High tech homes

A TV that can display fine works of art in the frame of your choice, speakers masquerading as bulldogs and an electronic tap that will help you brew up, fill your house with stylish surprises...

With a wealth of gadgets that can transform day-to-day life there’s no reason not to up spec your home tech.

Home-tech doesn’t have to be all substance and no style.

With technology playing a key role in our lives, there couldn’t be a better time to plug into the latest hometech innovations that are also stylish enough to put proudly on display.

Because it’s not all about gadgets and gizmos – technology can be sleek, retro, and quirky too, so tapping into tech trends needn’t take away from your decor vibes.

These are our top 10 picks from the latest in stylish home-tech...

LIVING SPACE

1. Jarre AeroBull XS1 Bluetooth Speaker, from £469.94, Amazon

Available in matte black, glossy red or gleaming white, these speakersdisguised-as-bulldogs are bound to be a talking point.

Boasting 120 watts of aerial highdefinition 2.1 sound with deep bass rendering, compatible via Bluetooth with any smartphone or audio source, built-in rechargeable battery and up to 10 hours of playtime, what’s not to love?

2. R4 Mk3 Integrated Music System, £699.99, Ruark Audio

This all-in-one music solution might look retro and devoid of any details but don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the classic lines. The new R4 will take your listening pleasure to a whole new level, featuring DAB, DAB+ and FM Tuner with RDS, radio CD player, Bluetooth with AptX, USB charge and playback port, which all adds up to quality 21st Century sound.

3. Samsung The Frame UE55LS003 Art Mode 55’’ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV, £1,999, Curry’s

It’s art, but not as we know it. Samsung’s new lifestyle TV ‘The Frame’ turns into an ultra-modern canvas when not in use, and thanks to the in-built ‘Art Mode’ feature, you can select artworks from more than 100 specially curated pieces or display your own photos.

Available in 65” and 55”, there’s a selection of frames to suit your space, including oak and walnut finishes, along with a frame bezel available in walnut, beige and white.

4. LG OLED65W7V Signature OLED HDR 4K Ultra HD Smart TV, 65” with Freeview Play, Picture-On-Wall Design & Dolby Atmos Sound Base Unit, £999, John Lewis

Meanwhile, LG’s “wallpaper TV” can be mounted right against the wall with its super-skinny design (2.57mm). The OLED panel, 4K UHD resolution and HDR colour-scape create the closest thing to a cinema experience, while the bulky stuff you don’t want to see is housed in a separate LG OLED hub.

With a Smart TV webOS platform, Magic Remote (with point, gesture, wheel and voice control) and Freeview Play, it’s the supercar of the small screen.

5. Qeeboo Daisy Lamps, £52 each, Amara

Italian brand Qeeboo, known for its contemporary plastic furniture and playful designs, has added some wow factor to wild flowers and created these striking daisy lamps.

Place them on a desk, next to the bed or use them for backlighting to make your real plants glow (but we can’t promise they’ll grow!).

KITCHEN

6. SONY Xperia Touch Portable Projector, £1,399, Selfridges

Imagine if you could turn any surface in your home into a touchscreen? Critics think the latest in home projector technology may change the way we watch video, play games and listen to music – and it could even change the way we cook.

The infrared light array, with 60fps camera system, featured in this nifty portable projector turns a flat surface into a 23-inch touchscreen. Clever.

7. KWT 6112 iG Built-in Wine Conditioner Unit, £2,399, Miele

Want to take your taste for fine wine to new heights? This built-in wine conditioner will temperature-control 18 of your favourite bottles and can even accommodate magnums (always too bulky for the fridge!).

With storage over three levels, each rack can be personalised so you can list the vintage, producer or style. Touch controls offer a temperature range of 5-20°C, and the UV-resistant glass door protects your precious stock from sunlight. Cheers!

8. DD940BK Induction Downdraft Extractor, from £3,690, Caple

Extractor fans aren’t exactly dinnertable conversation, but there’s nothing worse than pungent cooking smells after you’ve prepared a delicious meal.

With cutting-edge plasma technology, this latest, ultra-sleek model purifies the air and eliminates any whiffs. Fully integrated into the 90cm black glass induction hob, the motor draws air through the ducting towards the filter, where it’s purified and cleaned, eradicating 95% of odours.

9. LUC/CH Lucet Electronic Tap, RRP £1,014, Caple

Traditional kettle ruining the cool lines of your minimalist kitchen? Then switch to a smart tap instead. Caple has tapped into new levels of tap tech, with a colour-changing LED to indicate the water temperature.

The light changes from blue to red, so you know exactly how hot or cold your water is – and precisely when it’s hot enough for your perfect cuppa. The polished chrome finish will add some extra pizzazz, too.

BATHROOM

10. Audio-Image Mirror, £496, Roper Rhodes

Mirror, mirror on the wall... who has the best bathroom radio of them all?

This multimedia bathroom mirror boasts DAB and FM radio reception, a fully-integrated digital display with scrolling text, touch-sensitive controls, integrated stereo speakers – AND a heated demister pad that prevents the mirror from steaming up. Ta da.