Where Designers Find Inspiration: Our Next in Design Winners Share The WOW!house Spaces They Couldn't Stop Thinking About

This year's WOW!house, held at the Chelsea Design Centre, was filled with standout spaces, from immersive installations to bold celebrations of color, culture, and craftsmanship.

But while every designer brought something unique to the showhouse, we were curious to know which rooms resonated most with the industry's rising stars. So, fresh off the back of their private tour, we asked our Next in Design 2026 winners to choose the one space they found most inspiring.

With more than 21 rooms and outdoor spaces, choosing a favorite is no easy task. Yet when we asked our cohort of winners which room stayed with them long after they left, a clear theme began to emerge...

The Turnell & Gigon Group Drawing Room by Albion Nord

'There were a few spaces that were wonderful, but my favorite was the Albion Nord Drawing Room, created in collaboration with Turnell & Gigon,' says Ailsa MacConnell of Studio Mac. 'The room was full of curiosities, ranging from beautiful artwork to its striking octagonal shape. While it took inspiration from the Georgian and Victorian eras, the fresh and unexpected elements that had been introduced really made the space sing.'

'I particularly loved the handmade patchwork rug, which paired beautifully with the eclectic antique furniture. Softening the room were the incredible plush sofas, layered with beautiful textiles. An unexpected twist came in the form of the fringe trim on the cornice, complemented by the fabric-covered walls.'

'All in all, the room was full of inspiring details and delightful little quirks.'

'My favorite room was the drawing room by Albion Nord,' Filippo Calvagno of Studio Calvagno agrees. 'The domed ceiling and octagonal shape of the room were really impressive, and I loved how they made each area of the space work so well. There was an immediate feeling of warmth and relaxation when I walked in.'

'I loved the color palette chosen throughout the room, particularly across the fabrics, and how everything blended together so nicely. The wall covering worked beautifully with the architecture of the space, enhancing the shape of the room while introducing subtle colour and texture,' Filippo continues. 'The vintage elements were also integrated really well and added a real sense of character.'

'I’ve been a fan of Albion Nord’s work for a while, so it was great to be standing in one of their designed spaces and experience it in person. Overall, the room felt grand and elegant without being overwhelming, which I thought was a great achievement.'

The Garden Folly Room by Studio Enass

'I’d say my favorite was Studio Enass Garden Foley room,' says Ayisha Onuorah. 'I really liked the conceptual details of the space, for example, how she used the color red to represent the traditional clothing from her Sudanese heritage. It was bold, detailed, and well considered.'

The Misia for Casamance Group Bedroom Suite by Henri Fitzwilliam

'My favorite space within this year’s WOW!house was Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay’s bedroom suite,' says Abbie Downey of Feather & Fossil. 'The room had a wonderful sense of culture, travel, and eclecticism, creating a space that felt both deeply personal and effortlessly sophisticated. Richly layered and full of discoveries, it encouraged exploration at every turn, with pieces from different eras and influences coming together in a way that felt collected rather than curated.'

'I was particularly drawn to the hand-carved furniture, the beautifully detailed wood-block moldings, and the patina of the substantial statement doors,' Abbie continues.

'While these elements were undeniably bold, they also brought a sense of warmth and grounding to the scheme. The space perfectly demonstrated how craftsmanship, history, and personality can coexist to create an interior that feels timeless, characterful, and genuinely lived in.'

'I found it to be an accomplished, original, and globally inspired take on what a relaxing and luxurious bedroom could be,' agrees Chizitera Pennington of Chizitera Interiors.

'It was inspiring because it felt relaxed and comfortable whilst drawing on modernism and the geometry and hard textural elements of Art Deco (such as the wooden headboard),' Chizitera continues. 'The lines, shapes, and textures from these design eras can be quite harsh and are not natural bedfellows in bedroom design.'

'However, the designer successfully brought them into the space through a generous and impactful use of fabric (such as behind the headboard and on the window treatments) alongside a restrained color palette,' Chizitera adds. 'Ultimately, my key takeaway is that sleek lines, hard finishes, and geometry have a place in the bedroom.'

The Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio

'A room that I found particularly intriguing was the Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio,' says Irfana Ahmed. 'I found this room so fascinating because it perfectly demonstrates the intricacies of interior design and how thoughtful design will resonate with all five senses as well as emotion.'

'The play between soft and grounded, provided by the wash of layered curtains and circular daybed, and palpable and crisp sound and visuals, provided by Nucleus’ technology, forces you to become completely immersed in the room,' Irfana continues.

'"The Momantarium" is so inspiring because it is a reminder that even with ever-progressing state-of-the-art technology, spaces will always feel human through the magic of human memory and emotion. I love that while I was sitting on the daybed, I felt as though I could be absolutely anywhere – a giant daydream.'

The Parlour by Martin Kemp Design

'The Parlour was the room I couldn't leave,' says Zoe Willis of Zoe Willis Design.

'Martin Kemp let the darkness do the work, enveloping tone, soft suspended fabric, a 1970s glamour reworked with real restraint, and the effect was a cocoon rather than a showpiece,' Zoe continues. 'What I loved was the layering: a floral armchair, a sculptural pendant, handblown glass, vintage finds, each one a piece you want to inspect closely, yet none of them competing.'

'It wasn't decorated, it was directed. My takeaway is that luxury is felt, not announced. The room rejected spectacle and rewarded attention, and that is exactly why I was still thinking about it long after I'd left.'

The Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh

'I found the energy of Young Huh and Benjamin Moore's Minhwa Salon magnetic,' says Jasmine Fisher. 'Its contemporary interpretation of Korean folk art felt alive; a playful reminder that tradition can be a powerful source of innovation.'

The Shepel' Library by Roisin Lafferty

'Our favorite space at WOW!house was the Shepel' Library by Rosin Lafferty,' says Frankie Pritchard and Indie Robinson of Thirty Stories. 'It felt completely different from the moment you stepped inside – rather than feeling like part of a showroom, it transported you to a beautiful, intimate space of its own.'

'What inspired us most was the layering of materials and the attention to detail,' they continue. 'The contrast between the metal framework, textured glass, warm burr wood and sumptuous mohair velvet was incredibly effective, with each element bringing a different quality and texture to the room.'

'It was a great reminder of how much depth and character can be created through thoughtful combinations of finishes and materials.'

'My other favorite would be the library by Roisin Lafferty, which felt like a space reimagined,' adds Ayisha. 'The use of materials and shape that form the space felt fresh, new, inventive, and inspired a real master class.'

While each designer was drawn to a different room, together, these spaces reveal that the rooms designers remember most aren't always the ones making the biggest statement.

More often, they're the spaces that linger – rooms with a strong point of view, a sense of authenticity, or an ability to evoke emotion. From intimate libraries to richly layered bedroom suites, the standout spaces at WOW!house 2026 demonstrate that the most successful interiors balance creativity with connection.

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