What is a chef’s kitchen? Or wainscoting? Here’s what all the fancy real estate terms mean

A home for sale in Edmonton. (Realtor.ca)

Have you ever been looking through real estate listings for multi-million dollar homes and wondered what the difference is between a chef’s kitchen and a gourmet kitchen?

If you’ve read CTV news Edmonton’s monthly expensive real estate listings articles, you’ve seen these features and many more besides pop up repeatedly.

• 5 of the most expensive homes for sale in Edmonton in March 2026

As spring is dragged kicking and screaming into Alberta, it brings with it the usual expected uptick in home sales after people emerge from winter hibernation.

In Edmonton, March saw an increase in sales of 33.1 per cent from February and an increase of 30.6 per cent in new listings, 2,133 and 3,809 respectively, according to the Realtors Association of Edmonton (RAE).

The average price of a residential home was $470,819, up 3.4 per cent from February.

Ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty “dragged on consumer confidence” at the beginning of the year, though a more active spring real estate market is expected, according to Royal LePage.

“Edmonton’s housing market is moving at a more measured pace compared to last year, with lower sales activity reflecting shifting market conditions rather than a lack of demand,” said Tom Shearer, broker and owner, Royal LePage Noralta Real Estate.

“Inventory has been building gradually since 2025, giving buyers more choice and contributing to more balanced market conditions. As a result, buyers are taking their time and being more selective, rather than feeling pressure to act quickly.”

RAE board chair Darlene Reid added sellers looking to sell property quickly “may have to price strategically to get their property to stand out.”

With more people potentially looking at moving, it seemed an appropriate time to gather a list of real estate and design terms, some more common and obvious than others (and some a bit fancier than others), to help educate prospective home buyers.

Home design terms

Chef’s kitchen: This is a kitchen designed and equipped to satisfy the requirements of a professional chef or someone looking to cook at that level. Some common features include multiple ovens, space for multiple people to comfortably cook at once, a gas range, a sub-zero fridge, multiple sinks and multiple dishwashers. A focus is placed on functionality, efficiency and the ability to handle high-volume cooking.

Gourmet kitchen: Similar to a chef’s kitchen, a gourmet kitchen will often contain multiple ovens and high-end appliances, but a greater emphasis is placed on aesthetics and the overall cooking and dining experience. Materials and finishes in this type of kitchen tend to be more luxurious, rather than focussed more on durability and how easy they are to clean.

Spice kitchen: This is a secondary kitchen in a home that’s intended for use when making particularly messy or smelly food. These are usually near the main kitchen and have a stove, sink, storage and strong ventilation, among other appliances..

Butler’s pantry: These rooms, also called a butler’s kitchen, just off the kitchen and/or dining room, sometimes between the two, mainly used as a staging area for serving meals and storage space. They often contain plenty of storage space for dishes, cutlery, glasses, tablecloths and linens and other dining necessities. Sadly, these do not come with Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey as a standard feature.

Waterfall island: A type of kitchen island where the countertop material continues down the side or sides of the island to the floor, creating the appearance of a waterfall.

Backsplash: A protective and decorative surface used in kitchens, bathrooms and wet bars above the counters and stoves. These protect walls from water damage, spills, stains and errant pasta thrown against the wall to see if it’s done.

Banquette: An upholstered bench with a cushioned seat and back, usually running along a wall, and often used in dining areas for added comfort during meals.

Wet bar: A bar in a home with a sink, running water and plumbing fixtures.

Fixture: Any object permanently or semi-permanently attached to a property through bolts, screws, nails, glue, cement or other means. Cabinets, lights, bookshelves and appliances can fall under this category.

Great room: A large, open-concept room in modern homes that usually combines a combination of some or all of these rooms: dining room, living room, family room, kitchen.

Sunroom: Also known as a conservatory or solarium, these rooms have large windows, sometimes a glass roof as well, to let in an abundance of natural light. These rooms make for good places to put indoor plants that love sunlight.

Walkout: A feature of a home where there is an exit from the basement or ground floor to an outdoor space, most often the backyard. This differs from a lookout basement, where there are large windows, but no direct outdoor access.

Vaulted ceiling: A self-supporting arch above walls and beneath a roof, with the top reaching higher than the eight- to 10-foot ceilings more often used in homes. There are several styles, including ones like cathedral ceilings which are more triangular rather than arched.

Antique vs. vintage: Antique is a popular term for any older decoration or object, but for something to be technically considered antique, it has to have been made at least 100 years ago. Anything made between 20 and 99 years ago is instead considered vintage.

Terrazzo: A composite material made by embedding chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other similar materials into a binder (often cement, resin or a hybrid of the two). It is often used in flooring, walls and countertops.

Veneer: A thin, decorative layer of wood or other material placed over coarser materials. This can often be seen on chairs or tables.

Marquetry: The art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to make decorative patterns or designs. These designs can also include other materials like gems, glass and the like.

Welting: Also known as piping, is a decorative and functional trim sewn into the seams of cushions and upholstered furniture. It reinforces the edges and helps prevent fraying and extends the life of seating and cushions. It is related to cording, which uses a cord as the trim.

Millwork: Any wood-based product produced in a mill and used in construction or home design, including trim, baseboards, molding, doors, wall paneling and more.

Wainscoting: A type of decorative wall paneling typically installed on the lower part of interior walls, usually covering a third or more of the wall.

Architrave: The decorative moulding that frames doors and windows, protecting the space between the fixture and the wall.

Coving: Decorative moulding between the wall and ceiling of a room.

Valance: A decorative fabric element used to cover the upper portion of a window and can cover the hardware used to hang curtains and blinds.

Niche: A recess or cavity constructed in a wall, usually meant to house decorative objects like statues, paintings, vases.

Mezzanine: An intermediate level between the main floors of a building which is usually open to the floor below.

Above grade: Any part of a building, whether entire floors or single rooms, that is situated entirely above ground level. This is the portion of a home included in the base square footage on real estate listings. If there are two numbers listed, the higher one includes the below grade spaces, such as basements, as well.

Oversized garage: Most standard two-car garages fall somewhere in the range of 20x20 feet to 24x24 feet. Oversized garages go beyond these sizes, though not always with enough room for a third vehicle.

Architectural and design styles

Biophilic: This style seeks to bring the outside inside to foster a connection between people and the natural world. It emphasizes using sunlight, plants and other natural elements as key components and features of the design.

Bohemian: This design aesthetic prioritizes individuality, freedom and art. It includes flowing fabrics, vibrant colours and natural, woven materials.

Coastal: This style is characterized by its use and reflection of natural seaside elements, sand, sea and sky. It evokes the feeling of summer and the beach.

Nautical: Related to coastal, but not quite the same, this style is inspired by the sea, boats and maritime culture. Navy blue and stripes are classic components of this look.

Rustic: This style is based on an idea of what rural living is like, striving to create a warm, cozy and earthy atmosphere using natural materials and neutral colours.

Cottagecore: Similar to the rustic aesthetic, this style is sometimes defined as a romanticized version of rural and pastoral life. It embraces vintage furniture and decor, natural materials and handmade crafts as well as using natural elements like plants and flowers.

Farmhouse: Another relation to rustic and cottagecore, this style focuses on function and aesthetic. It focuses on simplicity through neutral colours, wooden backdrops, rustic touches and comfortable furnishings.

Eclectic: Intentional chaos is a term that could be used to describe this style. It draws from a variety of time periods, designs, textures and styles to make something unique.

Minimalist: This style uses the bare essentials to create a simple and uncluttered space. It uses a limited colour palette and simple forms, aiming to create a sense of freedom and relaxation.

Maximalist: The polar opposite of minimalism, this style believes more is more. It is characterised by excess and abundance, using colours, shapes, tones and textures to create an over-the-top look.

Scandinavian: This style is similar to minimalism, but with a Scandinavian touch. It focuses on functionality, simplicity and warmth, emphasizing the practicality of items and furnishings while maintaining their beauty.

Hygge: A Danish concept, this style is influenced by the Scandinavian landscapes of fjords, forests and mountains. The colour palette is focused on earthy tones and the goal is to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Modern: This style is similar to minimalism with the ideal that less is more. It prioritizes practicality, simplicity and functionality. It often features clean, strong lines and natural colours.

Contemporary: While the modern style focuses on simplicity and function, contemporary is an ever-changing aesthetic. The trends of the present day are what is considered “contemporary,” so the style has no true fixed defining features.

Traditional: This is a broad design term that draws inspiration from a number of classic design principles. It often uses arches, columns, window shutters, symmetry, rich and dark colours, woods, florals, paisley, plaid and striped patterns. Wait long enough and the styles considered bold and new today will eventually fall under this category. Maybe don’t think about that fact too much…

Grandmillennial: Yes, whoever coined this term likely wanted to make all millennials feel old, as it’s also referred to as “granny chic.” The style is rooted in traditionalism while using a modern, on-trend twist.

Transitional: This style is achieved by taking elements of traditional and contemporary design and meshing them together. It incorporates the warmth and classic feeling of older styles with the clean lines and simplicity of newer ones.

Industrial: This style was inspired by early 19th- and 20th-century factories, lofts and warehouses. It often uses metal, concrete, brick, unfinished or minimally finished surfaces as well as showcasing raw structures and using a restrained colour palette.

Art deco: This style originated in 1920s Paris, aiming to create a sleek and anti-traditional elegance. The hallmark of the style is simple, clean shapes, ornamentations that are geometric or stylized and blending manufactured substances with natural ones.

Art nouveau: This style is known for its flowing lines, organic forms and intricate ornamentation. More than a design aesthetic, this movement aimed to create new “art” as the world became more industrial in the 19th century. From an architectural standpoint, Casa Batlló in Barcelona is an example of this style.