Rising stars and established studios team up with Chelsea Harbour’s design collective to bring a purpose-built showhouse to life.
Since its debut in 2022, WOW!house at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour has become a popular event in the industry calendar, serving as a lively and immersive showcase of creative talent.
Each year, the interior design destination invites rising stars and established studios to bring a purpose-built showhouse to life, teaming up with brands and suppliers to craft full-scale room sets and outdoor spaces that invite, inspire and intrigue through an inventive use of materials, narrative styling and architectural vision. “WOW!house expands our global design community, celebrating creativity and opening doors to ideas, partnerships and possibilities,” explains Claire German, CEO of Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. “These designers lead the way toward living beautifully – sparking conversation, championing expertise and original thinking.”
The designer selection process is one of collaboration between the Design Centre team and sponsors. “We consider the need for a diverse array of styles throughout the house, whilst also achieving a balance between rising stars, established talent and even interior design legends,” continues German. “Each year it is essential to have international designers involved alongside our UK-based talent. This really widens the reach of the event and puts us on the map globally.” Often, the designer-brand relationships are already established, offering a natural platform to launch new collections or showcase long-term collaborations. In other cases, sponsors express a desire to work with an unexpected designer who will shine a fresh spotlight on their brand, introducing them to a new audience.
On a mission to continually elevate WOW!house, the Design Centre has enlisted Adam Architecture to revamp the arrival experience with a new façade, which offers a contemporary interpretation of Georgian architecture. “Every year, we strive to create more excitement and unexpected elements for visitors,” says German. “Their design embodies the traditions of classical architecture and works as the perfect invitation to gently guide the eye through a central door into a world of rich design, craftsmanship and history.”
Also new for 2025 are several room types including an entrance garden, powder room, snug and media room. “Our goal is to amaze and inspire visitors, giving them the opportunity to see a high calibre of interior design,” states German. “The beauty of WOW!house is how transportive it is; in one room, visitors will be steeped in history and in another they are immersed in a contemporary setting.”
The rapid rise of WOW!house is due, in no small part, to the rare freedom it offers designers to create without restrictions. “Naturally, interior designers are used to working with restraints and compromises when it comes to their day- to-day projects,” notes German. “So during WOW!house they really relish the fact they can pull together their dream room schemes.”
This freedom has sparked some remarkable results from an impressive roster of talent, united by a shared reverance for craft, a passion for collection and a cinematic sense of narrative. Among this year’s line-up are renowned designers such as Kelly Hoppen CBE, Pirajean Lees and 1508 London, many of whom bring a wealth of experience envisioning hotel interiors to WOW!house.
For example, Goddard Littlefair draws on a recent boutique hotel project in Marbella to create the Perennials & Sutherland Courtyard Terrace, a sanctuary of calm that weaves together Andalusian gardens, Moorish architecture and North African influences. The McKinnon & Harris Garden Terrace by Randle Siddeley meanwhile, is conceived as a tranquil conservatory, balancing ornate trelliswork and lush planting with custom furnishings.
Elsewhere, Toni Black of Blacksheep presents the Shepel Home Bar as a place of warmth and welcome, where connection, conversation and culture flow freely. And Thurstan has envisioned the Hector Finch Snug as a lesson in contrasts, showcasing limewash and silk alongside antiques and textured linens.
In the Fromental Drawing Room, Chad Dorsey evokes the mood of a jazz-infused cocktail club, layering historical references with luxurious detailing. Handpainted and embroidered Fromental wallcoverings, plush textures and a bespoke Strike fireplace anchor the space in opulence and atmosphere. Taking a similarly thematic approach, designer Peter Mikic reimagines 1970s glamour with an Australian twist in the Benjamin Moore Dining Room. Bursts of yellow lend a playful edge, while earthy textures, bespoke embroidery and palettes inspired by indigenous art subtly nod to Mikic’s heritage.
And there’s so much more to explore. To heighten the immersive quality of each room, WOW!house layers sensory details. For example, Jo Malone London, the official event scent partner, has worked with designers to craft bespoke fragrances tailored to each room’s aesthetic, while curated playlists reinforce mood and ambience.
With each carefully choreographed sensory detail, WOW!house 2025 invites visitors to experience a world of design mastery, with no shortage of surprise. It promises to showcase industry-leading expertise, celebrating the delight of uninhibited creative partnerships.
To learn more about WOW!house 2025 and book tickets, visit: www.dcch.co.uk/wowhouse
