Yes – boiling water is like watching paint dry, it’s boring and wastes time and water, not to mention the kitchen counter space taken up by a kettle – but this is all about to change with the launch of GROHE Red® in June 2010.

Whether it’s a quick cup of tea, peeling vegetables. or sterilising baby bottles and washing greasy pans, we need boiling water for many uses.

The GROHE Red® is the perfect tool for every busy modern day kitchen. Consisting of a tap and a boiler (4 or 8 litre versions available), this ingenious appliance supplies piping hot water at the twist of a lever.

Two GROHE Red® versions are available:

• The smaller, Mono, only supplies hot water and is the perfect complement to the recently launched GROHE Blue® filter water tap.

• The larger version Duo, provides both boiling as well as normal hot and cold water from one tap.

• For households with children, GROHE Red® has been designed with an innovative two step pull-and-turn safety handle, which eliminates the risk of scalding and ultimately gives parents peace of mind.

• GROHE Red® also helps save water and energy – rather than boiling excess water in a kettle, it allows you to fill the exact quantity needed for any given purpose.

So gone are the days of the kettle - It’s time to move into the 21st century and save time, energy and money, by choosing to have boiling water straight from the tap. Priced from £900 RRP.

For more information please visit the GROHE website.

Tel: (0871) 200 3414.

Maytag’s freestanding Premium Super Capacity washing machine – the MWA1112FBS – has the largest capacity of any domestic washer. It is eco-friendly using minimal water and energy, and it boasts a host of programme options including the benefit of steam.

Finished in fashionable black, this beauty is very energy efficient and boasts an A+ rating:

• It takes an exceptional 11kg, which is a great benefit for the consumer saving time, energy and water.

• The special IntelliSense ® technology removes obstinate stains and dirt swiftly, whilst the ECO steam facility provides a more environmentally friendly wash, and offers steam boost, sanitation and refresh cycles. Steam delivers outstanding cleaning performance on lower temperature programmes; saving energy, whilst also taking care of delicate fabrics.

• The 24-hour delayed start option allows the opportunity to maximise off-peak electricity rates.

• For those with sensitive skins or have allergies, the Super Rinse feature rinses seven times to remove all traces of detergent.

• The unique durable construction makes the washer exceedingly steady and stable and enhances its reliability and durability. The outer drum rests on four supporting power dampers firmly attached to a steel bottom plate.

• The construction stands inside the machine and even when it is spinning at a high speed, it is virtually free of vibrations.

Caroline Guillermard, Product Marketing Manager, for Maytag UK, said: “The advanced technology and design of Maytag washers means that outstanding performance and results are easy to achieve. The intelligent, intuitive programming takes away all the hassle and ensures a high level of energy and water efficiency.”

“Our Premium Super Capacity washing machine offers the largest capacity of any domestic washer, and the 15 programme options means that it can easily manage our very busy lives. There is even a programme that is designed to take a ‘daily’ mixed load of cotton and synthetic garments at the touch of a button, making it a truly versatile machine.”

Available in fashionable black. Dimensions H x W x D: 965 x 686 x 785 mm.

For more information on this new super capacity washing machine, visit the Maytag website.

Tel: (0844) 499 0101

Door security systems are becoming increasingly popular and are proving to be especially useful for elderly or disabled people, providing both security and peace of mind.

Types of Door Access Systems - There is a wide choice of access control systems available from cheap DIY devices, to the more complex hard- wired door security systems.

Video Systems - This type allows visual confirmation of visitors and remote door access into a property, giving both security and calm to the occupants.

Intelligent Home’s Touch Screen Video Door Entry Systems.

Intelligent Home supplies a complete range of home door access systems, to suit many requirements. Their most popular system is:

The IH-692 Touch Screen Video Door Entry DUO System, which comprises:

• One Master Touch Screen 7” LCD monitor with SD card slot records short video clips or pictures on SD card 2GB + 1 x slave monitor. Dimensions of monitor: W223  x H160 x D25mm.

• OSD (on screen) menu selection: adjust volume, colour, brightness, scene mode, change ring-tone etc.

• SD card memory to store colour images with date and time. Video clip or picture are taken automatically when someone rings the bell or can be taken manually at any time.

• Loud speaker with 15 different ring tones.

• Allows you to check outside and talk to people outside at any time you wish to, even if no one rings the bell.

• Connect direct audio handset (no separate power supply needed)

• Connect up to 2 doorbell cameras or one doorbell plus one CCTV camera direct • Connect up to 4 doorbell cameras and/or CCTV cameras with an additional 4 way switcher

• Open 2 electric locks independently with an additional RLC or control of electric lock and a light with an RLC • Intercom function among all monitors in the system • Brushed aluminium face plate • Mounting type: surface mount.

To complete the system you need to add at least one doorbell camera and one power supply; choose from five different doorbell cameras - three flush mount and two surface mount.

There are three choices of power supply: An individual power adaptor, a multi power transformer for up to 2 monitors and a multi power transformer for up to 5 monitors.

You will also need 4-core shielded alarm cable for connection distances up to 30 metres between monitor and doorbell camera.

To view the whole range of access systems on offer, visit the Intelligent Home website.

Features of home automation systems such as the Comfort Intelligent Home System from Cytech Europe, can provide a major input to the Lifetime Homes Standard, as well as to Assistive Living and the homebuilding industry’s targets for Sustainable Homes, in line with the new mandatory regulations.

Benefits offered by the Comfort System include:

• Interactive Voice Menu that can operate in any of nine languages allows Comfort to be controlled from any remote or home telephone. The real time status of the lights and appliances can be announced so you can check before switching anything on or off.

• Reminder Messages and Voice Announcements Triggered by Events: Comfort can be set to play back recorded reminder messages on talking keypads, or the telephone to remind the user to take medicine, for example, as a wake-up call, or to warn if any motion is detected in the home.

• Dial Out to Alert Carers: Comfort dials out to carers or family members, if there is no activity in the home for a longer than usual period of time. The carer can talk to the person in the house via any of the keypads. An emergency button on the keypad can force a dial out to the carer or family member.

• Conditional Logic Programming; Comfort’s extensive Logic Programming capabilities allow conditions to be tested up in order to determine the actions to be taken; for example, after dark, and the doorbell is pressed, switch on outside lights and play an announcement, or greeting message on the door station, and announce on the keypad that a visitor is at the door.

• Intercom: Comfort’s talking keypads communicate with other keypads around the home and with the door station.

• Home Security: The range of Comfort door stations including those with a camera, let the person at home speak with the visitor and also see them before opening the door. The door can be opened via any phone or keypad in the house.

• Heating, Lighting, Appliances, Curtains, Blinds can all be monitored and controlled by Comfort to help with energy-saving, home security and convenience.

For further information visit:

Web: http://www.cytech-europe.co.uk

Children can enjoy a garden playhouse at any time of the year. It’s a safe place where their creativity and imagination can flourish.

The Playhouse Company has been specializing in designing and building children’s playhouses for 20 years.

They create playhouses, castles, tree houses and play equipment that are individually designed, built and installed to the highest standards by their skilled craftsmen.

Built and installed to a very high quality and always supplied fully treated in a choice of colours.

Why not give that special child in your life the chance to escape, play and flourish with a beautiful playhouse?

There is no safer place than your own garden and a playhouse can become your child’s home for all year-round playtime fun.

With one in four 8 to 10 year olds never having played outside without an adult, and one in three parents not even allowing older children to play outside the house or garden, it’s never been more important, to provide a safe and inspirational area for your children within your own garden.

Featured here is: The Playhouse with side balcony - 090355.
It has false dormer windows and shutters to give the playhouse a very spacious appearance.
Priced at: £3,768.

Visit the Playhouse Company’s website to view the huge choice of attractive playhouses.

Tel. 01568 709103

For this Valentine’s Day why not spoil the one you love with a set of colourful Earphones from Bang & Olufsen?

Bang & Olufsen Earphones are designed to fit the individual ear and deliver unsurpassed sound quality; they are crafted from anodised aluminium and hard rubber, giving them both flexibility and robust durability:

• With conventional earphones much of the sound never makes it into the ear.

• These earphones are specially developed to closely match the contours and curves of the ear – so you hear the sounds that would otherwise slip away.

• Each element can be manoeuvred up or down and side-to-side to ensure the perfect fit. In fact, these earphones are adjustable in so many ways, and so comfortable to use, you might end up wondering whether you are actually wearing them or not.

• Inside, they contain many of the same acoustic competences found in Bang & Olufsen’s larger loudspeakers, just miniaturised.

It’s High-Tech jewellery that is sure to be appreciated by your loved one, for they come with their own specially designed leather carrying case, as the perfect portable music partners for a leather-clad BeoSound 2* for many years to come.

Don’t leave the great sound from your Earphones behind when you fly:

• Add a Bang & Olufsen dimension to in-flight music and films, with this practical accessory.

• The in-flight adaptor allows you to plug our great sounding, compact Earphones into the double mono sockets found on most airliners.

*BeoSound 2 brings a touch of sophistication to portable sound. With its distinctive shape and polished stainless steel finish, this pocket-sized digital music player looks as good as it performs.

Visit the Bang & Olufsen website for more information.

Tel: (0800) 138 0525

Most homes now have five or more portable devices and each one comes with a different charger that we leave plugged in at various locations round the house.

The Universal Multi-Charger from One for All will charge up to three devices simultaneously, with no messy wires and an LED light for the individual charge slots.

Once each battery is fully charged, that slot shuts down automatically and the light goes out - so, as well as saving energy, you can tell the charging process is complete, without having to check the device display (which is often locked).

It also uses turbo-charge technology to reduce the charging time.

For example, to charge a Nokia 5200 phone from 0-100% using a standard charger would take 155 minutes, while with the smart green Universal Multi-Charger it takes just 115 minutes - that’s 25% faster.
When no devices are charging, power consumption is less than 0.5W.

The charger works with mobile phones, MP3 players, PDAs, digital cameras, sat nav, game players and other devices.

Seven interchangeable tips are included in the pack for:
iPod/iPhone, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, MiniUSB (5 pin), LG, Samsung and MicroUSB.

Extra tips, and tips compatible with less popular devices, will be available from the One for All website.

The charger is ‘future-proof’ too, as any new tips introduced for portable devices will be added to the online store.

The perfect green charging solution for home or office, the Universal Multi-Charger can be placed on a flat surface, or wall mounted using the wall-mount plate included; the power cord is kept out of sight by winding it up in the bottom case.

To use, simply click the appropriate tip into one of the three slots and away you go. There are two further empty slots for storing tips you’re not using.

The One For All Universal Multi-Charger is available at leading electrical retailers priced at £59.99.

For more information visit the One for All website.

Geoff Collier has developed a selection of striking brass pieces, ideal for either traditional or contemporary interiors.

The new brass collections website showcases their ‘Period lighting’ and ‘Shell’ Collections, which offer the consumer a selection of specialist items to suit a variety of interior looks and tastes.

The Exclusive Lighting Collection is a varied range of products including table lamps, Floor lamps, Ceiling lights and Wall lights, all produced from in-house designs and original patterns, dating from the early 19th century onwards.

The products, from grand art deco wall lights to contemporary bedside lamps are handcrafted by skilled artisans, featuring intricate detail, such as traditional fine chiselling and punch-work.

The Shell Collection is a contemporary interpretation of organic sea-life forms, transformed into highly original door furniture, window accessories and lighting.
From sea urchin door-knobs in nickel, to Cone shell curtain pole finials; this range would be ideal for a sea-side residence, yacht or modern home.

The Neo-Palladio Collection is also due to be launched within the next few months.

Geoff Collier is proud to produce the very highest standards of craftsmanship for their clients, including many leading Interior Designers, Architects and Antique Dealers who commission them with bespoke pieces as well as large scale manufacturing contracts.

Visit the Geoff Collier Collections website to be inspired.

Tel: 020 7373 8888

French technology company Withings has announced the availability of its WiFi Body Scale in the UK.

Withings has combined sleek design and technology, to transform a regular bathroom scale into an accurate health monitoring system.

The world’s first WiFi connected personal weight scale that automatically records the user’s body weight, lean and fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) to his/her secure web-page.

In addition, a free Withings iPhone application, WiScale enables people to follow their body weight, lean and fat mass on their smart phone.

With its extra-flat black and steel design, the scale is an ideal bathroom accessory.

Jam-packed with technology, while still remaining very simple to use, the scale is available now on the Withings website priced at 129 euros or £119.

“We strive to bring innovation, design and technology to everyday objects through a wireless connection to the Internet and we feel the WiFi Body Scale truly delivers on all fronts,” said Cedric Hutchings, Withings General Manager.

By using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), the scale calculates the user’s body fat composition, and displays it in actual weight instead of a percentage of fat in the body; this allows for more accurate tracking, because it avoids the daily weight fluctuations, due to things like water gain or loss.

The scale is the perfect tool and a useful motivator, for anyone concerned about their health and interested in monitoring the benefits and progress of their diet and exercise plan.

It’s also useful for tracking the entire family’s health progress, with its multi-user function.
The scale automatically recognizes up to 8 users the moment they step on the scale and adds the stats to their individual online tracking graphs.

With the convenience this scale provides, users don’t have to lift a finger to get their daily stats - just step on the scale then check your progress report instantly on the web, or on your free WiScale iPhone application.

The Scale measures: 0.90 inches/23 mm | 12X12 glass slab/ 32×32 cm.
Display: 62 X 40 mm with high white contrast lighting.

Visit the Withings website for more information.

  UK-based company and connected home provider Intamac Systems, has launched two new connected home applications – for monitoring and controlling home security, energy management, home automation and telecare through the internet and cell phones – at 2010 International CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics show:

The Intamac iPhone application, is an innovative interface, which allows full two-way control, live video, messaging and reporting from the home.
Connecting directly to the subscriber’s Intamac account, the app will be available to download from the Apple store during the first quarter of 2010.

Also on show for the first time is The Intamac iBridge, an interface device, which enables third-party communicating products to be connected via broadband to the Intamac Platform, allowing end-user customers to monitor and control these products remotely through their web-enabled Intamac account.

This enables Intamac’s home automation service My Control to be activated, which includes applications such as automatically powering down non-essential devices, locking doors and setting alarms when leaving the home – and powering up, unlocking and disarming the home when returning.

The Intamac iBridge features full two-way support of Zigbee and Zwave devices.
Once connected to the home router, it automatically connects to the Intamac platform for self - install and ease of use.

“The Intamac platform has the flexibility to take data in any format and from any device, to enable service providers and utilities to offer value-added services such as security, energy management, automation and telecare,” said Kevin Meagher, CEO, Intamac Systems.

“Our support of technologies such as iPhone, Zigbee and Zwave demonstrates our commitment to support the most popular standards and devices to give consumers the greatest choice, and our partners the maximum flexibility.”

For more information about these exciting new products, visit the Intamac website.

Tel: (0870) 111 7234