WHAT'S ON
WOW!TALKS
Fifth Floor, Design Centre East
A series of exclusive talks are curated to inspire and inform.
WOW!talks offers exclusive access to global A-listers; discovering more about their WOW!rooms and diving into their highly creative approach. Book ticket: £5
WOW!HOUSE TOURS
Concierge Desk, Ground Floor, Design Avenue
A fascinating journey through the WOW!house where extra insights into the creativity behind the WOW!rooms are given with a complimentary guided tour. Visitors receive the lowdown on how world-class designers achieved some spectacular spaces, from concept to reality. Included in the price of your ticket.
DESIGN DISCOVERY TOURS
Concierge Desk, Ground Floor, Centre Dome
Trips are taken around the showrooms for an insider’s view of some of the industry’s leading brands and gaining deeper insights into the most talked-about products chosen for WOW!house. Free of charge.
THE PROGRAMME SO FAR...
Tuesday 3 June, 11.30am
WOW!TALKS: INTERIORS WITH SOUL
Hosted by Cabana
Guest speakers: James Thurstan Waterworth, founder of Thurstan; Victoria Davar, founder of Maison Artefact; and Alessandra Branca, founder of Casa Branca
Moderator: Camilla Frances, digital editorial director, Cabana
Join leading designers and tastemakers as they discuss their highly original approach to design and interior architecture, with detailed storytelling that captures the imagination and celebrates craftsmanship. You will hear expert advice and discover how a combination of comfort and character, antiques, vintage and contemporary pieces – plus the beauty of the handmade and unusual – is key to creating beautiful interiors that draw the eye and soothe the soul. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Tuesday 3 June, 2.30pm
WOW!TALKS: HOSPITALITY BY DESIGN: THE SECRETS TO SOCIABLE SPACES
Hosted by Homes & Gardens
Guest speakers: Chad Dorsey, architect, designer and principal of Chad Dorsey Design; Toni Black, interior designer and partner of Blacksheep; Jo LeGleud, co-founder of Maddux Creative; and Ahmad AbouZanat, founder of Ahmad AbouZanat Studio
Moderator: Sarah Spiteri, global brand director and group editor in chief, Homes & Gardens
Now, more than ever, we need places for coming together. Join an international panel and discover their design secrets for creating relaxed, convivial schemes. Find out why welcoming, storied spaces are the best kind of rooms that make you want to come in, sit down and stay awhile. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Followed by a book signing of ‘Relaxed Luxury’ (Assouline) by Chad Dorsey.
Wednesday 4 June, 11.30am
WOW!TALKS: PRIVATE EDENS: THE JOY OF GARDENS
Hosted by Frederic
Guest speakers: Plantsman and garden designer Alexander Hoyle; Emma Burns, joint managing director, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler; and interior designer and artist Maxine Harrison Sloss
Moderator: Emma Bazilian, content director at Frederic
The notion of the garden as an integral part of the home is long-standing. In this session, enter the enchanting world of outdoor spaces and get personal insights into their inspiration and creation. Combining innate flair, romantic planting schemes and subtle ways to balance colour, scale and texture in bloom, stem and foliage, discover how to infuse beauty, charm and sense of place into every magical corner. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Followed by an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of ‘Glorious Gardens’ (The Monacelli Press) in the Schumacher showroom.
Tuesday 10 June, 11.30am
WOW!TALKS: INTERIOR STYLE: PAST TO PRESENT
Hosted by House & Garden
Guest speakers: Daniel Slowik; Laura Hammett; and Duncan Campbell and Charlotte Rey, co-founders of Campbell-Rey
Moderator: Hatta Byng, editor of House & Garden
Dive into interiors that marry timeless period detailing and original thinking to create a beguiling blend. Discover how inspiration from a different era brings depth, proportion and provenance to a carefully curated scheme. With a dash of wit, an eye for detail and an appreciation of craft, learn how an enduring aesthetic from the past can be perfectly suited to today’s tastes. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Wednesday 11 June, 11.30am
WOW!TALKS: HOME: THE DETAILS THAT MATTER
Guest speaker: Kelly Hoppen CBE
Moderator: Katrina Burroughs, interiors editor of The Times & The Sunday Times
Interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE has a knack for creating a cohesive story, creating interiors that are layered, stylish and inviting. With understated elegance and the kind of layered simplicity that you only get from tactile materials, judicious lighting, quality craftsmanship and contemporary photography, discover how a highly considered approach with an emphasis on how a space feels as much as how it looks, delivers simplicity, balance and harmony to every space. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Wednesday 11 June, 2.30pm
WOW!TALKS: CURATE: ART IN THE HOME
Hosted by The World of Interiors
Guest speaker: Brigitta Spinocchia Freund; Peter Mikic; and Sophie Ashby
Moderator: Emily Tobin, editor of The World of Interiors
Art brings colour, life and personality to a home, yet so many of us feel daunted by it. Join three leading designers as they share their unique approach to collecting, combining and curating works of art, collectibles and furniture. Get expert advice on making it an integral part of the interior design process, the importance of following your instincts, the impact of narrative and why choosing art, from design masters to emerging talent, can foster conversation and connection in a space. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Tuesday 17 June, 11.30am
WOW!TALKS: THE FRAGRANT HOME
Hosted by Country & Town House
Guest speaker: Céline Roux, global head of fragrance, Jo Malone London
Moderator: Carole Annett, interiors editor of Country & Town House
Scent can inform how you experience a space, adding an extra dimension and transporting you to a moment in time. Fresh or energising, warm or inviting, join this special session and discover how choosing scent can elevate the interior design process. Explore the art of matching fragrances, calling on their power to evoke a mood in different rooms. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Tuesday 24 June, 2.30pm
WOW!TALKS: SENSORY SPACES
Hosted by Livingetc
Guest speakers: Clémence Pirajean and James Michael Lees, co-founders of Pirajean Lees; Ailsa Connery, regional director, Europe and Paris Albert, design principal of 1508 London; and Anahita Rigby
Moderator: Pip Rich, executive editor of Livingetc
What is it about an interior that makes us feel at home? In an increasingly busy world, discover the positive effects of meaningful spaces. Join a panel of leading designers as they discuss why we need interiors that enhance our well-being and make us feel good. From an immersive library, a spa-like sanctuary to a cocooning study, get the inside track on creating rooms that uplift and soothe the spirit. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouses
Wednesday 25 June, 2.30pm
WOW!TALKS: BEAUTIFUL, FUNCTIONAL SPACES
Hosted by Country Life
Guest speakers: Emma Sims-Hilditch, creative founder of Sims Hilditch; Rupert Cunningham, director of Ben Pentreath Studio; and Jay Grierson, director of MHD – Martin Hulbert Design
Moderator: Giles Kime, interior and executive editor of Country Life
Creating a timeless, high-functioning space can be a daunting task. Is fitted furniture the default option or are more sociable, flexible ways to live challenging the status quo? Why are cosy kitchens, separate utility rooms, pantries and mud rooms appearing on architects’ plans and homeowners’ wish lists? Throwing out the rule book, three leading interior designers share their design solutions on how to create characterful, layered interiors that prioritise personality and utility over bland uniformity. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouse
Wednesday 2 July, 2.30pm
WOW!TALKS: GROW YOUR BUSINESS: STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
In association with BIID
Guest speakers: Alidad; Tim Gosling, founder of Gosling: Venetia Rudebeck and Romanos Brihi, co-founders of Studio Vero
Moderator: Elspeth Pridham, The Insider
Be inspired by industry insiders as they share secrets about their unique worlds of creativity and explore business success. Known for their inventive use of colour and pattern, and brilliant mix of art, antiques and furnishings, expect plenty of advice and some highly original points of view. Learn how to stand out in the marketplace and get dream clients that keep coming back and referrals rolling in. Booking essential.
Enhance your WOW!house visit with a talk. Book ticket: £5
Your ticket does not include admission to the showhouses
DESIGN CENTRE, CHELSEA HARBOUR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE FORMAT WITHOUT NOTICE AND ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY IF ANY EVENTS ARE VARIED, RELOCATED OR CANCELLED
