IMAGE.ie interiors columnist Vogue Williams shares the convenient at-home tech gadgets that make her life easier, from her game changing coffee machine to robot hoovers.
I am delightedly awful with anything tech-related, if I need to update my phone I call my sister Amber, if I need to sort out my online banking I call my stepdad Neil. I realise that at the grand age of 38, I should be better equipped for this world of AI and technology but I still find myself at the back of the class. My house however is a bit of a tech dream, I didn’t notice how much I loved a home gadget until I came to write this column which started out as a love letter to my Qooker tap. I have fallen deeply in love with that tap, it gives me everything I need – freezing cold filter water, fizzy water for my vodka soda limes and boiling hot water for my endless cups of tea. I’ve had one in London for a few years because our tap water is undrinkable here and it’s the same in my beautiful hometown of Howth – I feel guilty saying anything even slightly negative about Howth but the water isn’t great!
I was not a coffee drinker until I had my third child Otto and realised I was never going to sleep again so I jumped on the coffee train. By the time all of my children started sleeping well, I had already become addicted. I was drinking a lot of Nespresso until I went to my cousin Sheena’s house and she made me a coffee from her Sage coffee machine, a total game changer. It’s an expensive machine but I got mine on sale in Arnotts and to be honest there is no comparison in the taste.
Next up is my ice machine, my kids have become accustomed to ice in their water, bad move on my part but I decided to get an ice machine so we always have ice. This is not a household gadget essential but I have found it pretty handy and will get more use out of it in the summer.
The robot hoover is not something I ever thought I would need but three kids and two dogs leave a huge amount of mess. I have the Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum, €1,349.99 and although it can’t be the sole vacuum of the household it most definitely pulls its weight. Our main hoover is a Miele, they are brilliant and we even have one my mother gave us about fifteen years ago that still works perfectly.
I realise I am late to the party with the air fryer and held back ever buying one but we use ours daily. They are so handy, cook food really well and the best thing about them is the fact that the mess is minimal. If you are on the air fryer fence jump over!
I recently got myself a Kärcher Cordless SE Compact Spot Cleaner, €234.86, and I love it. It’s currently doing the rounds of all of my pals’ houses in Howth so it has been giving its cost per user ten times over. I already have their power washer and this is a great addition to the Kärcher collection I have at home.
Those are just a few of my favourite things I have in our house that make everything just a little bit easier.
Also Read
