6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Interior design ideas for every home at London's Wow!house
Janes Austen fans, gather round: The morning room might be making a comeback. Think about a relaxing space filled with eastern light where Mr Darcy's mother attended to her daily correspondence at Pemberley, although today she'd be emailing rather than picking up parchment and a quill.
Interior decorator and antique dealer Daniel Slowik has worked up a morning room as one of the 22 rooms and outdoor spaces at London's Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour's WOW!house.
I'm not exaggerating when I say WOW!house is appropriately named, as what else would we expect when some of the biggest names in interior design globally are given free rein to design a room for it?
Forming the entrance, set under the centre's lofty atrium, is the façade of a Georgian townhouse designed by Adam Architecture. It's an imposing, monumental structure nodding to the design output of more than two centuries ago, itself inspired by the buildings of ancient Greece and Rome. 'This front facade is a clear homage to the great architects of the Georgian era; Sir John Soane, Nicholas Hawksmoor, George Dance the Younger and John Nash,' says designer Darren Price of Adam Architecture. 'But it is a contemporary interpretation of the past rather than a replication, demonstrating that the enduring language of classicism remains as relevant and inspiring today as it was 250 years ago.'
The WOW!house entrance hall by Victoria Davar of Maison Artefact.
Making the point nicely is a reference to Latin inscriptions we often see chiselled onto classical buildings. Price has repeated the word 'wow' rather humorously and placed the year 2025 above the door like a house number, giving it a contemporary touch.
Inside, we land in the first room, this one an entrance hall which continues the notion of historic, giving off distinctly French chateau vibes but with contemporary accents. 'I was inspired by the idea of an artist finding a charming historical building and turning it into a place of optimism and creativity,' says Victoria Davar, designer and founder of London-based antique dealer and interior design practice Maison Artefact.
The Benjamin Moore colourful dining room is designed by Peter Mikic.
She began with the architectural framework, raising the ceiling height to five metres and commissioning and adding a floating staircase to give the notion of rooms at the top. Reclaimed stone flooring and period doors and architraves give it the feeling of a permanent structure.
There's also a styling layer beyond the visual and tactile, a reminder from previous years that scentscaping is an integral part of WOW!house rooms. Teaming up with a home scenting atelier of note each year — in 2024 it was the splendidly fragrant Dr Vranjes, and for 2025 it's Jo Malone.
At the entrance, Davar has chosen fresh and summery pomegranate, lime and basil, with a smoky, woody note. 'The scent is there to magnify the vision of the interior designers,' says Céline Roux, Jo Malone London's global head of fragrance.
'They all talk about how they want people to feel in their rooms, and that's exactly what we do too. We use the same language. Do you want a space to feel fresh and energised? Do you want it to be comforting? Do you want something that is tranquil, that can help you unwind? Or something floral that brings the outdoors in?'
Fragrance of oak, myrrh and tonka bean set the atmosphere in The Curator's Room, designed by Brigitta Spinocchia Freund, principal and creative director of interior architecture and design practice Spinocchia Freund. There's a subtle nod here to art deco design, which happens to be celebrating its centenary.
Treasure House Fair Morning Room by Daniel Slowik.
Spinocchia Freund has also collaborated with specialist decorators, lighting studios and panel makers, with each contribution helping to add depth and character. Decorative columns are crafted by Féau Boiseries to a 1920 design for the residence of fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin, and an ottoman by another fashion designer, Luella Bartely, is finished in exquisite needlework by modern artisan embroidery studio, Hand & Lock.
The Curator's Room by Brigitta Spinocchia Freund.
It's sumptuous stuff throughout the rooms, with a level of detail and quality that insists on slow strolling and a feeling of immersion. It's invigorating for those of us who love interiors but are somewhat jaded by social media's offerings and the constant conveyor belt of trends.
Rarely do we get exposure to this level of interiors as it's usually commissioned for high-end private homes, so if you're looking for inspiration beyond the relentless online design algorithms, a flying visit across the water is recommended.
