Homes and Gardens

Are you looking for a new toaster or kettle? With so many brands out there it can be very confusing so here is a simple guide to help you choose.

Both these clocks come from a company whose message is ‘stuff you don’t need …. but you really really want.’ The first an analogue clock in three books and the second a cheeky digital offering.

Rechargeable batteries have huge advantages over their disposable counterparts, but you do need to be able to charge them!

A look at a complete wireless system from Sonos for wirelessly piping music digital audio anywhere and everywhere in your home - including several places at the same time.

A neat and compact smoothie maker that comes complete with two travel jugs.

While hardly rating as one of my favourite tasks, it could be said that I have been having a ball recently when vacuuming my home.

Can you imagine frying chips in less than a teaspoon of oil and getting lovely crisp chips? Well with the Tefal Actifry you can and you do.

It looks like an almost conventional toaster but there is this Perspex area at one end. Yes while you cook your toast you can also poach your egg, it really does work, but please do not try this in your standard toaster.

Catpod is a outdoor cat shelter made from a Contico Monster Fun Storage Trunk and a Ferplast Swing 1 cat flap.

Do you wake up with a start when your alarm goes off? If you were in a deep sleep this can often make you grumpy and even tired all day. This could well be the solution.

Perhaps it was not love at first sight but a Polaroid LCD HD ready unit quickly took over my living room in the role of providing my viewing pleasure.

All the bits on this unit are designed for the smaller home, from the one litre dust container to the overall height, this unit – still an upright – is designed smaller.

Over the last few years the trend in television has been for ever bigger screens - whether LCD or Plasma. There is however still a market for the smaller set - either for bedroom, kitchen or den. Humax have addressed this somewhat neglected market with a range of 19 and 22" highly functional sets.

It has been a while since I last took a look at a DAB radio. A new model from PURE Digital was my re-introduction to the technology.

I don't think I'm unique in wishing my TV were where I was, rather than in the living room where the aerial is! There have been a number of solutions to this issue - here we look at what the SlingBox, from Sling Media can do.

This is a pull along unit, however unlike most other cleaners on that type this still packs enough punch to actually lift a fitted carpet and therefore the dirt and dust has no chance.

This is far more than just a Microwave as it also has a grill and a convection oven. If like me you have had a microwave for 30 plus years what is on offer today bears no comparison.

We all want to do our bit for the environment - but it pays to ask questions and not accept manufacturers claims at face value. Here we look at the FreeLoader that offers to power your gadgets for free using the power of the sun. How does it measure up? You may be surprised!

I worked for many years in the networking industry, seeing first the widespread use of big thick COAX cable to network computers, then thinner twisted pair wiring into centralised switching rooms. Wired technology was never widely adopted in the home for obvious reasons, but the idea of making use of the existing mains power cabling was often anticipated.

Over the last couple of months we've reviewed a number of coffee machines, across a wide price range and with distinct capabilities and characteristics. We're just about coming down from our caffeine high so now is a good time to offer a summary!

For those of you that like espresso, but often just want a jug of warm coffee then Krups have combined both functions in a single unit.

In our continuing series reviewing the world of home coffee machines we're taking a look at a stylish espresso machine from Illycaffè.

Continuing our series reviewing the array of coffee machines available, this time we take a look at a well made espresso machine from Kenwood.

We've had a big focus on kitchen gadgets in the last month, and here's a neat little idea from Tefal and Jamie Oliver. In such a very small box, roughly the size of just one medium casserole dish, we received a 6 piece set of aluminium non-stick pans. This is the Jamie Oliver Survival Kit, and it's a fabulous range of cookware for anyone with limited space – perhaps those in their first studio flat, or students at uni.

Continuing our series on up-market coffee machines, today we're reviewing the elegant 'Le Cube' from Krups.

We're all aware of the impact of carbon dioxide on the environment causing global warming, climate change, flooding and worse is to come. We can reduce that impact by reigning in the release of CO₂ into the atmosphere. The boffins are looking at some very clever ways of doing that, but in practice this means using less energy! As we enter "Energy Saving Week" we're looking at a little gadget that may help you change your energy burning habits.

If you've got a BlueTooth enabled phone (or computer) stuffed with photos you never look at then Parrot have just the frame for you.

A compact food processor for basic food preparation tasks around the kitchen.

Here I am looking at superior luggage for you and for your notebook (up to 17inches) nothing gaudy or flashy just quality luggage.

Ever met a true cybersecurity expert? Meet Koushik Pal