The ultimate high-tech home

OK, so we probably dont really need some of the things that are available, such as Boschs Indego robotic lawnmower, for example ideal if you dont fancy pushing a mower around the lawn yourself (1,299.99; bosch-indego.com). Or the Geberit AquaClean 8000plus, a loo that washes your bottom with a special spray (it has five different intensity levels). It also has a variety of special pampering functions, including a massage setting which has an invigorating effect, and an integrated warm-air dryer, as well as the most useful part an automatic odour-extraction function (4,422; geberit-aquaclean.co.uk).

Luxury loos and musical baths

Sir Stirling Moss is apparently a fan of Geberits rival, the Japanese brand TOTOs new washlet, which cleans itself and has a heated seat, as well as a slightly scary-sounding Tornado Flush (11,400; gb.toto.com). Does the world really need a musical bath? The developers behind 250 City Road obviously think so their show apartment has one, operated by Bluetooth, which effectively turns the bath into a speaker. Or how about Natuzzi Italias egg-shaped Sound chair, which comes with an iPhone dock and loudspeakers concealed in the headrest? (from 2,200; natuzzi.com).

Despite these outlandish examples, incorporating smart technology into your home can make sense. After all, most of us have got a Sky box these days, or Apple TV. So if youre doing a whole renovation project, it makes sense to install a little bit extra.

There's no need for lavatory paper with a smart loo

Thats what Viki and Mike Lander thought when they bought a Seventies property in Clapham two years ago. The couple, who set up their own interior design and development company last year (ensoul.co.uk), gutted the house, which hadnt been touched for 30 years. As we were building from scratch, we wanted to put in everything we wanted to enjoy, but also try to future proof for new things coming down the line, says Viki. So, they installed the works.

Theres the Sonos sound system, with speakers in all the main rooms and the ability to play different music in each one, because as a family were really into music, and its a big thing for us to have it seamlessly through the house, (and having no dangling wires or loose cables means their two-year-old son Leo cant get his hands on anything dangerous). The sound system is controlled through the couples iPads, iPhones and the computer, but a separate system, Control4, manages the media content: two Sky boxes (so they can watch different things at the same time) and a big media server with the couples music and film collection.

Worldwide security

Security in their wealthy area of London is paramount, so an IP security system of three cameras patrols the front and back of the house, plus the basement the cameras can be viewed anywhere in the world as long as theres a wireless network. A separate IP video entry system means that Viki can hear the doorbell on her phone if shes in the garden or the park. The couple also put in a combined heating/cooling system, digital taps in the bath, shower and basins and a commercial grade IT network for super-fast broadband and IP telephony, which lowers the cost of phone calls. They didnt bother with controllable mood lighting, but did fit the light switch back boxes to accommodate a wireless solution at a later point if necessary. At a guess we probably invested about 35,000 on all of the gadgets, says Viki. Its a lot of money. But this is the perfect home for us and our family and weve designed it as such.

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The ultimate high-tech home