WOW! House 2025: Colour, Craft and Character

WOW! House 2025 welcomed guests into a world of refined style, showcasing exquisite interior room settings by some of the world’s most renowned interior designers. Each space offered a distinct narrative, yet a cohesive thread of warm, expressive design ran throughout the show.

A standout trend this year was the prevailing colour palette of blush pinks, ruby reds, smoked purple and copper tones which dominated a number of rooms such as in The Drummonds Powder Room by Nicola Harding, and Shepel’s Home Bar by Toni Black of Blacksheep, bringing a sense of richness, depth and comfort. These hues weren’t just used in soft furnishings but appeared confidently across walls, cabinetry, and surface finishes.

Texture played quite a specific role in elevating the interior settings beyond aesthetics into sensory play. Many rooms featured luxurious materials and intricate finishes, including distorted, sparkling handblown glass lighting that adds elegance and energy to a room such as the elegant Barrington Luxury Pendant by Laura Hammett Living for the Samual Heath Bathroom by Laura Hammett. These sculptural pieces not only added visual intrigue but created an atmospheric layering of reflection and shadow.

Library interior bu Pirajean Lees — Dedar Library by Pirajean Lees

Cast metalwork detailing appeared in everything from fixtures to hardware accents, with many designers embracing a tactile, artisanal approach. Patinated finishes were used to great effect - antiqued mirrors added subtle depth, while oxidised fittings and distressed metals applications offered a lived-in elegance that balanced the more polished elements of the designs. Having witnessed many trend transitions throughout the last 10 years due to working closely with interior designers, Creative Director of Rock & Soar, Alison Smith notes that ‘as each year progresses, there is a subtle shift to metal finishes becoming darker, with more depth - we’re in our patination era.’

After reading the brochure, it was clear the main consensus with each of the interior rooms was to allow the viewer to stop and take a moment to fully appreciate all the details that have gone into designing these spectacular displays, breathing in the curated fragrances from Jo Malone, to touching the heavily textured furnishings, and viewing the most enriching displays of warm colour.

This year's WOW! House was more than just a showcase of interiors - it was a testament to the craftsmanship, creativity and storytelling embedded in each space. The careful curation of colour, texture and detail resulted in an exhibition that felt intimate and inspiring.