Homes of the future on show

As economic worries hit households throughout the UK, homeowners are choosing make-overs for their properties rather than buying a new home. For those with "Grand Designs" for their home, an exhibition in London is the perfect place to find inspiration.

Named after the British television show Grand Designs, the event combines more than 500 exhibitors and six separate shows covering interiors, building, kitchens, bathrooms, gardens and a grand village.

One of the highlights of the show is the Eco Pod.

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The domed structure comes in two sizes. The 4 meter pod is designed for 1 -2 people. Two bedrooms can fit into the six meter pod.

Aiden Quinn, the designer of Eco Hab said, "We use polyurethane which is very efficient. It is also a very sealed unit, so there is no infiltration of unwanted air. So we control the environment, we also have a hot air recovery unit so during the winter when you are heating it, most of the air that is being expelled is re-heated. Most of the incoming air is re-heated from the outgoing air so you lose very little energy in that aspect."

Quinn says the tiles covering the dome's exterior, which are made from recycled rubber, not only decrease the carbon footprint involved in building the house, but also last some 50 years or more.

In this Ovei entertainment center you can play games or listen to music in the privacy of your own entertainment capsule.

Or perhaps you'd like to take a nap in the "Napshell". This bed combines music and light therapy with contouring that follows the shape of the body. It promises the equivalent of 12 hours sleep in just 25 minutes.

The dining room table offers a refrigerator in the center of the table.

The bathroom of the future combines a bubble bath, steam capsule and infra red sauna all from the same tub.

And eating in an interior dining room is a thing of the past if the Grand Gardens section is anything to go by.

"Grand Designs Live" runs at London's Excel center from April 25th - May 4th.

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