In 2013, property prices in the UK increased by over 11%. Living spaces may be getting more expensive (and smaller) but new schemes aim to make houses better connected and personally serviced too. How are people and brands reacting to the changing nature of our homes?

As you leave for work, you yell “lock” and “camera on” to keep the house secure, before telling your vacuum to clean the bedroom carpet while you're out. It's not a sci-fi film - the technology is available now. But do we really want our homes to be controlled by technology?

“I would rather live in a cupboard in Soho than in a mansion in Surrey,” says 50-year-old Vishnia. Urban retirees are embracing life after work as a chance to learn and explore. And owning 80% of the UK's net personal wealth, they can afford to. But what’s driving them to the city?

A struggling economy and tough job market have thrown adult generations back together under one roof. And from Whole Foods to Home Depot, retailers are adapting, creating inclusive experiences that offer mutual ground for all generations.

With 425 sq ft apartments becoming the norm in North America, space is an issue. But as more people want to eat well, there's nowhere to put the juicer and sous-vide machine. The Kitchen Library in Toronto lets people rent kitchen equipment for a small fee, saving space and money.

Three in four Australian homeowners plan to decorate their digs in the next two years, and 41% plan to build an addition or renovate. Tapping into this national obsession, Houzz is a community of home renovators and professionals that's disrupting Australia's $30 billion DIY market.

About 40% of Hamburg's 1.8 million residents don’t own a car, so IKEA has introduced its first ‘citystore’ – an urban little sister to its sprawling, out-of-town counterparts. It’s already more popular than any other German branch, but who is this inner-city store attracting?

How often do you get your hair cut? When was the last time you ate out? Do you subscribe to Netflix? Questions more akin to filling out online dating profiles will soon be asked by mortgage providers across the UK. But is it another case of a step too far for big data?