Ten real estate words only rich people will know

Sept 3, 2015| Emily Power| Domain

http://www.domain.com.au/news/ten-real-estate-words-only-rich-people-will-know-20150902-gj7jeg/

For the everyday property hunter, browsing through the luxury listings requires an Italian or French interpreter – or at least, a dictionary.

These are the real estate, architecture and interiors words you’ll only ever read in a prestige home advertisement, and those with cash to splash will know and understand.

1. Loggia
   Meaning:An exterior gallery or corridor, with an exposed side
   Mass market translation:Like an undercover patio, but nicer
   As seen in: 182 George Street, East Melbourne
2. Porte-cochère
   Meaning: Carriage porch or coach gate
   Mass market translation:A car port
   As seen in: 53 Telegraph Road, Pymble 
3. Cupola
   Meaning:A grand, rounded roof on a structure, including a ceiling above a staircase
   Mass market translation:A dome
   As seen in: 5 Shelton Street, Waikiki
4. Scullery
   Meaning:A room in a home traditionally used for washing up dishes and preparing meals
   Mass market translation:Somewhere for the maid to do the chores you hate
   As seen in: 25 Barry Street, Kew
5. Travertine
   Meaning:A lightly coloured, porous calcite created by mineral springs
   Mass market translation:An expensive sort of limestone
   As seen in: 4 Walnut Road, Balwyn North
6. Colonnade facade

Meaning:A series of methodically spaced columns holding up an entablature

Mass market translation:A row of columns at the front
As seen in: 76 Tivoli Road, South Yarra

1. Grotto
   Meaning: An artificially created subterranean chamber, cavern or passage, often part of custom-made swimming pool
   Mass market translation:Some rocks
   As seen in: 19 Panorama Drive, Doonan
2. Reception rooms
   Meaning:The traditional, largely proportioned room for entertaining guests
   Mass market translation:The “good front room”
   As seen in: 2301/2 Phillip Street, Sydney
3. Artisan
   Meaning:A specially skilled crafts person who works by hand
   Mass market translation:No random tradies from the White Pages with plumbers’ cracks were hired to work on this home
   As seen in: 4 Woodside Avenue, Burwood
4. BespokeMeaning: Individually made to order

   Mass market translation:The owner didn’t go to Bunnings or Ikea for this stuff

   As seen in: 20 Linlithgow Road, Toorak