Glossary

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
F Lamp	A flame-shaped, often fluted lamp for decorative fixtures such as a candelabra.
Fabric Art	Handwoven or constructed fabric or textile pieces that hang on the wall.
Fabric Shades	Vertically or horizontally operated shades of fabric, including roller, Roman, balloon, and Austrian shades.
Fabric Wall Coverings	Heavy wall coverings made sturdy and substantial with a fabric, rather than paper, backing. Used for vinyl and nonresidential wall coverings.
Facade	The front or principal face of a building.
Façade	The front portion of a building.
Face Weight	Yarn weight. of carpeting per square measure. Ileavier weights indicate more face or pile yarn, or greater density.
Faceted	Decorative surface cut into sharp-edged planes in a crisscross pattern to reflect light.
Facia Board	It is a wooden plank usually 25mm thick and 15cm wide fixed along the eaves connecting the feet of the common rafters.
Fall Front	The flap of a bureau or secr'taire that pulls down to provide a writing surface. Find home office furniture.
Fan Light	A semicircular window with ribbed bars, normally found over a door or another window.
Fan Patterned	The description of a chair back when fitted with ribs or channels that resemble the stalks of a half open fan.
Fancy-Faced Veneers	Veneers that are cut into exotic patterns, which are usually used in more visible areas of wooden furniture such as door fronts and table tops.
Fanlight	The function of fanlight is to ensure cross ventilation in the room even when the door is closed. It also assists in providing natural light in the corridors or passages.
Farthingale Chair	An armless upholstered chair for ladies wearing enormous skirts of the early Stuart era.
Fault	A fracture within a rock mass where the rocks on one side have moved in relation to those on the other side.
Fauteuil	An upholstered French armchair with open spaces between the arms and seat. Find a living room chair.
Faux	A simulation of something else. An example of this would be faux marble, which is a marble-like surface painted onto walls or other surfaces (see trompe l'oeil).
Faux Finish	A decorative paint technique that imitates a pattern found in nature.
Faux-Finish	A decorative technique in which paint or stain is applied to a surface to simulate another material such as wood, marble, or granite.
Feasibility Studies	In-depth estimates of the cost of planning and specification of a project undertaken prior to any actual planning.
Feather Banding	Two narrow bands of veneer laid in opposite diagonals.
Feather Bed	A quilted mattress topper stuffed with feathers or goose down. Find a feather bed.
Federal	Design period following the American Revolution and running roughly through the early 1800's. Federal styles incorporate the neo-classical influences of Sheraton and Hepplewhite including straight and delicate lines, tapered legs, and contrasting veneers.
Federal (1790-1830)	The post-revolutionary period in America.
Feldspar	Crystalline materials mixed with kaolin to make porcelain.
Felt	A cotton material commonly used for cushioning or lining the inside of a piece of furniture such as a jewelry armoire or the drawers of a buffet.
Felt Padding	Animal and/or synthetic fibers compressed and needlepunched; used for carpet underlay to protect carpet without great resilience.
Fender Piles	When the piles are used to protect concrete deck or other water front structures from the abrasion or impact that may be caused from the ships or barges (when they are tied up at the deck ) they are called fender piles.
Fenestration	Refers to the use of windows on a wall.
Feng Shui	Literally, wind/water, the Chinese system of balancing the energy patterns of the physical environment.
Ferrule	Normally a metal cap attached to the end of a slender shaft for strength or to prevent splitting.
Festoon	A length of garland, foliage, flowers or branches that are entwined or bound together, usually hanging in a curve between two points.
Festoon Blind	Similar to an Austrian blind, but with gathered scallops throughout the length of the blind.
Ff & E (Furniture, Furnishings, And Equipment)	Nickname for projects that have minimal or no construction work involved.
Fiber	A natural or synthetic substance such as cotton or polyester that can be separated into thread-like filaments and be spun, woven or matted.
Fiber Felt Padding	See felt padding.
Fiber Rug	A floor covering made of tightly twisted strips of paper often coated with vinyl to resist friction and moisture.
Fiberboard	A board made of compressed wood fibers and glue.
Fiberfill	Generic term for all stuffing fibers or materials used in battings, quiltings, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.
Fiberglass Or Glass Fiber	A synthetic mineral fiber made of spun glass used for insulation, tub enclosures, and contract draperies. (A registered trademark of Owens-Corning for glass fiber or fiberglass.)
Fibralon	A registered trademark of Fibron for olefin.
Fibro	A registered trademark of Courtaulds for rayon.
Fiddle Back	A backsplat in the shape of a violin (fiddle) that is typically seen on Queen Anne chairs.
Fiddleback	A unique figure on the face of a wood, giving it a washboard effect.
Fider	The Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research, which establishes standards for design education. Also a design school accrediting body.
Fieldstone	Any type of large, rugged rocks used for flooring or walls.
Figure	The pattern produced in wood by annual growth rings, rays, knots, color variation, and the manner in which the log was cut.
Figuring	A pattern made by the natural grain of wood.
Filament	The continuous man-made fiber strand extruded through the spinnerette. Filaments are combined and spun into threads or yarns. Natural filaments are silk and horsehair.
Filament Lighting	Light that's produced by heating a small filament inside a bulb, as with a common light bulb.
File Cabinet	A piece of office furniture used for storing files. File cabinets normally consist of one to four drawers. Find a file cabinet.
Filigree	A decorative ornamentation that's often produced with fine wires of gold or silver in the form of scrolls and arabesques.
Fill (Or Weft)	Visible yarns in a fabric that are woven through the less visible foundation of the warp yarns. The term 'fill' can also apply to how an item is stuffed such as a 100% down-fill pillow.
Fillers	Preparatory materials for surfaces to be painted. Used to fill in nail holes, cracks, or other imperfections.
Filling	A step in the manufacturing finishing process where the filling of natural pores in wood allows the surface to become smoother and more reflective.
Filling Yarns	The set of yarns woven crosswise into the set of long warp yarns that are threaded onto a loom. Also called weft.
Fina	A registered trademark of Monsanto for acrylic.
Fine Arts	The arts of architecture, painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking, as well as music, literature, drama, and dance.
Finger Joint	A joint in which two pieces of wood are cut in an elongated zigzag pattern and joined together with glue.
Finger Plates	Narrow rectangular panels, often made in the same material as the door knob, which are fixed to the door to protect against dirty finger marks.
Finial	The decorative end piece on a curtain rod. Often in the shape of a spear, ball, leaf,or pineapple.
Finish	The surface coating of an item, which can include paints, stains, varnishes, fabric treatments, etc. Wood, metal, fabric, stone and many other materials require a finish for reasons such as coloring, texture, and protection from moisture.
Finish Carpenter	One who creates custom woodwork and cabinetry.
Finish Package	The woodwork in an interior, including items such as built-in shelving, cabinets, case piece units, baseboard/door/window trim, and railings.
Finish Plumbing	The installation of sinks, toilets, and faucet hardware.
Finished Length	The length of a finished, hemmed fabric window treatment.
Finished Pile Weight	Weight in ounces per square measure of finished carpeting.
Finishes	These are a group of finishes that render a fabric more resistant to bacteria, static, wrinkling, flammability, insects, soil, humidity damage and increase insulative qualities. A general term for processes that do one of the following
Finishing	Processes or chemicals that render fabrics more durable or decorative.
Finishing Coat	This is the last coat applied on the surface after the undercoat is properly dry.
Finnish Style	Finnish furniture designers used bent and laminated (layers of solid wood) woods to create organic, humanistic forms and lightweight open shapes. These designers were also the first to experiment with tubular steel in furniture design.
Fire Alert System	A network or single unit that senses heat or smoke, then alerts the occupants through a shrill noise.
Fire Retardant	Certain man-made fibers such as modacrylic, saran, and PVC that resist burning but are not flame-proof.
Firebox	The box or chamber containing the fire of a furnace or fireplace.
Fireplace Insert	An enclosed stove unit that can be placed in an existing fireplace to make it more efficient.
Firesurround	Shelf and side elements framing a fireplace. Also called chimneypiece or mantelpiece.
Firing	Heating clay, glaze, enamel, or other material to the temperature needed to achieve a desired structural change. Most ceramics are fired in a kiln to temperatures ranging from 1600°F to 2300°F.
Firmness	A sought after quality by many in upholstered furniture and mattresses, which is usually interpreted to mean support. Firmness for some is a comfort term synonymous with hardness, and for others it is a structural term associated with support.
Fish-Scale Shingles	Small shingles with round or pointed sawtooth ends used to create decorative surface effects on the nineteenth-century Queen Anne-style houses.
Fittings	The plumbing devices that bring water to the fixtures, such as faucets.
Fixed Window	A window that cannot be opened. It is usually a decorative unit, such as a half-round or Pal-ladian-style window.
Fixture	Any fixed part of the structural design, such as sinks, windows, or doors.
Fixture Or Luminaire	The structural or decorative unit that holds the lamp or bulb and the electric connectors. In fluorescent and lighting, it also contains the ballast.
Fixture Spacing	Refers to how far apart to space ambient-light fixtures for an even field of light.
Flag Stone	Any laminiscated sandstone available in uniform thickness is called flag stone.
Flagstone	Hard, nonresilient stone that splits into sheets, used for paving and flooring.
Flambeau	A carved decoration in the shape of a flaming torch.
Flame Resistant	A term referring to fabrics such as wool, silk, nylon, olefin, and polyester that do not ignite easily, are slow-burning, and will often self-extinguish.
Flame Stitch	A wavy angular pattern that looks like the shape of a flickering flame, normally found on brocade fabrics.
Flame-Retardant Finishes	Chemical finishes that make a fabric that is constructed of a flammable fiber become resistant to fire ignition and spread. Chemical applications that render a fabric less flammable.
Flame-Retardant Paints	Paints with additives that inhibit combustibility.
Flammability Resistance	Ability of background textiles to resist catching on fire and/or sustaining a flame. Nonresidential code requirement.
Flammability Tests	Tests that measure the rate of ignition, the rate of flame spread when the source of the fire is removed, how long the fabric continues to burn, how long it remains in a red-glow state, and the density and toxicity of the fumes. These tests are conducted to meet stringent nonresidential state and local fire codes.
Flammable Or Inflammable	A term that refers to fabrics, such as cellulosic cotton, linen, rayon, and acetate, that easily catch on fire or are highly combustible.
Flange	An erect, projecting flattened ridge such as the top and bottom horizontal projections of an I beam. Also refers to a decorative finish sewn into a seam.
Flannel	Usually a cotton or rayon fabric slightly napped on both sides to resemble woolen fabric used for some, blanketing, coating, etc. Woolen and worsted flannels are also popular.
Flare	The outward concave curve of a furniture leg.
Flat	A British term for an apartment.
Flat Arch	It is also known as straight or camber arch and are laid with its bed joints radiating to centre. When used over opening of door or window, the flat arch acts similar to a lintel.
Flat Paint	Any type of paint that dries to a matte or nonshiny finish.
Flat Roof	A roof laid at an angle of less than 10 degrees to the horizontal is known as flat roof.
Flat Slab Flooring	Flat slab , also known as beamless slab , is a type of construction in which the flooring slab is directly supported on columns without the agency of beams and girders.
Flat Varnish	It is sometimes desired that the varnished surface should present dull appearance. To attain this, manufactures make varnishes, which dry with reduced gloss by adding such material as wax, metallic, soap and finely divided silica.
Flat Weave Rug	These rugs are not woven with knots and have not pile. They are usually wool or cotton. It is a good idea to use them with a rug pad so they do not slip and they are more comfortable to walk on. Kilims and Dhurrie rugs are types of flat weave rugs.
Flatbed Screen Printing	The traditional method of stencil silk-screen printing where screens are manually or mechanically moved and paint squeegeed across by hand.
Flat-Screen Tv	A TV with a flat display.
Flatwork	Concrete laid flat for foundation and garage floors, sidewalks, and driveways.
Flax	A plant from which linen is derived.
Flemish	Flemish furniture was a product from master craftsmen of Flanders (Belgium). Flemish is usually included in Dutch Renaissance furniture and is not necessarily defined as a period of furniture, but more as an influence in design. Flemish furniture is famous for its distinct and careful carving and the Flemish foot. Flemish furniture is a product of French influence.
Flemish Bond	In this arrangement of bonding brickwork, each course consists of alternate headers and stretchers. The alternate headers of each course are centered over the stretchers in the course below. Every alternate course starts with a header at the corner.
Flemish Gable	A gable incorporating steps, curves, or both.
Flemish Scroll	A baroque form with the curve broken by an angle.
Fleur-De-Lis	Term for a decorative French emblem in the form of a conventionalized floral design.
Flexibility	The ability of a fabric to stretch and rebound to its original shape; a necessary characteristic in upholstery fabrics.
Flexible Wall Coverings	A general term for wall coverings that may be bent or manipulated to fit a shape or surface.
Flickering Light	An uneven source of light such as candlelight, firelight, or electric lamps that imitate this effect.
Flier	It is a straight step having a parallel width of tread.
Flight	A series of steps without any platform , break or landing in their direction.
Flitch	The half or quarter log that is cut to make lumber for furniture construction.
Float Valve	It is used to supply water to a storage tank or flushing cistern and to automatically shut off the supply when the pre
Floccati Rugs	Area rugs woven or knitted with tufts of sheared goat's hair left in its natural cream or brown color.
Flock Wallpaper	Wallpaper that has a raised fabric pattern. Find wallpaper.
Flocked Carpet	A method of producing a carpet pile similar to velvet. Fibers are electrostatically charged, then embedded in a glue-coated fabric backing.
Flocked Wallpapers	Wallpapers with chopped fibers affixed to the. surface in a decorative pattern.
Flocking	A decorative process of adhering patterns of tiny fibers to the surface of a fabric; often seen in sheers and flocked dotted swiss fabrics.
Flogging	Brickwork used as mull between timber framing.
Floodlight	A reflective lamp spotlight with a wide-beam spread.
Floor Lamp	A tall lamp with a base that stands on the floor. Find a floor lamp.
Floor Plans	The two-dimensional layout of rooms. Part of the working drawings and blueprints used to construct a space.
Floor Traps	Trap provided in floors to collect used water from floors of bathroom , kitchen or washing floor etc. are known as the floor traps.
Floors	Floors are flat supporting elements of a building. They divide building into different levels thereby creating more accommodation on a given plot of land.
Flow	A smooth continuity achieved by design and decor elements being arranged harmoniously with some sense of shape, style and color.
Flowing Lines	These are a type of curved lines that suggest graceful continuous or growing movement.
Flue	The chimney pipe above the firebox in a fireplace.
Fluoresce	To glow or become fluorescent.
Fluorescent	Contains a mixture of an inert gas and low-pressure mercury vapor.
Fluorescent Light	Produced by an arc, or discharge, between two electrodes inside a glass tube filled with very low-pressure mercury vapor that produces ultraviolet (invisible) radiation in wavelengths. These activate the white phosphorus lining of the lamp, causing it to glow and converting the ultraviolet energy into visible light.
Fluorescent Light Bulb	An energy-efficient light source made of a usually tubular-shaped bulb that contains a glowing gas and is coated on the inside with phosporous.
Fluorescent Lighting	A type of lighting in which an electrical charge is passed through mercury vapor to create a chemical reaction that produces light. Uses far less energy and creates less heat than incandescent or halogen lighting, but the light quality and color rendering capabilities are diminished.
Flush Door	Flat doors with no raised or sunken panels.
Flush Pointing	In this type of pointing, the mortar is pressed into the raked joints and finished off flush with the edges of the bricks or stones, so as to give a smooth appearance.
Flush-Face Fireplace	A fireplace whose planes are flush with the wall in which it is built.
Flushing Cistern	A flushing cistern is used for storage and discharge of water for flushing of contents from a W.C. or urinal.
Flute	A groove in the shaft of a column.
Fluted	Marked by a series of vertical grooves, as on the shaft of a column, a pilaster, or a decorative molding.
Fluting	A series of carved out semicircular grooves usually found on columns, molding or wooden legs.
Fly Rail	The folding bracket that supports the drop leaf of a table.
Flying Buttress	A horizontal brace that spans from the wall to a supporting abutment and receives the outward thrust of the wall.
Flying Shores	It is a system of providing temporary support to the party walls of two buildings where the intermediate building is to be pulled down and rebuild.
Foam	Padding material used in upholstered furniture and mattresses. Common types of foam include polyurethane, latex, and Viscoelastic ('Visco' or 'Memory Foam').
Foam Core	A cardboard-like material with a foam center available in varying thickness; commonly used to mount photographs and display materials.
Foam Rubber Pads	Carpet underlay of foam rubber.
Fob (Free On Board)	The shipper must assume that expense of loading the goods onto the truck as well the expenses and risk for shipping the goods to the FOB destination.
Fob,Destination	The manufacturer retains ownership of the goods, pays all shipping expense, and assumes all risks until the goods reach the delivery destination.
Fob,Factory	The buyer assumes ownership or title of the goods when they are loaded on the truck at the factory. The buyer assumes the transportation expenses and all risks.
Focal Point	A visual center of interest or point of emphasis in a room. A well designed room will have many engaging focal points.
Foil/Mylar Wall Coverings	A mirrorlike shiny or reflective background.
Fold-Down Shelf	A spring-loaded shelf that swings up and out of a base cabinet for use, then folds down and back into the cabinet when it's not needed.
Folded Plate System Construction	A building system of thin reinforced concrete in a folded, zigzag roof pattern.
Foliated	Decorated with leaf designs of an intricate pattern.
Folk Rugs	Flat tapestry rugs handmade by an ethnic group in native design and color.
Footboard	A foot board is a vertical board or frame, not as high as a headboard. It is usually upholstered or finished wood.
Foot-Candle	A unit that is used to measure brightness. A foot-candle is equal to one lumen per square foot of lighted surface.
Foot-Candle (Fc)	A unit used to measure the bright-ness produced by a lamp. A foot-candle is equal to one lumen per square foot of surface.
Footcandles	A measurement of the amount of direct light hitting a surface.
Footing	A foundation unit constructed in brickwork, masonry or concrete under the base of a wall or column for the purpose of distributing the load over a large area.
Footlamberts	A measurement of the amount of light reflected off a surface.
Forced-Air Heating	A conventional furnace-powered heating system in which the hot air is blown through ducts and enters rooms through registers.
Forged	A blacksmithing technique, in which metal is shaped by hammering, usually while at red or white heat.
Form	Is the basic shape and configuration of an object or space.
Formal Areas	The spaces in residential design where structured visiting, dining, and entertaining take place away from kitchen and other work spaces.
Formal Balance	Another term for symmetrical, bisymmetrical, or passive balance.
Fortrel	A registered trademark of Celanese for polyester.
Fossiloferous	A rock containing fossils.
Foundation	It is the lowest part of the structure below the ground level, which is in direct contact with the ground and transmits all the dead, live and other loads to the soil on which the structure rests.
Four Plex	A four-unit apartment building.
Four Poster	A bed with posts that are tall enough to hold a canopy. Find bedroom furniture.
Fq	Full/Queen size. Fits both Full and/or Queen size. Approximate size for Comforter, Duvet Cover is 88"x96". FQ is also the abbreviation we use for the FurnitureQuest.com website.
Frame	The wooden framework of an upholstered piece of furniture.
Framed Cabinet	A cabinet with a full frame across the face of the cabinet box.
Frameless Cabinet	A cabinet without a face frame. It may also be called a "European-style" cabinet.
Framing Or Framework	The wooden or metal skeleton structure used for the majority of buildings today.
Freestanding Fireplace	A self-contained fireplace unit that is away from the wall.
French Bed	A bed with ends that roll outward. It has no posts. Commonly referred to as a sleigh bed today.
French Classic	French Classic design was largely base on a complete avoidance of the curved line in furniture. This type of furniture is usually quite straight and simplistic in design. French Classic is considered an influence rather than a defined style and was influenced by an Italian flavor of styling. Decoration depends on fluted and grooved accents, geometric patterns and marquetry. Mahogany is the favored wood of French Classic designs, however rosewood, tulipwood, and ebony were used though less frequently. Most popular during the later 1700's.
French Door	Double casement-type door that opens in or out.
French Empire	Style of the early 1800's that expressed the imperial ambitions of Napoleon and was created at his command. Greek and Roman influence is apparent and though somewhat ostentatious, many pieces are considered quite exquisite even today. French Empire has simple construction with a deep rich varnish. Empire-wreaths. Roman eagles, lions, sphinx, and the letter "N" (for Napoleon himself of course) are the emblems that are familiar to this design. This style of furniture has mostly straight lines and often will have metal feet. Tabletops have marble tops. The most commonly used woods were mahogany, rosewood, and ebony.
French Empire (1804-20)	The period during the time of Napoleon in France.
French Polishing	Treating a wooden surface with French polish to give it a highly reflective, smooth finish.
French Provincial	Rustic versions of formal French furnishings of the 1600's and 1700's, such as the Louis XIV and Louis XV styles. Early French Provincial pieces were considered as peasant furniture.
French Regence	Popular in Europe during the early 1700's. French Regence' furniture designs have many similarities of Louis XIV furniture but definitely had its own styling. Rococo decoration is familiar in this style. Pieces from this era are very curvy and are intensely decorated. Many pieces from this period are somewhat whimsical and different. French Regence' also introduced commodes, secretaries, and chiffoniers.
French Regence (1715-23)	The period between the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV in France.
French Renaissance	Style dating from the mid 1400's to the early 1600's. French Renaissance spans through many rulers, Francis I, Henry II, and the most noted Henry IV. French Renaissance was mostly inspired by Italian taste but the pieces are much smaller in scale. This period is famous for its exquisite woodcarving. French Renaissance is also noted for its betterment in tapestry weaving. Early pieces are mostly manufactured of oak. Later pieces are made of walnut. Later pieces are also known to be a bit more elaborate in decoration.
French-Wired	A lamp in which the power cord connects directly to the light socket, rather than being hidden in the base of the lamp.
Frequency	The number of cycles completed per second and is measured in Hertz.
Fresco	A durable painting technique for walls and ceilings, created by blending water-colors directly into wet plaster.
Fretwork	An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence, primarily used as a decorative element in Chippendale-style furniture.
Frieze	The central horizontal band of an entablature, found below the cornice and above the architrave.
Frog	It is a depression on the top face of a brick. It provides a recess for the mortar, which on setting forms a key and prevents the displacement of the brick above.
Front	As applied to a building means the portion facing the street from which it has access.
Full Bed (Or Double Size)	Refers to a bed for a mattress that measures 54"x75". Was once the standard or most popular size bed. Sometimes referred to as a double, full or standard. Find a mattress set.
Full Extra Long (Or Double Extra Long)	A full/double mattress that measures 54"x80". Find a mattress set.
Full Grain Leather	A top-grain leather without any corrections or alterations to the natural grain pattern. Find leather furniture.
Full Spectrum Lighting	Light that contains all color wavelengths.
Full-Forward Arm	An arm extending continuously from the back to the front of a piece of furniture.
Full-Spectrum Light	Light that contains the full range of wave-lengths that can be found in daylight, including invisible radiation (ultraviolet and infrared) at each end of the visible spectrum.
Fuming	A vapor deposition process in which a thin film of metal (usually silver, platinum, or gold) condenses on the surface of a hot piece of glass or clay, resulting in an iridescent surface.
Function	A normal or characteristic action or some duty required in work. Used here to refer to anything that takes place within a given environment.
Functional Finishes	See standard finishes.
Functionalism	A form of design based on use rather than on ornamentation.
Furnace	The mechanism that heats air or water by electricity, natural gas, coal, or oil and either blows the heated air through ducts or pumps hot water to radiators.
Fuse-Bonded Carpet	Carpet yarns directly tufted into a liquid rubber or latex backing that solidifies to hold in the tufts.
Fused Glass	Glass that has been heated in a kiln to the point where two separate pieces are permanently joined as one without losing their individual color.
Futon	Padded mattress and quilt, which are pliable enough to be folded and stored out of sight during the day.
Futon Cover	Basically a giant pillowcase that pulls over a futon mattress, that has a zipper or Velcro-type of closure. Find a futon cover.
Fuzzing	The working loose of fibers to the surface of the textile.