June 8, 2025Now in its fourth successive year, WOW!house is back for 2025. London’s answer to New York’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House, the much-anticipated event, which opened on Tuesday and runs through July 3, highlights the work of 22 A-list interior designers from around the globe.
Built along the Design Avenue inside London’s Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, this year’s rooms are as ambitious as ever, taking visitors on a journey that allows them to experience the work of the exceptional roster of designers first-hand. In addition, a series of tours and talks offers exclusive access and insights. On July 2, 1stDibs editorial director Anthony Barzilay Freund will moderate “Interiors: Rooms That Tell Stories,” a conversation with WOW!house alums Natalia Miyar, Christian Bense and Tom Bartlett, cofounder of Waldo Works.
For the second year in a row, the event is partnering with United in Design, an organization founded by interior designers Alex Dauley and Sophie Ashby and dedicated to increasing opportunities in the industry for creatives from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. Not only will a portion of ticket sales go toward supporting the group, but works by some of the diverse artists and artisans in the United in Design Guide to Makers and Creators have also been incorporated into a number of rooms.
Here, Introspective explores just some of WOW!house’s singular spaces.
CHAD DORSEY DESIGN
The ambiance in the drawing room designed by Texas-based Chad Dorsey is reminiscent of a private members club. With walls lined in panels of exquisite chrysanthemum-and-sunflower wallpaper by British brand Fromental, it’s a richly layered, convivial space that’s chic yet welcoming.
“I looked toward William Morris, Harold Falkner, John Ruskin and the Arts and Crafts movement that began in the eighteen hundreds in the UK and then expanded to the U.S.,” explains Dorsey. “This flowed into the idea of a social club where the members have exceptional taste and a shared desire to be surrounded by beautiful, bespoke design.”
Referencing the work of Lewis Foreman Day, a key player in the Arts and Crafts movement, Dorsey added contrasting borders around the panels, to “organize and elevate everything,” he says.
Armchairs and sofas are grouped strategically for conversation, gently illuminated by a selection of lamps by Alexander Lamont, Apparatus and Jamb. Another standout piece is a handsome cabinet by DeMuro Das, while an original and incredibly rare William Morris rosewood piano inlaid with marquetry briar scrolls is without question the cherry on the Arts and Crafts cake.
ALEX DAULEY
Speakeasies, hotel lounges and smoky jazz bars were the source material for British designer Alex Dauley’s media room, devised as a couple’s retreat in collaboration with smart-home-automation company Nucleus.
“The vibe is sexy, luxurious and sophisticated,” says Dauley. “We wanted it to feel aspirational and the epitome of escapism. So, we created an immersive, multifunctional room — somewhere to read, chat, host, listen to music or watch a movie.”
A curvaceous custom sofa by Julian Chichester hugs a corner of the room. It’s joined by leggy side tables, a mid-century-style custom floor lamp crafted from steel plates and a chunky ridged table lamp, all from Porta Romana.
Completing the scene are a gilded sun-like, wall-hung sculpture from Artemest; a custom geometric rug by Holland and Sherry; a mix of bold ceramic vessels by Darren Appiagyei, Dylan Bowen and Adam Ross; and jewellike glass sculptures by Vic Bamforth, Samantha Donaldson and Vivienne Foley.
“It’s not often you get to design a space with no restrictions, and to be able to collaborate on such a project with complete creative control is an absolute joy,” says Dauley.
BRIGITTA SPINOCCHIA FREUND
Part studio, part sanctuary, the Curator’s Room by Brigitta Spinocchia Freund began as a personal and creative challenge for the London-based designer, who was inspired by reading Ninth Street Women, by Mary Gabriel, and The Story of Art Without Men, by Katy Hessel.
“Both books explore the struggles, creativity and representation of women throughout history — stories and voices that have often been overlooked,” Spinocchia Freund explains. “At its core, the room is an expression of my design ethos, rooted in curation, collaboration and craftsmanship. We wanted to celebrate the remarkable achievements of female designers and artists, both past and present, and to highlight their enduring impact and vital role in shaping the creative landscape today.”
Framing the room are decorative columns originally designed for the private residence of haute couturière Jeanne Lanvin. Crafted by French paneling experts Féau Boiseries to the specifications of a 1920s design by architect Armand-Albert Rateau, they stand alongside an incredible collection of rare vintage pieces, including a stool, desk, chair and sideboard by Charlotte Perriand, as well as chairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Maria Pergay and Gabriella Crespi.
Spinocchia Freund’s collaborations with names more often associated with contemporary fashion are reflected in a painted ceiling by Roksanda and an ottoman by Luella Bartley. A compact sofa was produced together with interior designer and stylist Louisa Grey, who wrote a poem that was stitched onto the piece by embroiderer Camilla Armed. Rugs are courtesy of American brand Stark — the room’s sponsor — whose creative director Ashley Stark worked with Spinocchia Freund on two custom designs. “The Tribute rug names eighty-seven women artists,” Spinocchia Freund says. “It’s an embodiment of the concept and an artwork in itself, which anchors the space beautifully and really sets the tone.”
1508 LONDON
Ailsa Connery and Paris Albert, of 1508 London, conceived a primary bathroom in collaboration with kitchen and bathroom studio House of Rohl. The design was guided by the principles of reflection, ritual and reverie.
“ ‘Reflection’ transforms the bathroom into a hidden oasis for unwinding and refocusing, ‘ritual’ honors the timeless practices of bathing and cleansing, and ‘reverie’ weaves cultural and historical narratives into the space, which was inspired by traditional hammams,” explains Connery. “Every element is meticulously crafted to celebrate these daily practices, creating an immersive and sensory experience.”
The room’s centerpiece is a custom shower enclosure with vertical apertures in its walls that allow light to filter through. It’s flanked by bespoke bronze vanities, above which hang custom mirrors by Newcastle-based metalworking studio Novocastrian and wall lights by Bert Frank.
Adding a feeling of softness, the rammed-earth clay walls call for light-touch furniture, including a wall-mounted console and bench by Porta Romana, as well as a mirror and stool by Tom Faulkner and a side table by Ransom & Dunn.
“To be tasked simply with creating something that will ‘wow’ offers a rare chance to push boundaries and present our distinctive approach,” says Connery.
SIMS HILDITCH
A refined mix of traditional and contemporary elements comes together in the courtyard room by Cotswolds-based interior-design company Sims Hilditch. One standout feature is a bespoke dog-washing station clad entirely in the company’s brand-new range of Delft tiles.
“We created three distinct yet interconnected spaces that would traditionally have been ‘back of house’ in a country home,” says founder Emma Sims-Hilditch. “The large entrance hall has a lived-in, comfortable feel and flows into a boot room, complete with muddy Wellington boots. Then finally, we have the dog-washing station, which sits next to a custom dog bed by Lorfords. We wanted to create a space that felt inviting, practical and full of character. So, we took inspiration from English properties where these spaces would quietly support the rhythm of daily life.”
Painted in uplifting shades of green and yellow that evoke an English country garden, the rooms are home to antique and contemporary pieces that feel collected over time — an antique dresser in the entryway, for example, doubles as a flower-arranging station, and a Swedish Mora clock, a George Smith armchair and a pair of club fenders sit next to a fire surround by Jamb.
Above the draper’s table, which serves as a central island, hangs a Charles Smith lantern, finished in cornflower blue. Characterful accessories — including a 1960s Italian oval mirror with a bamboo-and-rattan frame, sourced on 1stDibs, and vintage watering cans, French stoneware jugs, Scottish carpet bowls and even a 20th–century French duck decoy, all from Lorfords — are peppered throughout.
ALESSANDRA BRANCA
“A guest bedroom is a wonderful way to indulge your favorite people while also having a little fun yourself,” says U.S.-based Alessandra Branca.
The one she conceived was inspired by the glamorous drawing room Italian design master renzo Mongiardino created for tastemaker Lee Radziwill, as well as the wonderfully opulent canopy beds for which iconic British interior designer David Hicks was renowned. Branca meant for this room to “transport you to a different, quieter place, but somewhere that still feels exotic,” she says.
Branca credits her love of classical interiors to her Italian upbringing. She used textiles and wallpapers from her own collection, Casa Branca, in shades of toast and rose, for both the walls and the curtains enveloping the bed.
Set against this elegant backdrop are a cast-bronze bench by Timothy Schreiber; an upholstered chair with a slender frame by Mattia Bonetti; a William IV mahogany bergère desk chair; and Julian Schnabel’s 1995 print Otono Floral (not pictured), sourced on 1stDibs. The result is a cocooning space that, as Branca intended, feels decorated and glamorous yet incredibly restful.
KELLY HOPPEN INTERIORS
In complete contrast to the lavishness of the guest bedroom, the living room created by Kelly Hoppen CBE together with premium lighting specialists Visual Comfort & Co. is sleek and minimalist. “We used their lighting in multiples, sculpturally and directionally, to shape mood and movement through the space,” Hoppen explains. “The pieces aren’t just functional — they add drama, intimacy and character. The way the light interacts with the textures in the room is everything.”
Those textures come in the form of organic linen, damask silk and velvet, in an earthy palette of rich browns, brick red and muted neutrals, by Pierre Frey, de Le Cuona and Dedar, among others. The custom-made sofa, lounge chair and ottoman and custom black-lacquer screen with integrated lighting mingle with a marble coffee table, a side table from Davidson London and a Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer for Knoll. A curated selection of books from Assouline adds a personal narrative. “It’s a space to relax, entertain or sit with a record playing,” says Hoppen. “I wanted it to feel like the heart of a home, layered with memory, music and soul.”
NICOLA HARDING & CO.
“In a powder room, you have the freedom to be dramatic — more daring than you might be elsewhere in the house,” says London-based Nicola Harding. Her version, designed in collaboration with English bathroom manufacturer Drummonds, is a jewel box infused with rich hues of ruby, turquoise and jade. “It’s easy for this kind of space to end up feeling functional, but we enjoyed letting our imagination run away.”
Generous swathes of silk taffeta by Tissus d’Hélène were used to create a sumptuous tented ceiling. The walls, meanwhile, were clad in Moroccan zellige tiles from Mosaic Factory, as well as bespoke antiqued-glass mirror panels by Rupert Bevan.
The mirrored wall is an ideal foil for the hero piece, a double vanity designed by Harding for Drummonds. Drawing on references from the Art Deco period, the elegant piece is topped with green Guatemala marble and fitted with handles custom cast in Drummonds’s foundry. Completing the scheme are bronze wall lanterns by Jamb and a slipper chair, side table and desk from Harding’s own range, as well as handwoven silk dhurries, made in partnership with rug brand Vanderhurd, which are used on the floor and, ingeniously, on the doors of the twin wardrobes.
PETER MIKIC
“The dining room is an area that’s always a favorite of mine, and approaching this project, we wanted ours to feel super luxurious but also convivial,” says Australian-born, London-based interior designer Peter Mikic, describing the space he designed in collaboration with paint company Benjamin Moore. “The dining table is, of course, a key element, but the space we’ve dreamt up also features zones for sitting and lounging, in case you’re hosting a fabulous dinner party that you never want to end.”
Inspired by the 1970s as well as the French sculptor, painter and designer Guy de Rougemont, the room is playful and contemporary, with custom wall panels by Dublin-born artist Ian Harper painted in a vibrant sunshine yellow, a nod to Mikic’s antipodean heritage. Murals by British artist Billy Metcalfe depicting eucalyptus trees and indigenous rock formations and referencing the city of London flank the space. The custom dining table, crafted by British brand Kaizen Furniture, is hand lacquered and inlaid with fragments of lapis lazuli, malachite and shimmering quartz.
Lucite dining chairs by Lion in Frost pair beautifully with the table. They were sourced from 1stDibs, as was a futuristic 1960s aluminum table lamp. Also sharing the space are coffee and side tables Mikic designed for the Lacquer Company, a limited-edition sofa created by Mikic and upholstery specialist Sedilia and an iconic Polar Bear armchair by Jean Royère. Mikic’s Atomic chandeliers hang above. “The ambience is one of glamour, and we were focused on creating a real wow factor, which is what the event is all about,” says Mikic.
BEN PENTREATH LTD
English country houses of the early 19th century were the starting point for a kitchen by Rupert Cunningham, Alice Montgomery and Leo Kary, of architectural and interior-design studio Ben Pentreath Ltd, who worked with cabinetmaker Lopen Joinery to bring their vision to life.
“We wanted to move away from the bland Shaker cabinetry that’s so prevalent in kitchens these days and design something that sits at the other end of the aesthetic spectrum, where cooking is an art, not a science,” says Cunningham. “This is the most unfitted kitchen possible, but it still functions beautifully. To give it a relaxed feel, we designed a country-house dresser, arcaded oak shelves and a solid-oak prep table, weaving Greek and Gothic detailing into each element so the pieces are linked through subtle design markers, as though they’ve been collected rather than made by the same hand.”
Bookended by a traditional Aga stove and an Occhio di Pavone marble fire surround by Jamb, the hospitable space is also home to a classic armchair by Howard & Sons, a table lamp and lantern by Jamb and a leather-topped John Pollard Seddon writing table, above which hangs a pair of etchings by Lucien Freud — just two of the artworks in an impressive curation that also includes pieces by John Nash and Breon O’Casey.
Like all the spaces in this year’s WOW!house, the kitchen is a master class in imagination and collaboration. “Everyone has been so enthusiastic and generous, often moving heaven and earth to accommodate us,” says Cunningham, who along with the rest of this year’s cohort cites the partnership aspect of the projects as a highlight. “Being able to work with so many makers, artists, craftsmen and suppliers in such a creative way has been wonderfully enriching — and so much fun.”
