The best way to think of succulents is as ‘fat plants’. Parts of them, usually their leaves, swell up with water and this stops them from drying out in arid conditions. Cacti are the most obvious examples but sedums and sempervivums are also common. They all share that fleshy, tender look and often have grey-green … Read more
Part of the company’s WeMo wireless smart home platform, Belkin’s Crock-Pot (released spring 2014 in collaboration with Jarden Consumer Solutions) is the first smartphone-controllable slow cooker. Via the WeMo iOS or Android smartphone app, you can adjust the crock pot’s settings from anywhere, receive reminders, change the cook time, adjust the cooking temperature, use the … Read more
It’s essential to select the correct paint type and finish for the surface you want to cover. WHICH PAINT TO PICK? Melanie Adams, Director, Designerpaint.com reveals the secrets of paint formulas. Water-based emulsion works well on walls and ceilings. Eggshell and acrylic can also be water based but they’re tougher than emulsion. Some products are durable … Read more
The SmartCode 916’s small size makes it less conspicuous than other locks, and allows you to use your old house keys if you want. Kwikset’s SecureScreen feature — which makes you punch in two random digits before entering your code — helps ensure burglars can’t guess your password by fingerprint smudges alone. And it has … Read more
Use delicate shades of buttercup yellow, pinky coral and pale celadon green for the freshest spring decorating ideas. MODERN MIX TIM YOUNG Create depth and character by contrasting pared – back, contemporary pieces with classic styles from different eras. Toning shades of yellow unify the scheme (above). Alcoves papered in Wild Flowers New Contemporary Two Collection, 69/11143, … Read more
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