WOW!house: Interior design meets technology performance'

Earlier this year, CEDIA member'Nucleus provided a great showcase of integrators working with interior designers.'

Inside'WOW!house'2025's first-ever media room

When technology and interior design unite'with a shared vision, the results can be spectacular. This'was on full display at'WOW!house'2025, the annual showhouse at London's Design'Centre, Chelsea Harbour. This fantastic showcase, which is situated within the Design Avenue,'features 22 full-sized rooms and outdoors'spaces, all created by world-class interior'designers.'For the very first time, a dedicated media'room was part of the home ' an immersive and'high-performance space where design and'integration were indistinguishable. The room'was designed by interior designer Alex Dauley'Designs and technology integrated by Nucleus.'

The vision: A sensory space thoughtfully integrated''

For Alex Dauley, the brief offered creative'freedom rarely found in client-led projects. With'fewer commercial constraints, she was able to'focus on crafting an interior that delivered both'atmosphere and experience. Achieving that'vision, however, meant finding the right team'to support a carefully'balanced mix of design'and technology.''

'Interior design is all about a sensory experience, and obviously sound is a huge part'of that, as is'lighting, scent, and more,' Alex'explains. 'But the beautiful thing is that the'interior design intent has not been lost to'accommodate the technology, and vice versa.''Working with Durgesh Sinh and the team'at Nucleus, Alex created a media room where'Dolby Atmos sound, Lutron lighting, and AV'components are integrated discreetly into'bespoke joinery and tailored finishes. The result'is a space'that delivers on performance without'compromising the design.''It'doesn't'feel tech heavy.'Everything's'been'hidden beautifully and seamlessly within the space,' Alex says.'

Building the room twice: offsite precision, onsite luxury'

Given the complexity of the build, including intricate AV infrastructure, custom cabinetry,'and high-spec materials, the team decided early to build the room offsite first.'

The'offsite prototype proved invaluable. It allowed both design and tech teams to test fit every'component, from the speaker boxes and subwoofer locations to the luxury wall finishes and hidden picture lift with bar access.'

'We didn't want it to be smoke and mirrors,' says Durgesh'Sinh'from'Nucleus. 'We wanted to deliver it like we would for a real client. And that meant full reference-level audio, genuine integration and all the performance we promise in live projects.''

The final in-situ install was a feat of coordination, involving late-night sessions, intricate fabric wrapping,'and working within the health and safety constraints of the showhouse infrastructure. Despite the tight five-day on-site schedule,'Nucleus'delivered a fully functional room that stayed faithful to the original concept sketch.''

'We haven't changed'Alex's'sketch,' adds'Durgesh.''We've implemented full Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 with a 77-inch TV, and it looks like her original drawing.''

The ripple effect'

As word spread about the media room, other'WOW!house'designers began approaching'Nucleus'for support with their own spaces,'leading to involvement in three'additional'rooms.'

Staffan'Tollgard, founder of'Tollgard'Studio,'invited'Nucleus'to collaborate on his study room, which followed a 'functional beauty' concept. Rather than concealing technology, Bang & Olufsen speakers and TVs were chosen for their sculptural appeal and placed on display. Lighting control was integrated into'Nucleus''wider Lutron HomeWorks system.'

Nucleus'was then asked to'assist interior designer firm 1508 London'with their'bathroom space, providing lighting control connected through the same interface.''

The final and most technically demanding addition was the garden, designed by'landscape architect'Randle'Siddeley.'Here,'Nucleus'installed an 8.1 Paradigm Oasis audio system and three Sony 85-inch screens, running fibre and DALI cabling across a 100-metre distance.'

Each of these spaces was brought together under a single control system,'demonstrating'the potential of integrated technology in complex, multi-zone environments.'

Shared success'

Perhaps the'most important takeaway from'WOW!house'2025 was not what was built, but how.'

'Durgesh'and his team are one in a million,''Alex'reflects. 'This project is testament to the fact that you'must'have great relationships with people. You'must'work with like-minded people that are equally as ambitious'and'equally as detailed.''

This'mutual respect extended beyond design and installation.'With thousands of visitors walking through the space,'Nucleus'was able to show how integrated technology can support and enhance thoughtful design.''It's'powerful to physically show designers'the'lengths you can go to. You'don't'have to compromise technology or aesthetic, you can have both,' Durgesh explains.'

More than a showroom'
WOW!house'2025 is a showcase of what's possible when integrators and designers work as collaborators. It proves that performance and beauty can,'and should,'complement each other.'When'it's'done right, design elevates the technology and the home to a whole new level.'

Stay informed!

ISE 2026 takes place in Barcelona on 3-6 February 2026. For more updates on all kinds of residential technology ' including audio, video, lighting, automation, control and security ''and to discover more about ISE 2026 as details are released,'sign up for updates.

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