Searching or reaching for that elusive garage door opener remote while trying to navigate a dark suburban street, toppled garbage cans or your kids’ toys – or your kids – often proves awkward and dangerous. Chamberlain’s garage door opener lets you tap your device’s screen to open or close your garage from anywhere. Soon, the … Read more
While the Nest Protect Smoke + CO2 alarm is great for those who want a 2-in-1 device that connects to several smart home devices, there’s something to be said for the Roost Smart Battery. This $35 gadget plugs into any existing smoke or CO2 detector and makes it a smart device. Now, when your alarm … Read more
Yes, it’s a Bluetooth speaker, but the $180 Amazon Echo has a number of voice-activated features that let you control a number of smart home gadgets, as well as connect to other smart home hubs, such as those from Belkin and Samsung. It can also read you audiobooks, check the weather, and even let you … Read more
The third generation of the excellent Dropcam, this $199 camera now shoots video in 1080p (up from 720p), and has a magnetic, swiveling base that lets you set it up almost anywhere. It features two-way audio, sharp night vision and a powerful digital zoom, and integrates with other smart home products, such as the … Read more
SMARTPHONE COMPATIBILITY Android, iOS MULTIPLE ZONES Yes SELF-INSTALLATION Yes MOTION ACTIVATION Yes WORKS OFFLINE Yes WORKS WITH HomeKit, Amazon Echo, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech, Wink, IFTTT While there’s a lot of futuristic things about the Ecobee–such as its slick touchscreen interface–its best feature is something that thermostat makers should have thought about years ago: How to … Read more
Melanie Alsford, her husband Richard and their sons Luca and Leo, live in a four-bedroom Victorian house in Hampton, Middlesex. They created an elegant scheme in their neutral and blue living room. What was the house like when you moved in? It was mostly in good condition, but we were excited about giving it our … Read more
There’s a misconception that hi-tech homes can’t also be knock-your-socks-off beautiful. Speakers, televisions and the smart panels that control audio systems, heating and lighting are just eyesores that get in the way of a well-designed interior – aren’t they? If that visual clutter is catching your eye, you’re simply not doing it right. Interior designers, … Read more
Vogue archivist Robin Muir and his partner Paul Lyon-Maris’s north London house is urban nirvana: hidden down a private lane on the far side of a courtyard planted with cherry trees. With a Victorian brick façade almost filled by a two-storey window, it was built in the mid-nineteenth century as part of a group of artists’ … Read more
The new collection of Vorwerk “Elementary Shapes” is created from the master of collages and honeycombs Werner Aisslinger – this virtuoso with creative hands follows honorably the footsteps of Hadi Teherani’s highly successful carpet tile collection. Werner Aisslinger has interpreted the subject of fitted area floor coverings in a new way with soft, organic shapes. … Read more
Clever bathroom storage solutions will help you to create your very own relaxing spa in even the smallest of rooms. 1. On display Mark Scott Imagine your bathroom is like one in a smart hotel and dispose of anything that doesn’t fit with the image. Use beautiful jars and lovely boxes to keep small items tidy. … Read more