Use a cheap sonoff WiFi switch. Flash it with Tasmota and then you have a webpage for that device to switch it on and off, set timers create rules. All on your lan and no cloud needed.
I have made some more progress. I have got the framing done and the walls up. I ended up cladding this in OSB. At a later stage I'm going to add cladding. Video uploaded:
https://bit.ly/4irMJwR
Next step is the roof.
I use three tuners at the same time so I can record multiple channels at the same time. I use a Pi TV hat, plus two USB tuners. I'll have to check which I use and let you know.
I use a hub to communicate. But you could build it without. Tasmota firmware has its own rules based engine letting devices speak to each other without a hub.
I don't have a smart meter, so I hooked up a Shelly EM clamp on the meter tails and it records electric used and shows live usage. It's good to see how power usage changes over the course of the day, plus switching things on and off and watching the change in power.