Those looking to take on a high quality property may have many ideas in mind about how they are going to proceed. Some will look at style as their first priority. Some will be keen on emphasising space. Many will consider making their home as green as possible and others will look to combine more than one of these elements.

Some may ask just how much influence famous people have on this planning process. After all, if kids wear the names of their favourite footballers on the backs of replica kits, if hairstyles are copied and if advertisers play on the endorsement of products by celebrities to market goods to both children and adults, the effect other aspects of their lifestyles may have is also worthy of consideration.

According to Jason Pardesi, a designer for modern building design firm Apropos, this influence is runs deep when it comes to property and decor.

She said: "Magazines and the TV have always played a massively influential role in the style and content of people's houses and they are only too happy to show the public how Cliff Richard lives in his Docklands penthouse.

"Look at the phenomenal success that Grand Designs has become in the last few years, people want to see how others live to help them in the constant quest to better themselves."

Of course, such an attitude to interior design may depend on how the house matches up in the first instance. What Cliff Richard may do in an urban apartment may not suit the ambience of a large house in the country, so there may be some constraints on what people can match to their heroes' tastes.

Luckily, for those at the top end there is still plenty of choice and it is not expected that the credit crunch will hold back buyers of extensive means in the way that those heavily reliant on borrowing to buy are being. Speaking about this, Philip Selway, managing partner of property consultancy The Buying Solution, said that the present situation is one where high end property is that "We haven't really seen anything falling away as long as there's competition."

Moreover, he noted, there may be some opportunities for buyers at the top end that could only come up once every 20 years, so those keen to get the right property may decide now is the time irrespective of other considerations.

"These people who are at the top end of the market who are not exposed to borrowing and all that sort of thing would take the view that if they're going to buy something like that, they just want to get on with it," Mr Selway explained.

So for those with the means to buy without needing to deal with a restricted lending sector, now may indeed be just the time to find the ideal home. Once this is done, they can make any interior changes as they please to suit whichever manner appeals - even if it is the style of Cliff Richard.