What Homeowners Really Want from Modern Living:

Our Top Five Insights from Grand Designs Live ‘25

As summer renovation season heats up, we’re still drawing on the energy and insights from Grand Designs Live 2025, where Butler Harwell was proud to serve as the official Lifestyle Technology Concierge partner in the Grand House. Over five packed days at ExCeL London, we met hundreds of homeowners, architects, interior designers, and industry professionals, all eager to understand how lifestyle technology can elevate the way we live.

We also joined presenters Kunle Barker and Max McMurdo on the Grand Theatre stage for a series of live talks, offering expert advice on lighting design, climate control, cinema room design, and sustainability. From our immersive cinema room installation to CEDIA CPD sessions and panel discussions with RIBA and CIOB, it was a busy, inspiring week. Here are our top five takeaways from this year’s show:

1. The perfect cinema room isn’t always big — and sometimes, it’s too big

One of the most common misconceptions we heard was, “I’d love a cinema room… but I don’t think the space is big enough.”

In reality, many of the floorplans visitors showed us were perfectly suited for cinema rooms, and in some cases, even too large for optimal sound and picture quality. We've delivered projects where we recommended reducing room size or reconfiguring proportions to improve acoustics, sightlines, and overall immersion. The key takeaway? A great cinema room is about smart design, not square footage.

Where space really was limited, we had great conversations around versatile room design — multifunctional living spaces that seamlessly transform into cinema-quality environments, using features like drop-down screens, blackout curtains, and carefully planned layouts. For many visitors, this concept was a revelation — proof that a true cinema experience doesn’t have to come at the cost of everyday living space.

2. People want smart tech — but they want it invisible

Visitors consistently said, “I want it to work beautifully… but I don’t want to see it.” Discreet, design-conscious technology integration was a clear priority. Our cinema room, created in partnership with Cinema Luxe, demonstrated how, with professional design and integration, a full immersive Artcoustic sound system could be hidden behind acoustically transparent wall panels, with not a single wire in sight. Our team had fun unveiling the concealed cable rack that quietly manages all the integrated systems out of view: AV, lighting, control, and connectivity. Behind the clean aesthetic, a lot of thought goes into smooth functionality.

Meanwhile, in the grand hall, our luxury carpentry partners Christopher Leslie Bespoke brought form and function together with a custom media wall design, purpose-built to house a Meridian sound system and a British Fires wood fire. For many guests, it was their first encounter with the concept of a media wall and it sparked real curiosity.

3. Simplicity wins over complexity

Visitors were less interested in everything the system can do, and more focused on, “Can I turn off all the lights with one tap?” or “Can my guests use it without instructions?” This was a huge validation of our approach to intuitive control. Guests were invited to navigate the extensive @Kaleidescape library to find their favourite film using the @savant remote control, and select a room scene that had been preprogrammed with Rako and integrated with Savant. They also experimented with the wall-mounted touchscreen interface, experiencing how multiple systems could come together in one simple, elegant control point. The response? Overwhelmingly positive. Many visitors commented that the setup felt more intuitive than their Sky remote at home. Proof that high-end lifestyle technology can be both powerful and genuinely easy to use.

4. Retrofitting is now the conversation

While many visitors were planning new-builds with smart technology integrated from the ground up, we saw just as much enthusiasm from homeowners of period and character properties looking to modernise without compromising their architecture. A common assumption was that smart systems were only feasible in new builds, but after visiting the Grand House, many left with a new perspective. With the right approach, non-invasive, wireless-first solutions can bring intelligent lighting, AV, security, and connectivity into even the most traditional spaces, whilst even enhancing architectural features. Retrofitting is no longer just possible — it’s becoming the preferred route for clients who want to enhance their homes without stripping out their character. It’s about upgrading experience while respecting heritage.

5. Sustainability is shaping the brief

Sustainable living was a major focus at Grand Designs Live — both on stage and throughout the show. The Butler Harwell team joined Kunle Barker and Max McMurdo in a series of Live Talks, sharing professional insight on climate control, lighting design, cinema room planning, and integrated technology. Across these sessions, visitors consistently raised thoughtful questions around energy monitoring, remote access, and the importance of interior design considerations when planning control points.

As the event’s Lifestyle Technology Concierge Partner, we also represented CEDIA in a panel discussion alongside CIOB and RIBA on ‘Developing the Brief’, where sustainability emerged as a central theme in early-stage design conversations. Through our own expert panel, we explored the CEDIA CPD for RIBA and BIID professionals — reinforcing the role lifestyle technology plays in delivering efficient, future-ready spaces.

A clear message echoed throughout the event: the earlier technology is considered, the better the outcome. Involving specialists at the start — alongside architects and interior designers — avoids costly redesigns and ensures that performance, aesthetics, and usability are all aligned from day one. When technology is integrated into the design process from the beginning, it enhances the home rather than complicating it.

What we’re taking away from this year’s show:

We came away inspired — not just by what’s possible, but by what people actually want from their homes. The weeks that have followed have been buzzing with energy. We’re enjoying working with clients who have come away with a clear understanding of what luxury technology can look and feel like. Now the fun can start as we get to know our clients’ lifestyles, requirements as we begin the process of crafting high-performing rooms that meet their vision.

If you’re mid-project or planning your next move, we’d love to chat. Grand Designs may be behind us, but we will be happy to host you at our offices and Huf Haus showhome in Weybridge, or at any of our brand partners’ demonstration facilities.