The Spectator, 24/07/2023 | Stacks Property Search and Acquisition

Solar panels in, swimming pools out: 2023’s property trends

Quoting Ed Jephson and Clare Coode of Stacks Property Finders

Veg patches

With the cost of cucumbers up 83 per cent and tomatoes up 50 per cent – according to the Food Foundation – is it any wonder more of us are growing our own? Kitchen gardens and greenhouses are in. Ed Jephson of Stacks Property Search says: ‘A vegetable patch is right up there on the list of must-haves for my clients relocating to the countryside. Even a couple of raised beds will do – as long as there’s enough space to grow some tomatoes, radishes and salad leaves.’ This house in Berkshire has a kitchen garden fit for a Michelin-starred chef.

Shabby-chic garden furniture

With hot tubs deemed far too expensive to run – B&Q’s head of home delivery reports that no one is buying them right now – we are turning instead to recycling. Clare Coode of Stacks Property Search says: ‘We are seeing simple claw-footed baths or weathered zinc tubs replacing jacuzzis with their flashing lights, sound systems and uber-high running costs.’ Shabby-chic gardens are having a moment, agrees Claire Carter of John D Wood’s Country House manager. ‘Home-owners are going to reclamation yards and doing clever things with apple-packing boxes or wooden pallets.’

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