Design dictionary – 10 words and terms explained
Credit to Author: Kathleen Freimond| Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2019 13:00:56 +0000
Buying a first home – in Greater Vancouver, it is likely a condo – is one of life’s sweet spots, an event that is often later recalled at family get-togethers and celebrations. But don’t let misunderstood terminology be one of the story lines.
While condo developers and marketers do their best to avoid industry jargon, some words and phrases inevitably become part of the conversation. Here are some terms worth explaining.
This term is often used when discussing the energy efficiency of the building, says Elevate Development Corporation’s vice-president Tim Clark-Hollis. Although it was originally an acronym for American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, according to the organization it officially rebranded it as a stand-alone term to reflect the industries’ standards, research, education and certification to promote a healthy and sustainable built environment. Clark-Hollis suggests prospective buyers ask if the building meets or exceeds ASHRAE.
“The higher the ASHRAE, the better the energy efficiency for the building and the lower the strata fees in the long-term,” she says.
While most highrise developments include the self-explanatory hollow core or solid core swing doors, now and then there are some variations. A pocket door literally slides (and disappears) into a pocket hidden inside the wall, says Pam Chilton, owner and principal designer at Zimba Design who explains it is often used when there is no space for a swing door. A french door features glass inside a solid frame and is often used as an exterior door to a patio but can be used inside, enabling light to flow through into an interior space, says Chilton. A Dutch door – a door that comprises two horizontal halves – has glass in the top section, she says, pointing out that when both halves are solid it is typically referred to as a stable door.
While the base of many bathroom vanities stands on the floor, those that are anchored to the wall are often referred to as ‘floating’. Chilton says it indicates there are no visible legs or brackets. “This gives the illusion of openness and more space and helps to make a room look larger and less cluttered,” she says. The same term is applied to shelves that have no brackets or visual support.
Often used interchangeably with ‘cabinetry,’ millwork includes built-in cabinets, drawers and shelves.
Kitchens and bathrooms in residential highrises often include porcelain and/or ceramic tiles – what’s the difference? Violeta Ivanescu, operations manager for the Terrazzo Tile & Marble Association of Canada, explains ceramic tiles are milled clays (and other inorganic materials), formed into a tablet and fired at a very high temperature, a process that changes the raw materials into a ceramic tile. Ceramic tiles can be divided into several subsections depending on the method of forming, water absorption or the type of raw materials used in their production.
Porcelain tiles are impervious ceramic tiles with a water absorption of less than 0.5 per cent, which means they are a type of ceramic tile, says Ivanescu, explaining these tiles require a very specific group of raw materials. Porcelain tiles are the most-dense group of ceramic tiles. They are generally frost proof, making them suitable for exterior use, and can be used in the most difficult floor applications (with some qualifications), says Ivanescu.
Although it’s referred to as ‘quartz’, these engineered stone countertops are not necessarily comprised only of quartz. Depending on the manufacturer, they are made using crushed stone – quartz and other stone – and bonded with resin. While a natural stone such as marble is porous and stains quite easily, good quality engineered stone is stain- and scratch-resistant and more durable in typical kitchen applications.
At Alabaster Homes’ Shaughnessy Residences in Vancouver a chandelier placed above the table signals the dining room zone.
This style of cabinetry design traces back to the Shaker community’s focus on simplicity and functionality and comprises a straightforward five-piece construction including the panel and the ‘rails’ that define the four sides. This simple design has stood the test of time and is found in many kitchens and bathrooms. While the five-piece construction remains the same, designers often vary the depth of the four rails, often specifying them to be finer (or shallower), to make them easier to clean.
This term is most often used to describe the countertop material also being used on the sides of a kitchen island.
“Like a waterfall that is cascading and flowing over, a waterfall edge is the continuation and run-over of the countertop material down the sides of the island,” Clark-Hollis says.
The waterfall edge on a kitchen island requires purchasing extra countertop material such as quartz and is considered a desirable design feature.
Flooring is an important part of every home. Excluding carpet (often seen in bedrooms) and ceramic or porcelain tiles (in bathrooms) the four wood or wood-look flooring options typically included in design schemes are: hardwood – made from solid hardwood; engineered hardwood – made using a hardwood veneer adhered to a decking; laminate – has the appearance of wood and is made by bonding an image of wood to medium density fibreboard (MDF); and vinyl plank – another manufactured wood look-alike with the advantage of being water resistant.
While many condo floor plans are open concept with no walls between the kitchen, dining and living areas, homeowners need to designate spaces for different uses – these are often referred to as zones. A living room for example, is usually defined with an area rug in staged show suites, while a chandelier placed above a table signals the dining room zone.