contemplation and conversation. From ceiling to floor, every element in the space had a narrative and was carefully considered. The panelled ceiling featured a hand-painted design inspired by Le Corbusier, and the bespoke rug, designed especially for the space, was a listed celebration honouring women in art and design.
Layered with bold details and expressive pieces, the room was filled with art from some of the world’s leading galleries.
As we walked into the dining room, we were immediately greeted by a spacious area full of light and colour. Designed by Peter Mikic and sponsored by Benjamin Moore, the walls were painted in ‘Broadway Lights’. The large paintings by artist Billy Metcalfe on opposite walls instantly caught our attention with their evocative strokes of blue, red and green, evoking the sense of stepping into another world and bringing the room to life.
Looking more closely at the table, we were dazzled by the different semi-precious stones that had been carefully cut and inserted, creating a bejewelled table that effortlessly added layers of interest to the room.
Last but certainly not least, a standout of this year’s WOW!house was the stunning kitchen designed by Ben Pentreath and Leo Kary, a former member of our own design team. Full of light, natural colours and joinery details, this cosy room made you want to gather around the solid oak table and start cooking.
Flanked by curvaceous joinery, the Aga had been framed with wooden details that evoked the warmth of a country manor. Following the lines of the space, open wooden shelves kept the room airy and light, allowing the mismatched ceramics and treasures to be curated and share their own story.
This is just a sneak peek of six of the 22 full-sized rooms and outdoor spaces showcased at this year’s WOW!house. Open until 3rd July at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, it is an unmissable celebration of interior design talent. If you have not yet visited, we highly recommend exploring the full experience and seeing each designer’s unique vision come to life.