What's Hot, What's Not summer 2014?

The sizzling summer of 2014 may go down in history as one to rival the summer of 1976. Not to be outdone by the weather, Rachel Johnston of Stacks Property Search identifies property's hot list....

The sizzling summer of 2014 may go down in history as one to rival the summer of 1976. Not to be outdone by the weather, Rachel Johnston of Stacks Property Search identifies property's hot list. What buyers love – and what they don't. Vendors – tak ... HOT!

“Party barns – anything from a dilapidated outbuilding with dirt floors, to a properly renovated barn with underfloor heating and full sound system counts as a party barn. Who cares – a party barn is a party barn, and every home should have one.

“Tikki bar / cabana / summer house – a small covered space in the garden, possibly octagonal, probably thatched, or possibly tiled. Think Tom Cruise in Cocktail and get on trend.

“Dressing rooms – everyone seemingly has too many clothes for a wardrobe. The best dressed houses all have a customised dressing room, sometimes sacrificing a bedroom for the purpose.

“Plunge pools – today's alternative to a swimming pool. Just enough space to plunge in and cool off, but take up less space, and require little maintenance compared to the full-sized thing.

“Completely open-plan living is a bit passe, but blended areas that interconnect kitchen/living/dining/sitting/playing and watching, whilst still providing some privacy is hot hot hot.

“Study. It used to be called a box room, but if it's big enough for a lap top and some files, it's a study.

“Paddocks. They used to be called fields, but now they're called paddocks and conjure up images of ponies and chickens, rather than a man with a tractor.”

NOT HOT!

“Jacuzzis – widely believed to be a health hazard.

“Egg shaped baths – these will date your makeover too obviously. Aim for a more classic bathroom look.

“Grey – the new greige. It will be all over by 2016. Polished concrete falls into the same category.

“Signature walls – oversized flowery wallpaper on one wall of a room. Keep the flowers outside in the garden.

“Outdoor swimming pools – much too much maintenance; far too little use. Go for an indoor pool, that can open up to the gardens, with direct access from the house.

“Subterranean floors without any natural light. If you must extend, go up, or out, but please not down.

“Bifold doors – they're no longer aspirational, and can be found in every mass development. Quality is incredibly variable, and they're not really very practical.