Ideal home sweet home

The Ideal Home Exhibition is a British institution

If an Englishman's home is his castle, then the Ideal Home Exhibition is where he goes to kit the place out.

Now in its 90th year, the exhibition, which runs until April 13, is a British institution.

It brings together under one roof all aspects of modern living, from furniture to kitchenware, garden accessories to do-it-yourself equipment.

This year's show runs for 26 days and is expected to draw more than half a million visitors to the 14 acres of floor space at London's Earls Court exhibition centre.

At the heart of the exhibition hall are four life-size show houses contained in a mock-up village setting.

But the more broad-minded will no doubt stray a little further to the Oyster House. Designed by top British architect Nigel Coates, it features the very latest in contemporary, cutting edge design.

The open-plan house is made of dried softwood and glass and stands on a star shaped deck.

The concept house follows in the tradition of the first house of the future, which was displayed in 1928 and featured stainless steel supports and an outside staircase.

In 1959 the first fully-automatic dishwasher to be made in Europe was presented at the show and six years later visitors were stunned at being able to see themselves on colour television while at the show.

The exhibition has also proved the ideal launchpad for other domestic innovations such as the microwave oven, the refrigerator, the pressure cooker and washable paint.

The most revolutionary idea at this year's show is probably the automatic lawnmower which can guide itself around any garden.

Elsewhere there is little to make the eyes pop out, especially when it comes to the bigger companies. But there is still space in the exhibition hall for the more inventive minds to make their mark.