WOW! House is interior design’s equivalent of The Olympics. It’s what happens when some of the worlds’ most talented designers are given complete creative freedom, extraordinary craftsmanship and permission to dream big without compromise.

For a few short weeks each summer, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour becomes home to some of the most ambitious and imaginative interiors in the world. Every room is designed and installed in just five days, which feels almost impossible when you’re standing inside them. These aren’t rooms assembled for a particular client but instead complete worlds, meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail, that allows the designer to show case the best of their talent.

I have been visiting each year since it debuted in 2022 and it never loses its ability to stop me in my tracks. Some rooms leave me scribbling notes of inspiration, while others simply make me stand still and admire the sheer talent required to pull off something so utterly fabulous and immersive.

This year’s house didn’t disappoint. Here are some of the rooms that stayed with me long after I’d left.

The Garden Folly Room by Studio Enass

This was the first room I visited and honestly, I could have stayed all day.

Enass Mahmoud has woven her North African and Arabic heritage into every detail, creating a space that feels deeply personal and wonderfully transportive. Rich reds, golds and soft greens combine to create a palette that is both opulent and inviting, while luxurious silk wallcoverings, gleaming herringbone floors and an antique bronze mirrored ceiling add layers of texture and glamour.

Everywhere you look there is something to delight the eye: passementerie, shell mosaics and pattern layered upon pattern. Yet despite the abundance of decoration, the room feels warm and welcoming rather than overwhelming.

As Mahmoud says, it is designed for “intimate, joyful moments”. Judging by the number of visitors lingering long after they’d arrived, mission accomplished.

The Shepel’ Library by Róisín Lafferty

Roísín Lafferty has essentially built an art installation inside a room, and it was a lot to take in.

Richly figured burl timber wraps seamlessly from wall to ceiling, blurring the boundaries between furniture and architecture so completely that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. The palette is dark, cocooning and undeniably glamorous, while a striking red gloss floor provides a dramatic counterpoint to the wood grain, textured glass, stone and mohair velvet.

There’s a strong Art Deco influence running through the scheme, but what elevates the room beyond pure aesthetics is its sense of intrigue. Hidden within is a sensory installation inviting visitors to remove their shoes and experience layers of sound and texture. Thoughtful, immersive and quietly playful, it proves that great design isn’t just something we look at but something we experience with every sense. It reminded me of the puzzle boxes Arthur loves from Marrakech and certainly bought out my playful side.

The Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon

This room was pure glamour and I’m absolutely here for it.

Designed by Charu Gandhi of Elicyon, this exquisite home bar is a celebration of craftsmanship, curiosity and the art of entertaining. A palette of warm neutrals, honeyed timber and shimmering crystal creates a soft, cocooning atmosphere, while layers of texture, from silk-lined ceilings to deep pile rugs, add richness and depth.

What I loved most was the sense of discovery. Arches, curves and concealed details draw you further into the space, while crystal sparkles, mirrored surfaces catch the light and hidden recesses glow invitingly from within. Expertly calibrated lighting brings every surface to life, creating a scheme that feels both elegant and playful.

Luxurious, immersive and unapologetically fabulous. You’ll find me at the bar with a spicy margarita.

The Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh

This was the room that made me happiest.

Young Huh has taken the Korean folk art tradition of minhwa and transformed it into the most joyful collector’s salon imaginable. Inspired by storytelling and folk art, the room bursts with colour, pattern and personality. Glossy lacquered walls are inset with dozens of colourful box niches, each painted in a different vibrant hue. Turquoise sits beside citron, jade beside ruby red, creating a playful, energetic palette that feels utterly exuberant.

Some niches are left gloriously simple, while others are hand-painted with scenes inspired by Korean folk art, encouraging visitors to pause and look closer. Above, an intricately painted ceiling cleverly conceals the room’s spotlights within its decorative design, creating a seamless blend of artistry and function that I absolutely loved.

Despite the riot of colour, the room never feels overwhelming. Rich textures, collectable objects and carefully considered lighting create moments of focus and discovery throughout. It was one of those rare interiors that makes anyone want to throw caution to the wind and embrace colour with complete abandon.

Young Huh said she wanted visitors to feel joy and wonderment. Mission accomplished.

The Salvesen Graham Primary Bedroom

There is something deeply comforting about this room.

Nicole Salvesen and Mary Graham have created a bedroom that feels luxuriously layered, quietly collected and entirely timeless. Set within the shell of an elegant 18th-century country house, the scheme balances architectural grandeur with decorative softness. Classical panelling, cornicing and a coffered ceiling provide structure, while a riot of beautiful pattern brings warmth and personality.

The room is a masterclass in pattern mixing. Flowing botanical wallpaper wraps the walls, softened by tonal stripes on the bed canopy. Tiny florals reappear within the bed hangings and across the headboard, while blush pink curtains provide a welcome visual pause. Despite the abundance of pattern, the room never feels busy, thanks to a restrained palette of muted pinks, soft blues, gentle greens and warm neutrals.

A magnificent four-poster bed anchors the scheme, while antique furniture, shelves piled high with books and a Regency fireplace create a sense of history and permanence. Rather than relying on a single statement light fitting, the room is illuminated by a carefully curated mix of wall lights, table lamps and floor lamps, casting a soft glow that feels both elegant and restorative.

Proof that maximalism doesn’t always have to shout. Sometimes it whispers, and all the more beautifully for it.

The Black Edition at Romo Speakeasy Salon by Studio Duggan

Dark rooms are everywhere at the moment, but very few are executed with this much glamour

Tiffany Duggan has created a space that feels both intimate and theatrical, drawing you through sweeping curtains into a richly layered world of colour, texture and surprise. The walls are wrapped in lustrous dark brown linen with the sheen of softened lacquer, creating a cocooning backdrop that feels luxurious rather than gloomy. Above, a dramatic tented ceiling is crowned with a bespoke plaster frieze inspired by mythical creatures, adding a wonderful sense of fantasy and escapism.

What I loved most was the unexpected colour palette. Deep aubergine, pistachio green and powder blue in sumptuous velvets and glazed linens sounds slightly bonkers on paper but works beautifully, keeping the scheme feeling fresh and original.

There are clever details everywhere, from a hidden bar snug wrapped in woven silk wallpaper, marble and plush velvet to generous seating designed for both entertaining and relaxation.

For all its drama, the room feels incredibly welcoming. Glamorous, sophisticated and infused with Italian flair, it’s the sort of room that makes you want to close the curtains, pour yourself a Negroni and stay all evening.

The Parlour by Martin Kemp Design

I walked into this room and genuinely didn’t know what it was. And I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

In a house full of visual fireworks, this room felt different. Intimate, calm and quietly luxurious, it embodies Martin Kemp’s belief that luxury should be felt rather than declared.

The room unfolds slowly. Circular in layout and softly illuminated, it invites you to linger rather than rush through. Cascading fabric panels drape the walls, creating a cocooning atmosphere while softening sound and filtering out the outside world. As your eyes adjust, treasures begin to emerge. Asymmetrical armchairs upholstered in oversized maximalist floral silk were a particular favourite of mine, alongside beautifully crafted sculptural furniture arranged in gentle curves that echo the architecture.

What struck me most was how emotionally intelligent the room felt. The rich aubergine palette is intimate, calming and deeply luxurious. Yet this is less about pomp and ceremony and more about quiet beauty, tempting you to curl up amongst its curves and stay awhile.

The Zardi & Zardi Withdrawing Room by Sean Symington

Can too much ever be too much? This room certainly puts the Maximalist theory to the test!

Sean Symington has created a gloriously unapologetic celebration of decoration where every surface, corner and piece of furniture competes for your attention. Pattern tumbles across the walls, ceiling and doors, antiques jostle alongside collectables, and tassels and trimmings abound. It’s as if an aristocratic English country house and a Broadway starlets Park Avenue apartment have collided in the most extravagant way possible. I absolutely love it!

The secret lies in the confidence of the scheme. A floral stripe print wraps all walls, ceiling and curtains, creating an immersive backdrop, while a carefully controlled palette keeps the abundance feeling intentional rather than chaotic. The room feels layered, lived-in and deeply eccentric, as though it has evolved over generations rather than been assembled in a matter of days.

What I loved most was the spirit of the room. As Symington puts it best, “The crystal champagne coupes may be slightly chipped and the seating is beautifully worn because nothing is kept for best; it is about the joy of living with beautiful things”.

The Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio

I’ll admit it. This room completely wrong-footed me.

Russell Sage is the undisputed king of maximalist hospitality interiors, renowned for creating some of the most extravagant and theatrical spaces in the world. I arrived expecting visual drama and decorative showstoppers. Instead, he delivered something far more surprising.

The Momentarium is a masterclass in restraint. Designed as a multi-sensory retreat, the room wraps around you like a gentle embrace. Soft curves replace sharp edges, muted colours glow under warm lighting, and layers of sheer fabric create a cocooning sense of calm. At its heart sits a generous circular daybed beneath immersive ceiling screens, while floating timber cabinetry and dried meadow installations add texture and warmth.

What makes the room so special is that the state-of-the-art technology is almost invisible. Sound, light, imagery and scent are woven seamlessly into the architecture, shaping the atmosphere without ever demanding attention.

For me, this room proved why Russell Sage is such a master. Great design isn’t about a signature look. It’s about creating an emotional experience. Thoughtful, deeply researched and utterly transporting, this was one of the most thought provoking rooms in the house.

The Schumacher Dining Room by Max Rollitt

Stepping into this room felt like stepping through a portal into the 18th century.

Max Rollitt has created a dining room that is utterly transporting, recreating the grandeur and romance of a great historic house with remarkable confidence. Deep green curtains part to reveal terracotta damask walls, antique portraits, towering bookcases and layers of silk, mohair and wool, all glowing softly in a candlelit atmosphere.

What struck me most was the theatricality of the space. Not theatrical in a showy sense, but in its ability to immerse you completely in another time and place. Every fabric, furnishing and decorative detail plays its part in creating the illusion that this room has evolved over centuries rather than been designed for an exhibition.

Luxurious, authentic and wonderfully escapist, it’s a celebration of craftsmanship and decorative arts at their most enchanting.

The Perennials & Sutherland Garden Terrace by Fettle Design

If ever there was a room that could transport you somewhere else, this was it.

One step inside and you’re no longer in Chelsea Harbour but sipping an Aperol Spritz on a sun-drenched Italian terrace somewhere on the Amalfi Coast. Fettle has created a wonderfully escapist space that captures the joy and romance of Mediterranean living.

Clay-plaster walls frame alcoves of palmed greenery and classical sculpture, while swirling red-and-white encaustic tiles dance beneath your feet. Above, a limoncello-yellow checked sun canopy swags across the ceiling, trimmed with playful tasselled fringing. I am absolutely stealing that fringed canopy idea.

The colour palette is pure dolce vita: tomato red, citrus yellow, olive green and crisp white, all layered together with effortless style. Joyful, glamorous and utterly transportive, this was the room that had me mentally booking flights to Italy before I’d even left the building.

What struck me most about WOW!house 2026 was the sheer diversity of design on display. From rooms bursting with colour, pattern and personality to spaces defined by restraint, calm and quiet luxury, there was no single trend or aesthetic dominating the conversation. Instead, each designer brought their own unique perspective, proving that great design isn’t about following rules but creating spaces that make us feel something.

What united every room was an extraordinary commitment to craftsmanship. Whether it was hand-painted ceilings, bespoke joinery, antique treasures, immersive technology or beautiful textiles, every detail had been considered and executed at the highest level.

More than anything, WOW!house is a celebration of the very best in our industry. A chance to see world-class designers working at the top of their game, free to dream big and push creative boundaries.

If you love interiors, design, decoration or simply beautiful things, get yourself down there.

Grab your ticket here