Ten real estate words only rich people will know

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. Bespoke


Meaning: 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

7. 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

 

8. 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

 

9. 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

 

10. 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