| 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 |
Sound BoardAn insulative material in rigid form that prevents audible sounds from being heard; usually used beneath drywall. |
| 3D Rendering | The process or product of converting two-dimensional (length/width) images into three-dimensional images (length/width/depth) using sophisticated computer software. This creates a photorealistic image in which the viewer can "move" around and view the scene from different angles. |
| A 588 Steel | The designation given to steel that rusts only to a certain point and in doing so creates its own rustproof finish. |
| A Lamp | Designation for an arbitrary-shaped, standard light globe or lamp bulb. |
| Aahe | The American Association of Housing Educators. |
| Aalto# Alvar (1899-1976) | Important Finnish designer of several modern classic furniture pieces. |
| Abacus | The slab that forms the uppermost member of a column capital. |
| Abode | Living quarters or residence. |
| Abrasion Resistance | The ability of a fabric to resist wear from friction, rubbing, or other abrasive action. |
| Abrasion Test | Material abrasion test measures the ability of warp and weft yarns to withstand friction from wear. |
| Abrasion Wear | Distress or wear marks on fabrics, wood or metal. Created when a furniture or accessory surface experiences friction in use or handling. |
| Absorption (Light) | The light energy (wavelengths) not reflected by an object or substance. The color of a substance depends on the wavelength reflected. |
| Abstract | Design elements showing general forms instead of a detailed and realistic representation. |
| Abstract Design | A type of decorative design that may be based on natural or even geometric design, stylized to the point that the source is not recognizable, and the design is therefore open to interpretation. |
| Abutments | Abutment is the part of the wall or pier on which the arch resists. |
| Acanthus | Ornamental design motif representing leaves of the acanthus plant, native to the Mediterranean. |
| Acanthus Leaf | A leaf decoration often used on furniture, particularly on brackets and legs. |
| Acanthus Leaves | A representation of the lobed leaves of the acanthus plant used as a decorative motif. |
| Accent Colors | Contrast colors used to enhance room color schemes. |
| Accent Light | A type of light that highlights an area to emphasize that aspect of a room's character. |
| Accent Lighting | Controlled and specifically focused lighting for accenting interior decor elements or architectural details. |
| Accent Rugs | Small rugs, often called scatter or throw rugs, used for art accents, in areas where water may spilt onto the floor (such as kitchens and bathrooms), or to catch dirt where traffic enters the interior. |
| Accessible | Capable of entering or exiting a building or an area without obstruction. |
| Accessible Design | Interior and exterior design that meets prescribed requirements for people with disabilities. Guidelines and laws related to accessible design include such issues as standard dimensions and features such as door widths, clear space for wheelchair mobility, countertop heights, audible and visual signals, switch and outlet height, and more. |
| Accessible Designs | Designs that accommodate persons with physical disabilities. |
| Accessories | Small objects such as vases, books,lamps, plants and florals,and sculptures used to adorn and personalize a room. |
| Accordion Door | Folding door, with small vertical panels, that stacks against itself. |
| Acetate | A synthetic fiber made from cellulose, which is a common material in the cell walls of many plants. It is usually combined with other fibers to add a luxurious feel and appearance. |
| Achromatic | Colors without hue, namely black, white, and gray. |
| Acknowledgments | The paperwork forms that the supplier sends to the designer to indicate what the supplier interpreted the designer's order to be. |
| Acorn (Or Acorn Turning) | Turned ornament resembling an acorn; common in Jacobean furniture as finials on chair posts and bedposts, as pendants and as the profile of leg turnings in Jacobean tables. |
| Acoustical Plaster | This is gypsum mixture , which is employed as a final coat to serve the purpose of a sound |
| Acoustical Tile/Plaster | Wall and ceiling tiles and plaster that help control noise. |
| Acoustics | Acoustics or sound is a form of wave motion created by a vibrating body and is transmitted in all directions in the form of spherical waves consisting of alternate compressions and rarefactions. |
| Acrilan | A synthetic fiber used in producing Wear-Dated fabrics. |
| Acroterium | Originally an ornament on the roof corners of Greek temples. In classical furniture, similar ornaments applied to the top corners of secretaries, bookcases, highboys and other furniture. |
| Acrylic | A water-soluble paint made with pigments and synthetic resin; used as a fast-drying substitute to oil paint. |
| Acrylic Paint | A synthetic resin, water-based paint. |
| Acrylic Rangoli | Acrylic Rangoli is majorly a form of tradition of Rajasthan and Gujarat art, made using decorative items such as rhinestones, beads, kundans, pearls and threads etched over an acrylic sheet and painted with glass colours and can be made reusable as well.It is usually used for Floor Decoration in India in feastive season. |
| Acrylic Sheet | A flat plate or sheet of acrylic (a hard plastic) that can be etched to allow special effects. The most common is the exit sign. |
| Active Balance | Another term for asymmetrical balance where objects that are not alike balance each other, or like objects are placed at unequal distances from a central point. It is termed active because it requires some effort or activity of the eye to analyze or discern the balance. |
| Active Solar System | A mechanical system of solar heat collection for space and water heating. |
| Actual Density | The three-dimensional, literal mass or density of a piece of furniture. |
| Adam Style | British neoclassical style that predominated during the later half of the 1700's. This style developed out of reaction to the more fanciful rococo style of the 1750's, and is characterized by slender, graceful lines, refined shapes and restrained ornamentation. |
| Adam# Robert (1728-92) | The most influential of four Scottish architect/ designer brothers. His English Neoclassic work was influenced by the uncovering of Pompeii and Herculaneum near Naples, Italy. |
| Adaptable Designs | Designs that can be easily changed to accommodate a person with disabilities. |
| Adaptation | Furniture that captures the feel of an original design or period, but differs in some details. |
| Adaptive Restoration | Restoring older buildings for purposes other than those for which they were constructed. |
| Addenda | Corrections or changes are made to the contract documents by the issuance of addenda. Addenda are written by the person or firm responsible for the original set of contract documents. |
| Adelphi | Greek term meaning brother, which was the trade name of the three brothers Adam. These brothers are famous for the Adam style of the 18th Century. |
| Adit | A sloping tunnel or shaft driven through a hill or mountainside to reach beds of rock. |
| Adobe | Large building brick made of clay, baked in the sun. |
| Aesthetics | The philosophy of art and beauty. The part of art and design that is beautiful and appealing to the senses. |
| Affinity | The chemical compatibility of fibers to dyestuffs. |
| Afghan | A coverlet or shawl of wool, knitted or crocheted in colorful geometric designs. |
| Afterimages | When the human eye focuses on a strong color for several seconds or minutes, then focuses on a neutral area, the complement of that color will appear in shadow form. |
| Aga | A closed iron range fueled by coke, oil, or gas. |
| Ageing | Decorative technique used to create the effect of wear-and-tear on a wooden, painted, plastic or other surfaces. |
| Aggregates | Aggregates are those chemically inert materials which when bonded by cement paste form concrete. |
| Agrillaceous | A fine-grained sedimentary rock with grains less than 1/16mm, e.g. clay. |
| Aid | The American Institute of Interior Designers combined in 1975 with NSID to form ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers. |
| Air Bed | A vinyl or rubber mattress core that's filled with air for support. Can be upholstered and covered with cushioning and ticking and be used in combination with a foundation. Find beds and mattresses. |
| Air Compression Painting | Spray painting powered by an air compression machine that allows paint to be diluted for application. |
| Airborne Sound | An airborne sound is one, which is transmitted through air, and travels direct to the ear of the person. |
| Air-Brush | printing Dye sprayed through stencils by pressure ink jet guns. |
| Air-Conditioning | Cool air piped into an interior through an air-conditioning unit or through a furnace unit. |
| Air-Exchange Unit | Draws fresh outside air into buildings and expels stale, used air. Necessary in a superinsulated and tight structure with few or no windows. |
| Airless Paint Spraying | Mechanical spraying of nondiluted paint. |
| Aisle | A passageway separated by an arcade, running parallel to the nave of a church. |
| Alabaster | A fine-textured, regularly white, gypsum that is easily carved and translucent when thin. |
| Albers, Josef (1888-1976) | Color expert in simultaneous and successive contrast. Albers taught at the Bauhaus in Germany and at Yale University. |
| Alcove | Recessed part of a room. Bed alcoves exist in Pompeian rooms, and such placing of the sleeping quarters was common in northern Europe through the Middle Ages and later. In the 18th Century special beds were designed to fit such recesses. Alcoves are also used for bookcases and cabinets, dining groups, etc. |
| Alkyds, Alkyd Enamel | Oil-modified resin paints. Alkyd enamels produce glossy surfaces. |
| Allied Board Of Trade | A national credit agency that specializes in the interior design industry. |
| Allocate Space | To assign space; to determine the location and layout of rooms or areas. |
| Alloy | A substance formed by fusing one or more metals, or a metal and nonmetal. |
| All-Wood | Wooden furniture construction where all visible parts arc made of wood. |
| Almery | A cupboard for doles of pensioners, family retainers. |
| Alteration | A change in usage of building or a structural change , such as some addition or some deletion or change of the fixtures or equipment. |
| Alternate Complement | A four-color scheme of a triad with the direct complement of one of the hues. |
| Alternation | A type of rhythm wherein two shapes alternate?one, then the other. A classic example is the egg-and-dart molding seen in chapter 15. |
| Aluminum | A lightweight, silver-colored metal used extensively in commercial applications, and occasionally by metal artists. |
| Ambient General Lighting | Overall lighting that covers a large area, often in the form of overhead luminaires. |
| Ambient Light | General light that surrounds a room and is not focused. |
| Ambient Lighting | General illumination that surrounds a room and is not directional. |
| Ambry | In medieval churches a recess for the storage of goods. The addition of doors gave it the cupboard form. The English equivalent became a large cupboard with doors; the interiors were fitted with shelves for storage. |
| Ambulantes | A small portable table. |
| Ambulatory | A place for walking; the aisle in a cathedral. |
| Amenities | Facilities shared by condominium owners or available to renters in luxury apartments. These include swimming pools, tennis courts, and entertainment or athletic facilities. |
| American Colonial | Term loosely applied to all American furniture used by the colonies prior to the American Revolution. This style includes rough handmade pieces of the early American frontier, New England versions of Jacobean and Puritan (Cromwellian), furniture imported by settlers from Europe and Americanized versions of formal English and European designs. There is no clear division of this period but most agree to group it into Early Colonial and Late Colonial (American Provincial). |
| American Country | Simple designs originating from the earliest settlers in America during the Early Colonial period (see above). These pieces are very simple and often rough in design. This charming style is still very popular today. |
| American Empire (1820-60) | The interior design title of the period concurrent with the antebellum Greek Revival homes. Colors influenced by Napoleonic choices of bold, deep hues. |
| American Frontier (American Primitive) | This style of late 1700's to 1800's was created to meet the demands of the western frontier. Noted pieces include wagon seat twin chairs, sinks without plumbing, cupboards and cobbler's benches. Woods primarily used included ash, hickory, maple, black walnut and pine. Pieces of this period were usually painted black or in primary colors. |
| American Oriental | A machine-made domestic rug with Oriental design and colors to resemble a hand-tied Oriental rug. |
| Americana | Objects and decor items that are characteristic of American history or culture. |
| Amorini | Cupid ornaments found on Italian Renaissance furniture. |
| Ampere Or Amp | The measurement of electrical current in a circuit. |
| Anaglypta | Embossed wall or ceiling coverings that resemble plaster, hammered copper, or hand-tooled leather. |
| Analogous | Colors that are next to each other on the standard color wheel or as they occur in a rainbow or prism. An analogous color scheme usually contains three to six adjacent colors. |
| Analogous Color | Hues that are next to one another on the color wheel. Examples would be red and orange or blue and green. |
| Analogous Scheme | See Harmonious Color Scheme. |
| Analysis | A part of programming in which information is assessed and priorities established. |
| Anchor Piles | In foundations, when piles are used to provide anchorage against horizontal pull from sheet piling walls or other pulling forces , they are termed as Anchor piles. |
| Ancient Greece, The Golden Age (Fifth Century B.C.) | Era of the Parthenon and height of philosophical development and architectural excellence. |
| Angel Bed | A bed with a canopy but no front support. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Angora | Soft long hair of the Angora goat, often called mohair. The animal is native to Anatolia in the Angora province of Turkey. |
| Angular Lines | Any straight line used in interior design that is neither horizontal nor vertical. Angular lines may be diagonal lines in one direction or even or uneven zigzag lines. Angular lines suggest movement and action. |
| Aniline Dye | Term applies to dyes derived from coal tar, which are used to color fabrics and leather. |
| Aniline-Plus | Term sometimes applied to leather finished with an opaque pigmented dye. Find leather furniture. |
| Animal Hair Felt Pad | Moderately resilient carpet underlay of 100 percent animal hair felted into padding. |
| Animal Skin Rugs | Rugs of zebra, bear, sheep, and other animal skins. |
| Anodize | To put a protective oxide film on metal through an electrolytic process with chemicals and an electric charge. |
| Anthemion | A honeysuckle design from classical Greek decorative motifs. Term refers to any conventional flower or leaf design. |
| Anthropometrics | The study and comparison of human body measurements (i.e., anthropometry). |
| Antimony | A silver-white, crystalline, metallic element used in alloys. |
| Antique | Could be anything ranging from a piece of furniture to art. The U.S. government considers any item over 100 years old to be an antique, whereas most collectors use 50 years as a benchmark. |
| Antique Finish | A finish made to appear older by the application of a darker color over the top of a lighter finish. |
| Antique Finish (Or Antiquing) | A paint or stain finish applied to an object to give an aged look. |
| Antique Satin | A drapery fabric that has a lustrous effect, normally made of rayon/acetate blends. |
| Antiques | Furniture made before 1840 (U.S. Customs definition). |
| Antiquing | The process in which an object or surface is intentionally distressed or discolored to provide the appearance of age. |
| Antiscalding Valve (Pressure-Balancing Valve) | A fitting that contains a piston that automatically re-sponds to changes in line water pressure to maintain temperature; the valve blocks abrupt drops or rises in temperature. |
| Antistatic Finishes | Reduce conduction or static electricity. |
| Antron | A registered Trademark of DuPont for Type 66 nylon fibers, which are used in many applications including fabrics. |
| Apartment | A home or unit housed with other units that are rented for living spaces. |
| Apothecary Chest | A low chest with small drawers that was originally used to store herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes. Find home accessory items. |
| Appliance Garage | A small cabinet intended for hous-ng a small appliance, such as a standing mixer It is mounted on the countertop below the wall units and typically features a roll-up (tambour) or top-hinged door Appliance garages keep the work surface unob-structed. |
| Appliqué | A technique whereby pieces of fabric are layered on top of one another and joined with decorative stitches. |
| Apron | The wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of a table or chair. |
| Apse | A semicircular or polygonal projection of a church. |
| Aquatint | Printmaking process used to create areas of solid color, as well as gradations of white through black tones. Usually has the appearance of transparent watercolor. |
| Arabesque | Decorative scroll work or other intricate ornamentation consisting of foliage, vases, leaves and fruits, or fantastic human and animal figures. |
| Arcade | A series of arched columns. |
| Arch | An Arch may be defined as mechanical arrangement of wedge shaped blocks of stones or bricks mutually supporting each other and supported at the end by abutments. |
| Arch Ring | It is a course of stones or bricks having a curve similar to that of the arch. |
| Arch System Construction | A building type in existence since antiquity; the arch is held together with a splayed keystone under compression. |
| Architect | A professional who plans three-dimensional space and creates floor plans and blueprints. |
| Architectural Elements | The walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, fireplaces, cabinetry, and other fixtures or details that are built in to the interior. |
| Architectural Glazing | See glass. |
| Architectural Or Structural Lighting | Permanently installed fixtures or luminaires. The wiring must be in place in advance. |
| Architectural Rods | Nonresidential drapery and curtain rods that are usually drawn with wands or batons rather than a traverse cord and pulley. |
| Architrave | The lower horizontal band of an entablature, located below the frieze. |
| Area Rug | A small rug or carpet which covers only part of the floor. Find an area rug. |
| Area Rugs | Define a specific area, such as a conversation area. |
| Arm Caps | Coverings, usually crafted from fabric, to protect the top surface of sofa and chair arms. |
| Arm Chair | Seating that has both a backrest and armrests. Find an arm chair for your living room or dining room. |
| Armchair | A chair with armrests as distinguished from a side chair without arms. |
| Armoire | A large wardrobe or movable closet for storing clothing. Often also used to hide television and audio/video equipment and computer workstations. |
| Arrow Foot | A cylindrical foot that's tapered and separated from the leg by a turned ring. |
| Art Deco | A streamlined, geometric style of home furnishings and architecture popular in the 1920's and 1930's. Characteristics include rounded fronts, wood furniture with chrome hardware and, or, glass tops. |
| Art Deco (1918-45) | A brief period of design between World Wars I and II that has been repeatedly revived in interior design style and color. |
| Art Glass | Decorative glass - includes stained, beveled, fused, blown, etched, leaded and cut. |
| Art Lighting | A term for luminaires or fixtures that are in themselves works of art where light is the medium of artistic expression. |
| Art Moderne | The Paris Expedition of 1925 introduced a fantastically modern design called Art Moderne. This styling is familiar because of its angular and straight shape. Geometric patterns are the main decoration. |
| Art Nouveau | Decorative style developed in France between 1890 and 1910. Tiffany lamps are a great example of this styles ornate and flowing lines. |
| Art Nouveau (1890-1910) | A style of design based on natural floral motifs and colors. |
| Art Print | A print that is a reproduction of an original piece of artwork. Find an art print. |
| Art Rug | A rug with a decorative texture or pattern of such interest and quality that it can be considered a piece of art. |
| Articulation Class | A single-number summation of how effective a ceiling is in absorbing sound reaching it from over low partitions. |
| Articulation Index | Measures the performance of all the elements of a particular configuration working together, including ceiling absorption, space dividers, furniture, light fixtures, partitions, background masking systems, and HVAC system sound. |
| Artificial Light | Incandescent and fluorescent light. Amount and direction of artificial lighting affect color hue, value, and intensity. |
| Artificial Stone | A fabricated product that imitates natural stone and is generally used for wall facing. |
| Artisan Style | A style characterized by fine but not overly ornate workmanship that celebrates the maker's community identity or ethnicity. |
| Artistic Lighting | Another term for accent lighting. |
| Artist's Paint | Oil or acrylic paint in small bottles or tubes. |
| Arts & Crafts | Also commonly known as Mission style. This style was popular from the late 1800's through the 1920's. The Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction against the mass-produced and ornate Victorian furniture of that time. |
| Arts And Crafts | An architectural and decorative style that began in England during the late nineteenth century, where it was known as the Aesthetic Movement. Lead by William Morris, the movement rejected industrialization and encouraged fine crafts-manship and simplicity in design. |
| Arts And Crafts Movement | A school of thought at the close of the Victorian era that espoused a return to handmade, quality furnishings rather than machine-made items. |
| Asahi Ware | Pottery made at Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, since the 17th century. Tends to be made of coarse, sandy clay. Kiln is still in making and is well recognized for its modern, computer-controlled technology. |
| Asbestos Shingles | A fireproof roofing material in several color choices laid in overlapping manner and nailed tight. |
| Ashlar | A block of stone with straight edges for use in building. |
| Asian Style | A general term referring to styles of the Far East. Such as Chinese, Japanese, or Korean designs for example. Furniture with Asian characteristics are popular as a subset of contemporary style. |
| Asid | The American Society of Interior Designers. |
| Asphalt Varnish | This is made by dissolving melted hard asphalt in linseed oil and thinned with turpentine or petroleum spirit. This varnish is chiefly used to give a black shop coat to fabricated iron and steel products. |
| Assembly Building | These shall include any building or part of a building where group of people gathers for amusement , recreation , social religious or for some other reason. |
| Astragal | Small, semi-circular molding applied to the glazing bars on cabinets and bookcases. |
| Asymmetrical Balance | The placement of different objects on either side of a center point where they balance each other. Also called informal balance, asymmetry requires a discerning eye and sensitivity to achieve the balance. |
| Atrium | The open entry hall of a Roman house. |
| Atrium Door | A French-door pair with one fixed side. Also called a patio door. |
| Attached Back Pillow | A pillow treatment that can't be removed from the upholstered piece, commonly found on sofas, loveseats and chairs. |
| Attached Dwellings | Residences with shared walls, such as condominiums, town houses, twin houses, and multiplexes. |
| Attic Window | Pivoting window installed in the pitched roof of an attic. |
| Aubusson | A scenic tapestry used for wall hangings and upholstery. Named for Aubusson, France. Find a wall tapestry. |
| Aubusson Rugs | Flat tapestry French rugs woven in both historic and contemporary colors and patterns. |
| Austrian Shade (Or Austrian Blind) | A decorative window treatment with a scalloped lower edge. When the blind is drawn up it maintains the scalloped edge, creating folds of ruched fabric. Find shades and blinds. |
| Austrian Shades | Scalloped and gathered shades that fold up. They are full and formal looking. |
| Austrian Valance | Valance in the same style as the Austrian shade. |
| Automatic Sensor Dimmer | A device that automatically turns on and controls the level of artificial light to supplement natural light in order to keep the light at an even level of brightness. |
| Auxiliary Heating | A backup heating method needed for solar energy systems when the sun cannot supply all the heating needs of the interior. |
| Avril | A registered trademark of FMC Corporation for viscose rayon. |
| Awning Window | A window that is hinged at the top and swings outward when open. |
| Axminster Carpet | A Jacquard-woven carpet where colored yarns are inserted as needed. Used extensively in nonresidential carpeting. |
| B Lamp | A designation for a candelabra lamp or bulb that is a smooth, torpedo-shaped oval. |
| Baccalaureate Degree | The degree granted by colleges and universities and some design schools following four to five years of general education and specific topic study. |
| Bachelor's Chest | A small low chest originating in the 1700's. Find a chest of drawers. |
| Back | The inner surface of the wall, which is not exposed to weather, is termed as back. |
| Back Band | Additional molding piece adhered to the outer edge of casing to create a more substantial appearance. |
| Back Flap Hinges | This type of hinges are used with thin shutters where butt hinges are not used. These hinges are fixed to the back side of the shutters and frame. |
| Back Panel | A panel used to cover the back of a case piece; often made of hardboard. |
| Backing | A coating that is applied to the back of fabric to prevent seam slippage and excess wear. |
| Backlighting | Illumination coming from a source behind or at the side of an object. |
| Backsplash | A backsplash is a durable material, often tile, that is placed on the wall behind a kitchen or bathroom counter in order to deflect the water or other liquids from staining the wall. |
| Backsplat | A slat of wood in the middle of a chair back. |
| Baffle | A device fixed to a light fitting to prevent light from glaring into the eyes. |
| Baffled Ceiling | Ceiling hung with panels of wood, metal, or fabric that serve as a screen. |
| Bag Table | 18th Century serving table with drawers and a cloth bag attached. |
| Bagging | A painting technique in which a crumpled bag (or other material) is dabbed onto a glazed or emulsioned wall to create textured patterns. |
| Baguette | A small convex molding with semi-circular contours. |
| Bail | A metal ring or hoop forming a handle. |
| Baize | Wool fabric resembling felt (usually green) used on gaming tables. |
| Bakelite | A trade name for one of the first plastics to come into widespread use. The colors of this plastic are usually limited to browns and blacks. Bakelite was a popular material used in producing early pieces of modern furniture. |
| Baker's Rack | Commonly an open slatted back storage unit with shelves used for storing goods in the kitchen such as cook books, wine, etc. Most commonly made of wood and metal or a combination of the two. Find a baker's rack. |
| Balance | The arrangement of objects around an epicenter, or creating an even feel or atmosphere in a room. |
| Balanced Footing | It is commonly known as Strap footing. In this the load from the outer column is balanced by the load from the inner column through a cantilever beam , acting through a fulcrum. |
| Balanced Light | Light from more than one direction meant to eliminate glare and high contrast of light and dark, or unflattering or fatiguing shadows. |
| Balcony | A horizontal cantilevered projection including a hand-rail or balustrade to serve as passage or sitting out place. |
| Ball & Claw | A carved lions or birds claw clutching a sphere, usually at the end of a cabriole leg or tables base. |
| Ball Foot | The rounded end of a turned leg having a hooded effect. |
| Ballast | The connecting mechanism within a fluorescent lamp. |
| Balloon Back Chair | A rounded back Hepplewhite style chair in the shape of a hot-air balloon. Find a chair for your living room or dining room. |
| Balloon Shade | A window treatment with gathered fabric and soft billowy folds. Find window treatments and curtains. |
| Balloon Valance | Valance in the same style as the balloon shade. |
| Balloon, Pouf, Or Cloud Shades | Loosely gathered, full, soft, and billowy shades that pull up from the bottom. |
| Baluster | It is a wooden , metal or masonary vertical member supporting a hand rail. |
| Balustrade | It usually consists of a row of balusters surmounted by a rail and is provided to perform the function of a fence or guard for the users of the stair |
| Bamboo Shades | Shades woven of split bamboo and a cotton warp. Also called matchstick shades. |
| Bamboo Turning | Style of turning and painting wood to resemble bamboo. Popular in the 19th Century. |
| Banding | An Inlay or Marquetry that produces a color or grain contrast along the perimeter of a surface such as a tabletop. |
| Bandy Leg | American colonial term for the cabriole, or curved leg. |
| Banister-Back Chair | Generally made of maple and often ebonized. Features vertical split banisters in the back. Widely used in rural America in the 1700's. |
| Bank Of Light | A large, well-lit area of light. |
| Banquette | A long upholstered seat, settee or bench, that's usually built-in. Term also refers to the ledge at the back of a buffet. |
| Bar | A counter like piece of furniture or built-in cabinetry typically used for mixing and serving drinks. Find a bar or pub table. |
| Bar Stool | A stool that has a seat height of about 30", opposed to a counter stool that normally has a seat height of 24" to 26". Find a bar stool. |
| Barge Board | It is a timber board used to hold the common rafters forming verge. |
| Bargeboard | Elaborately carved trim used around the edge of gables, most commonly found on gothic revival homes. |
| Barkcloth | A soft and textured fabric that resembles the bark of a tree. |
| Barley Twist | A furniture leg that's turned so that it resembles a screw thread. |
| Baroque | A highly ornate decorative style that originated in Italy in the 1600's. The style is characterized by irregular curves, twisted columns, elaborate scrolls and oversize moldings. The Italian equivalent of French "rococo". |
| Barrel Back | A chair or sofa with the arms and back forming a continuous curve. Find living room furniture. |
| Barrel Bolt | This type of bolt is similar to tower bolt except that the stapples are replaced by a barrel. |
| Barrel Chair | A semicircular upholstered chair with a loose seat cushion. Find a living room chair. |
| Barrel Vault | An arched roof with a roundheaded arch shape. |
| Barrier-Free Design | Design for the handicapped that presents no physical obstacles or barriers to access and allows free movement in the environment. |
| Barrier-Free Fixture | A fixture specifically designed to allow access to people who use wheelchairs or who have limited mobility. |
| Barsati | Habitable room on the roof with or without toilet / kitchen. Bat- It is the portion of a brick cut across the width or a brick cut by some fraction of its length. |
| Bartile | Quarry or clay tile (gray or red) roofing material. It is costly but never needs replacing. |
| Base | Finish trim used to cover the joint where the wall meets the floor. |
| Base Cabinet | A cabinet that rests on the floor and supports a countertop. |
| Base Lighting | A light placed next to the floor behind a deflector board that directs light upward. |
| Base Molding | The molding placed at the juncture of the floor and wall. |
| Base Plan | A map of the existing kitchen that shows detailed measurements and the location of cabinets, appliances, sinks, and any fixed elements. |
| Baseboard | Base trim made of wood. |
| Baseboard Units | Plugged-in or prewired units near the floor for room or area heating. |
| Basement | The lower storey of a building below or partly below ground level. |
| Basin | A shallow sink. |
| Basket Weave | A variation of the plain weave where groups of warp and weft threads are carried as one. A balanced weave carries the same number in each direction?two over and two under ; 3/ 3; 4/4. An unbalanced basketweave carries uneven groups of threads, over and under, such as 2/3 or 3/4. |
| Bas-Relief – Literally | Raised or indented sculptural patterns that remain close to the surface plane. |
| Bas-Relief (Low Relief) | The type of sculpture wherein the figures protrude only slightly from the background. |
| Bassinet | A bed for a baby. Originally basket shaped. Find baby furniture. |
| Bast Fibers | Natural cellulosic fibers obtained from the stems and leaves of plants. The best known are linen and jute. |
| Batik | A method of applying dye to cloth that is covered, in part, with a dye-resistant, removable substance such as wax. After dyeing, the resist is removed, and the design appears in the original color against the newly colored background. |
| Batten | It is the name given to a narrow strip of wood normally nailed over joints of boards. |
| Batting | Thin layers of natural or synthetic cloth used to line cushions, pillows, quilts or crafts. |
| Battlement | A parapet indented or crenellated along the upper line of a building. |
| Bauhaus | A style of the early 1900's taking its name from the German School of Architecture. This minimalist style has had a great effect on contemporary architecture and furniture design. |
| Bay | The area between columns, piers, or buttresses. |
| Bay Or Bow Rods | Traverse or curtain rods that are prebent to a bay or bow window shape. |
| Bay Window | A window projecting outward from the walls of a room is termed as a bay window. |
| Bead | It is a rounded or semi-circular moulding provided on the edges of surface of wood. |
| Bead And Reel | A molding of alternating round bead shapes and oval or disk shapes. |
| Beadboard | Traditionally, wood paneling that's routed vertically so that parallel lines span the height of the board. Beadboard is often used as a wall material, wainscoting and on cabinet doors. |
| Beading | The process whereby decorative beads are sewn, glued, or otherwise attached to a surface. |
| Beam | The primary horizontal load-bearing element in a structure. |
| Beam Or R. C. C. Beam | These are the supporting elements. For bigger span and heavy loading conditions or in situations where intermediate walls are not provided, to reduce the span of the floor slab , R.C.C beam and slab construction is adopted. |
| Beam System Construction | Solid beams of steel, wood, or concrete supported with a series of posts. |
| Beamed Ceiling | A ceiling with exposed beams or trusses. |
| Beamless Slab | It is also known as flat slab , it is a type of construction in which the flooring slab is directly supported on columns without the agency of beams or girders. |
| Bearing Capacity Of Soil | The maximum load per unit area, which the soil or rock can carry without yielding or displacement is termed as the bearing capacity of soil. |
| Beau Brummel | A Georgian dressing table for men. Named after an English fashion arbiter. |
| Beau-Grip | A registered trademark of Beaunit for viscose rayon. |
| Bed | A coating of sedimentary rock. |
| Bed Frame (Or Bed Base/Frame) | A frame or type of platform that a bed rests on. Usually, a metal or wooden frame with legs used to raise the bed off of the floor, headboards can be attached to most bed frames. Find bed frames and bedroom furnishings. |
| Bed Molding | Same as crown molding. beltcourse A projecting row of bricks or stone On the facade that separates one story from another; also called stringcourse. |
| Bed Rails | Metal or wooden frames that join a headboard and footboard together and also support the mattress set. Most commonly used bed rail styles include hook-on and bolt-on designs. |
| Bed Skirt | A gathered or pleated strip of cloth reaching from the bottom of a mattress or box spring to the floor. Also referred to as a dust ruffle or bedskirt. |
| Bedding Ensemble | Can be any combination bedspreads, pillow shams, bed skirts, etc. Find bedding sets. |
| Bedding Plane | Surface in sedimentary rock parallel to the original surface on which the sediment was deposited. |
| Bed-In-A-Bag | Bedding set that includes flat and fitted sheets, standard pillowcase pair, comforter, bed skirt and standard sham pair. Twin has one pillowcase and sham, king and California king have king size pillowcases and shams. |
| Bedspread | A decorative covering for a bed that can reach to the floor on either side and usually is large enough to cover the pillows. Find a bedspread. |
| Beidermeier | A German furniture style from the first half of the 1800's. The furniture is often plain and squared in form and borrows elements from many styles, particularly French Empire. The Beidermeier style concentrates on strength and comfort at the expense of grace and refinement. |
| Bell Flower | A hanging flower of three to five petals carved or inlaid one below the other in strings. Used primarily down the legs of tables and chairs, or on chair splats. |
| Belter, John Henry (D. 1865) | A New York furniture craftsman hest known for his Rococo Revival pieces of carved laminated rosewood. |
| Belvedere | A cupola or lantern. The small square towers that rise from the roof of the Italianate buildings of the nineteenth century. |
| Bemberg | A registered trademark of Beaunit for cuprammonium rayon. |
| Bench | A long seat that can seat at least two people. Benches can be made from any material from wood to concrete. Find an entryway bench or bedroom bench. |
| Bench Cushion (Or Bench Seat) | A long seat cushion that covers the entire deck area of a sofa, loveseat or settee, opposed to individual cushions. |
| Bentwood | A process of steam bending wood for shaping into furniture parts, particularly chairs. |
| Berber Rugs | Woven or tufted wool rugs left in their natural color state?white, beige, brown, or charcoal, with flecks of light, or dark neutrals. |
| Bergere | An upholstered French arm chair with closed arms. Features include an exposed wood frame, loose seat cushion and wide proportions. Popular during the Louis XIV and Louis XV periods. Find a living room chair. |
| Bergere Chair | A large armchair, usually associated with the French Country or Provenciale decorating style. It often features an upholstered seat, back, and arms, a loose seat cushion, and an exposed wooden frame. |
| Berm | A pile of earth used to create a visual or physical diversion or to add variety to a landscape. |
| Beveled Edge | A slanted and polished edge finishing detail used on wood, marble, glass, etc. |
| Beveled Glass | Plate glass that has its perimeter ground and polished at an angle. |
| Beveled Paneling | Paneling with edges cut at an angle other than forty-five degrees. |
| Bias | The cutting and sewing of fabric at a diagonal or 45 degree angle in relationship to the fabrics pattern. |
| Bibelot | French term for a small decorative and often rare object. |
| Bibliotheque-Basse | A low cupboard with shelves for books. Doors are often of glass and sometimes fitted with grilles. |
| Bidet | A sanitary fixture for cleansing the genitourinary area of the body. |
| Biedermeier | The term used to describe the Empire style as interpreted and built by the craftsmen of northern Europe. |
| Bifold Door | A door with vertical double panels that folds back against itself; frequently used for closet doors. |
| Bifurcated Stairs | This type of stair is provided in modern public buildings. In this type of stairs , the flights are so arranged there is a wide flight at the start which is sub |
| Bills Of Lading | The form that the supplier provides to the truck driver to show what is being shipped and who has title to the goods. |
| Bi-Loft | A registered trademark of Monsanto for acrylic. |
| Biotechnology | The aspect of technology concerned with the application of biological and engineering data to synthetic products and environments. Also called ergonomics. |
| Bird's-Eye | A marking of small spots often found in the wood from sugar maple trees. Highly prized throughout furniture history. |
| Bishop Sleeve Curtains | Drapery lengths pulled into a bloused, poufed effect. |
| Bishop's Sleeve | A drapery treatment with side panels of lightweight fabric tied back slightly above the midpoint to form a billowing drape above and a flowing effect below. Find window treatments and curtains. |
| Bistro Table | Term conventionally refers to a round table about 40" in height designed for small spaces and intimate dining. It is common for people to also refer to bistro tables as pub tables. Find a pub table. |
| Bisymmetrical Balance | Also called formal or passive balance, the arrangement of like parts or objects in mirror image on each side of a central point. |
| Blanket | A large piece of woven material used as a covering for warmth, especially on a bed. |
| Blanket Chest | A low box-like chest for storing blankets often called a hope chest. Used during Colonial times for storage and as a bench. Find a cedar blanket chest or hope chest. |
| Bleaching | Using chemicals, such as bleach, to dramatically lighten or to remove color in a wood. |
| Bleed | Color penetrates through another coat of paint. |
| Blinds | Rigid or soft window coverings, oriented either horizontally or vertically, that obscure light, provide privacy, and can be raised, lowered, or adjusted to different levels. |
| Block Foot | A square foot at the base of a straight leg. |
| Block Front | An American furniture form of the 1700's, used primarily in chests. The front is divided into three vertical segments consisting of a concave panel in the center and convex panels on each side. |
| Block Print | A two-dimensional art form printed from a flat wooden or linoleum block on which the background has been carved away, leaving a raised design pattern. |
| Block Printing | The oldest form of printing known to man. Motifs are obtained by the use of wooden, linoleum or copper blocks. |
| Blocking Course | It is a course of stone masonary provided immediately above the cornice to check the tendency of the cornice to overturn and incidentally it adds to its appearance. |
| Blowing | This is commonly known as blistering of plaster. This consists the formation of small patches of plaster swelling out beyond the plastered surface. |
| Blue C | A registered trademark of Monsanto for polyester. |
| Blueprints | Floor plans printed in blue ink and used for construction plans. |
| Board And Batten | Vertical wooden siding made of parallel boards with narrow strips of wood (battens) to cover the cracks. |
| Board-And-Batten | A form of vertical siding composed of boards laid side by side, with the resulting joints covered by narrow strips of wood, or battens. |
| Bobeche | A glass ring placed at the base of a candle to gather wax or dangle crystals. Find candle accessories. |
| Body Impressions | The "normal compression" of upholstery layers as they lose resilience over time. Often mistaken for sagging on mattresses, sofas and other upholstered furniture. Find a new mattress set. |
| Boiserie | Carved panels used on French pieces from the 17th Century. |
| Bolection | A rounded, projecting molding. |
| Bolster | A long pillow or cushion usually placed on a chair,sofa, or bed. |
| Bombe | Traditionally a low baroque style chest with bulging convex sides originated in France. Term can also apply to some commodes, bureaus and armoires. Find living room furniture. |
| Bond | It is a term applied to the over-lapping of bricks or stones in a wall in alternate courses , to bind the whole wall together. |
| Bonded (Rebonded) Foam | Carpet underlay (padding) of chopped foam and filler materials bonded together by heat, pressure, and some adhesives. |
| Bonded Glass | Glass pieces that have been adhered together by glue, resin, or cement. |
| Bonheur-Du-Jour | A small French writing table that usually features tall legs; sometimes fitted to hold toilet accessories and miscellaneous items. |
| Bonnell Coil | An hourglass-shaped mattress coil that's cylindrical at the top and bottom and tapered in the center. Mostly used in promotional and lower-priced bedding today. Find a new mattress set. |
| Bonnet Roof | A hipped roof with two pitches. The top is steeply pitched and the bottom, which covers a porch, is low pitched; used on houses of French influence. |
| Bonnet Top | A hooded top usually found on secretaries, china cabinets, bookcases and curios. |
| Bonsai | The art of dwarfing trees or plants by growing and training them in containers. |
| Book Match | A look achieved when alternating pieces of veneer are placed so that adjacent edges meet. The name comes from the final appearance, which resembles the pages of an open book. This is one of the most common veneer methods. |
| Book Matching | Two adjacent sheets of veneer that are opened like a book and glued side by side to produce a symmetrical pattern. |
| Bookcase | A piece of furniture with shelves that is normally used in an office or study for storing books. Find a bookcase. |
| Borax | Borax really isn't a period of furniture as it is a term that refers to lower priced, mass produced furniture from the 1920's to current day. Upholstered pieces are characterized by a large overstuffed design and usually have wood trim. Case pieces are often decorated with veneer panels and plastic moldings. A popular design of Borax furniture is a "waterfall" front. |
| Border | A strip of companion wall covering used to trim and accent. Packaged in five-yard spools. |
| Border Rod | A heavy wire that's normally placed around the perimeter (top and bottom) of a mattress and/or box spring. The border wire is attached to the outermost coils to provide the shape and form for the mattress set. |
| Boss | An oval or round ornament applied to a surface. Term also applies to works in relief. |
| Boston Rocker | A large wooden rocker with a spindle back and wide top rail, which is often painted or stenciled. Originated in America in the 1800's. Find a rocking chair. |
| Boucle's | Knitted or woven fabric with characteristic looped or knotted surface that often resembles a spongy effect. Term also applies to a variety of looped, curled, or slubbed yarns. In French, "boucle" means "buckled" or "ringed". |
| Boudoir Pillow | A small or baby size decorative pillow, usually measuring about 12" x 16". Find a decorative throw pillow. |
| Boulle | A designer of the Louis the XIV period who was famous for his inlays of metal and tortoise shell. "Boullework" can be used as a descriptive phrase. |
| Bow Window | A curved projecting window (in the shape of a bow). |
| Bowback | A popular type of Windsor chair, also the style of a back such as a bow back rocker. Originally popular in America during the 18th Century. Find a dining room chair. |
| Bowfront | A rounded curve on the front of a piece of wood furniture to appear convex. |
| Box Burns | Furniture damage caused when the shipping carton rubs against the fabric or frame materials. |
| Box Pleat | A double pleat, underneath which the edges fold toward each other. |
| Box Pleat (Or Boxpleat) | A symmetrical skirt pleat made by folding the fabric to the back of each side of the pleat to create a dentil pattern. |
| Box-Spring | A foundation that's designed to support an innerspring mattress. Find a mattress or box-spring set. |
| Boys And Crowns | A very old term for a type of carved ornamentation used on the cresting of chairs, daybeds, etc. |
| Bracket | Supporting element found below an eave. |
| Bracket Foot | A low foot running both ways from the corner of wood furniture to form a right angle. |
| Bracket Lighting | A light placed on the wall behind a bracket board that directs light upward and downward. |
| Braganza | An inscrolled or knurled foot, also commonly called a Spanish foot. |
| Braided Rugs | Strips of fabric braided, then sewn together in ovals or circles. Originated in Colonial New England. |
| Brainstorming | Generation of ideas without stopping to judge their quality. |
| Brass | An alloy of copper and zinc. Brass is yellow in color, and though harder than either of its constituents, it is appropriately malleable for jewelry making. |
| Break Front | A china cabinet or bookcase that's divided vertically into three segments with the middle segment projecting forward. Find a china cabinet or bookcase. |
| Breakfront | A case piece whose front plane is broken with receding ot advancing sections. Also, the projecting section of the facade on Late Georgian houses that is topped with a pediment. |
| Breast | The front of the fireplace and chimneypiece. |
| Breast Walls | They are stone walls provided to protect the slopes of cutting in natural ground from the action of weather. |
| Breccia | A clastic sedimentary rock with angular fragments. |
| Breuer, Marcel (1902-81) | Important designer/architect associated with the Bauhaus and known for the design of several classic chairs. |
| Brewster Chair | An American Colonial style chair with large turned posts and spindles. Named for Governor Brewster of Massachusetts. |
| Brick | Clay and other additives formed into rectangles and dried in the sun or fired in a kiln oven; used for walls and floors. |
| Brick Masonry | These walls are also provided to support earth , loose stone , coal etc. The wall acts as one mass to resist the thrust from the backing and is much stronger than dry stone masonry wall. |
| Brickmould | Exterior wood moulding to cover the gap between a door or window and its frame. |
| Brilliants | Several pinpoints of light that produce a glittering effect. |
| Broadcloth | Dense cotton fabric with a smooth, semi-gloss finish. |
| Broadloom | A wide loom for weaving carpeting that is 54 inches v.,de or more. |
| Broadloom Carpet | Woven or tufted carpet typically twelve feet wide. |
| Brocade | A heavy textile with a raised design resembling embroidery. Usually made of silk, rayon, nylon, or polyester. |
| Broken Pediment | An ornamental crest running across the top of a tall piece such as a highboy or chest. The pediment is interrupted or broken by an opening that highlights a carved finial such as an urn or other shape. |
| Bronze | Habitually, an alloy of copper and tin generally used in casting. The term is often applied to brown-colored brasses. |
| Brush Painting | Application of paint with a hand-held brush. Ideal for small areas and detail work. |
| Brushed Finish | A lustrous (but not shiny) finish achieved by brushing a series of uniform scratches into metal. |
| Bubble Planning | The first step of diagramming where bubbles represent zones and are placed in proximity relationships. |
| Budgeting | The facet of a design project that dictates the amount of money to be spent on various aspects of the job.\ |
| Buffet | See sideboard. |
| Buffet (Or Sideboard) | A sideboard without a hutch or storage cabinet on top. The French definition of the word is a small sideboard, a place to keep dishes. Find a buffet or sideboard. |
| Buffet-Style Dining | Where guests serve themselves a meal from a table or sideboard (balancing the plate on the lap may be implied). |
| Building Inspector | An official whose job is to inspect new or remodeling construction for structural soundness and safety features. |
| Building Line | The line upto, which the plinth of a building adjoining a street or extension of a street or on a future may lawfully extend. |
| Building Systems | Components of a building that are permanent. These include HVAC, electrical and lighting systems, and plumbing. |
| Built-In | Any element, such as a bookcase or cabinetry, that is built into a wall or an existing frame. |
| Bulb | More accurately the lamp bulb or lamp, it is the glass container that houses the filament of incandescent lighting and in fluorescent lighting contains phosphorus and gas. |
| Bulking Of Sand | When dry sand comes in contact with moisture, thin film is formed around the particles , which causes them to get apart from each other. This result in increasing the volume of sand. This phenomenon is known as bulking of sand. |
| Bullion Fringe | Corded fringe that's twisted into a rope or braid. Primarily used on the base of upholstered furniture, window treatments, accent pillows and lamp shades. Also called bullion trim. |
| Bullnose | A 180-degree rounded wooden edge on the starting step (also on a table or cabinet top). |
| Bump Out | Living space created by cantilevering the floor and ceiling joists and extending the exterior wall of a room. |
| Bun Foot | A flattened ball or bun shaped foot with a slender ankle above, normally used on a chest or seating piece. Very popular during the William and Mary period. |
| Bungalow Style | An architectural style of a small house or cottage usually having a single story and sometimes an additional attic story. Most commonly associated with Victorian and Craftsman period bungalow homes and decor. |
| Bunk Bed | Two beds that are joined together so that one is placed above the other. Find kid's furniture. |
| Bunkie | Commonly refers to a twin-size mattress used on bunk beds. |
| Bunkie Board | A platform type of base or a board usually covered with fabric. Used to support a bunkie mattress on a bunk bed. |
| Bureau | A dresser used to store clothing also a piece of furniture with drawers used as a desk. Bureau's normally feature either a fall-front, which slopes at 45 degrees, a tambour front or a cylinder front. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Burjar | A large upholstered arm chair style that was made by Thomas Chippendale. |
| Burl | A dome-shaped growth on the trunk of a tree. Intricately patterned burl wood is often used by wood turners and furniture makers. |
| Burl Veneer | Made from scarlike wood growth or from root wood that imparts a complex, swirling grain pattern to the veneer. |
| Business Accounting Software | Enables computers to keep accounting records. |
| Butcher Block | A surface made from thick cubes or strips of hardwood used for cutting or chopping food items. |
| Butler's Tray Table | A tray with four flip-up handholds that can be removed from the table legs on which it stands. When the sides are down an oval tabletop is created. Find coffee and cocktail tables. |
| Butt Hinges | This type of hinge is most commonly used for fixing door or window shutters to the frame. The sizes of hinges vary from 50mm long x 37mm wide to 125mm long x 75mm wide. |
| Butt Joint | The junction of the ends of two pieces of wood such as on a sill. |
| Butterfly Table | A small drop-leaf table whose leaves are supported by a swinging support resembling a butterfly wing on a rudder. Find dining room and kitchen tables. |
| Button Tufted | Buttons that are fabric covered and sewn through the upholstery surface and tied down. The placement of the buttons and their resulting folds produce geometric patterns. |
| Buttress | It is similar to a pier built on the exterior of a wall and properly binded to it. Buttresses are placed at intervals along wall to make it stable for resisting outward. |
| Buttressed Chimney | In Medieval construction, a stepped chimney built in the shape of two buttresses placed back to back. buyer One who selects lines or companies whose furnishings are sold in furniture and department stores. |
| Byobu | Small-scaled decorative folding Japanese screens. |
| Byzantine Chair | A three cornered chair originated in the Orient and later used in Italy. |
| Byzantium (A.D. 330-1453) | The eastern capital of the classical Roman Empire known for its colorful tile mosaics. |
| C Lamp | A cone-shaped lamp or light bulb. |
| C.O.M. | Customer's own material?purchased by the customer from someone other than the furniture manufacturer for upholstery on a selected piece. |
| Cabin | A room constructed with non-load bearing partitions with adequate provision of light and ventilation. |
| Cabinetry | Fine finish woodwork, as opposed to rough carpentry. |
| Cabinetwork | See cabinetry. |
| Cable | A molding design that resembles inter-twined rope. |
| Cable System Construction | A method of nonresidential building where a canopy is held in place with steel cables hung from a central column. |
| Cabochon | A gem shaped ornament of convex, hemispherical form. |
| Cabriole | A double-curve or reverse S-shaped furniture leg that leads down to an elaborate foot (usually a ball-and-claw type). |
| Cabriole Leg | A decorative S-shaped table or chair leg that curves outward at the knee then tapers at the ankle. Commonly found on Queen Anne, Chippendale and other 18th Century pieces. Often seen with ball and claw feet. |
| Cad | See computer-aided design. |
| Cadon | A registered trademark of Monsanto for nylon. |
| Café Curtain | A curtain that covers only the bottom half of a window and hangs from a wire or thin curtain rod. Find curtains. |
| Cafe Curtains | Curtains that cover the bottom half of a window. |
| Caisson | A caisson may be defined as a watertight structure made up of wood , steel or reinforced concrete , constructed in connection with excavation for foundation of bridges , piers. |
| Calendering | A finishing process of ironing under heat with a large cylinder roller. The roller may have raised patterns to imprint designs, and the fabric may also be glazed with a resin, then calendered to produce a high sheen or other special finishes. |
| Calico | Cotton or cotton-blend fabric printed with small, colorful patterns. |
| California King | A bed size that measures 74"x86". This style is popular on the West coast of the United States. The additional size comes in the length creating a rectangular shape rather than the square shape of a standard king (Eastern King). Find a mattress set. |
| California King-Sized Bed | One of the standard sizes for North American mattress manufacturers. 72" wide by 84" long (the depth varies greatly depending on the style and type of cushioning). Slightly narrower and longer than a typical King-sized bed. |
| Cambrick (Or Dust Cover) | A non-woven cloth that covers the bottom of an upholstered piece of furniture such as a sofa or box spring. Also commonly called a "dust cover". |
| Came | The lead strips used to secure the pieces of glass in leaded or stained glass windows. |
| Camel Hair | Wool-like underhair of the camel that is lustrous and extremely soft. Because it is expensive, often used in blends with wool for coats, blankets and oriental rugs. Natural colors range from light tan to brownish black. Classified as wool under the Wool Products Labeling Act. |
| Camelback | A curved sofa back characterized by a large central hump. This design was often used by Chippendale and Hepplewhite. Find a sofa. |
| Camelback Sofa | A type of sofa with a curved back, typically seen in more traditional styles (Queen Anne, Chippendale, Federal, etc.). |
| Camel-Back Sofa | A sofa with a serpentine back that rises to a hump in the center. |
| Campaign Furniture | Portable furniture that's folding or collapsible, or made of flat components that can be assembled or disassembled. Initiated for military use and usually features handles, it is most associated with colonialism. |
| Canape | A type of French settee with padded back and seat, open arms, and a decorated frame. Most commonly associated with Louis the XV design. |
| Candle Follower | A device that fits onto the top of a candle. As the wax melts the follower keeps the wax from dripping down the side of the candle. Find a candle accessory. |
| Candlepower | Is the unit of luminous intensity approximately equal to the horizontal light output from an ordinary wax candle. |
| Candlepower (Cp) | The intensity of light measured at a lamp. This term is generally used for task and ac-cent lighting. |
| Cane | Split rattan, often used to cover chair seats and backs. |
| Cane Chair | These chairs were first made in England and were very popular since they were cheap, light and durable. First used in America in the late 1600's. |
| Canister | A luminaire shaped like a can that contains a lamp at the top or the bottom. |
| Canopy | A fabric covering attached to a frame at the top of bedposts. |
| Canopy Bed | A bed supported by four tall posts with a cross members joining the posts that may be used for a supporting a fabric canopy cover, swags, curtains, etc. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Canted | Slopping at an angle, such as a sofa or chair back. |
| Canterbury | A portable magazine rack named after the Bishop of England. |
| Cantilever | A structural beam supported on one end. A cantilever can be used to support a small addition. |
| Cantonniere | A bed hanging used in 16th Century France. It hung outside of the bed curtains to prevent drafts. |
| Cantrese | A registered trademark of DuPont for nylon. |
| Capital | In making of the columns, at their head the columns are enlarged so as to form a suitable diameter of a particular span. This flared up portion of column head is called capital. |
| Capping | A turned ornamentation used to make furniture pieces more decorative. |
| Caprolan | A registered trademark of Allied Chemical for nylon and polyester. |
| Captain's Chair | A Windsor chair with a lower, rounded spindle back. Find a dining chair. |
| Carcase | The basic structure of a piece of furniture; often forms the foundation for veneering. |
| Card Table | A folding table that originated in England during the late 1600's to accommodate the nobility's passion for gambling. |
| Carlton Table | An 18th Century writing table that featured an adjustable top. |
| Carolean | Restoration and Late Jacobean furniture is also known as Carolean furniture. Carolean furniture includes Charles the second through James the second reign. This period of furniture is a result of Cromwellian severity in shape and style. Carolean furniture is appealing because of its beautifully carved spiral turned legs and stretchers. Chairs, tables, and beds usually have scroll shaped feet. Seats are often made of cane. Upholstery fabrics are luxurious tapestries. The most common wood used was walnut. Some pieces were made of oak. |
| Carousel Shelves | Shelves that attach to the backs of tewo right-angled doors and rotate 270 degrees. |
| Carpenter's Gothic | The wooden, board-and-batten version of the Gothic Revival style. |
| Cartonnier | A piece of furniture that took on many various forms. It usually stood at the side of a writing table to hold papers. |
| Cartouche | An ornamental shield or decoration usually placed above a door opening or fireplace mantel, often containing the name of a king, queen, or deity. Term also applies to a sculpture or back ornament in the form of an unrolled scroll. |
| Carved Rug | A rug with a three-dimensional design/pattern. Find an area rug. |
| Carver Chair | A modern term for a 17th Century "Dutch" type of arm chair that featured turned posts and spindles. |
| Caryatid | A top member of a pedestal or leg used for support in the form of a conventionalized human figure. |
| Cascades | Zigzag-shaped panels of fabric that usually frame swags or festoons. |
| Case Goods | Furniture that is used for storage, such as cabinets, dressers, and desks. |
| Cased Glass | Clear glass encased in a layer of colored glass. |
| Casegoods | A piece of furniture used for storage, including cabi-nets, dressers, and desks. |
| Case-Goods | Furniture made of hard materials such as wood, metal, glass, or plastic. Examples of case-goods are chests, tables, dressers, bookshelves, and cabinets. |
| Casegoods (Or Case Furniture) | Non-upholstery pieces such as tables, hutches, dressers and chests, which have functional or storage capabilities. |
| Casein (Or Buttermilk) | A traditional paint made by blending earth colored pigments with buttermilk (or skimmed milk) and a small amount of lime. Casein dries to a flat, smooth finish. |
| Casein Paints | Casein is a protein substance extracted from milk curd, which is mixed up with a base to form the paint, which is usually available in the powder or pasty form. |
| Casement | A cloth drapery made of an open weave material that's normally somewhat opaque. Find curtains. |
| Casement Draperies | A strongly textural-looking fabric in a woven or knitted construction. Screens light, cuts down on glare, and provides daytime privacy. |
| Casement Window | A tall, narrow window that opens by swinging outward from the side. |
| Cashmere | Fine downy undercoat hair of the cashmere goat from Tibet, the Kashmir province north of India, Iran, Iraq, and southwest China. |
| Casing | The type of molding found around openings such as windows or doors. Casing hides the seam between the structure and the adjoining wall. |
| Cassapanca | A wooden bench with a built-in chest under the seat. |
| Cassone | Italian chest, often highly decorated with carving and inlay. |
| Cast Iron | Iron cast in a mold. |
| Cast Iron Furniture | Iron furnishings made with molds. Very popular since the 1800's for many items including garden furniture, plant stands and cast iron beds. |
| Casters | Round wheels attached by a swivel to furniture pieces for mobility. Commonly used on dining and office chairs. |
| Casting | The process of pouring molten metal or glass, clay slip, etc. into a hollow mold to harden. Some casting processes permit more than one reproduction. |
| Cast-In-Situ Piles | The piles, which are cast in position inside the ground, are called the cast-in-situ piles. |
| Cathedra | The bishop's chair from which the term cathedral is derived. |
| Cathedral Ceiling | A high, open, gabled ceiling |
| Cathedral Window | A pointed window set in the gable of a room with an open ceiling. |
| Caucasian Or Turkish Rugs | Oriental rugs of a coarser weave than Persians, in geometric patterns and often vivid colors. |
| Caulk | To fill a joint with resilient mastic. |
| Causeuse | A small settee that was very popular in early French furniture. |
| Cavity Wall | This consists of two walls so they form a cavity in between. The outer wall is half brick width and the inner wall is sufficiently thick. |
| Ceiling Fan | Both decorative and functional fans, which are installed on the ceiling to circulate air in a room. Find a ceiling fan. |
| Celadon | French name for a green, gray-green, blue-green, or gray glaze produced with a small percentage of iron as the colorant. |
| Celanese | A registered trademark of Celanese for acetate. |
| Celaperm | A registered trademark of Celanese for acetate. |
| Cella | Literally a cell. The interior space of a Roman temple. |
| Cellaret | A case on legs or a stand for wine bottles. |
| Cellulose Paints | This paint is made from celluloid sheets and amyl-acetate substitutes. |
| Cellulosic Fibers | A classification of natural fibers that come from plants and are made up of cellulose, cotton and linen being the most commonly used. Also a classification of man-made fibers that begin with cellulose., such as rayon and acetate. |
| Cement | Cement in broadest term means any substance that acts as a binding agent for materials. Cement as applied to construction and engineering is produced by calcining at high temperature an intimate mixture of calcareous , siliceous and aluminous substances and crushing the resulting clinkers to a fine powder. |
| Center Draw | A pair of draperies which open and close at a window's mid point. Find draperies and curtains. |
| Center Glide | A center track (glide) that guides a drawer. |
| Center Rail | A support beam that runs head to toe down the middle of a mattress foundation or bed frame for added support. |
| Centerline | The bisecting line through the center of an object, such as a sink. |
| Centerpiece | An ornament used to occupy the center of a dining table. Find home accessories. |
| Central Air-Conditioning | Cool or temperate air controlled from a central unit and distributed through ducts and vents. |
| Central And South American Rugs | Folk rugs from natives of Central and South American countries. |
| Central Vacuum System | A vacuum located in one unit with plumbed pipe and outlets where the hose is attached. The wall plate covering the outlet activates the system when it is lifted. |
| Ceramic Tile | White clays fired to a point of vitrification. It conies in many sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns; a strong, hard material for walls, floors, and ceilings. |
| Ceramic Tiles | Glazed clay tiles, which stand up to large amounts of wear and tear very well. |
| Ceramics | The art and science of forming objects from earth materials containing or combined with silica; the objects are then heated to at least 1300°F to harden. |
| Certosina | An ivory inlay found on some fine Italian antique furniture. |
| Ceruse | a ceruse finish usually pertains to wood. It is when a white pigment is rubbed into a wood to create a streaking of white in the grains. |
| Cfm | An abbreviation that refers to cubic feet of air that is moved per minute by an exhaust fan. |
| Chair And A Half | An upholstered seating piece that's larger than a armchair, but not as large as a loveseat. Find a living room chair. |
| Chair Rail | A molding that normally falls at a height of three to four feet and bands an entire room. Originally incorporated for wall protection, chair rails are now used primarily for decoration, to cap wainscoting, or as a divider between different wall treatments. |
| Chaise Longue | A long, low upholstered couch in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs. Often mistakenly referred to as a chaise lounge so much so that the latter term has come to be commonly accepted as well. |
| Chaise Lounge | An upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining. Styles ranges from formal to contemporary. Also referred to by some as a French long chair. Find a chaise lounge chair. |
| Chajja | A sloping or horizontal structural overhang usually provided over openings on external walls for protection from sun and rain. |
| Chambray | A popular variety of cotton fabric that combines colored warp and white filling yarns in a plain weave. |
| Chamfer | A corner or edge that is cut at an angle or beveled. |
| Chamfering | It consists in taking off the edges of wooden members. Thus a chamfered member has a sloping or bevelled edge. |
| Chandelier | A ceiling-mounted lighting fixture consisting of two or more arms bearing lights. Styles can range from small and simple to extremely large and ornate. Find a chandelier. |
| Channel Back | A sofa or chair with a back design of vertical sections of cushioning in a shell-like pattern. Find a sofa. |
| Channel Quilt | Stitching in lines that run parallel to the length or width of a fabric. |
| Channeling | A grooved or creased effect in wood. |
| Charles Of London | A style of sofa or chair with a low rolled arm. Find living room furniture. |
| Chased | A metal surface that's ornamented by embossing, engraving or carving. |
| Chasing | A technique in which steel punches are used to decorate and/or texture of metal surface. |
| Check | A lengthwise separation of a wood board that extends across the annual growth rings. |
| Checks | Splits or cracks in wood, which are ordinarily caused by seasoning. A common characteristic of genuine cherry wood pieces. |
| Chemical Finishes | See standard finishes. |
| Chenille | A type of fabric featuring a plush, variegated texture and often exhibiting an iridescent appearance. |
| Chesser | A combination of a dresser and a chest. Chessers are narrower than a dresser and shorter than a chest, and normally have a small tilting mirror. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Chest | A tall, narrow piece featuring a series of drawers for storing clothing. Find a chest of drawers. |
| Chest On Chest | A tall chest with a larger chest of drawers that supports a slightly smaller chest. Find a chest of drawers. |
| Chesterfield | A sofa style with deep button tufting and large rolled arms that are the same height as the back. Term is still common in Canada and England. Find a sofa. |
| Cheval Mirror | A freestanding mirror swung in a vertical frame. Also called a dressing mirror or cheval glass. Find a cheval mirror. |
| Chevreul, M.E. (1786-1889) | French chemist who was head of dyestuffs at Gobelin Tapestry Works near Paris. Chevreul researched and published theories that were forerunners to the Standard Color Wheel theory. |
| Chevron | A V-shaped ornamentation inspired by military insignia. |
| Chi | The life force or essential energy of the universe. Chi can be either auspicious or inauspicious. |
| Chiffonier | A tall and narrow chest of drawers normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie. Term is a French word denoting a lady's work table, derived from chiffons, which means rags. Term can also be used in reference to a lingerie chest or highboy. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Chifforobe | A combination of wardrobe and chest-of-drawers. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Chimneypiece | The decorative detail that covers the firebox and flue. |
| China | Designation given by Europeans to porcelain from the Orient. |
| China Cabinet (Or China Hutch) | A cabinet with with, or without, glass fronts to store and display china, the sides may or may not feature glass. Seldom found in America before the late 1700's. Find a china cabinet. |
| China Paint | A low-temperature overglaze fired onto previously glazed and fired ceramic. |
| Chinese | Chinese art and furniture design heavily influenced European furniture periods, particularly during the 1500's through the 1800's. Styles especially influenced include Chippendale, Regency, and Louis the XV styles. All Chinese furniture is lacquered and usually features relief carving for decoration. Most pieces are small and simple and rely on decorative details for their beauty. Most common woods on authentic pieces were teak, sandalwood, and bamboo. Chinese rugs and wallpaper are famous throughout the world. |
| Chinese Rugs | Oriental rugs woven in Chinese traditional or contemporary patterns in a deep, sculptured pattern. |
| Chinking | The weatherproofing material placed between logs in a log home. |
| Chinoiserie | A decoration inspired by Chinese art, which can be painted or lacquered on furniture or used as themes on wallpaper, fabric, etc. |
| Chintz | A printed cotton fabric that is often "shiny" or glazed. |
| Chipboard | See particleboard. |
| Chippendale | A design that's more rectangular and heavier than Queen Anne pieces. Chippendale design features include cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, and highboys with broken pediment tops. |
| Chippendale, Thomas 11 (1718-99) | An important English cabinetmaker known for the designs published in his book, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director. |
| Choir | The section of the church where the choir sings. |
| Chroma | The relative brightness or intensity of a particular hue or color. Low chroma is dull; high chroma is bright. Chroma, also called intensity, is a designation of the Munsell color system. |
| Chromium | A shiny silver metal resistant to rust. |
| Chromspun | A registered trademark of Eastman Kodak for acetate. |
| Cinquefoil | Term refers to a any five petaled design. |
| Circuit | A wiring hookup that forms a path through which electrical current may flow. |
| Circular Stairs | These stairs are circular in nature, in this form of stairs, al the steps radiate from a newel post or well hole , in the form of winders. These are generally constructed in R.C.C, cast iron or stone. |
| Circulation | Movement from place to place within an environment. |
| Cissing | Dropping mineral spirits onto wet spattered paint to make shadows of the spatters. |
| City Of London | The one-square-mile area that encompasses what was once Roman and Medieval London. |
| Clapboard | Thin, horizontal, overlapping, exterior wooden siding. |
| Classic | A work of the highest excellence able to stand the test of time. |
| Classical Rome (200 S.C.—A.D. 100) | The Roman era of political conquest and architectural achievement. Roman design was discovered by the Western world when the excavation of Pompeii began in 1754. |
| Clastic | Sediments formed from the breaking up of earlier rocks. |
| Claw & Ball (Or Ball & Claw) | A carved lions or birds claw clutching a sphere, usually at the end of a cabriole leg or pedestal tables base. |
| Clearance | The amount of space between two fixtures, the center-lines of two fixtures, or a fixture and an obstacle, such as a wall. |
| Cleavage | The tendency of some rocks to split or break along smooth planes that are more or less parallel. |
| Clere Story Window | This type of window is used to achieve better ventilation and cooling effect in the living or main rooms of a building which have ceiling height greater than the surrounding rooms. |
| Clerestory Window | Window placed or the top of the wall or in the highest story of the nave or choir of a church. |
| Cloisonné | Decorative objects made by soldering metal strips into a pattern on a metal piece and filling the space between the strips with enamel. |
| Closed Floor Plans | Floor plans with many rooms that are totally private from other rooms, having solid walls and accessed only through a door that may also close. |
| Closed Showrooms | A design-oriented store for placing orders of merchandise. They deal only with professional interior designers; clients are not allowed to enter. |
| Closed Stair | A stairway with walls on both - sides. Also called a housed stair. |
| Closed-Grain | A wood that exhibits narrow, inconspicuous, annual growth rings is considered closed-grain. Examples are cherry and maple. |
| Closer | It is a portion of a brick cut in such a manner that its one long face remains uncut. |
| Club Chair | An upholstered chair with arms, normally made to match a sofa and covered in the same material. Find a living room chair. |
| Club Foot | A turned foot resembling a club; often found at the end of a cabriole leg. |
| Club Sofa | A fully upholstered piece of furniture with arms that are lower than its back. Find a sofa. |
| Coated Fabric Wall Coverings | Fabric layered with vinyl to become wall coverings. |
| Cobblestone | Large rounded stones such as river cobbles set into concrete and used mainly as nonresilient hard wall materials. |
| Cockbeading | Bead molding applied to the edges of drawers. |
| Cocktail Table (Or Coffee Table) | A long and low table normally positioned in front of a sofa, which provides a surface for serving. Find a coffee table. |
| Code | A locally or nationally enforced mandate regarding struc-tural design, materials, plumbing, or electrical systems that state what you can or cannot do when you build or remodel. |
| Coffer | A multi-functional traveling chest with handles and a domed lid but without feet, usually made of oak. Term can also refer to a chest or box covered in leather or some other material and banded with metalwork. |
| Cofferdam | A cofferdam may be defined as a temporary structure constructed in a river or a lake or any other water |
| Coffered Ceiling | A ceiling formed with recessed boxes or coffers. |
| Cogged Joint | This joint is commonly provided between wall plate and the tie beam of wooden truss where it is essential to utilise the entire depth of the wall plate for bearing the tie |
| Coil Count | The specific number of coils in a mattress or box spring unit. The standard count is based on the coils within a full size piece. A high coil count was once touted to indicate better quality, however this term is no longer applicable to many of today's better mattress sets. Find a new mattress. |
| Coil Spring | A cylindrically shaped spring used for upholstery cushioning. |
| Coil Springs | Wire coils used in more expensive upholstered seating pieces to give a desired resiliency and firmness to the seat and back. |
| Cold Air Returns | Ducts used in forced-air heating systems to return cooled air to the heat source for warming. |
| Cold Cathode Lighting | The term for all colors of neon lighting. |
| Collar Roof | With excessive loading conditions or increased spans the rafter of the couple closed roof tends to bend in the middle. This tendency is overcome by fixing the tie near the middle of the rafters. The truss then formed is called collar roof. |
| Collectors | Units to capture the sun's energy or heat for active and passive solar heating. |
| Colonial | American furniture from the 1700's through the Revolutionary era. The formal styles are usually mahogany or cherry while plainer furniture was done in pine, oak, and maple. Queen Anne and Chippendale designs are often included in this category. |
| Colonial America (1640-1770) | The period prior to the Revolutionary War that included Medieval and Early and Late Georgian interiors. |
| Colonial Revival | Reproductions of classic American styles from the 1700's, although not always accurate in detail. Revival pieces were popular from the late 1800's through the early 1900's. Also known as just "Revival". |
| Colonnade | A range of columns connected by a horizontal entablature or cornice at the top. |
| Color | An element of design, color is pigment in paint or part of the visible spectrum of light that enables us to see hues. It incorporates the study of hue, value, and intensity as well as color schemes, color application, and color psychology. |
| Color Group Moods | Groups of color that produce emotional response, such as light and bright colors producing feelings of spontaneity and happiness. |
| Color Harmony | The selection and arrangement of colors to be pleasing to the eye and to the senses. |
| Color Intensity | Strength of a color. |
| Color Rendition Index (Cri) | Measures the way a light source renders color. The higher the number, the more the color resembles how it appears in sunlight. |
| Color Scheme | Color combinations for the interiors of rooms and homes in general. |
| Color Transfer | The process of applying a color from one material onto another by the means of moisture or heat. The term can also refer to the accidental seepage of color from one material to another. |
| Color Washing | Applying a coat of thinned, sometimes translucent, paint over a white or colored ground. |
| Color Way | A term used in interior design to describe a color combination. |
| Color Wheel | A diagram, usually circular, showing the range and relationships of pigment and dye colors. |
| Coloray | A registered trademark of Courtaulds for viscose rayon. |
| Colored Incandescent | lighting Accomplished with colored! glass lamps or by colored screens or filters placed over a white light. |
| Colorfast | A term used to describe fabrics of sufficient color retention so that no noticeable change in shade takes place during the normal life of the fabric. |
| Coloring | A general term for the dyeing and printing of textiles. |
| Colorspun | A registered trademark of American Viscose for viscose rayon. |
| Colorwashing | A decorative painting technique where a thin glaze (or water-based wash) is applied over the base coat of paint to create an effect of subtle layers of color. |
| Colour Washing | Colour wash is prepared by adding mineral colours (which are not affected by lime ) of desired shade to the prepared white |
| Column | A column may be defined as an isolated vertical load bearing member the width of which is neither less than the thickness nor more than four times its thickness. |
| Columnar Jointing | In igneous rocks, a regular six-sided form of jointing that produces regularly shaped pillars or columns. |
| Com (Customer’S Own Material) | When a designer uses a fabric on a special-ordered upholstered furniture item other than of the fabrics available from the furniture manufactured. |
| Com/Col | Furniture industry term for "Customer's own material" or "Customer's own leather". Typically expressed in square yards for fabric (COM) and in square feet for leather (COL). Figure references the amount of material required for custom fabric or leather coverings. |
| Comb Back | A Windsor chair having an extension of the back above the arm rail that consists of five or more spindles and a curved top rail resembling a comb. Find a dining room chair. |
| Combination | Wooden furniture construction with more than one type of wood in the exposed parts of the piece. |
| Combination Felt Padding | Carpet underlay felt pad of some animal hair and some synthetic fiber. |
| Combination Floor Plans | A floor plan with areas that are open and other rooms that are closed. |
| Combination Weave | A fabric employing more than one type of weave; for example, plain and twill weaves seen side by side in a fabric. |
| Combined Footing | A combined footing is so proportioned that the centre of gravity of the supporting area is in line with the centre of gravity of the two column loads. |
| Combing | A painting effect in which a comb (or comb like tool) is dragged across the paint or glaze to create a series of lines. |
| Combustion Lighting | Candlelight and firelight. |
| Comfort Layers | The layers of material in a mattress or upholstered seating that provide the comfortable surface feel. |
| Comforter | Comforters cover the mattress, but not the box spring. Since the top and bottom fabrics of a comforter are quilted together with a filling material in between, they are usually fluffier and thicker than a bedspread or coverlet. Comforters are usually used with a dust ruffle to cover the box spring. Comforters are usually too short to cover the bed pillows, therefore most people use shams. Find a comforter. |
| Commode | A stand or cupboard, traditionally used for storing chamber pots. Often used as a side table or nightstand. |
| Common Rafters | These are inclines wooden members laid from the ridge to the eaves. Cleats - These are short sections of wood or steel , nailed , screwed or bolted to the rafters of the truss for supporting purlins. |
| Commonwealth (Or Puritan) | Commonwealth furniture is also known as Puritan, Cromwellian and Middle Jacobean. Commonwealth furniture was a design devoid of ornate style. This style was characterized as straight and severe. Pieces were square and rectangle. Sturdy underbracing was used on chairs. Settees had straight backs and low seats. Upholstery pieces had dull or dismal fabrics. Oak was the favored wood. Most popular during the mid to late 1600's. |
| Communication Systems | Intercom, computer network, and telephone. systems that connect people within the building or beyond the building. |
| Compact Fluorescent (Cf) Lamps | Small, fluorescent lamps that consume one-fifth of the power and can last up to thirteen times longer than incandescent. May connect to an incandescent fixture. |
| Compartmental Bathroom | A bathroom in which the separate functions are housed in small rooms that open to each other. |
| Complementary Colors | Hues directly opposite each other on the color wheel. As the strongest contrasts, complements tend to intensify each other. |
| Composite | One of the architectural orders. The composite column was the result of combining both the Ionic and Corinthian columns. |
| Composite Masonry | Walls constructed from two or more building materials are termed as composite walls. |
| Composite Roof Trusses | Trusses built with the combination of wood and steel are termed as composite trusses. |
| Compounded Fabrics | See layered fabrics. |
| Computer Desk | A desk that's specifically designed to accommodate a personal computer. Find a computer desk. |
| Computer Hardware | The components of a computer system |
| Computer Network | Connective cables that allow computer terminals within an office or design firm to access the same information. |
| Computer Programs | The software, or disks, that operate the computer hardware. Programs are instructions, information, and data bases that allow the machine to operate specific functions. These include graphics, CAD, word processing, and so on. |
| Computer Terminal | A keyboard and monitor that are connected to a mainframe. Also, a personal computer that can be connected to other computer terminals via a computer network system. |
| Computer-Aided Design (And Drafting) Cad (Cadd) | Computer software that enables the designer to draw, draft, arrange furnishing components, and compose simulated perspectives of a proposed interior space. |
| Concept | An idea for the solution to a problem. |
| Conceptual Drawings | Drawings that show the concept or idea for a design. |
| Concrete | A mixture of sand, water, and portland cement that dries to a hard material; used for floors and walls, footings, foundations, and exterior flotwork. |
| Condominium | An individually owned home in a complex. The owner pays a monthly or yearly charge to maintain common landscaping and recreation and/or fitness facilities. |
| Conglomerate | A rock composed of rounded fragments, anything from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. |
| Conifer | A softwood tree type, with needles and cones rather than flat, broad leaves. |
| Connecticut Chest | A low chest on legs that normally contains a double set of drawers. |
| Connectors | These are the metallic members used for connecting timber pieces in such a way that transmission of stress from one member to another is adequately ensured. |
| Console (Or Console Table) | A term originally applied to a bracket that supported cornices or shelves and later used to describe tables that were affixed to a wall and supported with legs at the front. Today it describes any type of table used along a wall. Find a console table. |
| Console Table | A long narrow table (usually around 30" high) used for displaying decorative objects, lighting, florals, etc. Often placed in a foyer or behind a sofa. |
| Contemporary | The style inherent to the present time. Often confused with modern. |
| Contemporary Style | A style of decoration or architec-ture that is modern and pertains to what is current. |
| Continental | A pillow that's 26" square, which is the traditional European sized pillow. |
| Continuing Education | Skills, training, and knowledge gleaned by the professional interior designer through seminars and networks sponsored by professional Organizations, institutions, and corporations. |
| Continuous Coil | A mattress design in which each row of coils is made using a single, continuous wire. Find a mattress set. |
| Contrast | The difference in illumination level between one point and nearby points. |
| Contrasting Welt | Welting or piping at seams that's covered in fabric contrasting or different from the main body fabric. Used on upholstered furniture and fabric accessories such as accent pillows and drapes. |
| Control | The monitoring unit or thermostat needed for a furnace or an active solar heating system. |
| Convection Oven | Heated air flows around the food. |
| Conventional Design | A type of decorative design taken from nature and adapted, stylized, Or conventionalized. The pattern is still recognizable as the nature object (flowers, for example) but is not reproduced in its naturalistic state. |
| Conventional Oven | Food is cooked by radiation. |
| Conventional Traverse Rods | Drapery rods with a cord-and-pulley system for operating pleated draperies. |
| Conversation Pit | Seating areas designed and built in as an integral part of the environment. The name pit implies a sunken area, but this type of seating could be designed on a platform or on floor level. |
| Cool Colors | Green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, and violet. |
| Cool White Deluxe Fluorescent Lamps | A quality, balanced spectrum lamp whose light does not appear cold and unflattering. |
| Coordinating Or Companion | fabric Decorative fabric printed in the same pattern or in a pattern that coordinates with the wallpaper. |
| Cope | To cut a section of paneling to fit an adjoining piece. |
| Coping | It is a covering placed on the exposed top of an external wall. It is essentially provided to prevent the seepage of water through the joints of the topmost couse of wall. |
| Copper | A bright, shiny, reddish brown metal used for cookware, tableware, decorative objects, and building components. |
| Corbel | It is the extension of one or more courses or brick or stone from the face of a wall. |
| Cordelan | A registered trademark of the Japan company for a vinyl/vinyon fiber. Cordura A registered trademark of DuPont |
| Corduroy | A cotton or rayon velvet that's woven with ridges (or cords). |
| Corinthian | The Corinthian column, featuring acanthus leaves on its capital, is the most ornate of the architectural orders. |
| Corner Block Or Brace | A diagonal brace placed at the corner of a frame structure to provide strength. Commonly found on the inside corners of dressers and chests for example. |
| Corner Cupboard | A triangular shaped dining room china cabinet made to fit into a corner. Find a china cabinet. |
| Corner Window | This type of window , as the name suggests , is essentially located in the corner of a room. By use of this window it is possible to ensure light and ventilation from two directions at right angles. |
| Cornice | It is a horizontal molded projection provided near the top of a building or at the junction of a wall and ceiling. |
| Cornucopia | The horn of plenty, which symbolizes peace and prosperity, used as a design motif. |
| Corrected Grain Leather | Leather that's buffed to remove unattractive blemishes and embossed to simulate an attractive grain pattern or to add a decorative texture. Find leather furniture. |
| Correlated Color Temperature (Cct) | Compares the apparent warmth or coolness of discontinuous-spectrum light. |
| Cost Plus Percentage Mark-Up | A design fee method that allows the design firm to add a specific percentage to the net cost of the merchandise being purchased by the client. |
| Cost Price | The price that the designer must pay for the goods. |
| Cottage Furniture | A style of casual furniture that's characterized by being painted and/or decorated. Cottage pieces often feature turned legs and very simple lines. The term originated during the Victorian period to refer to mass-produced simplified designs. |
| Couch | A term from the 17th and 18th Century used to refer to a daybed. Not used as a term for a sofa or settee until more recent times. |
| Counter Flap Hinges | This type of hinges has three parts and two centres. Provision of this type of hinge enable the shutters to be folded back to back. |
| Counter Stool | A stool that has a seat height of about 24" to 26", opposed to a bar stool that normally has a seat height of 30". Find a counter stool. |
| Country Style | A casual style that gained popularity in the 1980's and remains popular today, often featuring nature and nostalgic motifs. The "appearance" of handcrafting is also important. Distressing is commonly seen. |
| Country-Rock | The rock or rocks into which an igneous intrusion is placed. |
| Couple Close Roof | In a coupled roof, the notches provided at the feet of the rafters prevent them from spreading, but with the time span , they spend and roof will collapse , thus to prevent this , the feet of the rafters are joined by a tie , which by holding them in position , prevents them from spreading and thrusting out of the wall. This is called couple closed roof. |
| Course | A horizontal layer of bricks or stones is termed a course. |
| Court Cupboard | A small cupboard that's used for storing silver, china, or other precious items. |
| Courtyard | A space permanently open to sky , enclosed fully or partially by building and may be at ground level or any other level within or adjacent to a building. |
| Covered Area | Ground area covered by the building immediately above plinth level. It does not include the spaces covered by some projections. |
| Coverlet | A bed cover that reaches to the top of the bed and to the bottom of the box spring on three sides. |
| Coving | Angled sides of firebox. |
| Crackle Glaze (Or Craquelure) | A special type of glaze used to create a fine network of cracks. |
| Cramped Joint | The function of cramp which may be of slate or any metal , is to prevent the tendency of the joint to be pulled apart. |
| Credence | An early Italian cabinet that was used for carving meat or displaying plates. It was the original forerunner of the sideboard. |
| Credence Table | A type of small table used for storing food before serving; generally a semi-circular table with a hinged top. |
| Credenza | A large low cabinet, usually 30"-36" high with a flat top used for serving and storage. |
| Crest Rail (Top Rail) | The top horizontal rail of an upholstered piece, which can be very detailed. |
| Cresting | A shaped ornamentation on the top of a structure, as in the cresting of a chair. |
| Crinoline Stretcher | An arched stretcher found on certain Windsor chairs. |
| Critical Path Method (Cpm) | A preparation method that begins by identifying the interrelationships of the tasks to be performed. This study shows the designer, which tasks must be completed before the next or other tasks can be performed, thus establishing the vital path. |
| Crocheting | A fabric, trimming, or lace made by interlocking successive loops or stitches with a hook or needle. |
| Crocking | The loss of transfer of leather coloring or finish by abrasion. |
| Croft | A small filing cabinet from the 18th Century that had many small drawers and a writing top. |
| Crop | To trim or cut an art piece to fit a frame. |
| Cross Dyeing | Two fibers of different affinities dyed in the same bath; the colors will be accepted differently. |
| Cross Stretcher | An X-shaped stretcher in straight or curved lines. Found on some traditional style tables, chairs and on highboys and lowboys. |
| Crossing | The area of a cross-shaped church where the nave and transept cross. |
| Crowding | Where people are grouped together in tightly restricted areas. |
| Crown | In arches, it is the highest point of the extrados or it is the highest part of the arch. |
| Crown Lintel | See jack arch lintel. |
| Crown Molding | A decorative molding used at the juncture of the wall and ceiling; it can be flat or sprung, plain or complex. |
| Cruciform | Floor plan in the form or shape of a cross. |
| Crypt | An underground vault, especially in a church, often used for burial. |
| Crystal | A high grade of glass containing lead. |
| Crystallized | The stone forms into crystals. |
| Cubic Feet Or Footage | The width multiplied by the length of a room and then by its height. The volume of space we walk through. Rooms with very high ceilings have greater cubic footage than those with lower ceilings. |
| Cumuloft | A registered trademark of Monsanto for nylon. |
| Cupboard | A cabinet, box or closet with shelves designed to hold cups, dishes or food. |
| Cupid's Bow | Term used to describe the typical top rail of a Chippendale chair back, which curves up at the ends and dips slightly in the center. |
| Cupola | A small-domed structure rising above a roof. |
| Cure | Maintaining the humidity and temperature of freshly poured concrete for a period of time to keep water present so the concrete hydrates or hardens properly. |
| Curing Of Concrete | It is the process of keeping the set concrete continuously damo for some days in order to enable the concrete gain more strength. |
| Curio | A rare or curious art object?a curiosity. |
| Curio (Collectors Cabinet) | A case piece featuring glassed in shelves and doors for displaying collectibles. Find a curio cabinet. |
| Curtain Panel | A large piece of fabric designed to cover part or all of a window. Usually hung in pairs. Curtain panels generally come in standard lengths of 84", 96", and 108" and their standard width is usually 45"-50". |
| Curtain Rods | Plain or nontraverse rods of metal or wood. |
| Curtain Wall Construction | See metal or space frame system. |
| Curtains | Like draperies, curtains use fabric, but they are usually hung with in the window frame and close to the glass. |
| Curule Legs | X-shaped legs used on a portable backless folding chair. |
| Curved Lines | Flowing lines, part of the elements of design. Large curves are smooth and gracious; small curves can give a feeling of activity in the interior. |
| Curved Staircase | A staircase with a curved radius. |
| Curved-Back Sofa | A sofa whose back arches in a smooth, even curve with large, scrolled arms. Find a sofa. |
| Cushion Drawer | A convex drawer below a cornice that runs the full width of a piece of furniture. |
| Cushioning | Materials used to provide comfort in upholstered furniture and bedding. Popular cushioning materials include polyurethane foam, polyester, cotton, latex and wool. |
| Custom Design | Any design that is planned and executed according to individual specifications?not mass-produced. |
| Custom Floor Plan | One that is executed by an architect or designer to meet the needs of the space?custom tailored to the design program. |
| Custom Grade | Is the most common grade and still produced a high-quality job. |
| Cut Glass | Glass incised with an abrasive to create decorative patterns. |
| Cut Length | The length of unhemmed fabric window treatments. |
| Cut Pile | A cut pile is when the ends of the rug pile is cut. |
| Cut String | It is a stringer with its upper surface having carriages or houses accurately cut to receive the treads and risers and the lower edge being parallel to the pitch of the stair. |
| Cyma Curve | A distinctive 'S' shaped curve incorporated into Queen Anne furniture. |
| Dacron | Registered Trademark of DuPont for polyester fibers in the form of continuous filament yarns, staple, tow and fiberfill. |
| Dado | The lower part of an interior wall, which has been treated with decoration. |
| Dado Cap | A molding used to finish the top of a dado. |
| Dado Joint | A rectangular groove across the width of a board or plank that another piece of wood fits into.Dado Rail |
| Damask | A heavy reversible fabric featuring a pattern that's distinguished from the background by contrasting luster. |
| Damp Proof Course | A course consisting of some appropriate water proofing material provided to prevent penetration of dampness or moisture. |
| Damper | The movable piece in a fireplace that controls the airflow and escape of smoke. |
| Data-Base Catalog | Information and graphic symbols programmed into a data-base software program. Useful in CAD and in business applications. |
| Data-Base Programs | Software programs that manage, organize, and retrieve files used for working on documents, graphics, CAD. |
| Daub | A coarse plaster used as infill wall finish in Medieval timber-framed buildings. |
| Davenport | Term originates from a the last name of a Boston upholster who made overstuffed couches. His couches were so popular people called them Davenports. This word has been replaced with sofa. |
| Daventry | A small chest of drawers with a sloped top for writing. |
| David Brewster Color Theory | Another designation for the Standard Color Wheel theory. |
| Daybed | A seating piece that can also serve as a bed. Find a daybed. |
| De Stijl | An early twentieth-century Dutch aesthetic philosophical movement best represented by the work of painter Piet Mondrian. |
| Dead Load | It is the sum of loads comprising of the self-weight of the structure (weight of walls, floors, roofs etc.) weight of its footings foundation and loads of all other permanent construction in the building. |
| Dead Shores | This is the system of shoring which is used to render vertical support to walls and roofs, floors etc. |
| Deboss | To depress a design in leather, paper, or composition board.Decoupage |
| Decorateitonline | A revolutionary concept in interior decorating featuring a comprehensive website filled with decorating advice, affordable professionally-prepared design portfolios, and a fabulous online store with fabulous furniture and accessories from around the world. |
| Decorative Arts | Arts such as ceramics, metal work, textiles, and furniture that are suitable as decoration. |
| Decorative Design | A classification of design wherein the building, furniture piece, or object is decorated with ornamentation. Decorative design is broken into four categories |
| Decorative Finishes | A term for a group of finishes that add decorative appeal to fabrics. Examples of mechanical decorative finishes include various calendering, flocking, and napping finishes. Chemical decorative finishes include etch or burn-out printing and finishes that add brightness, softness, texture, stiffening, and delustering. |
| Decorative Hardware | Decorative hardware is hardware that is seen or displayed in certain areas like knobs or pulls on kitchen cabinetry. |
| Decorative Luminaire | Another term for portable luminaire, consisting of plug-in, movable luminaires such as table and floor lamps. Also refers to an architectural or built-in luminaire that is decorative. |
| Decorator Rods | Metal drapery rods that are decorative with traverse cord-and-pulley workings. |
| Dehumidifier | A unit connected to an air-conditioning unit that draws off excess humidity as a part of the cooling system. |
| Demographics | The statistical data of a particular population. |
| Denim | This basic cotton cloth - first brought to America by Columbus almost 500 years ago as the sails on the Santa Maria - is rugged, tough, and serviceable. It is easily recognized by its traditional indigo-blue color warp and gray or mottled white filling, and its left hand twill on the face. Today, we most commonly associate denim as the material used for making blue jeans. |
| Dentil | A decorative trim of projecting rectangular blocks. |
| Dentils | A small square block used in series in Ionic, Corinthian, Composite, and, more rarely, Doric cornices. |
| Dentils (Or Dentil Molding) | Rectangular tooth-like blocks spaced at equal intervals along a cornice molding. |
| Depth Of The Arch | It is the perpendicular distance between the intrados and the extrados. |
| Descriptive Specification | Describes, often in intricate detail, the materials, workmanship, manufacture methods, and installation of the obligatory goods. |
| Design | The art of conceptualizing the appearance of an object or space. The term also refers to the style, appearance, or characteristic of an item such as a modern lamp or rustic bench. |
| Design Development Phase | Involves the preparation of all final plans, presentation graphics, and specifications required to explain design concepts to the client. |
| Design Process | The sequence of steps in creating and executing a design project. |
| Designer Rugs | Custom-designed tufted or woven area rugs. |
| Desk Manager Software | Programs with specific options for managing a business. |
| Destijl | A 20th Century style originating in the Netherlands. As with other Dutch furniture of the period, DeStijl furniture is characteristically simple and clean-lined. |
| Detached Dwelling | A single home on a lot of its own. |
| Dewolfe, Elsie (1865-1950) | The greatest and best known of the society interior designers who paved the way for the modern interior design profession. |
| Dhurrie Rug | A flat woven wool or cotton rug featuring beautiful designs. Find a rug. |
| Dhurrie Rugs | Originally cotton, now wool flat tapestry weave reversible rugs. Most are imported from India to meet Western demands. |
| Diagonal Lines | Angular lines that may go one (or more) directions in an interior. Diagonal lines suggest movement and action. |
| Diagramming | The graphic process of planning space on paper. |
| Diamond Tufting | An arrangement of tufted buttons which yields a diamond shaped pattern on the back of an upholstered piece of furniture. |
| Diaper-Work | A surface decoration that consists of a series of reticulations each of which contains an ornamental unit, such as a flower or leaf. |
| Dichroic Glass | A thin metallic coating on any type of glass. This coating is applied at a high temperature in a vacuum chamber. |
| Die Forming | The process of placing metal between two steel dies or stamps and squeezing them together under high pressure. The process shapes and strengthens the metal. |
| Diffusers | The glass or plastic cover over a luminaire that serves to soften the light and spread it evenly over the area. |
| Digital Imaging | Refers to the creation, manipulation, and production of images by use of computer technology, including software printers. |
| Dimensional Stability | The ability of a fabric to maintain or return to its original shape. |
| Dimmer Switch | A switch that can vary the intensity of the light it controls. |
| Dinette | A small dining set, which is often used in the kitchen. Find a dinette set. |
| Dining Room | Traditionally a formal room dedicated to the serving of meals. Find dining room furniture. |
| Diptych | Artwork on two panels that are hung together. Historically, a hinged, two-paneled painting or bas-relief. |
| Direct Complement | Two colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. |
| Direct Glare | Glare from an insufficiently shielded light source directly into the line of vision. |
| Direct Glue-Down | A method of laying carpeting where a layer of adhesive is applied to the floor and the carpet is laid directly on top of it, with no pad. |
| Direct Labor | The time the various employees spend directly involved in the generation of the revenues of the firm. |
| Direct Lighting | Lighting that shines directly on the desired area. |
| Direct Pasteup | Gluing fabric or wall coverings up with paste or adhesive. |
| Direct Printing | Also known as roller, calendar or cylinder printing; the colors are printed directly onto the fabric in the same manner as the printing of wallpaper. |
| Direct Solar Gain | Heating an area through direct exposure of sunshine to the occupied space. |
| Directoire | The Directoire period of furniture (late 1700's to early 1800's) was a result of French reign under five directors. Styling was controlled by a Jury of Arts and Manufactures. All emblems of royalty and aristocracy in furniture design were abolished. Classic decorations including griffins and caryatids are familiar in Directoire furniture. This period is influenced hugely by Greek, Egyptian, and Roman styling. Simple elegance characterizes this period. |
| Disc Foot | A flat, disc-shaped foot used on tables and chairs. Very common on chrome dining furnishings from the 1950's and 1960's. |
| Disc Piles | It consists of hollow mettalic pipe attached with a cast iron disc to its foot so as to enlarge the bearing area of the pile. |
| Discharge Printing | A process that removes the dyed color in patterned areas and replaces it with another color. |
| Dispersion Trenches | This is an alternative method of disposal of effulent from septic tank by soil absorption system. |
| Distemper | Distempers may be defined as water paints consisting of whiting (powered chalk), some colouring pigment and glue size mixed in water. |
| Distressed | A finish made to appear old or antique by the intentional addition of dents, scratches, and flecks of paint during the finishing process. |
| Distressed (Or Distressing) | A furniture trait where pieces are purposely dented or otherwise marked to render an antique or rustic appearance. |
| Distressed Finish | A decorative paint technique in which the final paint coat is sanded and battered to pro-duce the markings of wear and the patina of age. |
| Distribution | Carrying air heated by active or passive solar systems to the various areas or rooms within a building. |
| Doctor Of Philosophy | Ph. D., or doctorate degree; a possible requirement for full-time, tenure-track teaching positions in colleges and universities. |
| Dog-Legged Stair | It consists of two straight flights of steps with abrupt turn between them. This type of stair is useful where the width of the stair-case hall is just sufficient to accommodate two widths of stair. |
| Dolan | A registered trademark of Hoechst for acrylic. |
| Dome | An inverted round dish or cup-shaped ceiling. |
| Dome System Construction | An arch rotated in a circle to become a dome. |
| Domestic Oriental Rugs | Jacquard machine-woven rugs in Oriental rug designs. |
| Door | A door may be defined as a barrier secured in an opening left in a wall to provide usual means of access to a building, room or passage. |
| Door Shutter | Door shutter is the moving part of the door and their number varies. |
| Doorframe | The doorframe is permanently held in position and fixed to the masonry of the opening with the help of hold-fasts or rawl plugs. |
| Doric | Featuring a fluted, tapered shaft and a square abacus capital, the Doric column is the simplest of the architectural orders. |
| Dormer | A window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof. |
| Dormer Window | It is a vertical window built in the sloping side of a pitched roof. This window is provided to achieve proper ventilation and lighting of the enclosed space below the roof. |
| Double Bed (Or Full 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 full, double or standard. Find a mattress set. |
| Double Complement | Two sets of direct complementary colors next to each other on the color wheel. |
| Double Extra Long (Or Full Extra Long) | A double/full mattress that measures 54"x80". Find a mattress set. |
| Double Flemish Bond | In this type of bonding brick work, each course presents the same appearance both in the front and back elevations. |
| Double Glazing | Filling a window opening with two layers of glass that provide insulation and increase energy efficiency at the window. Also known as twin glazing. |
| Double Roll | A roll of wall covering with approximately seventy-two square feet, or double the area of a single roll. |
| Double-Hung | Two layers of draperies, an overdrapery and an underlayer. Also, two sets of shutters, one installed directly above the other. |
| Double-Hung Sash | Sash window where both sections are operable. |
| Double-Hung Window | A window with two vertical sliding sashes, that can be raised and lowered independently of each other. |
| Double-Shirred Valance | A valance shirred, or gathered, at the top and bottom. |
| Double-Turn Stair | A stair that makes two ninety-degree turns on two separate landings. |
| Double-Wide Mobile Home | A mobile home that is fabricated into sections the size of a single-wide trailer, then fitted together to become twenty-four to thirty feet wide and twenty to forty feet long. |
| Dover Chest | An early American hope chest that was normally made of maple or oak. |
| Dovetail | Joint construction made by cutting pins in the shape of dovetails, which fit between dovetails upon another piece. Commonly found in drawer construction. |
| Dovetail Joint | In this method of fastening woodwork, wedge-shaped or flaring shaped pieces are cut out of each member and hooking the projection of one member into the other one forms the joint. |
| Dowel | A headless wooden pin used in furniture construction. |
| Dowel Joint | This type of joint ensures stability of the components against displacement or sliding. |
| Down | Soft breast feathers from ducks or geese. |
| Dowry Chest | A chest that was made to hold the personal possessions of a prospective bride. Notable examples in American furniture history include the Hadley chest, the Connecticut chest and the paint Pennsylvania-German chest. |
| Draft Dodgers | A sand-filled tube of fabric or a heavy rug placed against a door to prevent cold air infiltration. |
| Drafting | The drawing by hand, machine, or computer of floor plans. |
| Draftsman | A person who drafts, draws, or produces floor plans and blueprints. |
| Dragging | A paint effect that produces fine stripes on a surface, usually done by dragging a dry brush or through a glaze. |
| Dragging And Combing | Production of fine paint lines with a dry brush over a wet glaze or combing with any hard comblike tool. |
| Drain | A line of pipes including all fittings and equipment such as manholes, traps, floor traps used for the drainage of a building. |
| Drainage | The removal of any liquid (storm water, wastewater, sewage etc.) by a system constructed for this purpose. |
| Dralon | A registered trademark of Bayer for acrylic. |
| Drapability | The characteristic of a fabric to fall nicely into folds when draped. |
| Draperies | Pleated fabric hung with hooks on a traverse rod. Also refers to stationary side panels, tied-back fabric, and occasionally shirred panels. |
| Drapery | One of the most common types of window covering in residential and commercial interiors. |
| Draught Chair | The early English equivalent of a wingback chair. |
| Draw Draperies | Curtains or drapes mounted on a horizontal traversed rod so they can be open and closed with a pull cord. Find draperies and curtains. |
| Drawer Guides (Or Glides) | Term referring to the track or runners allowing a drawer to move freely and evenly in a piece of furniture such as a dresser. There are many types of guides including wooden center guides, metal glides with rollers, and metal ball bearing guides. |
| Drawings | One-of-a-kind, two-dimensional art forms produced with pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, chalk, crayon, or grease pencil on paper or other surfaces. |
| Dresser | A long chest of drawers used to store clothes. Term originally referred to a type of sideboard that was used for serving food and storing dishes. Find a bedroom dresser. |
| Dressing Of Stone | Building stone has to be quarried out from the rock formation before it can be put into use and the process is called dressing of stone. The quarry of stone may be done either by hands or machines. |
| Drier | These are the materials containing mettalic compounds and are used in small quantities for accelerating the drying of paint film. They act as catalysts for the oxidation and polymerization of the vehicle used in the paint. |
| Drop Front | The hinged front of an upright desk that drops down to provide a surface for writing. |
| Drop Handle | A pear-shaped handle made popular in the late 17th Century. |
| Drop Leaf | A dining or occasional table with hinged leaves that can be lowered. Find a drop leaf dining table. |
| Drop Lid Desk | A desk with a hinged front that covers the inner compartments. Find home office furniture. |
| Drop Seat | A concave seat where the middle and front are lower than the side. |
| Drop-In Seat | An upholstered seat frame that sits in the main framework of a chair. |
| Drop-In Spring Unit | A coil spring assembly (much like a mattress coil unit) used in upholstery to simulate an eight-way-hand-tied feel and support. |
| Drop-Leaf Table | A table with a fixed center section and side flaps that can be lowered or raised and held up with various types of supports. Also called occasional table. |
| Dropped-Pendant Luminaires | Simple, suspended luminaires dropped from the ceiling with a cord or chain. |
| Drum | A cylindrical portion of a building used as the base for a dome. |
| Drum Dyeing | Maximum dye penetration of leather by immersing it in a dye solution in a tumbling drum. |
| Drum Table | A circular top table on a tripod base with a deep skirt that may contain drawers. |
| Dry Brushing | A paint technique in which a brush is worked over a glaze to create a cloudy effect. |
| Drywall | Another term for wallboard, sheetrock, or plasterboard; wall material made of pulverized gypsum rock. |
| Duck | A closely woven heavy durable material. |
| Duck Foot | A webbed foot attached to a table leg which curves outward. |
| Duct Work Or Ducts | Metal or plastic pipes that funnel heated or air-conditioned air throughout an interior. |
| Dumb Waiter | A type of dining room stand with a central shaft and circular trays, which often revolves to enable those who are dining to help themselves to additional plates. Term also applies to a pulley type elevator that brought food up from a basement kitchen to the first floor dining room. |
| Duncan Phyfe | A furniture style popular in the late 1700's to early 1800's. Duncan Phyfe pieces are characterized by feet that gracefully curve outward on both tables and sofas. Duncan Phyfe seating pieces often have lyre-shaped backs, rolled top rails and arms. |
| Dupioni | A lustrous silk woven from two different colors of threads so that it shimmers or changes color in the light. |
| Duplex | A twin home dwelling?two units sharing one roof and foundation. |
| Durability | It is the property of concrete by virtue of which it is capable of resisting its disintegration and decay, which is caused due to any condition. |
| Durable Finishes | Chemical or decorative finishes that remain on the fabric through repeated cleaning. |
| Durable Press Calendering | A decorative mechanical finish that resin presses for durability and pattern impressions. |
| Durel | A registered trademark of Celanese for olefin. |
| Durry Rugs | See dhurrie rugs. |
| Dust Cover (Or Cambrick) | A non-woven cloth that covers the bottom of an upholstered piece of furniture such as a sofa or box spring. Also referred to as cambrick. |
| Dust Panel | A panel, usually of hardboard, placed between drawers to keep dust and other objects from passing between levels. |
| Dust Ruffle | Dust ruffles fit under the mattress and on top of the box spring to decorate with fabric to the floor. Find home accessories and bedding. |
| Dustboard (Dust Panel) | A panel placed between drawers in a chest or dresser to eliminate dust. |
| Dutch Door | A double door, split in half, with independent top and bottom sections. |
| Dutch Dresser | A cabinet with open shelves on the upper portion, and drawers or cupboard below. |
| Dutch Foot | A simple pad used as the foot on a cabriole leg. Sometimes confused with a duck foot. |
| Dutch Renaissance | This furniture style was a huge influence on late English design. It is characterized by its square heavy style and its straight dominate lines. Chairs were made with turned legs, straight stretchers and low backs that were also straight in design. The main decoration was carving with leaves and scrolling. Chair seats often had leather attached with brass nails, also referred to as nailhead. Oak was the favored wood of choice. Most popular during the 1500's through the 1600's. |
| Dutch Style | Early Flemish Baroque furniture, dating from the 17th Century, was but a slight adaptation of the late Renaissance style. Typical are oak cupboards with four doors and chairs with seats and backs of velvet or leather held in place by nails. Most pieces are massive, solid unpretentious pieces made of local woods with turnings. |
| Duvet | A nondecorative comforter that is covered with a removable cover. |
| Duvet Cover | A removable cover that encases a down-filled comforter known as a duvet. Find bedding and home accessories. |
| Dye Lot | Because fabrics are dyed in varying quantities of yardage, consistency of color will vary. Therefore there will be differences in color from bolt to bolt. |
| Dyeing | The process of coloring done in one of several stages |
| Dyestuff | A water-soluble coloring matter used to make a dye bath solution. |
| Dying | The process of applying color to fiber stock, yarn or fabric; there may or may not be thorough penetration of the colorant into the fibers or yarns. |
| Dyke | An igneous intrusion, rather like a wall, into the surrounding rocks. |
| Dynel | A registered trademark of Union Carbide for modacrylic. |
| Eames, Charles (1907-78) And Ray | An important husband-wife design team responsible for several modern classic furniture pieces. |
| Early American | American furniture design of the late 1600's to early 1700's (still popular today), adapted from popular European styles such as Jacobean and William and Mary. The look is characterized by straight lines and minimal decoration. The style has merged into what is now called Colonial, normally featuring elements of Queen Anne and Chippendale design. |
| Early American (1650-1750) | A general term for American Provincial or country New England interiors. |
| Early Christian (A.D. 330-800) | The architectural period following the official recognition of the Christian church by the Roman government. |
| Early Georgian | (1695-1750) Architectural period that first brought the design and elegance of the English Renaissance to America. |
| Early Renaissance | Early 1500's, the transitional period between Gothic Arts and the Classical Revival. Characterized by arch form, ornament and detail in style and decoration, high relief carving with diamond shapes and architectural pilasters, and ornamented with olive, laurel and acanthus leaves. Pieces usually featured no hardware. |
| Ears | Moldings on panels, door frames, or chimneypieces that break to form small molded squares or ears at the corners. |
| Earthenware | Ceramic ware with a permeable or porous body after firing (usually to a temperature of 1600°F to 1900°F). |
| Easements | Short bends in the handrail that allow it to change direction. |
| Eastlake | Charles Eastlake designated the Eastlake period and was popular in both England and America in the late 19th Century. Eastlake furniture had a medieval styling with a Gothic and Japanese decoration. The favorite woods were cherry wood and other fruitwoods. Panels were sometimes adorned with tile and metal for an added decoration. |
| Eastlake, Charles (1793-1865) | Nineteenth-century English designer and scholar who advocated the Gothic Revival style. Wrote 1-lints on Household Taste. |
| Easy Chair | Any large chair which is suitable for lounging. Find a living room chair. |
| Eaves | The lower edge of the inclined roof surface of a pitched roof is termed as eaves. |
| Ebeniste | An ordinary term for a French cabinet maker. |
| Ebonize | A painting effect where an object is treated with color to make it look like ebony. |
| Echinus | An oval-shaped molding between the shaft and the abacus on a column. |
| Echoes | When a reflecting surface is so far away from the source that the sound is reflected back as a distinct repetition of the direct sound, the reflected sound is called an echo. |
| Eclectic | A style of decorating combining furniture and accessories of various styles and periods. |
| Economy | The relative cost of items as related to an allotted budget. |
| Effects Of Crowding | The effects of crowding are inordinate exposure to sounds, smells, and touch. |
| Efficacy | Lumens per watt is a measure of the efficacy or efficiency of the light source. |
| Efflorescence | If soluble salts are present in bricks or the mortar, they absorb moisture from atmosphere and go into solution which appears on the surface in the form of whitish substance as the moisture dries out and the salts crystallise. |
| Egg & Dart | A classic design of alternating oval and dart shapes, commonly applied to cornices. |
| Egg And Dart | A decorative pattern consisting of alternating shapes of ovoid and arrow, usually used for molding. |
| Eggshell | An oil-based paint that has a low-sheen satin finish. |
| Eggshell Enamel | A hard finish semigloss paint. |
| Egress | The way out; exit. |
| Egyptian | This is arguably the first "influential" style of design dating from 4000 to 300 B.C. Pieces were very colorful and highly decorated. Carvings featured papyrus, lotus, and human and animal forms. Seating was usually of leather or cane and loose cushions were common. The most popular woods of choice were sycamore, cedar, yew and olivewood. Royal pieces were normally further decorated with inlaid ivory, gold and jewels. Egyptian styling has also been a huge influence on craftsmen of later eras. |
| Egyptian Cotton | Fine lustrous long staple cotton. Several varieties - usually brown in color. 1-2/5" average. Used in U.S. for thread and fine fabrics. |
| Eight Plex | An apartment building containing eight units. |
| Eight-Way Hand Tied | Springs used in upholstered furniture, in which each spring is tied in eight directions by hand securing the springs inside of the frame. |
| Elements | The five elements in Chinese belief earth, wood, fire, metal, and water that offer essential clues to the practice of Feng Shui. |
| Elements Of Design | The tactile portion of interiors that can be manipulated by the designer. These are space, shape or form, mass, line, texture, pattern, light, and color. |
| Elevation | A flat, two-dimensional drawing of a straight-on (orthographic) view of an object, an exterior facade, or an interior wall. |
| Elizabethan | A large furniture style of severe form that emerged during the reign of Elizabeth I in England during the latter half of the 1500's. Elizabethan pieces are characterized by heavy carving and massive size. |
| Elura | A registered trademark of Monsanto for mnodacrvlic. |
| Embellishment | Decoration or ornamentation added to an object or an interior. |
| Embossed Loop Pile | A looped pile surface carpet with high and low, or multilevel, loops; creates a random pattern. |
| Embossed Wall Coverings | Wallpapers with an imprinted, three-dimensional design. |
| Embossing | A technique to impress or stamp a design onto a piece of furniture; mostly used on wood pieces to resemble carving. |
| Embroidery | Ornamental needlework consisting of designs worked on fabric with either silk, cotton, metalized, or other threads, either by hand or machine. |
| Emphasis | A principle of design that indicates attention is given to a certain area within an interior. Emphasis is also called focal point. |
| Empire | A style inspired by the Napoleonic Empire, which features heavy looking classical designs and combines straight lines and curves, sleigh beds are a good example of this styling. |
| Emulsion | A water-based paint that's mainly applied to walls and ceilings. |
| Enamel Paints | Oil-based or sometimes water-based paints that are hard and glossy. |
| Enameled Glass | Glass decorated with particles of translucent glass or glass-like material, usually of a contrasting color, which fuses to the surface under heat. Multicolored designs can be created, as well as monochrome coatings. |
| Encarpa | A festoon of fruit and flowers traditionally used to decorate friezes and other flat spaces. |
| Encaustic | A paint medium in which pigment is suspended in molten wax and resin. After applying the paint to a panel or canvas, the artist passes a heat element over the work to fuse the colors into a fixed, uniform film. |
| Encoignure | An 18th-19th Century casework piece similar to a corner cabinet. Its front is typically rounded or diagonal, and it rests on three or four feet. Often, the top portion contains shelves in graduated sizes. |
| Encron | A registered trademark of American Enka for polyester. |
| End Matching | Two adjacent pieces of veneer, which are joined end to end to form a continuous pattern. |
| End Table | A small accent table that is usually placed at the end of a couch, beside chair or beside. Most commonly made of wood, metal and glass, or a combination of these materials. Find an end table. |
| Endive | A carved leaf design following the lines of the endive plant. |
| Energy Consciousness | A term often associated with window treatments-covering windows to keep in winter heat and exclude summer solar gain or hear. |
| Engaged Column | A half column that is set against a wall or into a wall. |
| Engineered Wood Flooring | Flooring that is created from layers of wood bonded together through adhesive. Makes for a very dimensionally stable floor, ideal for areas prone to changes in temperature and humidity. |
| English Bond | This bond consists of alternate course of headers and stretchers. In this arrangement, vertical joints in the header courses come over each other and the vertical joints in the stretcher course are also in the same line. |
| English Regency | Often referred to as the English version of the French Empire, this period (1810-1830) reflected the general European interest in antiquity and return to classic forms, rich ornamentation. Furniture was small-scaled, well-proportioned; combining curves and straight lines. |
| English Style | The period distinctions of English furniture are somewhat indefinite owing to the variety of labels according to monarchs, designers, typical woods and external influences. Changes were happening so rapidly that primarily the type of wood used distinguished the boundaries of the English style. |
| Engraving | An intaglio printing process in which a design is incised into a metal plate. Characterized by sharp, clean lines and high definition. |
| Engravings | Prints made from a hand-engraved metal plate. |
| Enkrome | A registered trademark of American Enka for viscose rayon. |
| Entablature | The horizontal element that rests upon the columns in classical architecture. Consists of the architrave, frieze, and cornice. |
| Entertainment Center | A piece of furniture designed to hold entertainment equipment such as TV's and stereo components. Find an entertainment center. |
| Envelope | A passive solar building system wherein air circulates in a double-wall construction around the house and includes a south-facing solarium. |
| Epoxy Paint | Used to paint over metal or water-filled surfaces. Contains hardeners. |
| Equilibrium | A state of physical or visual balance or equality. |
| Er Lamps | See R, ER lamps. |
| Erformance Specification | A specification establishing product requirements based on exacting performance criteria. These criteria must be based on the qualitative or measurable statements. |
| Ergonomic | Term that relates to furniture design and function for the human form; very commonly found in home office furnishings such ergonomic chairs for example. |
| Ergonomics | See biotechnology. |
| Escritoire | A writing desk with a fall front that lowers to form a writing surface. The English word 'secretary' was derived from this term. |
| Escutcheon | The shaped metal fitting/backing behind a drawer pull or surrounding a keyhole. The term can also apply to a tiny plate that hangs over a keyhole to stop drafts from coming in. The term can be further applied to a shield upon which a coat of arms or other devices are emblazoned. |
| Espagnolettes | A long bolt sometimes found on French windows. It consists of a handle that sends the bolt into the top and bottom of the wall. |
| Estron | A registered trademark of Eastman Kodak for acetate. |
| Etagere | A small, upright set of free-standing open-sided shelves for displaying small decorative items. |
| Etch Or Burn-Out Printing | A decorative chemical finish printed with acid to burn out one fiber?usually cotton in a cotton/polyester blend?to leave a sheer pattern. |
| Etched Glass | Glass decorated, carved, or otherwise marked by sandblasting or the use of hydrofluoric acid. The glass is partially covered with an acid-resistant wax or gum and the exposed are is etched. |
| Etching | A printing method in which compound agents are used to deepen lines drawn onto a printing plate. |
| Etchings | Prints made from metal plates that have patterns and designs chemically etched into their surface. |
| Ethical Standards | Define what is correct and incorrect in relation to the professional behavior of the members and even the practice of the profession. |
| European Handmade Rugs | French Savonnerie and Aubusson, Portuguese needlepoint, and Spanish rugs. |
| European Style | Sophisticated style with great attention to detail and ornamentation. |
| Evaporative Cooling System | Also called swamp cooling, the system is based on air flowing through a wet pad. Useful and economical in arid climates. |
| Evolute | A recurrent wave motif for a band, frieze or cornice. |
| Execution | The final phase of the design process where the design plans are implemented. |
| Exit | A passage, channel or means of egress from any building, storey or floor area to a street or other open space of safety. |
| Expansion Joints | These joints are provided to accommodate the expansion of adjacent building parts and to relieve compressive stress that may otherwise develop. |
| Exposed Aggregate | Pebbles set into and protruding above a concrete base. Hard flooring and wall material. |
| Exterior Veneer | The finish building material on the exterior, such as masonry (brick, stone) or siding (metal, wood, stucco). |
| External Wall | An outer wall of a building not being a party wall even though adjoining to a wall of another building and also means a wall abutting on an interior open space of any building. |
| Extrados | It is the outer surface of an arch or the outer curve of the arch ring. Enamel paint - It is made by adding pigments like white lead or zinc white to a vehicle which is a varnish. |
| Extrude/Extrusion | To force out through a small opening; a method used to form tubular steel. Also, man-made fibers formed by forcing a viscose solution through a spinnerette. |
| Extrusive Rock | The cooling of magma on the earth's surface creates an igneous rock. |
| Eyeball | A recessed spotlight that shines at an angle on a wall or object. |
| Eyeball Spots | Semi-recessed lights set in the ceiling, which can be adjusted to shine in different directions. |
| Eyelet | A small hole in a piece of fabric designed for a cord to be thread through or used for decoration (as in embroidery). |
| 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. |
| G Lamp | A spherical or globe-shaped bulb. |
| Gable | It is the triangular portion of the end wall of a sloped roof formed by continuing the end wall up within the roof. Thus , the gable has two slopes with ridge in between. |
| Gadroon Molding | A rounded molding carved in convex curves that is used along the edges of table tops and chairs. |
| Gainsborough Chair | A deep armchair with an upholstered seat and back, padded open arms, and carved decoration. Find a living room chair. |
| Galerie | A covered porch on the houses of French influence. |
| Gallery | An intermediate floor or platform projecting from a wall of an auditorium or a hall providing extra floor area , additional seating , accomodation etc. |
| Gallery Rail | A small slender railing, usually brass, that borders a sideboard or table. |
| Gambrel Roof | A roof line with a double pitch, flatter at the top and steeper at the bottom like a red barn. |
| Garage | A building or portion thereof used for shelter , storage or parking of a wheeled vehicle. |
| Garden Wall Bound | This type of bond is suitably adopted for one brick thick wall which may act as a garden wall or a boundary wall. |
| Gargoyle | A grotesque carved figure or head. Were originally used to carry rainwater from the gutters. |
| Garland | An architectural ornamentation representing foliage, flowers or fruits plaited and tied together with ribbons. |
| Garnetting | A production process in which short cotton fibers are combed into a specific orientation and formed into layers. |
| Garret | Same as attic. |
| Gate Valve | This type of valve is used to control flow of water or for completely stopping the flow of water in a pipe line. |
| Gateleg Table | A style of drop-leaf table with leaves that are supported by extra legs that swing out like gates. Developed during the Jacobean period and was popular in Colonial America. Find dining room furniture. |
| Gate-Leg Table | A style of drop-leaf table with leaves that are supported by extra legs that swing out like gates. Developed during the Jacobean period and popular in early America as well. Still used in many compact spaces. |
| Gauge | The measure of the diameter of wire used in furniture and mattress springs. The lower the gauge, the heavier/thicker the wire. Find a new mattress. |
| Gauged Brick Arches | Gaiged bricks are those which have been accurately prepared to a wedge shape for the arch construction. |
| Gazebo | A small, open garden house. |
| General Contractor | A builder who is licensed to construct or oversee construction of all building phases. |
| General Lighting | See ambient lighting. |
| Generic | A general type of man-made fiber that is significantly different from other fibers and thereby has been granted a name, such as nylon, by the Federal Trade Commission. Within each generic group are up to dozens of trademarks or trade names produced by various chemical companies. |
| Genuine | Wooden furniture construction with veneers of a particular wood, over hardwood plywood, on all the exposed parts of a piece. |
| Geodesic Dome System Construction | A building system enclosing spaces with curved, triangular steel truss work. The interior structure must be independent of the dome. |
| Geometric Design | A classification of decorative design based on geometric shapes circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles. |
| Geometric Panels | Decorative panels forming or consisting of regular lines, curves and angles. |
| Geometrical Stair | This is similar to the open-newel stair with the difference that the open well between the forward and the backward flight is curved. |
| Georgian | Elegant design of the 1700's, which is heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne. Georgian features include elaborately carved cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, pierced back splats and ornate carving. |
| Gesso | A painted or gilded bas-relief plaster decoration. |
| Giclee | French term meaning sprayed. A process by which an image is rendered digitally by spraying a fine stream of ink onto archival art paper or canvas. Similar to an airbrush technique. |
| Gilded Glass | Glass that has been encased in a layer of gold. |
| Gilding | A coating with a thin layer of gold or gold-like substance. |
| Gimp | An ornamental flat braid or round cord used as a trimming. |
| Ginger Jar | A bulbous oriental ceramic pot and lid, designed to hold ginger. |
| Gingerbread | Ornate scroll-sawn wood applied to gothic-revival homes. |
| Gingham | A fabric with a checked pattern that's created by weaving together two different colored yarns. |
| Girondole | Term refers to a round, convex mirror used as a wall ornament. |
| Girt | A heavy horizontal beam located above the posts in seventeenth-century framed homes. These beams often supported the floor joists. |
| Glare | Strong, steady, daylight or artificial light that can cause irritation, fatigue, and heat buildup. |
| Glare-Free | Lamps that have silvered lining. |
| Glass | A hard, brittle material of molten silica sand and soda or potash, lime, and possibly metal oxides. Clear, transparent, or colored; used for window glazing, mirrors, walls. |
| Glass Block | Semihollow blocks of translucent glass primarily for non-load-bearing walls. |
| Glass Curtains | A historic term for sheers shirred onto a curtain rod and placed next to the glass. |
| Glass Partitions | These are the partitions which are made either from the sheet glass or hollow glass blocks. |
| Glass Tile | Vitrified tiles of dense glass composition. imported from France. |
| Glass, Architectural Glazing | Glass used to fill window openings; term usually refers to nonresidential installations. |
| Glassblowing | The process of gathering molten glass onto the end of a blowpipe and forming it into a variety of shapes by blowing and manipulating it as the glass is rotated. |
| Glastonbury Chair | An X-framed Gothic seat with a sloping paneled back. Arms had a drooping curve in which a priest's vestments rested. |
| Glaze | Glassy melted coating on a clay surface. Glaze has a similar oxide composition to glass, but includes a binder. |
| Glazing | Glazing consists in securing glass , in prepared opening in iron , steel , masonry or wood work. |
| Glide | The mechanism on the bottom or sides of a drawer upon which it slides. |
| Globe Valve | This is the most commonly used type of valve for manually controlling or completely closing the flow of water in domestic water installation. |
| Gloss Enamel | Hard, oil-based paint that dries to a shine or gloss. |
| Glyph | Term refers to a short, vertical groove or channel. A common feature in Doric architecture. |
| Gobelin | A French tapestry and the name of the Parisian factory that produced it. |
| Goblet Pleat | A pinch-pleated drapery heading filled out with batting or stiff paper. |
| Going Of Step | The run of a step in a stair or the width of the tread between the direction of a stair. |
| Gold Electroplate | A process for creating gold-plated silverware. |
| Gold Leaf | Extremely thin sheets of gold used in gilding. |
| Golden Age | See ancient Greece. |
| Golden Mean | A pleasing line of division that is placed between one-half and one-third of the height or length of an object, such as tieback draperies or a chair rail. |
| Golden Section | A theory of pleasing proportions based On the sequence 2,3,5,8,13,2121, ad inf., where a portion or section of a line relates best to its neighbors in measurements of these or equivalent increments. |
| Goose Neck | This is 40 to 50 cm long flexible curved pipe made up of brass , copper or lead inserted between the ferrule and the service pipe. |
| Goose-Neck Arm | A chair with curved wooden arms resembling a goose's neck. |
| Gothic | Pieces from this period (late 1100's to early 1500's) were large with straight lines, and very heavy in weight and scale. Production often took place in monasteries and pieces were usually decorated with shapes of religious figures and detailed carving. The Gothic era introduced the Trestle table, stools, and cupboards. A famous piece of this era is the box chair. The box chair had paneled sides and back with a storage space under the seat. The dominant woods used in producing this style were primarily pine and oak. |
| Gothic (A.D. 1150-1550) | A period and style in western Europe characterized by pointed arches and steep roofs. |
| Gothic Arch | A pointed arch that is the principal form in Gothic architecture. |
| Gothic Revival | Style influenced by Gothic and medieval influences popular in the mid-1800s, this style is characterized by lines flowing up to a pointed arch or other architectural features. |
| Gouache | A opaque watercolor paint, or work so produced. Gouache is applied like watercolor, but reflects light due to its chalky finish. |
| Gradation | A type of rhythm wherein sizes of shapes graduate from large to small or small to large. Also seen in varying color values from dark to light or light to dark. |
| Grade | A classification of lumber based on its aesthetic appearance. |
| Grain | The direction of the fibers in wood. Flat grain wood is sawed perpendicular to the growth rings. Edge grain wood has been sawed parallel to the growth rings. |
| Grain (Stone) | The individual mineral pieces or crystals that make up a rock. |
| Grain (Wood) | The stratification of wood fibers in a piece of wood. |
| Grand Rapids Style | Style inspired by several furniture factories in Grand Rapid Michigan at the turn of the 20th Century, which is still popular today. Pieces of this design are inexpensive and usually made of oak. The most popular item of this style is the oak pedestal table stained in a light finish. |
| Grandfather Clock | A freestanding floor clock with a pendulum inside its tower casing. Grandfather clocks normally range from six to seven feet in height. Find a grandfather clock. |
| Granite | Is an igneous rock with visible grains. |
| Graphic Art | Artwork such as posters, fashion illustrations, and book illustrations created primarily for commercial purposes bur having aesthetic merit. |
| Graphic Artist | A designer who specializes in two-dimensional signage, graphics, type, and design motifs or logos. |
| Graphics | The visual signs in a retail space that direct customers to departments or to certain goods. Also, the term used for putting on paper the stages of space planning from bubble diagrams to the finished floor plans. |
| Grass Cloth | Woven grasses laminated to a paper backing and used as wall covering. |
| Grasscloth | A natural fiber wallpaper. |
| Gray Goods Or Greige | Woven fabrics in their natural fiber stare before bleaching and prefinishes. Pieces of bolt length may not be gray but a dingy off-white. |
| Grazing Or Graze | Light shining at a very steep angle that emphasizes the texture of the surfacc. |
| Grease Trap | These traps are especially designed for removing the grease content of waste water before discharging the same into the drain. |
| Great Hall | The large, multipurpose area in the English Medieval house. |
| Great Room | An open area in contemporary homes that combines the living room, family room, dining room, and perhaps the kitchen, office, and/or library. |
| Greek Revival | An architectural and decorative style that drew inspiration from ancient Greek designs. It is characterized by the use of pediments and columns. |
| Greek Revival (1820,60) | Architectural style that contained American Empire interiors. |
| Greek Style | Dating from the 9th Century B.C. with Egyptian roots. Characterized by use of bronze animal legs, gilding, encrusted jewels and stones. Used native woods such as olive, yew and cedar. Features include sweeping curves on legs and backs, and centers on couches, chairs, stools, tables, chests and boxes. Usually not highly decorated. |
| Greenhouse Effect | Phenomenon in which captured solar heat from long sun rays penetrates glass, and bounces off materials and furnishings, and becomes shorter, weaker, and unable to repenetrate the glass. |
| Greenhouse Window | Projecting glass box for growing plants. |
| Griffin | A chimerical beast employed in decoration during the early Georgian period. |
| Grillage Foundation | When heavy structural loads from columns , piers or stanchions are required to be transferred to a soil of low bearing capacity , grillage foundation is often found to be lighter and more economical. |
| Grille | A metal lattice work used on many 18th Century bookcases. |
| Grilles | Used to modify strong light or minimize an undesirable view while still providing some visual connection between the inside and outside. |
| Grommet | An eyelet in a piece of fabric reinforced with two pieces of affixed metal. Often found on contemporary curtain panels. |
| Grosgrain | A strong, close-woven corded fabric usually of silk or rayon. |
| Ground Floor | Means the storey of the building which has its floor surface nearest to the ground around the building. |
| Grounding Receiver | The third hole in an electric outlet required for fixtures and appliances that. consume a lot of power to be connected into the circuit and to prevent electric shock. |
| Groundmass | The main part of an igneous rock made up of finer grains in which the larger crystals are set. |
| Grout | Grout is a thin mortar that is used to fill in space between tiles, masonry, bricks and other stones and ceramics |
| Gueridon | A small rounded topped table or stand, elaborately carved, usually with three legs. Primarily used for holding candles or small articles. |
| Guilloche | An ornamentation formed by two or more intertwining bands or interlacing figure "8's" frequently enclosing rosettes or other details. |
| Guimpe | A round or flat braided trim used on upholstered furniture. |
| Gully Trap | Gully trap is a deep seal trap which is provided on the external face of the wall for disconnecting the waste water flowing from kitchen , bath , wash basin & floors from the main drainage system. |
| Gum Arabic | A sticky substance from gum trees that is soluble in water and hardens when exposed to air, used as a vehicle for watercolor. |
| Guniting | This is a method to prevent the defect of dampness in the structure. This consists in depositing an impervious layer of rich cement mortar over the surface to be water proofed. |
| Gusset | A narrow panel that's shaped or gathered to give a sense of fullness, such as the side panel of a box shaped cushion for example. |
| Gypsum Board | See wallboard. |
| Habitable Room | A room occupied or designed for occupancy by one or more persons for study , living , sleeping , eating , kitchen but not including bathroom , water closet , store , pantry , corridor etc. |
| Hadley Chest | A colonial chest with a drawer that was used as a hope or dowry chest. |
| Haitian Cotton | A highly textured woven material with a loose, rolled cotton weft. |
| Half-Timbered | A method of construction that uses timber frames (post and beam) for internal and external walls. Brick and plaster are normally used to fill the gaps between timbers. |
| Hall Tree | A piece of furniture that's usually placed in an entryway or hallway to hang coats and hats on. Hall trees often have a mirror back and a table surface or storage bench seat. Find a hall tree. |
| Halogen | A light that emits true color characteristics, unlike fluorescent and other lighting that tend to give a room a yellowish cast, halogen's light remains neutral. |
| Halogen Lighting | A type of lighting in which a tungsten filament is sealed into a compact transparent vessel and filled with a small amount of iodine or bromine to create a chemical reaction that produces light. The light from a halogen bulb is better at displaying colors than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Often used in retail application or display cabinets. |
| Halving Joint | This joint is used in members crossing or meeting at an angle. In this method, each member on opposite sides is cut to half of its thickness, at the joint and lapped. |
| Hand | The feel of cloth or leather, the sensation of its textural qualities. |
| Hand Distressing | Creating a marred surface, which lends an aged look to furniture. |
| Hand Printing | Processes such as batik, tie-dye, block printing, and hand silk-screen and stencil printing. |
| Hand Tied | Coil springs that are attached to the webbing with links and then "hand tied" to each other and the frame to achieve differing amounts of elasticity in the seat. Two, four, and eight way hand ties are commonly used. |
| Hand-Blocked | Block printed wallpapers have prints that are applied by someone using a wooden block. These blocks were traditionally made of pear wood. Some companies today still implement this way of making wallpaper since the look and quality of the papers are distinctive and luxurious. |
| Handkerchief Table | Term refers to a single leaf table with a leaf and a triangular top. Closed the table fits in a corner, opened it's a small square. |
| Hand-Planned Finish | A distressing treatment by which a new floor or board is scraped with blades by hand to give an undulating and worn effect. |
| Handrail | It is provided to render assistance in negotiating a stair-way. It is supported on balustrades and usually run parallel to the slope of the stair. |
| Hard Window Coverings | Art glass, blinds, screens, shades, and shutters. |
| Hardboard | Compressed wood fibers formed into panels with embossed designs or a wood/plastic laminated surface. |
| Hardware | Wood, plastic, or metal-plated trim found on the exterior of furniture, such as knobs, handles, and decorative trim. |
| Hardwood | A botanical group of trees featuring board leaves. The term does not necessarily refer to the hardness of the species. |
| Hardwood Frames | Upholstered furniture frames made from hardwoods such as oak or birch. These woods are normally kiln dried and resist splitting. |
| Harmonious Color Scheme | Also called analogous, a combination focused on neighboring hues on the color wheel. The shared underlying color generally gives such schemes a coherent flow. |
| Harmony | A congruous combination of parts into a pleasing whole; the result of unity and variety balanced together in an orderly, agreeable arrangement. |
| Harvest Table | A narrow rectangular table that has hinged drop leaves, this design takes up very little space and offers a nice amount of surface area when the leaves are up. Find dining furniture. |
| Hassock | Upholstered footstool large enough to be used as seating, often referred to as an ottoman. Find chairs and ottomans. |
| Haunch Of An Arch | It is the portion of the arch situated centrally between the key and skew backs. |
| Hazardous Buildings | These shall include any building or part of building which is used for the storage , handling , manufacture or processing of highly combustible explosive materials or products which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity and which may produce poisonous fumes or explosions. |
| Head Room | It is the clear vertical distance between the tread of a step and the so fit of the flight or the ceiling of a landing immediately above it and it should not be less than 2.14m. |
| Headboard | A headboard is a vertical board or frame that is usually finished wood or upholstered, and placed at the head of the bead. |
| Header | It is a full brick or stone, which is laid with its length perpendicular to the face of the wall. |
| Heading | The hemmed, stiffened, layered portion on the top of a curtain or drapery. |
| Heading Bond | In this type of bonding , all the bricks are laid as headers on the faces. The overlap , which is usually of half the width of the brick is abstained by introducing a three |
| Hearth | The paved or tiled floor of a fireplace. |
| Heartwood | The wood that extends from the true center of the tree to the sapwood is referred to as heartwood. This wood is normally darker and more resistant to rot and decay than the sapwood. |
| Heat Gain | Solar heat that penetrates the interior through glass; desirable in winter and undesirable in summer. |
| Heat Loss | The interior heat lost in winter back through glass to the outside. To prevent heat loss, movable insulation or insulative window treatments are employed. |
| Heat Setting | The setting in of permanent creases or folds in polymer fabrics by heating the fold to the point of polymer flow (beginning to melt), then rapidly cooling the fabric. |
| Heat Transfer Printing | Method of printing fabrics by transferring designs to fabric from special pre-printed paper. |
| Heat-Transfer Printing | Decals that are dispersed-transferred from waxed paper to a cloth under heat and pressure. |
| Helical Wire | Thin wire spirals that hold adjacent rows of mattress coils together and may be used to hold coils to the border rods. They can run horizontally or vertically. Not present in mattresses with individually pocketed coils. Find a new mattress. |
| Hepplewhite | A neo-classic furniture style that followed Chippendale from the late 1700's to about 1820. It overlaps with Sheraton styles and shares similar elements of restrained design, tapered legs and classical ornamentation like urns and shields. |
| Hepplewhite, George (D. 1786) | An important English furniture designer who produced a series of drawings published as The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide. |
| Herculon | A registered trademark of Hercules for olefin. |
| Heterogeneous | Stone formed from several types of material. |
| Hibachi | An indoor brazier used to provide warmth, boil water for tea, or warm sake. It is made in a variety of sizes and materials, especially wood and ceramic, and is filled with sand and ash. Charcoal is arranged in the center under a trivet, which supports a kettle. |
| Hid (High-Intensity Discharge) Lighting | HID lamps establish an arc between two very close electrodes set in opposite ends of small, sealed, translucent or transparent glass tubes. The electric arc generates heat and pressure high enough to vaporize the atoms of various metallic elements inside the lamp, causing the atoms to emit large amounts of visible-range electromagnetic energy. |
| High Contrast | The difference between small areas of light and the dark area surrounding it. |
| High Key | All colors in an interior that are light or high in value. |
| High Relief | Term refers to deep carving of the plane surface of any material. |
| High Resiliency Foam | A pure foam with a cell structure different from conventional foam which results in more durable and more supportive material. This foam will retain its shape longer. |
| High Rise | A building containing several levels or floors of apartments, condominiums, or offices. |
| High Tech | A product of high technology. |
| High Values | Light variations of a hue; a hue with various amounts of white added. |
| Highboy | A tall, narrow chest of drawers usually placed in bedrooms. |
| High-Contrast Values | A wide division of color value in an interior?very light colors contrasted with very dark colors. |
| High-Efficiency Furnace | A furnace that uses less energy and delivers a higher output. The unit costs more initially. |
| High-Gloss Paint | Any paint that dries to a very shiny finish. |
| High-Intensity Discharge | Produce light by passing an electric current through a gas or vapor under high pressure. |
| Highlighting | A color-removal technique in the finishing process, which is used to highlight natural grain characteristics. |
| Hiking Up | The shrinking of a fabric that has absorbed moisture, then dried. |
| Hinged King | A king size mattress with a divided border rod in the center to allow for slight bending or folding without causing damage. Find a mattress set. |
| Hip Rafters | These are the rafters which form the hip of a sloped roof. These rafters run from the ridge to the corners of the wall to support the covering over the hip. |
| Hipped Roof | A roof without a gabled end that slopes in four directions. |
| Hispanic | Having to do with Spain or Portugal. |
| Hitchcock Chair | A black-painted/finished chair of the 1800's with gold powdered stenciling of fruit and flowers on the backrest, named after its designer Lambert Hitchcock. Heavily influenced by Sheraton designs. Web site of the Hitchcock Chair Company. |
| Hitchcock Style | Style created by Lambert Hitchcock of Connecticut from the early to mid 1800's. Although most famous for the design of Hitchcock chairs, Lambert also produced stools, settees, rockers, cabinets and cradles. The Hitchcock chair is still reproduced to this day. |
| Hitchcock, Lambert (1795-1852) | An American furniture designer known best for his Hitchcock chair with its black painted finish, stenciling, rush or cane seat, and delicate lines. |
| Hock Leg | A cabriole leg having a broken curve on the inner side of the knee. |
| Hoffmann, Josef (1870-1956) | Member of the Vienna Secession and founding member of the Wiener Werkstite. He is best known for his design of the Prague chair and Fledermaus chair. |
| Hollofil | A registered trademark of DuPont for polyester. |
| Hollow-Core Door | A veneered door with a hollow core filled with cardboard honeycomb. |
| Hologram | A three-dimensional image projected by splitting a laser beam. |
| Home Automation | Central control of all energy-using fixtures and devices. |
| Homogeneous | Stone formed from just one material. |
| Hood | The canopy overhanging a fireplace to increase the draft. |
| Hooded Fireplace | A fireplace with a projecting hood to catch the smoke. |
| Hook-And-Loop Fasteners | A two-part fastening system of nylon loops on one tape and a fuzzy nylon surface on another that stick together and can be pulled apart. The best-known brand is Velcro. |
| Hooked Rugs | A traditional method of making decorative rugs of strips of fabric, punched through a jutelike backing with a special hook. |
| Hoop Back Chair | Hepplewhite or Queen Anne chair with a top rail curving directly into its arms. |
| Hope Chest | Traditionally a hinged-top chest for storing items such as household goods and textile items in anticipation of marriage. Also referred to as a dowry chest. Find a hope chest. |
| Horizontal Lines | Horizontal lines serve to visually widen or lengthen an interior and, when dominant, produce feelings of relaxation and repose. |
| Horizontal Satin | See sateen. |
| Hourglass | A piece for telling time with two globes of glass connected by a narrow neck that allows a quantity of sand to pass during a specified time. |
| Housed Joint | In this joint , the entire end or thickness of one member is let into the notch in another. This is commonly used in works of heavy nature. |
| Housed Stair | A stair attached to walls on both sides. Also called a closed stair. |
| Hue | The pure state of any color. |
| Humidifier | An attachment to a furnace that adds moisture or humidity to the air. (Heating interior air strips it of moisture.) |
| Huntboard | Designed to be light and portable so it could be moved outdoors. Originally used for serving food and drinks after a hunt. |
| Hutch | Enclosed cupboard with shelves resting on a solid base such as buffet or desk. Find dining room furniture. |
| Hvac | Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. In nonresidential architecture, it is the system that maintains an even temperature (around 72 degrees Fahrenheit) and circulates fresh air through the interior. |
| Hybrid Solar Energy System | A passive solar system augmented with fans, ducts, blowers, or other mechanical devices. |
| Hydrophilic | A fiber that readily absorbs moisture, such as natural and man-made cellulosics and natural protein fibers. |
| Ibd | The Institute of Business Designers. |
| Idc | The Interior Designers of Canada. |
| Idec | The Interior Design Educators Council. |
| Ids | The Interior Design Society. |
| Ifda | The International Furnishings and Design Association (formerly the National Home Fashions League). |
| Ifi | The international Federation of Interior Architects/Designers. |
| Igneous | Rocks which have solidified from a molten state. |
| Ikebana | Traditional Japanese method of arranging flowers according to strict rules of placement. |
| Ilfochrome | A trademarked photographic paper and the process of making prints with such paper. Ilfochrome prints are produced from slides or transparencies, not color negatives. |
| Illuminance | The density of luminous flux incident of a surface in lumens per unit area. |
| Illusion Lighting | The artistic science of creating illusion through specialty |
| Imbrications | Ornamentation in the form of fish scales or the segmented edge of tiles that overlap. |
| Impact Noise | Sound resulting from direct contact of an object with a sound barrier, can occur on any surface, but it generally occurs on a floor and ceiling assembly. |
| Impasto | A thick, uneven surface texture achieved by applying paint with a brush or palette knife. |
| Incalmo | The glassblowing technique used to create horizontal or vertical bands of color by forming and connecting cylinders or colored glass. |
| Incandescent | The most commonly used household bulb, which emits light through a wire filament. |
| Incandescent Lighting | A type of lighting in which an electric current is passed through a thin filament, heating it to a temperature that produces light. The enclosing glass bulb contains either a vacuum or an inert gas to prevent oxidation of the filament. Incandescent bulbs are inexpensive and create good natural light and color renderings,but use more energy and generate more heat than fluorescent bulbs. |
| Incident Solar Radiation | The energy collected from the sun to power active solar panels/systems. Also called insolation. |
| Inclusions | Particles of metal, bubbles, etc., that occurs within glass or is added for decorative effect. |
| Independent Living | Elderly or handicapped persons who are able to live at home and care for themselves because the space is planned to accommodate their needs. |
| Indirect And Isolated Passive Solar Gain | Solar gain from a source other than the occupied space. Examples include greenhouses or solariums that can be closed off from the living or nonresidential space. |
| Indirect Lighting | A more subdued type of lighting that is not head-on, but rather reflected against another surface such as a ceiling. |
| Industrial Building | These shall include any building or part of a building or structure , in which products or materials of all kinds and properties are fabricated , assembled or processed for example refineries , mills , dairies , industries etc. |
| Infill | Materials used to fill the space between the timber frame of a building. |
| Informal Areas | Areas for relaxed, spontaneous living, and entertaining. |
| Informal Balance | Also known as asymmetrical, optical, or occult balance, it is the state of equilibrium reached through the arrangement of unlike objects or parts on each side of a central point. |
| Inglenook | A recess for a bench seat or two next to a fireplace. Popular in Shingle style and Craftsman homes. |
| Ingress | The entrance to a building. |
| In-House Designer | An interior designer who is a salaried staff member of a large organization; responsible for the interior design or facilities management of new and existing buildings owned by that organization. |
| Initial Load Deflection (Ild) | A measure for the firmness level of foam used in upholstered furniture and mattresses. |
| Inlaid Vinyl | Flooring in which successive layers of vinyl granules are built up to suggest texture. |
| Inlay | A decorating technique in which an object is incised with a design, a colorant is pressed into the incisions, and the surface is then scraped to confine the colored inlay to the incisions. |
| Inner Quilt | A true pillow top mattress will have an inner quilt, which means that the first layers of upholstery are actually covered with a layer of fabric that is sewn to the tape edge of the mattress. Some so called pillow tops do not have inner quilts. These imitation pillow tops have border panels around the perimeter with two tape edges to give the appearance of a pillow top. Find a mattress. |
| Inner Tufting | A very durable method of attaching and combining layers of padding below the quilted cover of a mattress to prevent shifting and settling of the padding layers. This method is rarely used in mass-produced mattresses due to the labor intensive process. Find a mattress. |
| Innerspring Unit | The spring and wire units made up primarily of coils, helical wires and border wires, which is the inside of an innerspring mattress. Some upholstered furniture such as sofas and loveseats can also feature innerspring units. |
| Inset Tile | A tile with a different design than the surrounding body of tiles. |
| Insolation | See incident solar radiation. |
| Institutional Building | These shall include any building or part thereof which is used for purposes such as medical or other treatment or care of persons suffering from physical or mental illness or disease. These buildings ordinarily provide sleeping accomodation for the occupants. It includes hospitals, sanatoria , orphanages , prisons , reformatories. |
| Insulation | A material such as fiberglass that prevents heat transfer. Commonly used in batts (fiber blanket rolls), rigid panels, styrofoam beads, or other materials. |
| Insulation Of Sound | It is the control of noise transmission which is essential to minimise the disturbing effect of sound passing from one room to another through walls , partitions and floors or ceilings. |
| Insulative Window Treatments | Any window covering that deters heat loss and solar gain. |
| Insulator | A mattress component that separates and protects the mattress cushioning from its innerspring coils. Common insulators consist of a compressed polyester fiber pad, compressed cotton, or a polypropylene mesh screen. Find a mattress. |
| Intaglio | A printmaking process in which an image is created from ink held in the incised or bitten areas of a metal plate, below the surface plane. Engraving, etching, mezzotint, and aquatint are examples of the intaglio process. |
| Intarsia | An Italian type of decoration that's similar to inlay and marquetry, where the design is sunk into the wood. |
| Integral Damp-Proofing | This consists in adding certain water-proofing compounds with the concrete mix to increase its impermeability. |
| Intensity | The relative pureness or brightness of a color, as opposed to the dullness or neutralization of that hue. Also called chroma. |
| Intercepting Trap | This trap is provided at the junction of house drain (inspection chamber) and street sewer to prevent entry of foul gases from sewer into the house drain. This trap is thus provided to disconnect the house drain from the street sewer. |
| Intercom | An electrical system That allows people to communicate within a building; also carries taped or radio music heard through speakers. |
| Interface | Interdependency of design phases that must be accomplished simultaneously or consecutively. Also, a computer term in which different terminals can access the same information through a central mainframe computer or a networking system. |
| Interior Architecture | The nonresidential aspect of interior design that may entail remodeling and work with building Systems. |
| Interior Building Systems | The systems that are a part of the interior |
| Intermediate Hues | Six hues on the standard color wheel that are produced by mixing a primary and secondary color. They are yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, and yellow-green. Also known as tertiary hues. |
| International Style | Functional modern furniture style developed in Europe during the 1920's and 1930's. The most important origin of this style was Germany's Bauhaus School. Simple lines and an absence of decoration are hallmarks of this design. Popular materials used included chrome and glass. |
| Interrelationship Of Functions | The way areas work together or depend on one another to function effectively. |
| Intrados | Also known as so fit , it is the under-surface of an arch. |
| Intrusive | Igneous rock formed by the cooling of magma inside the earth's crust. |
| Inverted Arch Footing | This type of foundation used to be provided for multistoried buildings in olden times. It is rarely done these days. |
| Ionic | Of the architectural orders, the Ionic column is recognized by its scrolling capital. |
| Iridized Glass | Flat or blown glass sprayed with a vapor deposit of metal oxides for an iridescent finish. The iridized layer, which resembles an oil slick, can be selectively removed for a two-tone effect. |
| Iris Print | The trademarked name for a digital print produced by an Iris Graphics inkjet printer. |
| Iron | A heavy black metal. |
| Iron Bed | Term commonly used to describe beds made of metal that are coated with colored finishes. Find an iron bed. |
| Italian Finishing | Bed linen finishing technique developed in Italy, where luxury single ply yarns are treated individually to remove fibers and smooth the surface. This special finishing then compresses the fabric, reduces shrinkage that imparts a smooth lightweight feel to sheets. |
| Italian Provincial | Loose term applied to furniture of the Italian provinces made during the 1700's to mid 1800's. These pieces, although more rustic, copied the elaborate furniture styles of Milan, Venice, Rome and Florence. Later pieces (Late Italian Provincial) were heavily influenced by French design. The pieces feature simplified lines and lack ornate decorations. Very few of these pieces are reproduced today. |
| Italian Renaissance | Popular through the 1400's to 1600's. Italian Renaissance furniture features a very rich appearance and is decorated with carving, inlay, and marquetry. Chairs have a very straight construction and are built with flat runners. Chairs usually have very sturdy stretchers. Tables are very big and elaborately decorated. Tables have stretchers and are rectangular in shape. Most pieces are made of walnut. |
| Itten, Johannes (1888-1967) | A colorist who taught at the Bauhaus in Germany and at Yale University. He authored several books, including The Art of Color and The Elements of Color. |
| Jabot | The side portion of a window treatment where fabric is draped vertically in soft folds on either side of a valance. |
| Jack Arch Lintel | A trapezoidal lintel with a wedge-shaped keystone used as decoration above windows. Also called a crown lintel. |
| Jacobean | This furniture period spans almost the entire first half of the 17th Century from James I to Charles I reign. Many furniture specialists claim that all furniture of the 17th Century is influenced and encompassed by this design. Pieces are large, square or rectangular. Carving is intricate and done in a tasteful low relief style. Seats of chairs are flat and stretchers sit low on the frame. Stretchers are usually rectangular and show up on most tables and chairs. Oak is the dominant wood. |
| Jacquard | Intricate fabrics such as tapestries, brocades and damasks whose patterns are woven with yarns of different colors. |
| Jalousie Window | A louvered glass window. |
| Jamb | Door frame is made up of two vertical members known as Jambs. |
| Japanese Style | Japanese domestic usage required little furniture. Chests and cupboards were built in with sliding doors. Usually finished with highly polished lacquer flecked with gold and decorated with fine-scaled flower, animal and landscape motives. Thin mats made of rice straw covered the floors and were used for sitting. Cloth cushions were also used, as were small tables of wood and lacquer. The folding screen was an indispensable adjunct to the other furnishings as it could be moved to change the entire aspect of the room. Japanese furniture forms have changed very little for centuries. |
| Jeanneret-Gris, Charles-Edouard (1887-1965) | Important architect/designer better known as Lc Corbusier. Designer of several modern classic furniture pieces. |
| Jewelling | Ornamental carving in the shape of jewels. Very popular during the Renaissance period. |
| Jewelry Armoire | A small and narrow upright chest for the storage of jewelry and fashion accessories. Find a jewelry armoire. |
| Joggie Joint | This type of joint is commonly used for framing the studs into the sill of a wooden partition wall. |
| Joint | The junction of two or more bricks or stones is called a joint. |
| Joist | One of the series of parallel beams used to support floor and ceiling loads. |
| Joists | The heavy beams that support the floor and rafters. |
| Journal Of Interior Design | The scholarly, refereed journal of the Interior Design Educators Council. |
| Jute | A cellulosic bast fiber obtained from the inner stalks of the jute plant and grown in India. Its main interior use is as carpet hacking. |
| Juxtaposition | Placement of colors next to each other. |
| Kandinsky, Wassily (1886-1944) | A Russian artist associated with the Bauhaus. |
| Kanekalon | A registered trademark of Kanekafuchi for modacrylic. |
| Kaolin | A claylike substance used in making porcelain. The name comes from Kao-ling, a mountain in China where kaolin was first mined. |
| Key Stone | It is the highest central wedge shaped block of an arch. |
| Keystone | The stone at the top of an arch that is angled on the sides, stabilizing compression and friction. |
| Kilim Rugs | Flat tapestry folk rugs that originated in Romania. |
| Kiln | A furnace for firing clay, forming glass, or melting enamels; studio kilns can achieve temperatures up to 2500°F and can be fueled with gas, wood, or electricity. |
| Kiln-Dried | Wood that has been dried using controlled heat and humidity in kilns or ovens to specific ranges of moisture content. This helps to prevent cracking, warping,and shrinkage of the finished wood. |
| Kiln-Forming | A glass-forming process that utilizes a kiln to heat glass in a refractory or heat-resistant mold, slump glass over a form, or fuse two or more pieces of glass together. |
| Kinetic | Active. Kinetic sculpture has parts that move, whether by air currents (as with a mobile) or by motors and gears. |
| King Closer | It is a brick which is cut in such a way that the width of one of its end is half that of a full brick. It is formed by cutting off the triangular piece , between the centre of one end and the centre of one side. |
| King Post Roof Truss | It is a form of roof truss which is commonly used for spans varying from 5m to 9m. |
| Kitsch | A German term that describes bad taste and is applied to pretentious or foolish art. |
| Knickknack | A small ornamental article. |
| Knife-Edge | A sewing technique found on decorative cushions using a single seam or welt around the cushions perimeter. |
| Knitted Carpet | A sturdy pile carpet that is constructed by knitting with multiple needles. |
| Knitted Fabrics | Needle-constructed interlocking fabrics such as single and double knits, laces, rachel warp knits, arnache and malimo fabrics. Knitted fabrics offer speed of construction, variety in patterns, and lacy effects, and either stretch or dimensional stability characteristics. |
| Knock-Down | Furniture that is sold unassembled or partially assembled. |
| Knot | The portion of wood that displays an area of growth around a tree branch. |
| Knots | The knot of the rug is the underside of the pile. The more knots per rug, the tighter and lower the pile will be. |
| Knotting | Knots exude resin. Knotting is the process of sealing the knots by suitable means so that the resin from the knots may not destroy the paint film by way of cracking, peeling or brown discoloration. |
| Kodel | A registered trademark of Eastman Kodak for polyester. |
| Lacquer | A type of varnish made from shellac or gum resins dissolved in ethyl alcohol or other quick-drying solvents. |
| Ladder-Back Chair | A chair back with a number of horizontal slats like a ladder. |
| Laminated | Composed of layers bonded together for strength, thickness, or decorative effect. |
| Laminated Foam | One or more densities of polyurethane foam laminated together to form a single pad. |
| Lamination | The process of building up in layers or attaching a single ply as with plywood, foam, or plastic laminates. |
| Lamp | The technical term for light bulb. |
| Lampwork | The technique of manipulating glass by heating it with a small flame. An open flame is advantageous in very detailed work. |
| Lancet | A narrow window with a sharp, pointed arch, commonly associated with gothic revival architecture. |
| Landing | A platform or resting place provided between two flights. A landing extending right across a staircase is termed as half space landing and the one extending only half across a staircase is called a quarter |
| Landings | The platforms of a stair where it begins, ends, or turns. |
| Lanese | A registered trademark of Celanese for acetate and polyester. |
| Lapping Joint | This is the simplest form of lengthening joint and is formed by lapping the end of one member over that of the other and fastening them together by bolting or using connections. |
| Laser | A device containing a crystal, gas, or other suitable substance in which atoms, when stimulated by focused light waves, amplify and concentrate these waves, then emit them in a very intense, narrow beam. |
| Late Georgian (1750-90) | The American period that utilized English Georgian design and Chippendale furniture. |
| Latex | A rubber-based synthetic polymer extruded or sprayed on as a coating or backing to hold woven fabrics or tufted carpets stable. |
| Latex Paint | A water-based paint that is easy to apply and cleans up with soap and water when still wet. |
| Lath | Thin strips of wood laid parallel and nailed onto building studs. Historic method of plastering walls is to apply it over lath. |
| Lathwork | Grids or panels made with strips of lath, used as screens, trellises, or decorative trim on verandas. |
| Latillas | Sticks laid across the vigas to form the ceiling of the Southwest Adobe houses. |
| Latin Cross | The Western Christian cross with a tail longer than the top and arms. |
| Lattice | A panel consisting of metal or wooden strips that are interlaced or crossed to form a grid with regular spaces. |
| Law Of Chromatic Distribution | A rule governing the distribution of color intensity or brightness. The most neutralized colors are used in the largest areas, and the smaller the size or area, the brighter or more intense the chroma proportionately becomes. |
| Layered Or Compounded Fabrics | A group of fabric constructions that require more than one step to complete. Examples include embroidery, appliqu?, and tufting. |
| Lazy Susan | A shelf that rotates 360 degrees. |
| Le Corbusier | See J eanneret-Gris, Charles-Edouard. |
| Leaded Glass | Glass containing a percentage of lead oxide, which increases its density and improves its ability to refract and disperse light. Leaded glass is used for ornaments and for decorative and luxury tableware. |
| Lean To Roof | This is the simplest type of pitched roof consisting of rafters sloping on one side only. |
| Leather | The tanned hide of cattle or swine, largely used for upholstery. Leather is strong, is comfortable, and has a long life span. |
| Leather Tiles | Actual pieces of leather cut into shapes and applied as wall or floor tiles. Resilient semi-permanent material. |
| L'ecole Des Beaux Arts | A school of art, design, and architecture in Paris, France, noted for its emphasis on historical studies. |
| Led | LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes. LED lighting is an energy efficient type of lighting that lasts longer then other types of lighting. They have a low light output so it may not work for all applications. |
| Lengthening Joint | These joints are used to lengthen a wooden member. The method of lengthening the member varies with its situation in a framed structure. |
| Leno Weave | A variation of the plain weave that has warp thread in hourglass twists where the weft or filling threads are woven in. |
| Letter Of Agreement | The legal contractual arrangement between the design firm and the client that spells Out responsibilities and services of both parties. |
| Level-Loop Carpet | Woven or tufted carpet with an uncut pile of even loops; used in both residential and nonresidential interiors. |
| Level-Tip Shear Carpet | Woven or tufted carpet with some loops higher than others. Surface has a smooth, velvetlike texture. |
| Life-Style | The way an individual or group lives. |
| Light | An element of design that is broken into two types |
| Light Pipe | An acrylic pipe that conducts light along its corridor. The light source can be sunlight or artificial light. |
| Lighting As Art | Use of light as a medium to create artistic effects. |
| Lighting Plan | The portion of the working drawings or blueprints that shows where the lights, switches, and outlets are to be placed in a building and how they are connected to one another and to the circuit-breaker box. Also called the wiring plan. |
| Lime Plaster | Lime used in plastering may be fat lime or hydraulic lime. Fat limes make best plaster as they yield good putty after shaking. Hydraulic lime on the other hand yields harder and stronger plaster. |
| Limited Edition | Artworks produced in a deliberately limited quantity. All items in the edition are identical and each one is an original work of art. The limited size of the edition enhances the value of each piece. |
| Line | An object or form whose actual or visual length greatly exceeds any actual width or depth it many have. |
| Line Of Credit | The total cost of merchandise that may be purchased by a designer on credit on behalf of the designer's clients. |
| Line Of Nosing | It is an imaginary line touching the nosing of each tread and is parallel to the slope of the stair. |
| Line Or Outline Lighting | Lighting the perimeter of an object to give emphasis or even lighting. |
| Linen | The best known of the cellulosic bast fibers, obtained from the inner stalks of the flax plant. Linen is strong and absorbent and varies from a coarse jutelike texture to fine table damask linen textures. |
| Linenfold | A medieval panel motif resembling folded linen. |
| Linocut | A relief print process similar to woodcut. Wood blocks covered with a layer of linoleum are carved with woodcut tools, coated with ink, and printed by hand or in a press. |
| Linoleum | A soft resilient flooring of ground wood and cork, gum, color pigments, and oxidized linseed oil. No longer produced. |
| Linoleum Flooring | Linoleum is a covering laid over wooden or concrete floors in order to hide the defects of flooring or to enhance its appearance. |
| Linseed Oil | This is extensively used as a vehicle in oil paints. It is obtained by pressing crushed flax seeds. The drying of the oil takes place due to its oxidation when exposed to air. |
| Lintel | The support to the load above the opening is usually given by providing an arch or a lintel. Lintel acts like a beam and transfers the load vertically to the supporting walls. |
| List Price | Generally accepted to be the same as suggested retail price a price to the consumer. |
| Lithographs | Prints made from a stone or metal plate to which the pattern or design has been applied with a special grease pencil or wax. |
| Lithography | A planographic printmaking process based on the repellence of oil and water and characterized by soft lines and blurry shapes. |
| Lithopone | This pigment is obtained from the precipitate formed by mixing equal quantities of the solutions of barium sulphate and zinc sulphate under carefully controlled conditions. |
| Loft | An intermediary floor space created by introduction of a slab between floor and ceiling of a room , passage or wherever it is provided with maximum clear height of 1.5m for storage purposes only. |
| Loftura | A registered trademark of Eastman Kodak for acetate. |
| Long, Formal Curtains | Having a shirred or tabbed heading, these long curtains can be hand operable or stationary. |
| Long-Life Bulb | An incandescent bulb that lasts from 2,500 to 3,500 hours. |
| Loop Pile | A loop pile is when the ends of the pile are finished loops |
| Loose Cushions | Pillows that are part of an upholstered piece but left unattached in the upholstery process. |
| Loose Knot | A knot in timber that is not sound and may end up becoming dislodged over time. |
| Louis Xv Period (1723-74) | The period during the reign of King Louis XV of France. Also known as the Rococo period and characterized by ornate, curvilinear, asymmetrical design. |
| Louis Xvi Period (1774-93) | The period during the reign of King Louis XVI of France. Also known as the French Neoclassic period and characterized by rectilinear, classically inspired design. |
| Louvered Door | Door with louvered panels. |
| Louvers | Horizontal slats in a shutter, screen, or window, sloped downward (or movable) to control light and air passage. |
| Loveseat | A loveseat is a small version of a sofa made for two people. "ON CENTER" MEASUREMENT: Usually used for lighting or electrical components, this dimension is taken from center to center of the electrical box or outlet. |
| Low Contrast | The difference between colors whose values (lightness vs. darkness) are very close?such as all light colors or all dark colors. |
| Low Key | A color scheme in a variety of dark values. |
| Low Value | Hues that have been darkened. |
| Lowboy | A low chest of drawers raised on legs, used as a dressing or serving table. With the addition of a tall chest, it becomes a highboy. |
| Low-Contrast Values | Values near each other, such as dark and medium values or medium and light values, for example. |
| Low-Fire Glazes | Glazes Low-temperature ceramic glazes, usually associated with bright, shiny colors. |
| Low-Voltage Lamps | Bulbs that consume little energy. |
| Lumbar Pillow | A small rectangular pillow designed to support the lower back. Often used on armchairs and sofas. |
| Lumber | Timber of logs dressed for use. |
| Lumber-Core Door | Same as solid-core door. |
| Lumen | Is the unit of luminous flux equal to the flux in a unit solid angle of one steradian from a uniform point source of one candlepower. |
| Lumens | A measurement of the amount of light flow. |
| Luminaire | A complete lighting fixture with all components needed to be connected to the electric power supply. |
| Luminous Ceiling | Incandescent or fluorescent lights around which a box is framed and finished, with the cover over the lights made of translucent glass or plastic. |
| Luminous Panels | Fluorescent or incandescent lights set into a wall or floor and covered with translucent glass or plastic. |
| Luster | A brilliant iridescent film used on a ceramic glazes; formed from metallic salts. |
| Luxury Homes | Spacious or luxurious homes with high-quality detail, cabinet work, and furnishings. |
| Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868-1928) | Scottish designer/architect, influential with the Vienna Secessionists and designer of the Hill chair. |
| Magma | Liquid or molten rock material, it is called lava when it reaches the earth's surface. |
| Mainframe Computer | A large computer into which smaller computer terminals or personal computers can be accessed. Mainframes can handle complex data, problems, and CAD with speed and accuracy. |
| Maintenance | The labor required to maintain a material?tasks such as sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, scrubbing, or waxing. |
| Majolica | An opaque glaze, usually white, with a glossy surface. Typically decorated with bright overglaze stains. |
| Manhole | These are the masonry chambers provided at suitable location and on the line of the sewer for the purposes of inspection and cleaning the sewers. |
| Man-Made Fibers | Chemically derived and extruded from a viscose solution. |
| Mansard Roof | A hipped roof with two pitches. The bottom pitch is very steep and the top pitch flatter, so it is usually not seen from the ground. |
| Mansard Truss | This truss is now rarely constructed. This truss has two pitches , the lower varying from 60 degrees to 70 degrees and the upper from 30 degrees to 40 degrees. This truss is more or less a combination of king post and queen post trusses. |
| Mantel | The projecting shelf of a chimneypiece. |
| Marble | A very hard stone cut into slabs and polished for floor and wall materials. Smooth and formal, white or colored with streaks of color. |
| Marbling | Imitating polished marble stone with paint. |
| Market | In reference to designer resources, a term that many interior designers use to mean they are going to visit one of the annual shows held at the marts. |
| Market Centers | Concentrations of trade sources in one area of a city. |
| Markets, Marketing Centers | Convenient clusters of trade sources that market goods and services wholesale to interior designers. |
| Marlborough Leg | A straight, square furniture leg with a square foot. |
| Marquetry | Decorative patterns formed when thin layers of wood (and sometimes other materials, such as ivory) are inlaid into the surface of furniture or other wood products. |
| Marts | Where many firms have located in one building. |
| Marvess | A registered trademark of Phillips for olefin. |
| Masonry Block Construction | Walls or foundations of cinder block or concrete block without any wooden framework. |
| Mass | An element of design that denotes density or visual weight within an object. Heavier mass or density will often make an object appear larger than one that has little mass or empty space within its shape. |
| Massing | Gathering or forming into a mass. The pulling of objects into a group so that together they have more visual weight or importance than they do separately. |
| Master Of Arts Degree (M.F.A.) | A degree that may be considered a terminal degree in interior design education. |
| Master Of Fine Arts Degree (M.F.A.) | A degree that may be considered a terminal degree in interior design education. M.F.A. degrees require a fine arts skill and showing of work. It is considered the design education equivalent of a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. |
| Master Of Science Degree (M.S.) | A degree that may be considered a terminal degree in interior design education. |
| Masters | Those whose art has passed the test of time to become classic. |
| Mat | A border of mat board or other material, used as famine or part of the frame of a picture. |
| Match | The some color from one dye lot to another. |
| Materials And Finishes Boards | Boards used to Show pieces of the materials and finishes that have been selected for a design. |
| Matte | Matte is a type of finish that has little to no shine or gloss to it. It is commonly used in paints and wood finishes. It is a popular paint finish for ceilings because it has little reflection, and since a matte finish is easily stained, it is good to use in an inaccessible place like a ceiling. |
| Matte Paint | Any paint that dries to a flat, nonshiny finish. |
| Measurement Of Cement | Cement should always be measured by weight and not by volume. |
| Measurement Of Coarse Aggregates | Coarse aggregate may be measured either by volume (litres) or by weight. In case of wet aggregate , allowance for surface water should be made while determining the quantity of water to be used in the mix. |
| Measurement Of Fine Aggregates | Fine aggregates i.e. sand is normally measured by volume in case of ordinary works whereas in case of all important projects , it is measured by weight. |
| Measurement Of Water | Water may be measured by weight or by volume. |
| Mechanical Finishes | A classification of decorative finishes that include calendering, napping, and flocking. Also called surface treatment finishes. |
| Mechanics Lien | A legal recourse related to the labor and materials payment bond. It is an action that prevents the owner of the property of giving or selling the property to anyone until the lien is satisfied. |
| Media | The substances used to dilute paint-water for watercolor and turpentine for oil paint. Also the means or methods an artist uses to produce a work. |
| Medieval Era (A.D. 8004500) | The Middle Ages or Medieval era in Europe was a time of poverty for the masses but in architecture was a period of great cathedral building and colorful stained glass windows. |
| Melamine | A synthetic compound used to make plastic laminates. |
| Mementos | Remembrances or souvenirs of a person, a place, or an event. |
| Memorabilia | Things and events worthy of remembrance. |
| Mercantile Buildings | These shall include any building or part of a building which is used as shops, stores , market , for display and sale of merchandise either wholesale or retail. |
| Mercerization | A process of treating natural cellulosic fibers (cotton and linen), with caustic soda to enlarge and make the fibers more uniform, increase the luster, and better accept and hold dyes. |
| Merchant | Anyone who is involved with the buying and/or selling of the kinds of goods with which he or she is dealing. A person acting in a mercantile capacity. |
| Metal | Aluminum, tin, brass, stainless steel, and other chemical compounds that are formed into strips, tiles, or sheers for use as wall, ceiling, and furniture materials. |
| Metal Blinds | Originally known as venetian blinds, metal blinds provide the look of two-inch wood blinds at less cost and with less stacking space required. |
| Metal Or Space Frame System | Strong, lightweight steel skeleton framework based on the forms of geometry. |
| Metameric Shift | Colors appearing different under different lighting due to the spectral energy distribution in the materials. |
| Metamerism | The effect of light on color that causes a color to appear differently in different types of light. |
| Metamorphic | Rocks which changed from another rock by the action of heat, pressure, or both. |
| Metope | The space between the triglyphs on the frieze of the Doric entablature. |
| Mexican Tile | Clay tile fired at low temperatures. Natural terra-cotta color or hand-painted in bright colors, glazed and unfired. |
| Mezzanine Floor | An intermediate floor between two floor levels aqbove ground floor and at least one side of it should form an integral part of space floor /below. |
| Mezzotint | An intaglio printing process that produces areas of tone rather than clean lines. |
| Mid-Century Modern | A decorative style first popularized in the late 1940s characterized by clean lines, the use of modern materials such as plastic and aluminum, and a sleek, minimal profile. The style reached its apex in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but continued to be popular into the early 1970s. In the past few years the style has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity with several books, websites,and contemporary knockoffs. |
| Middle Ages | See Medieval era. |
| Mies Van Der Rohe, Ludwig (1886-1969) | An important architect/designer associated with the Bauhaus. Designer of several modern classic furniture pieces. |
| Millwork | Millwork is essentially anything created in a mill. Decorative wood panels, moldings, cabinet doors, wainscots, stair banisters and many other wood items and details are considered millwork. Because so many new building materials are being used for these items besides wood, the category of millwork has come to include these items as well. |
| Ming | Chinese dynasty that ruled form 1368 to 1644 and was noted for artistic works produced during its reign. |
| Miniblinds | One-inch wide, concave metal slats held together with nylon cord. Slats or louvers are adjustable and are excellent for light and glare control. |
| Mini-Mainframe Computer | A computer about the size of a personal computer but with greater capacity and power somewhat similar to a mainframe computer. |
| Mirror | Glass with the back coated with silver or a silver amalgam (compound) to give the surface a reflecting quality; used on walls, ceilings. |
| Mission Statement | A philosophical statement of what the firm sees as its role in the profession. It contains broad statements of what the company wishes to achieve during an unspecified time period. |
| Mission Style | Style that features oak furniture of rectilinear design; popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Gustav stickley was a great exponent of the style, which is named for and resembles handmade furniture from the early California Spanish missions. |
| Miter | To cut at a forty-five-degree angle. A joint where two diagonally cut pieces meet at right angles and are nailed or screwed together. |
| Mitre | It may be defined as a cut formed at the required corner by cutting the corner of the sheet for a length of 15cm or the length of the end lap whichever is more along the vertical edge and for a width equal to the width of one corrugation along the horizontal edge of the sheet. |
| Mobile Home | A house trailer for temporary or permanent housing. |
| Mobile Home Park | An area where only mobile homes are placed. |
| Modacrylic | A synthetic long-chain polymer fiber consisting of 35 to 85 percent acrylonitrile units. It is a soft, buoyant fabric that is inherently flame resistant and used extensively for nonresidential draperies where fire codes must be met. |
| Modillion | Ornamental bracket found under a cornice, similar in appearance to dentil, only larger. |
| Modular | Units of a standard size, such as pieces of a cabinet or wall system, that can be fitted together |
| Molding | A strip of contoured wood applied to a wall or other surface, normally used to hide seams between materials or to add a decorative element to a wall or structure. |
| Monitor | The computer hardware screen component. |
| Monochromatic | A color scheme built around one hue,with several of its shades and tints. |
| Monoprint | A print produced by painting directly onto an already-etched surface and printing the image by hand onto the paper. |
| Monotype | A print made when an artist draws or paints on a glass or metal plate and then prints the image onto paper. |
| Mood Lighting | Low-level lighting that creates an ambience or mood that is cozy or inviting. |
| Moor | A Moslem of mixed Berber (North-African) and Arab ancestry. |
| Moroccan Rugs | Handmade pile rugs from North Africa that have geometric patterns and are coarsely woven. |
| Morris, William (1834-96) | A designer of the Arts and Crafts movement who produced wall-paper, furniture, tapestries, carpets, stained glass windows, and accessories. |
| Mortar | It is usually a mixture of cement and sand or lime and sand , or a mixture of three. It not only acts as a cementing material but also imparts strength to the work by holding the individual bricks together to act as a homogeneous mass. |
| Mortise | A carved slot in a timber shaped to receive a tenon placed at the end of another post or beam, ensuring to secure it. |
| Mortise And Tenon | A joint that utilizes a square hole carved in one of the pieces Being joined and a projection that fits the hole in the other. |
| Mortise-And-Tenon Joinery | A joint in which a hole (mortise) is cut into one piece of wood to receive a pro-jecting piece (tenon) cut into another. |
| Mosaic | The process of creating a design or picture with small pieces of glass, stone, terra cotta, etc. |
| Mosaic Tile | Small tiles fitted together with grout to form a pattern in floors, walls, and countertops. |
| Mothproofing | A finish that renders a fabric, especially wool, unpalatable to moths and other destructive insects. |
| Motif | A motif is the subject or design pattern on a decorative object like fabrics, paintings or accessories. For example, if your child likes cowboys, you may look for a fabric with a cowboy or western motif. |
| Motivational Lighting | A lighting specialty that utilizes brightness, dullness, and darkness to motivate people to behave in a certain manner. It utilizes principles of psychology as well. |
| Motorized Rods | Drapery rods that are electronically operable. Used for large or hard-to-reach installations. |
| Movable Insulation | Interior or exterior insulation that protects against excessive heat loss or solar gain. |
| Movable Louver Shutters | Wooden shutters with slats or blades that can be adjusted. |
| Mud Plastering | This type of plastering is commonly seen in kuccha construction in villages and in other structures of temporary character. This is the cheapest form of plastering. |
| Mullion | It is the central member usually used in the revolving doors, which is attached with ball |
| Multilevel Living | Housing that contains one or more changes of planes in addition to the main floor an upstairs, downstairs, or step-down or step-up areas. |
| Multilevel-Loop Pile Carpet | A looped pile carpet with various levels woven or tufted to create texture or a pattern. |
| Multiuse Areas | Rooms or areas with more than one purpose or function. |
| Mumti | A structure with a covering roof over a staircase and its landing built to enclose only the stairs for the purpose of providing protection from weather and not used for human habitation. |
| Munsell Theory | Based on three attributes?hue, value, and chroma-where exact color matching is possible through a notation system. |
| Munsell, Albert H. (1858-1918) | American colorist whose system, based on hue, value, and chroma notation, is widely used in design. |
| Muntin | A strip of wood that separates panes of glass in a window. |
| Murals | Wallpapers hung in sequence to depict a scene. Also, a large-scale wall painting. |
| Murphy Bed | A bed that folds into the wall or a closet when not in use. |
| Murrini | A small wafer of glass bearing a colored pattern. Formed by bundling and fusing colored glass rods together and then heating and pulling the resulting cylinder to a very small diameter. When cut into cross-sectioned wafers, each piece bears the original pattern in miniature. |
| Nahani Trap | Trap provided in floors to collect used water from floors of bathroom , kitchen or washing floor etc. are known as Nahani traps. |
| Nap | The fuzzy surface of a fabric formed by short hairs or fibers. |
| Nasad | The National Association of Schools of Art and Design. |
| Natural | A wood finish without any added color or stain. |
| Natural Fiber Rugs | Animal skins, berber rugs, cotton rugs, floccati rugs, sisal/maize mats, and wool rugs. |
| Natural Fibers | Come from either cellulosic sources (cotton, linen, jute), or protein fibers (silk, wool, leather) which are derived from natural sources. |
| Natural Light | Sunlight. |
| Natural Saturation Point | The amount of naturally occurring white or black value in a pure hue according to the Munsell system for color notation. |
| Natural Thermal Flow | The movement of heated air up and/or toward cold air and the consequent dropping of cool air. |
| Natural Traffic Pattern | The pattern of movement users will follow in an environment if their circulation is not hampered or obstructed. |
| Naturalistic Design | A classification of decorative design that is a copy or representation of something in nature. It is realistic decoration or ornamentation. |
| Navajo Rugs | Handwoven flat tapestry rugs in earth-tone neutral colors and geometric patterns. Woven in the southwestern United States by members of the Navajo tribe. |
| Nave | The main section of the church where the worshipers stand or sit. |
| Ncidq | The National Council for Interior Design Qualification. |
| Ncidq Examination | An examination administered to interior designers after a minimum of two years of professional work experience. Must be passed for full acceptance into several of the professional design organizations. |
| Needle-Constructed Fabrics | Fabrics made or decorated with automated sets of needles, including knits, laces, some casements, and sehiffli embroidery. |
| Needlepoint Rugs | Hand or machine rugs, most often from China or Portugal, with small stitches of wool yarn on an art canvas background. |
| Needlepunched Carpet | Carpeting constructed of fibers held together by needlepunching or interlocking the fibers by meshing together with barbed needles. Used primarily in indoor-outdoor and nonresidential applications. |
| Negative Space | The area between the form in a two- or three-dimensional design. Empty or void space not filled in with furnishings, accessories, or mass. |
| Neoclassic | Any revival of the ancient styles of Greece and Rome, particularly during the late eighteenth and early nine-teenth centuries. |
| Neoclassic (1790-1830) | The period in America influenced by the excavations Of Pompeii. |
| Neon Lamp | A thin glass tube containing a gaseous element (neon) that glows when charged with electricity. The tubes can be bent into any shape for artistic. or advertising purposes. |
| Neon Lighting | The red spectrum of cold cathode lighting formed with neon gas. |
| Network Of Lighting | Interconnected wiring of lights indicated on the lighting or wiring plan in nonresidential buildings. |
| Neutralized Colors | Any hue that is dulled or grayed or lessened in brightness or intensity. |
| Neutrals | Black, white, and gray. Brown is a hue, derived from orange, but it is often referred to as a neutral, as are beige, tan, and the colored spectrum of off-whites. |
| New Concrete | The concrete developed based on new concept has been termed as new concrete. |
| Newel | It is a wooden or metallic post supporting the hand rail and is usually provided at the hand, foot or at points where the balustrade changes its direction. |
| Newel Post | A vertical post found at the end of a staircase railing that stabilizes the horizontal handrail. |
| Niche | The rounded, half-domed end of a room, or a similar recess in a wall. |
| Nippers | This is another device for lifting stones. The pointed ends of the nippers are inserted in the holes made little below the stone top face and the stone block is raised by attaching a chain to the central ring of the nipper assembly. |
| Nogging | The infilling between the timbers of half-timbered homes in the seventeenth century, normally composed of brick or plaster. |
| Nogging Of Bricks | It consists of brick work built within a framework of wooden members. The frame work consists of vertical posts called studs and held in position by horizontal members called nogging pieces. |
| Nomex | A registered trademark of DuPont for nylon. |
| Nonarehitectural Lighting | Portable luminaires. |
| Noncellulosic Fibers | The range of synthetically composed man-made fibers that begin as chemicals and organic substances other than cellulose. Also known as synthetic fibers. |
| Nondurable Or Soluble Finishes | These are fabric finishes that are removed with repeated washing or dry cleaning. |
| Nonglare Glass | Clear glass with a faintly textured surface that does not reflect light. |
| Nonresidential Design | Interior design work where the client is not a residential occupant. |
| Nonresidential Wall Coverings | Wall coverings that meet standards or codes for durability, fire safety, anti low maintenance. Wider and in longer rolls than residential wall coverings. |
| Nonresilient Flooring Material | A category of materials that are hard and have no give or resilience. |
| Nonwoven Textiles | A group of fabrics such as felt, webbing, and films that are processed into fabrics without going through the yarn stage. |
| Norman | The name given to the Romanesque architectural style in England. |
| Nosing | The outer projecting edge of a tread is termed as nosing. Nosing is usually rounded to give good architectural effect to treads and makes the stair |
| Notching Joint | This joint is commonly provided at the junction of two members meeting at right angle. It consists in cutting a depression to the full width of one member to enable it to be fixed to another member. |
| Novelty Twill | A twill weave that changes direction to create a pattern such as herringbone. |
| Nut Oil | It is a cheap vehicle and generally used for painting ordinary works of temporary character. It is colourless , less durable and it dries very quickly. |
| Nylon | A long-chain synthetic polymer fiber that consists of amides linked to aramide ring molecules. Nylon is a versatile, durable fiber used extensively for carpeting and upholstery. |
| Objet D'art | A small object of artistic value,often used as a decorative element. |
| Objets D'art | French term for any object of artistic worth. |
| Oblique | shouldered joint- These joints are commonly adopted in timber truss construction where members are jointed in acute or obtuse fashion. |
| Occasional Chair | A chair kept away from the main seating area that can he pulled up and used occasionally, as needed. |
| Occasional Piece | A small piece of furniture for inci-dental use, such as an end table. |
| Occasional Table | A small table that can be moved and used for any purpose as needed. |
| Occult Balance | Another word for asymmetrical, informal, active, or optical balance. The balance is not the same on each side but is achieved through arranging until the composition "feels right" and is therefore somewhat mysterious. |
| Oculus | Literally an eye. The opening in the dome of the Pantheon. |
| Ogee | A pointed arch with a curve near the apex. |
| Oil Bound Distemper | It is a form of distemper in which the drying oil is rendered mixable with water. When required , it is diluted with water. |
| Oil Paint | A paint in which natural oil-usually linseed-is the medium that binds the pigments. |
| Oil-Based Paints | Paints that must be thinned and cleaned up with solvents or paint thinners. Durable, scrubbable finish. Requires a long drying time and has a strong odor. |
| Olefin | A synthetic, long-chain polymer fiber consisting largely of ethylene or propylene. Olefin is durable and economical. Used for carpet face and backing and for upholstery. |
| On The Bias | A line that is cut or placed diagonally to the pattern of a fabric or other material. |
| One - Pipe System | In this system , all soil and waste fitting discharge into a single pipe termed as soil cum waste pipe and a separate vent pipe is provided to which all floor traps are connected for ventilation of the system. |
| One-Turn Stair | A stair that turns ninety degrees at a landing. |
| Onion Dome | A bulb or onion-shaped dome of Near-Eastern origin. |
| Oolite | The small round particles which make up a sedimentary rock. On mass they look just like fish eggs. |
| Open Competitive Selection | When clients such as government agencies advertise impending bids so that anyone interested in the project who meets qualifications may submit a bid. |
| Open Floor Plan | A concept in interior and architectural planning where areas are left open, without wall divisions. The open areas can be used in a flexible manner to accominodate varying functions. |
| Open Grain | A wood grain where the annual growth rings are pronounced and there is an obvious difference between the pore size of springwood and summerwood. Oak and ash and examples of open-grained wood. |
| Open Newel Stair | It consists of two or more straight flights arranged in such a manner that a clear space called a well occurs between the backward and the forward flights. |
| Open Office Planning | A large office space in which workstations are divided only by systems furniture and other furnishings. |
| Open Riser Stair | A stairway that is open because it has no risers. |
| Open Showroom | A wholesale trade source that allows clients to accompany the designer into the showroom. |
| Open Specification | A bid specification written in such a way as to allow multiple numbers of products for the item being required. |
| Open Stair | A stair not attached to the wall. |
| Opencast | The method of mining near the surface, by cutting into it from above rather than digging underground. |
| Operable Window | Window that can be opened. |
| Opposition | A form of rhythm (a principle of design) wherein right angles meet. |
| Optical Balance | Also known as asymmetrical, informal, active, or occult balance. The balance is judged by the eye, or the optical senses. |
| Optical Density | The appearance of a pattern or item as heavy or dense or filled in, and therefore judged as heavy mass. |
| Orders | Columns influenced by the Greeks and Romans are placed into specific orders, such as Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Composite, and Tuscan. |
| Ordinary Incandescent Lamps | Incandescent bulbs that last from 750 to 2,500 hours. |
| Organizational Tool Programs | Software that analyzes, organizes, and synthesizes information. Used for writing specifications, critical paths, and word processing. |
| Oriel | bay window supported by corbels or brackets. Normally found on the second story of a home. |
| Oriental Rugs | Hand-knotted (handwoven) pile rugs from the Near and Far East woven in complex floral or geometric patterns. Used for area, art, and accent rugs and wall hangings. May be very valuable. |
| Orientation | The placement of any object or space, such as a window, a door, or a room, and its relationship to the points on a compass. |
| Origami | Art of folding paper to form figures and objects. |
| Orlon | A registered trademark of DuPont for acrylic. |
| Ostwald Theory | A system for analyzing color based on the color and the amount of white or black added to the hue. |
| Ostwald, Wilhelm (1853-1932) | A physicist who won the 1909 Nobel Prize for chemistry and who turned his research to color, producing the well-known book The Color Primer. |
| Ottoman | An upholstered stool or hassock, designed to go at the foot of a chair. Often used in contemporary interiors in place of a coffee table. |
| Outbuildings | Buildings situated away from a house used historically for kitchens, dairies, carriages, or servants' quarters. |
| Outlet Pipe | This pipe is installed at 3 to 5 cm above the floor of the tank. The pipe is always provided with a stop valve to stop supply of water to downtake pipe. |
| Outlet Strips | Prewired or plugged-in casings that contain several outlets in a row. |
| Outlining | Painting contrasting colors or white values on architectural molding. |
| Over Flow Pipe | This pipe is provided a little above the inlet pipe to allow the incoming water to overflow in case the ball valve assembly does not function properly and it is not able to shut off the incoming supply of water. |
| Overburden | The unusable rock and matter lying over the stone to be quarried. |
| Overcrowding | An excessive number of people working or living within a given space. |
| Overflow | A pipe in bathtubs and lavatories used to prevent flooding. The pipe is located just below the rim or top edge of these fixtures. |
| Overlay | A sheet of velum or tracing paper placed over a rough design to improve and refine it. |
| Overlay Door | The door is on the outside of the frame and, when closed, the door hides the frame from the view. |
| Oxford Weave | Variation of plain weave in which two fine warp threads are interlaced with one heavier weft thread. |
| Oxide Of Iron | It is a pigment produced from haematite ore. The pigment is obtained by grinding and levigating the red or brown haematite. |
| Pad Painting | The application of paint with a flat fibrous pad. |
| Padding | A general term for carpet underlay or the cushioning layer covering the springs in upholstery. |
| Paint | A liquid oil-, water-, resin-, alkyd-, acrylic-, or epoxy-based material that is applied by spraying, brushing, rolling, or pad painting. Dries to a flat, semigloss, gloss, or high-gloss finish. |
| Painting | A one-of-a-kind, two-dimensional art form created with color pigments and a number of different substances (vehicles) that give the paint form and body. |
| Palette Knife | A small, usually flexible knife used to mix paint on the artist's paint tray (palette) or to apply paint to the surface being painted. |
| Palette Theory | Another name for the Standard Color Wheel theory. |
| Palisade Wall | A paneled fireplace wall formed of boards and battens. |
| Palladian Window | A three-part window in which the center window is arched and larger than two smaller, often-rectangular windows flanking it on either side. |
| Palladium | A photographic process in which the image is produced by palladium crystals deposited on the paper. |
| Panel | A flat, rectangular piece of material that forms part of a wall, door, or cabinet. Typically made of wood, it is usually framed by a border and either raised or recessed. |
| Paneled Door | A traditional door formed with stiles, rails, and panels. |
| Paneling | Wood used to cover the entire expanse of a wall, from top to bottom. |
| Panel-Track Wall Fabric Installation | Metal tracks available for installing fabric on the wall. Used most often in nonresidential settings. |
| Paper Wall Covering | Paper front and back; no vinyl coating. |
| Papier-Mache | A material used for the construction of furniture and accessories made from paper pulp and glue. During the nineteenth century these pieces were often painted black and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. |
| Par Lamp | Reflective parabolic aluminized reflector lamp with heavy, protective glass and a focused beam. Silvering is used to establish the beam spread and the reflective quality. |
| Parapet | A low wall or railing built along the edge of a roof or a floor. |
| Parliamentary Hinges | This type of hinges are used in situations where door or window opening is required to be kept free of obstruction due to shutters when open. These hinges permit the shutters , when open , to rest parallel to the wall clear of the opening. |
| Parquet | The decorative, geometric arrangement of short lengths of wood plank for floors and sometimes walls. |
| Parquetry | Geometrically patterned wood inlay. |
| Parsons Table | A sturdy square or rectangular table with block legs and an apron of equal widths. Designed in the 1950s at the Parson's School of Design. |
| Particleboard | A solid panel formed by compressing flakes of wood with resin under heat and pressure. |
| Partition | A partition wall may be defined as a wall or division made up of bricks , studding , glass or other such material and provided for the purpose of dividing one room or portion of a room from another generally , these are non-load bearing walls. |
| Passive Balance | Another term for symmetrical or formal balance where items are identical on each side of a central point, and therefore no judgment of the composition is needed. |
| Pastel | A crayon of ground pigment bound with gum or oil. Pastel crayons have varying ratios of pigment to chalk and gum; the more pigment, the more intense the color. |
| Pate De Verre | A paste of finely crushed glass that is mixed, heated, and poured into a mold. |
| Patera | A round or oval raised surface design. |
| Paterae | Oval (or round) shapes used as ornament, often decorated with rosettes. |
| Patina | A surface coloring, usually brown or green, produced by the oxidation of bronze, copper, or other metal. Patinas occur naturally and are also produced artificially for decorative effect. |
| Patio Door | See atrium door. |
| Patio Home | A small home set on a narrow, shallow building lot. |
| Patlon | A registered trademark of Amaco for olefin. |
| Pattern | Is the repetition of a decorative motif on a surface. |
| Pattern Book | Books of patterns for houses, furniture, and architectural detail published for general use. |
| Pattern Matching | To align a repeating pattern when joining together two pieces of fabric or wallpaper. |
| Pattern Repeat | Wall covering or fabric pattern measurement from the top of one pattern to the top of the next, or from one pattern to another horizontally. |
| Payback Period | The number of years that a purchase (such as a solar energy system) takes to pay for itself. |
| Pediment | Awn ornamental detail placed over a door, portico, or window, often found in a triangular shape. |
| Pediment Frieze | The sculptural design within the pediment. |
| Peelable Wall Covering | Wall covering that can be peeled away from a substrate (backing or lining), which is suitable to be repapered. |
| Pembroke Table | An occasional table with drop leaves and a drawer in the apron. |
| Pendants | Decorative downward projections used to embellish architectural and furniture designs. |
| Peninsula | A countertop, with or without a base cabinet, that is connected at one end to a wall or another counter and extends outward, providing access on three sides. |
| Pent Roof | A narrow, overhanging rooflike structure above the first story on Pennsylvania German houses. |
| Perfatape | A wide paper tape applied to sheetrock seams with plasterboard compound or mud. |
| Performance Bond | Required of the winning bidder as a guarantee that the designer/vendor will complete the work as specified and will protect the client from any loss up to the amount of the bond as a result of the failure of the designer/vendor to perform the contract. |
| Perimeter Lighting | Lighting around the outside of a room or an area. Perimeter lighting visually expands space. |
| Peristyle | A continuous row of columns around a building. Also used to designate the colonnaded garden area at the rear of the Roman house. |
| Perlon | A registered trademark of Bayer for nylon. |
| Permanent Installations | Structural or finish materials that are not likely to be replaced due to their cost or difficulty to install or remove. |
| Perpend | It is a vertical joint on the face of a wall directly over vertical joints in alternate course. |
| Persian Rugs | The finest of the Oriental rugs, traditionally from Persia (today Iran). High knot count, complex, usually floral patterns. |
| Personal Computer | A small computer for home or small-business use. |
| Personal Space | The invisible "bubble" of space that surrounds us and that we consider to be our own. |
| Perspective Sketch | A three-dimensional sketch or rendering of an interior space drawn in perspective with vanishing points. |
| Petrology | The study of rocks, their origin and what they are made from. |
| Pewter | A soft, dull-gray alloy of tin, copper, lead, and antimony used to make tableware. |
| Photoetching | A printmaking technique in which a light-sensitive metal plate is exposed to photographic film under ultraviolet light. |
| Photogravure | A printing process based on the production, by photographic methods, of a plate containing small ink-receptive pits. |
| Phyfe, Duncan (1768-1854) | A New York furniture builder, originally from Scotland, known for his Regency-style pieces. |
| Piano Nobile | The principal floor of a building; usually a raised first floor. |
| Picking Out | Highlighting features on molding, such as dentil trim or carved bas-relief, with paint. |
| Pickled | Pickling is a method of finishing wood which involves a white or off white stain that is applied to a porous wood in order to lighten the overall color, as well as show a contrast in the grain. |
| Piece Dyeing | Coloring a length of fabric after it is woven into cloth. |
| Pier | Same as a column but without its details and proportions. |
| Pier Foundation | When a heavily loaded building is to be situated in sandy soil or soft soil , overlying hard bed at reasonable depth , pier foundations are sometimes used to transfer the load of the building to the hard bed below. This method consists in sinking vertical shafts up to hard bed and filling them with concrete. |
| Pier Or Pilaster | It is a vertical member of stone or brick masonry constructed to support an arch , beam or lintel , the width of which exceeds four times its thickness. |
| Pigment | A nonsoluble coloring matter that is held onto the surface of the fabric with a resin binder. A compound that is the coloring agent for paint, ink, crayons, ll-id chalk. |
| Pilaster | A shallow rectangular column built into a wall for decorative purposes. |
| Pile | The pile of a rug is the surface of the rugs material, ie: wool or silk. There are different types of ways to treat the pile in order to achieve various looks and feels to the rugs surface. (see cut pile, loop pile) |
| Pile | The pile is the exposed surface of a rug, also called nap or face. There are different ways to treat pile like a cut pile or loop pile, which give a different look and feel to the rug. |
| Pile Density | Closeness of stitches (woven) or tufts of a carpet. Greater or tighter density yields a more durable product. |
| Pile Weave | A weave that utilizes a third set of threads that form a depth or a pile in the surface. Types of pile weave include velvet, terry cloth, and corduroy. |
| Pilling | Tendency of fibers to work into small balls or pills. |
| Pillow Sham | A removable decorative pillowcase. |
| Pin Knot | A knot smaller that one-half inch in diameter. |
| Pitch Of Roof | "The inclination of the sides of a roof to the horizontal is termed as the ""pitch of the roof""." |
| Pitch Pocket | An opening between growth rings that may contain resin or bark or both. |
| Pl Lamp | Compact twin fluorescent bulb. |
| Plain Sawn | The most common way in which a log is cut, tangentially to the growth rings. Results in the common flam-grain appearance. |
| Plain Slicing | A method used to cut a log parallel to a line through its center?produces a vaulted or cathedral-like grain. |
| Plain Weave | The interlacing of threads or yarns in a one-over, one-under sequence. |
| Plaining | The process of taking the shavings of wooden member is called plaining. |
| Plan Drawing | A flat, two-dimensional, scaled drawing of an environment as seen from above. |
| Plane Of Light | A bank of light; a well-lit area. |
| Plank | It is the name given to a heavy , thick and wide wooden piece of timber. |
| Planned Development | A tract of land that is developed into housing of a specific style, size, price range, and type (attached dwellings, single detached dwellings, luxury dwellings). |
| Plantation Shutters | Louvered shutters with wide blades. Used in the South during colonial days-as screens to encourage ventilation during the hot months. |
| Plaster | A thick, pasty mixture of sand, water, and lime used for smooth or rough wall and ceiling textures. |
| Plasterboard | Another name for drywall, sheetrock, or gypsum board, plasterboard is a wall material made of pulverized gypsum rock and commonly used as a wall finish material. |
| Plastics | Synthetically produced, nonmetallic compounds that can be molded, hardened, and used for manufacture of various products. |
| Plate Rail | A narrow shelf for displaying plates. |
| Platform Bed | A low,self-contained bed frame that features slats or webbing for suspension, eliminating the need for a box spring. |
| Pleasing Match | A veneer method where attention is given to matching color and grain for a pleasing final effect. |
| Pleated Shades | Factory-manufactured polyester fabric shades permanently heat set into one-inch pleats. May be metallized on the reverse for energy efficiency. |
| Pleated Valances | A fabric top treatment that is given fullness through pleating. |
| Plenum | The space between a suspended ceiling and the floor above. |
| Plexiglas | A highly transparent, lightweight, thermoplastic acrylic resin made into sheets like glass. Unlike glass, it is not easily broken. |
| Plies | Thin layers of wood laminated together to make plywood. |
| Plinth | The portion of a structure between the surface of the surrounding ground and surface of the floor , immediately above the ground. |
| Plinth Area | The built up covered area measured at the floor level of the basement or of any storey. |
| Plotter | A computer mechanical drawing printer that can produce drafting, two-and three-dimensional illustrations, and perspectives. |
| Plumbing | The systems thin carry water, sewage, or central vacuums. |
| Plumbing Chase | A thick wall containing plumbing. |
| Plush Carpet | A tufted carpet with a dense, short, even pile in solid colors. Originally intended to imitate the pile of an Oriental rug. |
| Plutonic | Igneous rocks which have formed from magma at a great depth in the earth's crust. |
| Plywood | A product made of thin sheets of wood glued together in layers. |
| Pneumatic System Construction | Air-inflated or air-supported structures. |
| Pocket Door | A door that slides into a pocket recessed in the wall. |
| Podium | The base on which Roman buildings are built. |
| Point | Is perceived when a two-dimensionally perceived object appears relatively small in relation to the plane against which it is seen. |
| Point Or Pinpoint Lighting | Spotlighting a tiny area for emphasis or a glitter effect. |
| Pointing | It consists in ranking out joints in brick work or in stone masonry to depth of about 13mm and filling the same with mortar of slightly richer mix. |
| Polaroid Transfer | A trademarked named for the process by which an image recorded by the camera's lens is reproduced directly onto a photosensitive surface, which functions as both film and photograph. |
| Polybloom | A registered trademark of Chevron for olefin. |
| Polychromatic | Having various or changing colors. |
| Polyester | A synthetic long-chain polymer fiber of polymer ester. A durable, dimensionally stable fiber that is highly versatile. Most sheer and semisheer fabrics are of polyester. Used for residential carpeting and scatter rugs and for wall covering fabrics that are often used in nonresidential interiors. |
| Polypropylene | A modified olefin fiber used for artificial turf, tufted indoor-outdoor carpeting, and nonwoven (needlepunched) carpets and tiles. Also used for a primary and secondary hacking for some carpeting. A registered trademark of Thiokol for olefin. |
| Polyurethane | A paint and varnish resin that forms a protective coating on wood. Sold under the names Varathane, Urethane, and Durathane. |
| Pompeii And Herculaneum (Destroyed A.D. 79, Excavation Began 1754) | Sister cities on the Ray of Naples (Southern Italy) that contained prosperous classical Roman architecture, preserved by the ashes and lava mud flow of Mount Vesuvius. Archaeological excavations resulted in the introduction of the Neoclassic or Classic Revival style in Europe and America. |
| Pool Of Light | A circle of light thrown by a downlighter or spotlight. |
| Poppy Oil | It is prepared by pressing poppy seeds. It is used for very delicate colours , it is expensive and is thus used for internal painting of light shades. |
| Porcelain | A clay body that is white, strong, and hard when fired. When sufficiently thin, it is also translucent. |
| Porch | A covered surface supported on pillars or otherwise for the purpose of pedestrian or vehicular approach to the building. |
| Porphyry | A granitelike texture achieved by crisscross brushing, then stippling, spattering, and finally cissing paint. Also a type of stone. |
| Portable Computer | A keyboard, monitor, and drive unit that folds into the size of a briefcase. |
| Portable Luminaires | Nonarchitectural lighting such as table and floor lamps or plug-in wall lights. |
| Portable Space Heaters | Small units that produce heat for a small area or a room. Types include electric and propane heaters; they vary in their size, output, electricity consumption, and safety. |
| Portal | The porch on a Southwest Adobe house. |
| Portico | A covered entry structure normally supported by columns. |
| Portland Cement | This is the most widely used type of cement and is so named because of its resemblance of its properties with a well known natural stone quarried at portland. Lime , slica and alumina are its main constituents. |
| Positive Space | Space filled in with a two- or three-dimensional form or shape. |
| Post Plate | This is similar to a wall plate with the only difference that it run continuously , parallel to the face of the wall , over posts and supports the rafters at their feet. |
| Post-Occupancy Evaluation (Poe) | The formal process of looking at a design once it is in use to see how well it is Functioning. |
| Potpourri | French term for the mixture of dried flower petals used to perfume a room. |
| Power | The quality of acoustic energy as measured in watts. It is this power that people perceive as loudness. |
| Prang Theory | Another name for the Standard Color Wheel theory. |
| Prefinishes | Processes that prepare a fabric for coloring, decorative, or functional finishes. Prefinishes include scouring, preshrinking, bleaching, mercerizing, and sizing. |
| Premium Grade | Gives the highest level of quality in materials, workmanship, and installation. |
| Prepasted Wall Coverings | Wall coverings with a dry paste or adhesive preapplied to the back which is moistened, then pasted to the wall or ceiling. |
| Preservation | Maintaining a building in its present state or the state to which it has been restored. |
| Preshrinking | A prefinish process of subjecting a cloth to wet or dry heat to cause it to shrink and stabilize before further finishing or coloring. |
| Pressed Glass | Decorative glass formed in molds. |
| Pretil | A row of brick trim used to cap the adobe walls of the Territorial-style Southwest Adobe houses. |
| Pretrimmed Wall Coverings | Wall coverings with selvages trimmed off at the factory. |
| Primary Color | Red, blue, or yellow that can't be produced in pigments by mixing other colors. Primaries plus black and white, in turn, combine to make all the other hues. |
| Primary Colors | The three basic colors of which all other colors are comprised of: Red, Yellow, and Blue. |
| Primary Focal Point | The main point of emphasis in an environment. The object, area, or grouping that first catches the eye. |
| Primary Hues | Red, yellow, and blue, as based on the Standard Color Wheel theory. |
| Primers | Liquid preparations that seal the surface and prepare it for paint application. |
| Priming | This consists in applying first coat or the priming coat on the surface to fill the pores of wood by penetrating the primer inside the wood. |
| Principles Of Design | Scale, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis, and harmony (unity and variety). |
| Print | An image made from an inked surface. Prints are usually, but not always, produced by multiples. |
| Printing | Applying color to a finished cloth by hand (batik, tie-dye, stencil) or mechanical processes (automated silk screen, roller, transfer). |
| Printmaking | A method of in two-dimensional art pieces by various means. See also block prints, engravings, etchings,lithographs, and serigraphs. |
| Priscilla Curtains | Sheer, semisheer, or muslin curtains with ruffles on all edges, on the ties, and as a valance; they meet at the center or crisscross; a colonial style. |
| Privacy Draperies | A white, an off-white, or perhaps a colored fabric installed on a traverse rod next to the window to be drawn closed at night for privacy. |
| Private Zones | Areas within a home that dictate privacy?the bedroom and the bathroom, for example. |
| Problem Statement | A short declaration that identifies a design project according to purpose, location, and those for whom the design is being created. |
| Product Design | The design of furniture, accessories, or other components that are marketed in the design field. |
| Profile | An outline of user characteristics, habits, background, and design preferences that helps determine the direction a design should take. |
| Program | Everything that happens or must be accomplished in an interior. It also is the written document that describes what will take place in an interior. |
| Programming | The research phase of the design. |
| Progression | A type of rhythm (a principle of design) wherein shapes repeat in diminishing or escalating sizes or where colors graduate from light to dark. Also called rhythm by gradation. |
| Projecting Fireplace | A fireplace that projects beyond the wall plane to which it is mounted. |
| Proportion | Is the relationship between one part of an object or composition and another part and to the whole, or between one element and another. |
| Proprietary Specification | Names the products and materials by manufacturer's name, model number, or part number. |
| Protein Fibers | Natural fibers or fabrics whose source is animal based |
| Provincial | Rustic; local; from the provinces or countryside. |
| Proxemics | The way people use space and the way that use is related to culture. |
| Ps Lamp | A pear-shaped incandescent lamp, often with a long neck. |
| Puarry Tile | Rust-colored tiles that are fired at lower temperatures than ceramic tiles and valued for their natural terra-cotta coloration. Typically square or hexagonal shapes. |
| Pueblo | Communal dwelling of the Pueblo Indians. |
| Pullout | A full-extension cabinet component, such as a built-in pantry, hamper, basket, or shelf that is fitted with ball-bearing slides for ease of operation. |
| Punch List | A checklist of items to be completed before final building inspection and occupation. |
| Purlin | A horizontal timber laid parallel to the wall plate and ridge beam, providing extra support for common rafters. |
| Purlins | These are horizontal members of wood or steel , used to support common rafters. |
| Quarter Slicing | A method used to cur. logs where the blade meets the grain at right angles to the growth rings, resulting in a straight, striped grain. |
| Quartersawn | Lumber that has been cut so that the grown rings are at an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees to the board face. |
| Quartzite | The metamorphic equivalent of a quartz sandstone, which has recrystallised into closely fitting granules. |
| Queen Anne (1702-14) | Name given to the period design style during the reign of Queen Anne of England. |
| Queen Closer | It is a term applied to a brick, which is half as wide as a full brick. Cutting a brick lengthwise into two portions makes it. |
| Queen-Sized Bed | One of the standard sizes for North American mattress manufacturers. 60" wide by 80" long (the depth varies greatly depending on the style and type of cushioning). |
| Quiana | A registered trademark of DuPont for nylon. |
| Quick Setting Cement | When concrete is to be laid under still water or in running water , quick setting cement is used advantageously. The setting action starts within five minutes as it becomes stone-hard in less than an hour. |
| Quicksilver | An alloy of mercury and tin used for mirror backing. |
| Quintess | A registered trademark of Phillips for polyester. |
| Quire | Alternate British spelling for choir. See choir. |
| Quoin | The exterior angle or corner of a wall is termed as quoin. The brick or wedge shaped stone used for the corner of walls is also known as quoin. |
| R, Er Lamps | Lamps with a built-in, reflective surface. |
| R-20, R-30, R-40 | Indicate the degree of beam spread in reflector lamps. |
| Rabat Rugs | Moroccan rugs in a deep, hand-knotted pile with simplified Oriental designs. |
| Radial Balance | A type of balance that is seen in the same way as radiation from a central point. |
| Radiant Heat | Electrical conduit or water (steam) heat plumbing in ceilings, floors, or walls that radiates heat. |
| Radiation | A type of rhythm (a principle of design) illustrated by elements radiating out in nearly every direction from a central point, such as spokes of a wheel or concentric circles. |
| Radiators | Wall or baseboard units that contain steam heat or another heated fluid medium, permanent or portable. |
| Rafter | One of the series of members designed to support roof loads. |
| Rag Rug | A plain weave rug woven with strips of fabric, historically rags or recycled clothing. |
| Ragging And Rag-Rolling | Wet paint or glaze is partially removed by dabbing with a rag or rolling the paint off with a rolled rag. |
| Rail | The horizontal section of a frame for a panel or door frame. |
| Railroading | Railroading usually applies to wallpaper or fabric and specifies it to be installed horizontally rather then vertically. This comes in handy at times in order to use less fabric or have less seams in the installation. |
| Rain Gutter | The metal glitter and downspouts that channel rain and snow runoff from the eaves down the side of the building to the ground. |
| Rain Water Pipe | This is the pipe provided to carry rain water. |
| Rainbow Roof | A curved, gabled roof, attributed to ships' carpenters, used on some Cape Cod houses. |
| Raised Hearth | A hearth built on a platform or cantilevered in front of a raised fireplace. |
| Raking Bond | This is a bond in brick work in which the bonding bricks are laid at any angle other than zero ninety degrees. |
| Raku | The technique of rapidly firing low-temperature ceramic ware. Raku firings were used traditionally in Japan to make bowls for tea ceremonies. |
| Rambler | A one-story detached home with or without a basement. The social, work, and private zones are located on the main floor. |
| Random Match | A way to join veneer where no particular attention is paid to the color or grain of the material or the pattern in which it meets. Considered a rustic or casual look. |
| Random-Shear Carpet Texture | See level-tip shear. |
| Rapid-Start Fluorescent Lamps | Eliminate flickering as the gases quickly activate the phosphorus in the light. May also be controlled with a dimmer switch. |
| Rattan | A climbing palm with slender, tough stems used to make wicker. |
| Raw Linseed Oil | It is a transparent vehicle , yellowish in colour , sweet in taste and has very little smell . It has inferior drying qualities and is generally used for inside painting work. |
| Rayon | A regenerated cellulosic man-made fiber that imitates the luster of silk at a lower cost. Primarily used for drapery and upholstery. |
| Rebar | Bendable steel bars set into concrete for reinforcement and to deter cracking. |
| Rebating | It is the process of cutting a rectangular grove along the edge of a member , so as to enable the edge or tongue of other member to fit in the former. |
| Rebonded Foam | See bonded (rebonded) foam. |
| Recessed Adjustable Lighting | Architectural luminaires that are fixed into the ceiling. The lamps can be adjusted to the desired angle. |
| Recessed Downlight | A canister that fits into the ceiling and casts pools of light downward. |
| Recessed Luminaires | A general term for luminaires that fit into the ceilings where the light is noticeable but the fixture is not. |
| Red Lead | It is an oxide of lead , bright red in colour and is usually sold in powder form or in the form of paste made by grinding it with linseed oil. |
| Reeding | Rows of parallel convex beads or moldings used to embellish a column or leg. If the piece is grooved with concave moldings, it is fluted. |
| Refinement Or Refining | The process of placing overlays of tracing paper to improve a space plan design. |
| Reflecting Glare | A shiny object causing a distraction in a task area. |
| Refraction | The bending of a ray of heat, light, or sound. |
| Regency | The period or style of English architecture that paralleled American Greek Revival. See American Empire. |
| Registers (Heat Registers) | The metal grill that covers the duct opening of the HVAC system. |
| Reinforced Concrete | Concrete set with rebar or metal mesh to deter cracking and to give strength. |
| Relief Print | A process in which a print is produced from the relief carving on a metal plate or a wood or linoleum block. |
| Relief Printing | Printing from a pattern that stands out in relief, as is done with a block print. |
| Renaissance | The great rebirth of classical art and learning during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries. |
| Rendering | An artist's conception or perspective of a finished building exterior or interior, usually clone in full color. |
| Repeat | The repeat of a fabric or wallpaper tells you the size of the pattern and how often it is reproduced on the item. |
| Repetition | A type of rhythm (a principle of design) wherein shapes, forms, lines, or colors are repeated in a congruous manner. |
| Repousse | An ancient process in which sheet metal is hammered into contours from both the front and the back. |
| Reproductions | Printed copies of an artist's work. |
| Research | Examining all factors that influence a design. |
| Residential Buildings | These shall include one or two private dwellings, apartment houses(flats), dormitories, hotels etc. |
| Residential Interior Design | Concerned with the panning and/or specifying of interior materials and products used in private residences. |
| Resilience | The ability of a fabric or flooring to return to its original shape. |
| Resilient | A material with some give or ability to bounce back. |
| Resist Or Reserve Printing | Coating the fabric with a chemical paste that resists the dye, then dyeing the fabric. The area not printed receives the color. |
| Restoration | A research, demolition, and reconstruction process to bring a building back to a specific state of its history. |
| Retainer Fee | A deposit given to the designer upon the client's signature on the letter of agreement that retains or hires the services of the designer. |
| Retaining Wall | It may be defined as a wall built to resist the pressure of liquid , earth filling , sand or other granular material filled behind it after it is built. |
| Retrofitting | Adding active or solar systems to an existing building. |
| Return | The distance from the face of a curtain rod to the wall casing where the rod bracket is attached. |
| Reveals | These are exposed vertical surfaces left on the sides of an opening after the door or window frame has been fitted in position. |
| Reverberation | The phenomenon of undue prolongation of sound of sound by successive reflections from surrounding surfaces , after the source sound has ceased , is called reverberation. |
| Reverse Painting | A technique where paint is applied to the back side of the surface (typically glass) and viewed through the front. This process requires the painting to be done in reverse order; what appears closest to the viewer, as a detail or highlight must be painted first rather than last. Any lettering must likewise be painted in the mirror image4 so it will appear right facing when viewed from the front. |
| Reversible Cushions | Loose cushions that can be turned to avoid excessive soiling and wear. |
| Revolving Door | They provide entrance on one side and exit on the other simultaneously keeping the opening automatically closed when not in use. The door is so assembled as to exclude the wind draught. |
| Rhythm | Is the repetition of elements in a regular patter. |
| Rib | A projecting band on a ceiling or vault. |
| Ribbon Window | A continuous band of windows. |
| Ridge | It may be defined as the apex of the angle formed by the termination of the inclined surface at the top of the slope. |
| Ridge Beam | It is a horizontal timber piece provided at the apex of a roof truss. The common rafters are fixed to this piece and are supported by it. |
| Riftsawn | Wood that haws been cut so that growth rings are at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees to the board face. |
| Ring Porous | Hardwood that shows a distinct zone between early and late wood, such as oak and ash. |
| Rise Of Roof | It is the vertical distance between the wall plate and the top of the ridge. |
| Rise Of Steps | It is the vertical distance between the upper surface of the successive treads. |
| Riser | The vertical portion of a step providing support to the tread. |
| Robsjohn-Gibbings, T.H. (1905-76) | Designer of a group of Creek furniture reproductions, including the Klismos chair. |
| Rock | Any natural material formed of a single mineral or various minerals. |
| Rococo | See Louis XV period. |
| Roller Painting | Paint application with a roller?a sleeve of soft fibrous pile fabric that can hold and release the paint evenly. Faster than brush painting. It tends to spatter but. is very useful for large areas such as walls and ceilings. |
| Roller Printing | A fabric printing method whereby dye is applied to raised figures on a cylinder, then stamped or transferred to fabric as it rolls over the cylinder. |
| Roller Shade | Flat fabric or plastic material on a roller rod, which is operated with a spring or pulley mechanism. |
| Rollikan Rug | A flat tapestry folk rug from Scandinavia that often incorporates simplified floral patterns and stripes. |
| Rolling Steel Shutter Doors | These doors are commonly used for show windows , stores , shop fronts and godowns etc. The door shutter acts like a steel curtain and provides adequate protection and safety against burglars and fire. |
| Roman Shade | A fabric shade that folds up from the bottom accordion style. May be interlined for energy efficiency. |
| Roman Shades | Pull up with a cord into accordion folds. |
| Romanesque | (A.D. 800-1150) The Medieval architectural period based on Roman design. |
| Roof | A roof may be defined as a covering provided over the top of a building with a view to keep out rain , snow and wind and to protect the building from the adverse effects of these elements. |
| Roof Monitors | Clerestory windows, skylights, and cupola windows that catch hear from the sun and allow ventilation for excess summer heat. |
| Roof Trusses | A joist and rafter system that forms the triangular construction of a roof. |
| Room Height | The vertical distance measured from the finished floor surface to the finished ceiling surface. |
| Rosette | A decorative element featuring a floral design often used with a plinth and fluted molding in Victorian architecture. |
| Rotary Screen Printing | A mechanized silk-screen process where the screens are wrapped around a circular drum that rotates the ink onto the fabric moving beneath the rotary screens. It is a fast and efficient process. |
| Rotary Slicing | A method of shaving a continuous layer of wood from a log that has been mounted on a lathe, producing a broad, open grain. |
| Rotogravure Or Roto | A printed pattern overlaid with layers of vinyl for sheet flooring. |
| Rotunda | A round, domed room. |
| Rough Arches | These arches are built with ordinary bricks which are not cut to wedge shape. |
| Rough Cast Finishing | It is a finish in which the mortar for the final coat contains a proportion of fairly big size coarse aggregates. |
| Rough Electrical | The wiring installed when the building is framed |
| Rough Plumbing | The installation of pipes to carry water and sewage and central vaccume. |
| Rough Tooled Surface | In this type of surface finish , the projection of the stone block are removed by means of chisels and the surface is nearly dressed true. The corners and the edges are made accurate , chisel |
| Round Wire Tufting/Weaving | Carpet construction technique that yields even, round loops. |
| Roundheaded Arch | An arch formed in a perfect half circle, not flattened. A Roman or keystone arch. |
| Row House | Another term for town house. |
| Rrough Heating | The installation of furnace and duct work system when the building is framed. |
| Rubber | A natural or synthetic composition that yields a resilient, solid or marble-patterned flooring. |
| Rubber-Backed Tufted Carpet | Carpeting tufted into a foam rubber backing that serves as a pad or underlay. Direct glue-down installation. |
| Rubbings | Designs made by placing a sheet of paper over any object with a flat, raised pattern and rubbing it with a special crayon. |
| Rubble | Stone or rocks set or installed to produce an uneven, random surface. |
| Rubble Arches | They are constructed with rubble stones which have been hammer-dressed , roughly to required shape and size of the voussoirs. |
| Rug | A soft floor covering laid on the floor but not fastened to it. It does not cover the entire floor. |
| Rumford Fireplace | A fireplace specially constructed to maximize heat output and minimizes smoke problems. |
| Runner | A long narrow area rug designed to go in a hallway or foyer. |
| Running Match | A veneer method in which each face is complied from as many veneer leaves as needed, resulting in one of the most affordable veneers, with a varied and unequal appearance. |
| Rush | A grasslike marsh plant used to weave chair seats and floor mats. |
| Russian Style | The Russian furniture style is a blending of styles from throughout Europe. The production of metal furniture can be considered a purely "Russian" phenomenon since the production of metal furniture was not found elsewhere in Europe at the time. |
| Rusticated | Rough-surfaced masonry or stone. |
| Rya Rugs | Deep pile shaglike rugs handknotted with abstract, contemporary patterns from Scandinavia. |
| Saarinen, Eero (1910-61) | Architect/designer, creator of the pedestal furniture group. |
| Saber Leg | Term describes a sharply curving leg in the classical style; also commonly called a scroll-shaped leg. Sabre legs are generally reeded. |
| Sabot | A French term for the gilt-bronze "shoe" at the bottom of furniture legs. |
| Saddle Seat | A wooden chair seat which has been hollowed to the sides and back to resemble the pommel of a saddle. |
| Safety Lighting | Lighting required by code or building ordinances to protect the health and safety of the public. Examples include exit signs, aisle lighting, and lighting for stairs and landings. |
| Sagging | irregular elongation or stretching of a drapery fabric due to increased humidity or moisture in the air. |
| Sake | Brewed, alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. |
| Salt Glaze | A glaze created during high-temperature firings. Sodium, usually in the form of rock salt, in introduced into the fully heated kiln and forms a clear coating on the clay, often with an orange-peel texture. |
| Saltbox Roof | A gabled roof with one slope longer and lower than the other. |
| Saltire | A straight, X-shaped stretcher used on chairs or tables. |
| Sand Casting | An ancient and still widely used casting method in which moistened sand is packed against a model to make a mold usually for metal. |
| Sandblasting | A method of etching the surface of material by spraying it with compressed air and sand. |
| Sandstone | A granular stone that may be used as floor or wall materials, laid at random or in a rectangular, ashlar pattern. |
| Sanitary Fittings | The fittings or appliance used for collection and discharge of soil or waster matter is termed as sanitary fittings. |
| Sapwood | The pale wood near the outside perimeter of a log. |
| Saran | A synthetic long-chain polymer of vinylidene chloride. Saran is fire retardant and used alone or in fabric blends. |
| Sash Curtains | Sheer or semisheer fabric shirred (gathered) onto a rod at the top and bottom of the window frame. |
| Sash Door | This type of door is used in residential as well as public buildings with a view to supplement the natural lighting provided by windows or to make the interior of one room visible from the adjacent one. |
| Sash Window | In this case , the window shutter consists of two vertical stiles , top rail and a bottom rail. |
| Sateen | A cotton fabric that's made to mimic satin with a smooth silky finish on one side. |
| Sateen, Satinet, Or Horizontal Satin | A satin weave where the weft or filler threads float over five to eight warp threads, then are tied down under one in an irregular manner that produces a smooth surface. |
| Satin Or Eggshell Paint | A paint that dries to a finish slightly less shiny than semigloss but more lustrous than flat. |
| Satin Weave | A smooth, often lustrous fabric weave where warp threads float over five to eight weft or filling threads, then are tied down under one. There are no ridges or wales. |
| Sauvage | A two-toned or contrasting color effect applied to leather furniture. |
| Savonnerie Rug | A hand-knotted pile rug from France, originally woven at the Savonnerie Tapestry Works and patronized by King Louis MN. Historic and contemporary patterns. |
| Sawbuck Table | A table with an X-shaped frame either plain or scrolled. |
| Scaffolding | Scaffold is a temporary rigid structure having platforms raised up as the building increases in height. It enables the mason to work at different stages of a building and to hoist the materials for the immediate use at various angles. |
| Scagliola | A material developed in the 17th century in Northern Italy to duplicate marble. It is made from colored plaster and isinglass with inset marble chips. It can be polished to give a gloss finish. |
| Scale | Is the relative size of something as related to another element of known size. |
| Scallop | A curved case piece ornamentation, commonly in the shape of a scallops shell. |
| Scandinavian | At the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition and the 1939 World's Fair in New York, the larger world was first exposed to the simple, clean, and lightweight forms of Scandinavian furniture. Quality craft combined with mass production where appropriate are hallmarks of the style. Bent plywood is a commonly used material. |
| Scarfing Joint | This system of lengthening wooden member is especially suitable in places where it is necessary to maintain the same depth and width of the member throughout its length. |
| Scatter Rugs | Small rugs (sometimes called throw or accent rugs), often with a tufted cut pile, used in residential areas where water is likely to spill or where dirt is tracked in. Usually of poliester or nylon. |
| Scatter-Back Sofa | A sofa with back loose back cushions that can be rearranged. Find a sofa. |
| Schedule | The chart that indicates the finish material used on floors, walls, and ceiling and lists types of doors and windows. |
| Scheduling | Arranging for subcontractors and craftspeople who build or finish portions of a building and its interior to complete their work within -a time frame. |
| Schematic Design Phase | Involves preliminary design decisions for plans and specifications. |
| Schematics | Quick drawings used to generate or show ideas. |
| Schools | Groups of artists with like philosophies whose work has similar characteristics. |
| Sconce | A wall-mounted light fixture (usually hard-wired). |
| Scoop Seat | A wooden chair seat that has been hollowed out to fit the body. |
| Scotchgard | Registered Trademark of the 3M Company for fabric protector that repels against staining from water and spills. |
| Screens | A general term for a sliding or freestanding frame filled with wood, paper, fabric, or other materials, which may he placed in front of a window or used as a divider. |
| Scribe Piece | Is an oversized piece of plastic laminate or wood that can be trimmed in the field to follow any minor irregularities of the wall. |
| Scroll | Scrolls are the supportive and decorative members shaped like a scroll or curl which are connected to posts, rails, and each other on many brass (especially traditional) headboards and footboards. |
| Scroll Foot | A foot in the form of a spiral line. It is not fully articulated with part above it. |
| Scroll Pediment | A pediment with a flat bottom and two curved volutes at the top, of ten with a finial between the volutes. |
| Scrubbable | Wall coverings that can be repeatedly washed with detergent solutions. |
| Sculpture | Thc art of fashioning figures and forms of wood, clay, plastics, metal, or stone. |
| Sculptured Carpet | A carpet with more than one height to the pile, which gives a pattern to the whole. |
| Sculptured-Loop Carpet | A multilevel-loop carpet, the same as embossed-loop carpet. |
| Sealed Environment | A building with nonoperable or fixed windows; HVAC provides warm, cool, and clean air. |
| Sealers | A liquid used to prepare a surface for painting. |
| Seamless Flooring | A mixture of a resinous matrix, fillers, and decorative materials applied in a liquid or vicious form that cures to a hard, seamless surface. |
| Seasonal Affective Disorder (Sad) | A condition with symptoms of fatigue and depression affecting some people who are deprived of natural light during the long winter season. |
| Seat Rail | The framework that supports the seat of a chair and holds the legs together. |
| Secondary Color | Orange, green, and violet are secondary colors. |
| Secondary Focal Point | The point (or points) of emphasis in an environment that is (are) subordinate to the primary focal point because of size, location, color, Or other design factors. |
| Secondary Hues | Oreen, orange, and violet, as based on the Standard Color Wheel theory. |
| Secrétaire À Abattant | A type of writing cabinet with a fall front and resting on a chest-of-drawers or small cupboard. Find home office furniture. |
| Secretary | A desk with drawers below and a bookcase above. |
| Secretary (Or Secrétaire) | A drop-leaf desk normally sitting on a base of drawers, usually with slots and cubbyholes for organizing papers. Find home office furniture. |
| Sectional | Similar to a sofa but in several sections. Sectionals may be curved or straight and have two, one or no arms. The sections may be used in combination or in some cases separately. Find a sectional sofa. |
| Sectional Furniture | Modular furniture, often seating pieces, that can be combined into different combinations. |
| Security System | A wiring system that detects unlawful entry. |
| Sedimentary | Rocks formed by the transformation of existing rocks by gravity, atmosphere and living organisms. |
| Seersucker | A lightweight textile with a puckered surface and striped pattern. |
| Sef | A registered trademark of Monsanto for modacrylic. |
| Segmental | A less than semi-circular, unbroken pediment with an abruptly ending curve. |
| Segmental Pediment | A pediment with a flat bottom and a curved radius at the top. |
| Seignorail | An imposing highback chair for the master of a house. |
| Self Storing Leaves | Leaves that store within an extension table. Find a dining table. |
| Self-Deck | To cover the frame area of an upholstered piece of furniture beneath the seat cushions with the same fabric as the body as opposed to using a muslin or other neutral fabric. Normally seen only on better furniture. |
| Selvage | Finished sides of a lengthwise grain that prevents raveling. |
| Semenier | A tall narrow seven-drawer chest, the term is often used in reference to a lingerie or similar type of chest. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Semi Gloss | Semi gloss is a type of finish that has a partial to heavy gloss. This usually applies to a paint finish or a clear finish on a piece of wood. Semi-gloss paints are popular on base moldings because they don't scratch as easily as a less glossy finish, and they are easier to clean. |
| Semi-Aniline Leather | A top grain leather that is aniline dyed and coated with matching pigment and, or, other topical finishes to add protection and even out the color. Also commonly referred to as aniline-plus or protected aniline. Find leather furniture. |
| Semi-Attached Back | Back cushions that are attached with a zipper or seam to the inside back of a piece of upholstered furniture such as a sofa or chair. |
| Semidetached Houses | A term for housing in which portions of walls and roofs are common to two or more units. |
| Semi-Durable | A fabric finish that will withstand wet, but not dry cleaning. |
| Semigloss Paint | A paint rhat dries to a luster between flat and shiny; it contrasts nicely with both and hides fingerprints. |
| Semihoused Stair | A stair attached to the wall on one side. |
| Semitrimmed Wall Covering | Wall coverings with only one selvage trimmed off. The selvage edge is overlapped with the next strip or trimmed off at the site. |
| Sepia | Warm, reddish-brown pigment produced from octopus or cuttlefish ink, used in watercolor and drawing ink. In photography, some toning processes produce similar color in the print. |
| Septic Tank | In areas , where municipal underground sewage system is not available , the sewage from residential apartments , small residential colonies and isolated buildings like offices , schools , hospitals etc. is treated in a septic tank. |
| Sericulture | Cultivated silk production. |
| Serigraph | An art print made by passing ink through a fine screen that has been covered with a cut stencil to form the pattern. Also called silk screen. |
| Serpentine | Two curves reminiscent of a serpent's movement; commonly found on fronts or tops of case pieces. |
| Serpentine Front | A waving curve on the front of a desk or chest. |
| Serrated | A saw tooth or zig-zag ornament that is one form of a notched dentil. |
| Service Connection | It is a water connection given by the local body (municipal cooperation) from city water distribution mains to a consumer. The consumer may be the owner of a single house , a multistoried building , a planned block development or a water district buying water wholesale. |
| Service Road | A road/lane provided at the rear or side of a plot for service purposes. |
| Serving Table | A long narrow table with drawers for items such as silver and linens. Find dining room furniture. |
| Set-Back Arm | An arm that is set back from the front edge of the seat. |
| Set-Back Line | A line usually parallel to the plot boundaries and laid down in each case by the local municipal bodies beyond which nothing can be constructed towards the plot boundary. |
| Settee | A long wooden or upholstered bench with a back,designed to seat two or more people. |
| Settle | A wooden bench with a high back and solid arms, often featuring drawers or a hinged seat that covers storage space, originally brought to America by the pilgrims. Find an entryway bench. |
| Seventeenth-Century English Medieval Style | The design style of seventeenth-century America, inspired by the late Medieval designs of England. Architecture, interiors, and furniture were all strongly influenced by English prototypes. |
| Sewage | It is combination of discharge from soil pipe , waste pipe with or without rain water. |
| Sewer | It is a system of underground pipe belonging to local municipal authority which collects discharge from drains or house drains from outside the private boundary of more than one property. |
| Shade | Any color mixed with black (most rich,ultra-dark colors are shades) |
| Shades | Sec roller shade. |
| Shading | Blending painted color values from light to dark across a wall or ceiling. |
| Shading Devices | Interior or exterior window coverings that deter solar gain from penetraling the interior. |
| Shake Shingles | Wooden roof shingles, somewhat irregular in widtb, that weather to a gray color. |
| Shaker | A simplistic furniture design including features such as straight, tapered legs, and woven-strap chair seats. Style originated in the mid 1770's from an American religious sect (Shakers). The Shaker style is renowned for exceptional design and craftsmanship combined with functionality and beauty. |
| Shakers | A late eighteenth-century, early nineteenth-century religious sect whose beliefs included the design of furnishings devoid of excessive decoration. |
| Sham | Historically a cover that laid on top of a pillow, today the sham is a decorative cover that fully encases the pillow. |
| Shantura | A registered trademark of Rohm and Haas for polyester. |
| Shape | Is the unique characteristic of an object or space that defines it as distinct from adjacent objects or spaces. |
| Shaped Valance | A flat fabric top treatment with a shaped or curved bottom hem. Interlined with stiffening fabric and/or batting and sometimes quilted. |
| Sheaf-Back Chairs | Chairs with spindled backs that come together in the middle-back through a piece of wood and flare out again to the bottom of the chair; the style resembles a sheaf of wheat. Find dining chairs. |
| Shed Ceiling | A ceiling with a single slope. |
| Sheer Draperies And Curtains | Transparent or translucent fabric hung next to the glass. Called draperies if pleated and hung on a traverse rod, curtains if shirred or gathered onto a curtain rod. |
| Sheet Set | Sheet sets includes flat and fitted sheets, standard pillowcase pair. Twin has one pillowcase, king and California king have king size pillowcases. |
| Sheet Vinyl | Rolls of vinyl in widths up to twelve feet, glued down directly to a prepared surface. May have a cushioned hacking, and the thickness of the vinyl surface may vary with die quality. |
| Sheetrock | Also known as drywall, gypsum board, or plasterboard; a rigid wall material made of pulverized gypsum rock. See wallboard. |
| Shellac | A resinous varnish obtained from the lac insect and used in japanning. |
| Sheraton | A formal style of design that developed from Hepplewhite. Sheraton features include delicate straight lines, tapered legs that are usually turned opposed to being square and skilled inlay and veneer work. |
| Sheraton, Thomas (1751-1806) | An important English furniture craftsman best known for the designs published in his book The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book. |
| Shield Back | A chair with a back shaped like a shield. Find dining chairs. |
| Shingles | Wood, asbestos, or tile components commonly used as a finish material on angled (gable or hipped) roofs. |
| Shirred Curtains | Fabric gathered onto a rod with or without a ruffle at the top. |
| Shirred Valance | A fabric top treatment gathered onto a curtain rod. |
| Shirring | A method of gathering wide fabric along both long sides to create a soft effect. Often used to emphasize the curve of a sofa or other upholstered piece. |
| Shoe | A projecting piece rising from the back rail of a chair seat into which the base of the splat is fixed. |
| Shoe Molding | A flexible trim piece that is used in conjunction with baseboard molding. This trim is used to hide any variances in height between the base molding and flooring. |
| Shoji Screen | A freestanding Oriental style screen, often used as a room divider. Find floor screens. |
| Shoji Screens | Wooden frames and divider grids filled with translucent white mulberry or rice paper. Used in traditional Japanese homes and contemporary Western residential and nonresidential interiors as well. |
| Shoring | The term shoring is applied to construction of the temporary structure required to support an unsafe structure. |
| Showrooms | Wholesale businesses Usually located in marketing centers where the designer may see lines of merchandise, place orders, or buy furnishings. |
| Shutter | Typically a louvered or flush wood or vinyl frame in the shape of a door placed at each side of a window. Shutters are made and used for many purposes including protecting windows from storms, filtering or obscuring light, and for nonfunctional decorative accents. Find shutters. |
| Side Chair | Term normally used to refer to an armless dining chair or a small-scale, armless chair designed to stand against a wall when not in use. Find dining chairs. |
| Side Draperies | Stationary panels hung on each side of a window. |
| Sideboard | A long storage chest often used for serving and storage in a formal dining room. |
| Sidelights | Vertical, narrow windows used on each side of a door. |
| Sight Line | The natural line of sight the eye travels when looking into or around a room. |
| Silk | A natural fiber derived from the silk worm. Silk is famous for being soft, smooth and lustrous. Hence the saying, "smooth as silk". |
| Silk Screen | See serigraph. |
| Silkscreen Printing | A printing process in which paint, ink, or dye is forced through a fine screen onto the surface beneath. Different areas of the screen are blocked off with each layer of color. |
| Silk-Screen Printing | A traditional method of stencil printing, done by squeegeeing ink through stencils on sheer silk stretched on wooden screens. Originally it was a hand technique. Now flatbed printing automates the moving of fabric under the screens and the raising and lowering of the screens, and rotary screen printing further speeds the process by rotating the pattern onto the fabric with no hand labor. Silk screening accounts for a large portion of printed designs today. |
| Sill | An igneous intrusion that is more or less horizontal but forms into a single step shape. |
| Silt Trap | Silt trap are provided only in situations where the waste water carries large amount of silt , sand , coarse particles etc. It is a masonry chamber which functions like grit chamber where the silt , sand etc. settle down before the waste water is discharged into the drainage. |
| Silver Gelatin | A photographic process that uses silver halide crystals suspended within the photographic emulsion to produce the image. The most popular type of black-and-white photograph produced today. |
| Silver Plate | Flatware made from an alloy of silver and nickel, electroplated with Pure silver. |
| Silvering | The process of coating with silver or silverlike substances. |
| Single Glazing | Filling a window opening with one layer of glass. |
| Single Roll | One bolt of wall covering containing approximately thirty-six square feet. |
| Single-Hung Sash | Sash windows in which only the bottom section is operable. |
| Single-Wide Mobile Home | A mobile home that is approximately twelve to fifteen. feet wide and twenty to forty feet long. |
| Sink | Sink is commonly used in kitchens , hospitals and laboratories. It is made of glazed fire clay , stainless steel , plastic etc. |
| Sinuous Springs | Also known a "S coils" and "Zigzag wire". Sinuous springs are used in place of coil spring units in upholstered pieces such as sofas. |
| Sinuous Wire Spring | An essentially flat spring bent in a zigzag fashion used in upholstered furniture. |
| Sisal | Strong fiber from the leaves of the sisal plant used to create area rugs and broadloom floor coverings. |
| Sisal And Maize Mats | Natural cellulosic fiber mats that are coarse and rough to the touch. |
| Site | A piece of land enclosed by definite boundaries. |
| Size (Sizing) | A solution used as a finisher for fabrics, which stiffens the surface and helps protect against wear. |
| Sizing | A thin liquid painted on a surface before hanging wall coverings. It seals against alkali, lessens the paste quantity needed, and provides some grip for the wallpaper. |
| Sketch | A rough, quick illustration of a proposed space or a detail of the space. |
| Skew-Back | It is the surface of the abutment on which the arch rests. |
| Skirt | A piece of fabric at the bottom of a sofa, loveseat or chair that hangs in a way resembling a woman's skirt. On case-goods the term refers to the panel connecting the surface and legs of a table or chair. |
| Skylight | This is a type of fixed window provided on the sloping surface of a pitched roof , the window being parallel to the sloping surface. The skylight is provided with a view to permit the room below to be fully lighted with natural light. |
| Slant-Front Desk | A frame or chest of drawers with a top section as an enclosed desk for writing, with the hinged lid sloping at a 45 degree angle when closed. |
| Slat Back | An early American chair incorporating horizontal slats. Find dining and kitchen chairs. |
| Slate | A fine-grain metamorphic rock that is easily split into thin slabs, making it ideal for flooring as well as roofing. |
| Slate Roof | A roof covered with thin sheets of stone, used like shingles. |
| Slats | Wooden boards used as the bottom structure to support box spring units within their frames. Also used in headboard and footboard sets with wood rails and in bunk beds to support the mattress in place of a box spring. Slats can also be used as a feature in furniture construction. Slatted construction is commonly seen in mission and arts and crafts furnishings. |
| Sleeper (Or Hide-A-Bed) | A sofa, loveseat, or chair that converts into a bed. Also available in some sectionals. Find a sleeper sofa. |
| Sleepy Hallow Chair | A large upholstered chair with a hollowed seat, high back and solid low arms. |
| Sleigh Bed | A wooden bed with a large headboard and footboard that resembles the shape of a horse-drawn sleigh. |
| Slide-Out | See "Pullout." |
| Sliding Door | This type of door is considered suitable for shops , sheds , godowns etc. and in places where the use of hinges for fixing the shutter is to be avoided. |
| Sliding Window | In this type of window , the shutters move on roller bearing and can slide either horizontally or vertically. |
| Sliding Windows | Windows that slide horizontally. |
| Slip Match | A veneer method commonly used with quartered and rift-sawn material, where successively cut pieces are joined together to form a repeating pattern. The grain does not math up at the joints. |
| Slip Seat | A removable upholstered chair seat. |
| Slipcover | A removable fabric cover for a chair, sofa, or loveseat. Either custom-tailored or adjusted with ties and fasteners. |
| Slipcovers | Fitted covers that can be placed over the original upholstery and secured with snaps or other fasteners. |
| Slipper Chair | A low armless chair, often found in bedrooms. |
| Slub | An uneven section in a yarn which gives fabric a rough texture. |
| Sludge Soak Pit | This is an alternative method of disposal of sewage from an individual house drain. The sludge soak pit can function effectively in situation where the ground water table is low and the sub |
| Slumped Glass | Preformed flat or three-dimensional glass that is reheated and shaped in a mold. |
| Smart House | Registered trademark of the National Home Builders' Association for home automation. |
| Smoke Detector | A fire-alarm device that sounds when triggered by excessive smoke in the air. |
| Social Zones | Areas for formal or informal social interaction. |
| Sofa | A long upholstered seating piece with a back and arms, which can seat three or more people. Find a sofa. |
| Sofa Table | A table normally used behind a sofa or loveseat that has been positioned away from the wall or that's in the middle of a room. Find a sofa table. |
| Soffit | Underside of an overhang. |
| Soffit Lighting | Architectural lighting built into a soffit. |
| Soft Window Treatments | Fabric treatments: curtains, draperies, shades, and top treatments. |
| Soft Wood | Wood from a conifer trees such as pine and cedar. |
| Software | Computer program that accomplishes specific tasks. |
| Softwood | A botanical grouping of trees that displays needles and cones rather than broad, flat leaves. |
| Soil-Release Finish | Allows a fabric to more readily absorb water and free soil to be lifted out with mild detergent. |
| Soil-Repellent Or Soil-Resistant Finishes | These are sprayed onto the surface of a fabric, forming a temporary barrier that prevents soil from penetrating the fabric. If the soil or stain is not removed quickly, it can be forced into the fabric through tiny cracks in the finish. The soil may then he locked under the finish, making it very difficult to remove. |
| Solar Greenhouses | A greenhouse living space that is also a passive solar collector; a solarium. |
| Solar Heat Gain | Heat front sunshine collected through glass walls or windows. May be absorbed, stored, and released through many of the hard background materials such as stone, tile, brick, and concrete. |
| Sole Proprietorship | An interior design business owned by one person. |
| Solid | Wooden furniture construction with solid pieces of wood in all the external or visible parts of the piece. |
| Solid Wood Flooring | Solid wood flooring Flooring that is constructed from solid wood boards, rather than laminated or veneered boards. Normally three-quarters of an inch thick. |
| Solid-Core Door | A veneered door with a core of solid wood pieces. Also called lumber-core door. |
| Solution Or Dope Dyeing | The addition of dyes or coloring matter to die viscose solution in man-made fibers before they arc extruded. The dyes then become colorfast and will not fade. The process is more costly than other methods of dyeing and must be done well in advance of the finished product, making solution-dyed color somewhat risky in today's market of rapidly changing color trends. |
| Solvent | A liquid for thinning and cleaning up oil-based paints. |
| Sound Board | An insulative material in rigid form that prevents audible sounds from being heard; usually used beneath drywall. |
| Sound Insulation | Control of noise transmission is essential to minimize the disturbing effect of sound passing from one person to another , through walls , partitions, floors and ceilings. |
| Sound Knot | A knot that is solid across its face, and remains intact. |
| Southwestern | Contemporary style which is highly influenced by Native American Indian traditions. Light-colored woods, light and bright color palettes, rich patterns and desert scenery characterize the style. |
| Space | An element of design consisting of a continuous expanse of distance without forms, which is divided with walls, partitions, and furnishings. Filled space is termed positive space and empty space is called negative space. |
| Space Configuration | A design term that is used to describe the reallocation of interior space without adding on. |
| Space Planning | The allotment of spaces to create a workable floor plan. The organization and division of spaces into rooms or areas to meet specific needs. |
| Space-Saving Device | Any means of maximizing the existing space, thereby making a space seem larger. |
| Spade Foot | A tapered to the base leg design, usually found in Hepplewhite styles. |
| Spalls | Chips or small pieces of stone broken off a large block are termed as spalls. They are used in filling the interstices in stone masonry. |
| Spalted | Wood that contains areas of natural decay, giving it distinctive markings. |
| Span | It is the clear horizontal distance between the supports. |
| Spandrel | An arch bounded by a horizontal and vertical frame such as was used by Sheraton in some chair backs. |
| Spandril | It is the triangular walling enclosed by the extrados of the arch , a horizontal line from the crown of the arch and a perpendicular line from the springing of the outer curves. |
| Spanish Renaissance | Style during the 1500's to 1700's, which had a huge Moorish influence. Decoration relies heavily on patterns that have elaborate geometric carving. Spanish Renaissance pieces often have decorative metal accents and brass nails. Familiar upholstery is red and green leather. Chairs and tables can have iron or heavy wood stretchers. Spanish Renaissance blends well with other Renaissance furniture, as the favored woods were walnut, oak, and cedar. |
| Spanish Rugs | Hand-knotted pile rugs with a coarse, sparse weave. Classified with folk rugs. |
| Spattering | Painting effect created by flicking a brush with wet paint. |
| Special Rodding | Drapery rods that can be bent and suited to custom or special installations. |
| Specifications | The written list of materials and furnishings, itemized according to company, stock number, color, and other pertinent ordering information, and the location where the goods will he installed. Also, in nonresidential architecture, the criteria of minimum durability, cost, and safety requirements of finish materials. |
| Specifier | A type of designer whose role is limited to selecting or specifying which products or specifications will be used. |
| Spectral Energy Distribution | The inherent color characteristics of an object or material due to the type and amount of dyes or pigments. This can cause the object or material to appear as different colors under different kinds of light; also describes the color of the light source. |
| Spectran | A registered trademark of Monsanto for polyester. |
| Spindle | A slender turned and shaped column, which often swells out in the lower half and is usually used in rows such as the back of a Windsor chair. |
| Spinet Desk | A writing desk that was designed using a musical instrument of the colonial period. After the instrument wore out, the keyboard was removed and the cabinet was modified to be used as a writing desk. |
| Spinnerette | The shower head-like device through which man-made fiber viscose solutions are forced to create monofilament. The size and shape of the holes in the spinnerette can be changed to give various characteristics to the fibers. |
| Spiral Leg | A leg that's carved, or turned, into the shape of a rope twist or spiral. |
| Spiral Staircase | A corkscrew-shaped staircase. |
| Spiral Turning | A column twisted like strands or filaments of rope. |
| Spiral Wave | A series of turning, wave-like scrolls used as decoration. |
| Spiral Welt | A decorative welting trim that features one or multiple colors arranged in a spiral pattern. |
| Splat | A flat, vertical piece in the middle of an open chair back, which is often carved or ornamented. |
| Splayed | A pitched spread or slant; a surface canted outward, beveled or angled. |
| Splayed Leg | A leg that slants outward from a piece of furniture. |
| Splint Seat | A seat made of oak or hickory strips interlaced. Used in country furniture throughout the 18th Century. |
| Split Complement | Consists of a hue and the two colors on each side of its direct complement. |
| Split Leather | The bottom layers of the hide, which have been split from the top-grain leather and then pigmented or sueded. Find leather furniture. |
| Split Queen Box | Two queen size foundation units that measure 30"x80" each. Designed to accommodate the passage of a single-piece foundation. Find a queen mattress set. |
| Split-Back Sofa | A sofa that's made with vertical seamed indentations in the back, which usually divides the surface in three. Find a sofa. |
| Split-Entry Home | A two-level home in which the entry is located in the center, and the person entering walks upstairs to the kitchen/living/dining areas and the bedroom/bath areas, and downstairs to the family room, extra bedrooms, and storage areas. |
| Split-Level Home | A three- or four-level home with half flights leading from one area to the next. |
| Sponge Rubber Pad | Carpet underlay. The most common example of sponge rubber is waffle padding. |
| Sponging | Applying paint with sponges for texture and color overlay. |
| Spool Bead | A continuous turning having the form of a series of connected beads. |
| Spoon Back (Or Spooning) | A curved chair back designed to fit the sitter's form. Common on Queen Anne chairs. |
| Spotlight | A luminaire that focuses light in one direction, casting a pool of light. |
| Spray Painting | Painting with the spray gun is considered to be a highly developed and efficient method of applying all types of protective coatings. |
| Spread Footings | In this , the base of the member transmitting load to the soil is made wider so as to distribute the load over wider area. |
| Spring Down | A type of cushion constructed of coil springs, which are wrapped in polyurethane and covered with down batting. |
| Spring Edge | An upholstered seats front edge that's supported by springs rather than the frame. |
| Springer | It is the first voussoir at springing level on either side of the arch. |
| Springing Line | It is an imaginary line joining the two springing points. |
| Springing Points | These are the points at the extremities of the intrados. |
| Springs | The most commonly used springs for upholstered furniture are coil springs and sinuous springs. |
| Squab Cushion | A loose flat cushion on the seat of a chair. |
| Square Feet Or Footage | The width multiplied by the length of a room or building. The two-dimensional floor space. |
| Square Leg | A four sided leg of equal dimensions on all sides (resembling a fence post) that supports a piece of furniture such as a coffee table or dining table. |
| Squeegee | An implement with a strong, straight ctosspiecc edged with rubber used to spread a thin layer of ink across and through a silk screen. |
| Squint Joint | This is formed when two walls meet each other at an angle other than a right angle without forming a quoin. |
| Stack | It is a term used for any vertical pipeline of a drainage system. |
| Stacking | The wall or window area that's required for draperies when they are completely opened. |
| Stain | Color mixed with water, oils, or other agents and applied to wood as part of the finishing process. |
| Stained Glass | Colored and clear glass set into patterns and hung in front of windows or used as the window glazing itself. |
| Staining | The step in the finishing process where coloring (stain) is applied to a piece of wood furniture. |
| Stainless Steel | An alloy of steel and chromium. |
| Stains | It is a liquid preparation which is used to change the color of various types of cheap quality wood to give them the appearance of wood of superior quality. |
| Stair | A stair may be defined as a structure comprising of a number of steps connecting one floor to another. |
| Stairwell | The open space filled by a stair. |
| Stamps | Various names and letters are often found stamped on French furniture made in the 18th Century or later. These stamps are an important means of identifying the makers of individual pieces of furniture. |
| Standard Color Wheel Theory | Based on three primary colors--red, yellow, and blue?and the variations derived by mixing these, plus black and white. Colors are arranged in a circle, with secondary and tertiary or intermediate colors placed between the primary colors. |
| Standard Finishes | Applied to fabrics to enhance durability. Also known as wet, chemical, or functional finishes. |
| Staple | Short fibers that vary from approximately one-half to two inches. Staple yarns offer greater bulk, insulation, and area coverage. |
| Stapled Wall Fabric | Fabric attached to a wall by staples. |
| Starting Step | The first step of the stair. |
| State Of The Art | The current or latest technology; the newest developments. |
| Statuary Marbles | Those marbles used for sculpture. |
| Steam Bend | A method of bending a single piece of wood (bowback chair, bowed splat, etc.) into a furniture part. |
| Steel | A hard alloy of iron and carbon. |
| Steeling | Mending a vent (hairline) crack by cutting grooves on the reverse side of a slab of stone and inserting strips of metal. |
| Stemware | Designation given to fine drinking glass with raised bowls, stems, and bases. |
| Stenciling | Method of creating patterns by covering an area of a surface and applying color to the uncovered area. |
| Stereo Cabinet | A cabinet used for housing stereo components and related media such as a CD player, AM/FM stereo receiver, audio CDs and related items. Find a stereo cabinet. |
| Sterling Ii | Flatware with sterling silver handles and stainless steel blades, tines, and bowls. |
| Sterling Silver | Finest type of silverware; 92.5 percent pure. |
| Stickley | Furniture designed and built by Gustav Stickley who pioneered the American Arts and Crafts movement, also known as Mission style, which is known for clean straight lines and durability. Web site of Stickley. |
| Stickley, Gustav (1848-1942) | Furniture designer and exponent of the Mission style. |
| Stickwork | Flat battens used on Victorian buildings to create patterns in imitation of Medieval timber framing. |
| Stile | The upright section of a frame for a panel or door frame. |
| Still Life | A depiction of a group of inanimate objects arranged for symbolic or aesthetic effect. |
| Stippling | Similar to sponging but uses a stippling brush to dab on a colored glaze or paint, revealing some of the base color. |
| Stock Dyeing | The coloring of natural fibers (particularly wool) in the raw-goods state (stock) before they are spun into yarns. |
| Stock Plans | Floor plans that are mass-produced and purchased, usually by mail order, by anyone wishing to build that home. |
| Stone | Any hard rock used for flooring or wall materials. |
| Stone-Enders | Seventeenth-century houses with stone-covered chimney ends, common to Rhode Island. |
| Stoneware | A gray, red, or buff clay body that matures (becomes nonporous) between 1900°F and 2300°F. |
| Stop Cock | This is provided before water meter in a chamber with a cover to cut off the supply of water from the street main to the building for repairs to the plumbing system within the building. |
| Storage | Space planned for keeping foodstuffs, linens, tools, clothing, and other items owned by people. It also refers to needs of a nonresidential interior to keep extra stock merchandise, office supplies, or other goods. Also, the reservoir for storing thermal energy in a solar system. |
| Storage Buildings | These shall include any building or part of a building primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods , wares or merchandise , garages , stables etc. |
| Storage Tanks | In the areas , where continuous supply of water is available the pressure of water in the mains may not be adequate to raise the water to upper floors. Thus provision of storage tank is made in a building to ensure availability of water during non supply hours or when the municipal supply is stopped. |
| Storey | The portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it. |
| Storm Windows | Class or plastic removable windows that add insulation. Summer storm windows are tinted as a shading device. |
| Stove | A freestanding wood- or coal-burning heating unit. |
| Straight Lines | Lines that directly connect two points; horizontal and vertical lines. |
| Straight Run | A stair that makes no turns. |
| Straight-Back Sofa | A sofa style with the back top being straight, narrow arms extend forward. Some variations have set-back arms and T-cushions for the seat. Find a sofa. |
| Strapping Tape Method | A temporary method of attaching fabric to a wall. Rolls or circles of strapping tape are affixed to the wall and to the fabric. |
| Strapwork | A narrow band folded, crossed, and sometimes interlaced. Also an ornament consisting of a narrow band in convolutions similar to those of a leather strap thrown at hazard. |
| Strata | Layers or beds of sedimentary rock. |
| Straw-Work | Method of decorating furniture in the 17th Century with tiny strips of bleached and colored straws to form landscapes, geometrical patterns, etc. |
| Strecher Course | It is a course of brickwork in which all the bricks are laid as strechers. |
| Street | Any means of access i.e. highway road , lane , pathway over which public have a right of passage. |
| Strength Or Tenacity | The inherent ability of a material to withstand stress without breaking. |
| Stretcher | A horizontal brace in an H or X shape connecting the legs of a table or chair. Often decorated with carving or turning. |
| Stretchers | Crosspieces used to brace and strengthen table and chair legs. |
| String Course | It is a horizontal course of masonry projecting from the face of the wall and is generally at every floor or sill level throughout the length of the wall. It is intended to improve the elevation of the structure. |
| Stringcourse | See beltcourse. |
| Stringer | A long horizontal timber used to connect uprights in a frame, or to support a floor. |
| Strip Lighting | A lighting fixture in which several lamps or bulbs are aligned in a strip. Used in grooming areas around mirrors. |
| Strippable | A wall covering that can be stripped or completely removed from a wall. Applies to most vinyl wall coverings. |
| Stripping | Removing the old surface or finish from a piece of furniture. |
| Structural Design | A basic or general category of design wherein the design is intrinsic to the structure-one cannot be separated without destroying the other. |
| Structural Systems | The components of new or remodeling construction that make up the structure: footings and foundation, as well as the framework (or other systems) that supports the building and to which the finish materials are applied. |
| Structure | The overall character of a rock. |
| Stucco | Rough textured plaster or cement for covering walls. |
| Stud | A vertical support element made of wood or metal that is used in the construction of walls. |
| Student Desk | The term normally applies to a small pedestal type of desk or smaller writing table constructed for use by a child or teenager in their bedroom. In most cases these desks are a bit shorter in height than conventional adult desks. Student desks are most commonly made of wood or metal. Find children's furniture. |
| Style | The decorative design of an object, room, home, etc. |
| Stylobate | The base upon which the Greek temple rests. |
| Subcontractor | A person who performs a single task in construction such as foundation work, framing, electrical, plumbing, EIVAC, finish work (millwork or woodwork), or tile or floor laying. |
| Subfloors | The material (usually wood) nailed to the framework on which the finish floor materials are laid. |
| Suede | A leather that's produced from a fresh split hide, which has a velvet like nap. Find leather furniture. |
| Suite | A complete matched set of furniture, such as a bedroom suite. |
| Sullivan, Louis (1856-1924) | Called the Father of American architecture, he felt that the form of a building should follow its function. |
| Summer Beam | The largest beam spanning wall to wall, supporting the smaller floor joists in seventeenth-century timber-framed homes. |
| Sundial | A timepiece that shows the time by a shadow cast by a pointer. |
| Superinsulation | Extra-heavy insulation of walls, foundations, ceilings, and attic areas to conserve energy; requires thicker than conventional walls. |
| Surface Treatment Finishes | See mechanical finishes. |
| Surface-Mounted Fixture | A structural or decorative luminaire that is mounted onto the ceiling. |
| Surround | The enclosure and area around a tub or shower |
| Surrounds (Tub Or Shower) | The tile, marble, or imitative plastic finish material used to protect the wall against water in showers and bathtub areas. |
| Suspended Fixtures | Structural (pendant) or decorative (chandelier) luminaires hung on a cord or chain from the ceiling. |
| Suspension | The combination of components such as coils and foam in an upholstered piece of furniture that provide the support and comfort for the seating and back areas. |
| Sussex Chair | A chair with an ash frame and rush seat, based on a traditional country design. Find kitchen chairs. |
| Swag | A fabric that's draped in a looped garland effect or any imitation of the same. Find draperies and curtains. |
| Swag Holders | Metal hardware that supports swagged fabric. |
| Swags | Also called festoons. Semicircles of fabric, folded at the corners to form a soft or precise curved fabric top treatment. Often finished with a cascade on each side of the swag or arrangement of swags. |
| Swamp Cooler | See evaporative cooling system. |
| Swan-Neck Handle | A curved handle popular in the 1700's. |
| Swing Door | This type of door is generally provided in passages of public buildings like offices , banks etc. The door may have single shutter or two shutters. Since these doors are pushed open ,they should have glazed shutters so as to enable the users to see the objects on other side. |
| Swing Leg | A hinged table leg (as in a gate leg) which swings out to support a drop leaf. |
| Swinging Door (One Way) | The typical side-hinged door. |
| Swivel Chair | A chair that swivels, such as a swivel office chair or swivel recliner. |
| Symbolism | The use of historic color where each color held significance or symbolized a value. |
| Symmetrical | A formal, mirror-image balance in design or decorating. |
| Symmetrical Balance | Also called bisymmetrical, formal, or passive balance, it is mirror-image arrangement of parts or elements. |
| Synthesis | Bringing together the research data in the programming process. |
| Synthetic Fibers | The group of fibers that do not begin as cellulose but as chemicals or other natural elements chemically altered or composed into a viscose solution and extruded through a spinnerette. This group includes nylon, acrylic, modaerylic, polyester, olefin, saran, spandex, vinyon, latex, fiberglass, and metallic fibers. Also known as noncellulosie man-made fibers. |
| Systems Furniture | Component pieces that can. be chosen and assembled to create work spaces according to the needs of the user. As needs change, new components can be added and unneeded elements can be eliminated. |
| T Lamp | Tubular shaped lamp or bulb. |
| Tab Curtains | Flat panel curtains with tabs or strips sewn into loops at the top, then threaded over a dowel rod. |
| Table Ambulante | A French term for a small, portable occasional table. Find living room furniture. |
| Table Lamp | A freestanding lamp designed to be placed on a surface such as an end table or nightstand. Find table lamps. |
| Table Runner | A long, narrow, decorative strip of fabric running down the middle of a table. |
| Tabouret | A stool or small seat that can also be used as a stand. |
| Tackless Strip | The thin board with recessed-bead tacks or staples protruding toward the wall. The strip is nailed down and the carpet is attached over the top to hold it in place for wall-to-wall installations over padding. |
| Taffeta | A fine plain-woven fabric that's smooth on both sides. |
| Tailored Upholstery | A furniture frame which has fabric fitted and permanently attached. |
| Tallboy | See Highboy |
| Tambour Desk | A roll-top desk's flexible draw-down cover made of "tambours", which is made up of a succession of narrow strips of flat wood glued to a stiff backing such as canvas. Find home office furniture. |
| Tape Edge | The cord-like seam that is stitched around the perimeter of a mattress to join its tops and sides. Find a mattress. |
| Tapered Leg | A leg that becomes incrementally smaller towards the bottom. |
| Tapestry | Traditionally a "heavy" woven fabric featuring decorative designs or pictures to be hung on a wall. Today, the term commonly refers to highly decorative fabrics with a woven design. Find a tapestry. |
| Tar Paper | A heavy, black, waterproof paper applied to the roof before the shingles and sometimes on the outside of foundation walls. |
| Task Lighting | A lighting source directed to a specific purpose within a room. Reading lights in a living room or under-counter lighting in a kitchen are examples of task lighting. |
| Tatami | A straw mat covered with woven rush, approximately 6" x 3", used as flooring material. |
| Tatami Mats | Woven sea grass mats in various thicknesses. A traditional Japanese floor material, they will not hold up to heavy traffic. |
| Tavern Table | A small, sturdy rectangular table on four legs, usually braced by stretchers. Generally features a drawer or two in the apron. Commonly used in taverns of the 18th Century. |
| Tea Caddy | Metal container used to import tea during the eighteenth century, often decorated with oriental motifs and designs. |
| Tea Table | A small portable table, which is frequently used in place of a coffee table. Traditionally the top has raised edges like a tray and side pullouts for candles. Find a coffee or tea table. |
| Teapoy | A small piece of freestanding furniture designed for holding tea. |
| Technical Drawings | Floor plans, elevations, and detailed drawings of architectural detail, cabinetry, storage, and built-in units. |
| Tee Cushion (Or T-Cushion) | A loose seat cushion with the outside front edges extending laterally in front of the arm of an upholstered piece. |
| Teen Bedding | Bedding such as comforters and sheets designed in themes that are generally less elegant or as expensive as adult bedding sets, yet not childish like children's bedding. Find teen bedding. |
| Telephone System | A network of connected telephones within a building or office. |
| Tempera | Paint made with pigment mixed with egg and thinned with water. |
| Tempered Glass | Glass toughened by heating and rapid cooling. |
| Template | Block of stone or concrete of designed dimensions used under a beam or girder to distribute the concentrated load at the end of the beam or girder over a greater area of bearing surface. |
| Tenant Improvement | The designer works with the client who will occupy a nonresidential space. The design work within an established budget is paid for by the developer. |
| Tender | A state of weakness in a fabric wherein it easily can tear. |
| Tenon | The projecting member of a piece of wood, which is inserted into a mortise to create a secure joint. |
| Tensile System Construction | A tentlike building system. |
| Tenure-Track Position | A full-time college or university appointment that offers tenure, or the status of holding one's Position on a permanent basis. |
| Tergal | A registered trademark of Rhodiaceta for polyester. |
| Terra Cotta | Low-fired ceramic ware that is often reddish and unglazed. |
| Terra Sigillata | A thin coating of colored clay or clays applied with a glaze. A terra sigillata solution is composed of fine particles of decanted clay and water. |
| Terrace Houses | Matching row houses that became popular in England during the eighteenth century. |
| Terra-Cotta | An Italian term for cooked earth used to describe hard, durable reddish brown clay products, such as that used to make roof tiles. |
| Terrazzo | A floor or wall finish made by setting marble or other stone chips into a layer of mortar and polishing the surface. |
| Territorial Style | The later, more classical version of the Southwest Adobe-style houses of New Mexico. |
| Territoriality | Personal kittacbment to a certain territory or space. |
| Terry Cloth | A pile fabric with uncut loops, used for towels. |
| Tertiary Color | Color created by mixing of two secondary colors. |
| Tertiary Hues | See intermediate hues. |
| Terylene | A registered trademark of ICI for polyester. |
| Tesserae | Pieces of colored glass and stone used to make mosaics. |
| Tester | A wooden frame for supporting draperies or a canopy at the top of a poster bed. |
| Tetrad Complement | A variation of a direct complementary scheme consisting of four colors equidistant (equally spaced) on the color wheel. |
| Textura | A registered trademark of Hoeschst for polyester. |
| Texture | The relative smoothness or roughness of a surface read by the eye (visual texture) or with the hand (tactile texture). Texture is produced in several ways: by material, color, line, relief, and finish. |
| Texture (Fabric) | In fabric, is the surface quality of a material. |
| Texture (Stone) | In stone, texture is the characteristics of a rock given by the size and shape of its grains. |
| Textured Finish | In this finish , ornamental patterns or textured surfaces are produced by working with various tools on the freshly applied final coat. |
| Texturizing | Adding crimp, kink, or waviness to a man-made monofilarnent thread or yarn to increase bulk and loftiness and to add textural interest. An uneven surface applied to drywall or sheetrock by blowing on a thin plaster mixture, then sanding it semismooth. |
| Texturizing Paint | Thick paint that can be applied to imitate stucco. |
| Thatched Roof | A roof covered with reeds or straw intended to shed water. |
| Thematic Design | Interior design based on a theme, such as traditional, country, or ethnic. |
| Therm Leg | Term refers to a square or four cornered tapered leg used on chairs or tables. |
| Thermal Pane | A type of double glazing in which two layers of glass are produced with a pocket of air for insulation. |
| Thermoplastics | Plastics that change their form by heating. |
| Thermoset Plastics | Plastic compounds that are hardened by heat. |
| Thermosiphoning | A passive solar system of collecting heat through spaces in the walls or roof, then drawing the heat into ducts and forcing it into the interior through fans and registers. |
| Thermostat | A device that controls the furnace or air-conditioning by maintaining a preset temperature. |
| Thin Shell Membrane Construction | A self-supporting membrane of reinforced (mesh) concrete or sprayed foam. |
| Thonet, Michael (1796-1871) | A German craftsman best known for his bentwood furniture designs. |
| Three-Way Switch | A type of switch commonly found on lamps that allows three different degrees or levels of light. |
| Through Stone | A stone passing through a wall from front to back face and acting as a binder for the two faces of the wall is termed as through stone. |
| Throw | A lightweight fabric item meant to be used as a light blanket or as a decorative element commonly placed at the foot of a bed or draped over the back of a sofa. Throws usually measure about 64" x 72" in size. Find a throw. |
| Throw Pillow | A small square or round decorative pillow usually found on sofas, chairs, or beds. |
| Thrown Chair | A chair constructed from turned pieces of wood. |
| Thumbpiece | A flange attached to a hinged lid, which when pressed by the thumb raises the lid. |
| Tieback | A decorative fabric, cord or metal hook used to hold a drapery open. |
| Tieback Draperies | Panels of pleated or shirred fabric tied back at a soft curve and held with ties (strips of fabric), or cords, or metal holdbacks. |
| Tieback Holders | Concealed hardware to hold the ties or decorative metal rosettes that hold the draperies in the tieback position. |
| Tie-Dye | A hand process for coloring fabric where a fabric is folded into various shapes, then tied in spots with string and immersed in a dye bath. Where the folds and tied portions arc thick, the dye will not penetrate, creating interesting abstract patterns. |
| Tiered Curtains | Short curtains layered to overlap vertically. |
| Tight | An interior that is sealed or that has few or no windows for natural ventilation; requires HVAC system or air-exchange units for fresh air. |
| Tight Seat | Upholstered furniture which has the fabric pulled directly over the springs, with layer of padding in between, and padding over the springs. |
| Tight-Back Sofa | A sofa with a back that is totally smooth with no indentations. Find a sofa. |
| Tile | Small, flat finishing units made of clay or clay mixtures. |
| Tilt Top | A small occasional table with a hinged top that can stand vertically when not in use. Find living room tables. |
| Tilt-Down Tray | The hinged, flat panel in front of the sink that tilts down to reveal a small storage pocket. |
| Timber | Wood suitable for construction or a finish carpentry. |
| Timber Frame | A frame of heavy timbers used as the structure system for a building. |
| Timbering Of Trenches | It is also known as shoring , consists of a temporary arrangement of boardings or poling boards, wailings and struts provided to give support to the sides of trench. |
| Tint | Any color mixed with white (i.e. all pastel colors are tints). |
| To Finished Floor | The phrase "to finished floor" is often used in the beginning stages of construction before the final surface is placed as the flooring. This is to insure that the measurements taken for other items in the space will be the correct dimensions when the final flooring is installed. |
| Toe Kick | A toe kick is a 3-4' space or recessed panel on the front of a piece of furniture that allows room to stand as well as protect the furniture from being scratched or marked. |
| Toe-Kick Or Riser Lighting | Lighting in the toe-kick area beneath a counter, or on the stair riser just beneath the tread. |
| Toe-Mold Lighting | Lighting under the toe-kick area of stairs or cabinets. |
| Toile | Also known as Toile do Jouy, is a type of fabric decorating pattern usually on a white or off-white background that features a repeating landscape or pastoral pattern in a single color. |
| Toile (Toile De Jouy) | A plain-woven cotton fabric printed with a repeat pattern of country settings, animals, people or other objects printed on a solid background of one color in another color. |
| Tokonoma | A small, alcove with a low, raised platform reserved for display of aesthetic and sacred objects in the traditional Japanese home. |
| Tone | Any color mixed with grey (most warm-looking colors are tones). |
| Tongue & Groove (Or Matching) | Wood pieces that join on edge with a groove in one piece and a corresponding tongue on the other to interlock. Commonly used on furniture doors for example. |
| Tongue And Groove | Strips of wood milled to fit together and interlock with a filet and a groove. |
| Tongue-And-Groove | A tight joint created by fitting together a tongue on one end of a board with a groove on the other end. Common for floors, paneling, and wainscoting. |
| Tongue-And-Groove Joinery | A joinery technique in which a protruding end (tongue) fits into a recess (groove), locking the two pieces together. |
| Tooled Surface | In this type of surface finish continuous parallel chisel marks are produced throughout the width of the stone. The parallel corrugations or chisel ,arks are made at closer intervals rendering the surface truly planned. |
| Top Grain Leather | The uppermost layer of a hide, which is the highest quality part of the hide and the most preferred for leather upholstery. Find leather furniture. |
| Top Treatments | Any fabric used as a short covering at the top or above a window or window treatment. |
| Torchere | A floor lamp that directs light upward to provide ambient room lighting. |
| Torchiere Lamp | A floor lamp that directs light upward from a reflective bowl or inverted cone shade. Find a torchiere lamp. |
| Torehere | In history a tall candlestand. Today a floor lamp that casts light upward onto the ceiling. |
| Tower Bolt | In this type , the bolt passes through two or three stapples attached to the base plate. The plate is screwed to inside face of door shutter and the bolt engages in a metal socket screwed to the frame. |
| Town House | Another term for a dwelling that is narrow, one or two room(s) wide, and two or three stories high. It shares walls with one or two similar town houses, and one roof spans all the units. |
| Tracery | A term used to describe the lacelike ornamentation in stone or woodwork of Gothic design, often seen in windows. |
| Track Lighting | Lighting that utilizes a fixed band that supplies a current to movable light fixtures. |
| Track-Arm | A straight, squared off arm,usually found on more contemporary sofas and armchairs. |
| Trade Sources | Wholesale companies that market goods and services to the trade or the interior design profession. |
| Trademarks Or Trade Names | Names given by chemical companies to a generic fiber that identifies it as their product. Trademarks are registered with the Federal Trade Commission and may be accompanied by a small TM following the name. |
| Traditional | Traditionally styled furniture is available in both original antique pieces and quality reproductions. This type of furniture usually follows a particular period style such as Georgian, Tudor, Regency or Louis XV. |
| Traffic | Movement of users through an area or along a route. |
| Traffic Pattern | The flow or direction in which people move through a room. |
| Trail | Undulating bands of formal looking leaf, berry or floral patterns. |
| Transepts | The part of a cross-shaped church that extends at right angles to the nave. (The arms of the cross.) |
| Transition | A type of rhythm that leads the eye without interruption from one point or area to another. |
| Transitional | A style of design that blends influences from various style categories. |
| Transmission Loss | The reduction in the intensity of airborne sound that takes place during its transmission from the source to the recipient is called transmission loss. |
| Transom | A window over a door. |
| Transport | Moving the sun's heat through a liquid medium to the storage area in an active solar system unit. |
| Transportation Design | A facet of nonresidential design: airlines, buses, trains, and automobiles. |
| Trap | A trap is a fitting provided in a drainage to prevent entry of foul air or gases from the sewer or drain into the building. |
| Travel Distance | The distance from the remotest point on a floor of a building to a place of safety be it a vertical exit , horizontal exit or an outside exit measured along the line of travel. |
| Traverse Drapery | A drapery that opens or closes across a window by means of the traverse rod from which it is hung. Find drapes and curtains. |
| Traverse Rods | Rods equipped with cords and pulleys to draw draperies opened and closed. |
| Travertine | A light-colored limestone used for nonresilient floors and hard wall materials. |
| Tread | The horizontal upper part of a step on which foot is placed in ascending or descending stairway. |
| Treenail | A wooden peg made from dry compressed timber, made to swell when placed in its hold and moistened. |
| Tree-Of-Life | Term refers to a carved tree or vine design with fruit and often birds or animals in foliage. |
| Trefoil | A three-leaved or three-cusped ornament usually contained within a circle. |
| Trespolo | Elegant three-legged tables usually designed to stand against a wall. |
| Trestle | A braced frame, forming the whole support for a table top. |
| Trestle Table | A long narrow table with two T-shaped uprights that are joined by a single stretcher for added support. Find a dining table. |
| Triadic Complement | Three colors equidistant (equally spaced) on the color wheel, such as red, yellow, and blue. |
| Triangular Pediment | A pediment in the shape of a triangle. |
| Tri-Fold Mirror (Or Tri-View) | A mirror that sits on or hangs above a dresser and features a center mirror panel and two mirrored side panels that produce three images of the person looking in the mirror. Find a dresser mirror. |
| Triforium | A gallery above the arches of the arcade in the nave of a church. |
| Triglyphs | The three decorative vertical grooves on the frieze of the Doric entablature. |
| Trim | Decorative elements such as fringe on an accent pillow or moldings on a bookcase. |
| Triple Glazing | Three layers of window glass for insulation. |
| Triple Roll | A roil or bolt of wall covering containing approximately 108 square feet, or three times the area of a single roll. |
| Tripod | A small table or stand with a round top supported by a three-legged pillar, originally made for serving tea. Adam and Chippendale favored it. Find an end table. |
| Tripod Pedestal Table | A three-legged table; the legs converge to form a single pedestal. |
| Triptych | A three-paneled artwork. Historically, triptychs were hinged together so that the two side wings closed over the central panel. |
| Trivet | Traditionally a three legged stand or small table that normally flanked a fireplace. Term today often refers to a wall decoration or accessory for placing a hot dish on a table. |
| Trombe Walls | A passive solar system of glass (that collects and amplifies heat) placed in front of a dark masonry wall (that absorbs and slowly releases the heat into the interior). |
| Trompe L’Oeil | Literally, 'fool the eye'. (French). An object or scene rendered so realistically that the viewer believes he or she is seeing the real thing. |
| Trompe L'oeil | French term meaning 'fool the eye'. Trompe l'oeil is usually a two-dimensional painting designed to look like a three-dimensional object or scenery. |
| Trompe L'oeil | Fool the eye. Using paint techniques to imply a realistic, 3-dimensional scene on a flat surface. |
| Trompe Neil | French for "fool the eye"; a painted mural in which realistic images and the illusion of three-dimensional space are created. |
| Trophies | Mounted fish, animals, animal heads, and skins. |
| True Divider | Windows glazed with individual panes, rather than snap-in grids. |
| Trumeau | The stone mullion supporting the middle of a tympanum of a doorway. |
| Trumpet Leg | A leg that's shaped like a trumpet and having its characteristic flared profile. |
| Trundle Bed | A low bed that can be rolled under another bed for storage when not in use. Find bedroom furniture. |
| Trunk | Commonly a rectangular container like open chest with a hinged top for holding clothes or other personal belongings. Trunks are commonly used for extended periods away from home such as a long trip abroad. However, they can also be used for home decorating in entryways, as coffee tables, etc. |
| Trunk Sewer | It is a main sewer which receives discharges from all the smaller sewers and conveys it to a sewage treatment plant or to the point of final disposal. |
| Truss | An assembly of members combined to form a rigid framework, interconnected to form triangles. |
| Trussed Partitions | In places where the provision of solid support below the sill is not possible, the wooden trussed partitions have to be employed. The weight from the trussed partition walls is borne by the side walls and thus it may be constructed quite independent of the floor. |
| Trusses | Triangular reinforcing in wood or metal that distributes the load effectively. A framework for supporting a roof. |
| Tuck Pointing | In this , the mortar is first pressed in the raked joints and there after it is finished flush with the face of the wall. |
| Tuckaway Table | A hinged leaf gate-leg table with cross legs which fold into each other as compactly as if tucked away. |
| Tudor Rose | A decorative motif compounded of the white rose and red rose. |
| Tudor-Elizabethan | This phase of the English renaissance covered the 1500's on up to about 1603. Furniture shapes are straight and stiff (like Gothic), and feature elaborate carving and decoration. All pieces of this style are massive and normally constructed of oak. All chairs, tables, and cabinets of this style feature sturdy underbracing. |
| Tuft Bind | A measurement indicating the strength of the latex layer that holds tufts of carpet yarns in place. |
| Tufted Carpets | The method by which most carpeting is produced for both residential and nonresidential interiors. Multiple needles threaded with yarn are simultaneously punched into a loosely woven primary backing. The tufts are held in place with a layer of latex, then adhered to Secondary backing of jute or polypropylene. |
| Tufting | A process in which the pile yarn is punched through the backing with rows of needles, much like the method employed by a sewing machine. |
| Tufting & Buttoning | A method of securing the filling of an upholstered piece of furniture by pulling stitches through the material and securing them to the frame. The evenly spaced tufting is then finished with buttons, which are usually upholstered. |
| Tufts Or Stitches Per Square Inch | A measurement indicating the density of the tufts or woven stitches in carpeting. |
| Tulip | A decorative design in the shape of a tulip that's carved or painted on American furniture, especially Shaker. |
| Tungsten Filament | Another name for incandescent lighting. |
| Tungsten Halogen Lamp | Lamp in which the filament is surrounded with. halogen gas that reacts with the tungsten, producing a bright light. |
| Turned | Wood or other materials shaped by tools while revolving around a fixed axis, usually a lathe. Cylindrical forms (dowels, rungs) and circular designs (bowls) are made in this way. |
| Turning | The lathing to shape table and chair legs, etc. |
| Turnings | Decorative spindles formed by turning a piece of wood on a lathe and cutting designs into the wood with a sharp knife or chisel as the piece spins. |
| Turpentine | It is the most common thinner used in the preparation of an oil paint. It is a spirit obtained by distilling balsam , which is the resin or gum obtained from pine tree. |
| Tuscan | A plain and unfluted column, the Tuscan is the simplest of the architectural orders. |
| Tusk Tennon Joint | This type is commonly adopted in the construction of timber floors. In order to obtain maximum rigidity and strength , the tennon must be mortised in the center of the members to be tenoned. |
| Tuxedo | A sofa or chair design with a square frame created by the arm and back rests being equal in height. |
| Tuxedo Arms | Arms found on upholstered pieces that are slightly flared and are the same height as the back. |
| Tv Armoire | An entertainment center made to hold a TV in the style of an armoire. Find a TV armoire. |
| Tv Stand | A small, low cabinet used to set a TV on. TV stands often have shelves or doors for additional storage. Find a TV stand. |
| Twill | A fabric that is diagonally ribbed, therefore a strong weave. |
| Twill Weave | The interlacing of yarns in a sequence such as three over, one under, which creates a distinct diagonal rib or wale. A novelty twill may reverse, creating fabrics such as herringbone or houndstooth. |
| Twin Bed | A bed made for one person, sometimes called a single. Twin mattresses measure 38"x75". Find a twin mattress. |
| Twin Extra Long | A twin mattress that measures 38"x80". Find a mattress. |
| Twin Glazing | See double glazing. |
| Twin Home | A dwelling that may adjoin only one other dwelling. A semi-detached house. |
| Twistloc | A registered trademark of Monsanto for polyester. |
| Two Pipe System | This is the traditional system of removing the discharge from sanitary fitting wherein the foul matter from W.C and urinals is discharged into one pipe (known as soil pipe) and the waste water from kitchen , bath , floor traps etc. (other than W.C and urinals) is discharged into another pipe(known as waste pipe). |
| Ultron | A registered trademark of Monsanto for nylon. |
| Under-Coat | After the primary coat is dry , second coat or under-coatings are applied on the primed surface. The color of the under-coat should approximately be of the same shade as that of the desired finish. It should be a thin opaque film , free from brush marks. |
| Under-Drapery | A lightweight, usually a sheer drapery that hangs behind the heavier over-drapery. Find draperies and curtains. |
| Under-Pinning | This term is applied to the building of new work underneath an existing structure without disturbing its stability. It may be necessary when defective foundation of a wall is to be replaced with new foundation or when the existing foundation of a wall is required to be strengthened to enable it to carry more loads. |
| Undertones | The addition of a small amount of one hue to another, rendering the latter slightly warm or cool. |
| Unfinished Furniture | Furniture made from wood that hasn't been treated with any type of finish, which allows the buyer to stain or finish the furniture to their particular taste. Find unfinished furniture. |
| Unity | A component of harmony (an element of design) that provides a change or relief from sameness in an interior through differences in the design and furnishing elements. |
| Universal Design | Design that meets the needs of all users, without drawing attention to those with disabilities. |
| Upholstered Cornice | A wooden top treatment that is padded, then covered with a decorative top treatment. |
| Upholstered Walls | Padded, then fabric-covered walls. |
| Upholstery | The process of fitting furniture, usually seating, with padding, springs, and webbing, with a fabric or leather cover. |
| Uplight | Also used to describe the lights themselves, this is actually the term for light that is directed upward toward the ceiling. |
| Uplighters Or Uplighting | Canisters, spotlights, or floodlights that cast light upward to the wall or ceiling. |
| Uprights | The outer vertical posts of a chair. |
| Urethane Foam | Synthetic foam used for carpet and upholstery padding. |
| Urethane Foam (Polyurethane) | Flexible polyurethane foam is used as a cushioning material in upholstered furniture seats, backs and arms. For seat cushioning, foams that have a density of 1.8 pounds per cubic foot or higher offer the best support and durability. |
| Urinals | They fall under the category of soil appliance and as such the discharge from urinals is connected to soil pipe either directly or through a trap provided with gun-metal or bass domed shaped removable grating. |
| Urn | Term refers to a vase shaped decorative ornament, commonly found as the finial of a broken pediment. |
| User | Anyone who will use a completed design. |
| User Friendly | Computer hardware and software that are relatively uncomplicated and easy to operate. |
| U-Stair | A stair that makes a 180-degree turn at a single landing. |
| Vacuforming | A process of forming plastic in a mold in which all the air is drawn out to form a vacuum that forces the plastic around the mold. |
| Valance | A decorative window treatment mounted across the top of a window (outside the casing). Usually combined with blinds, curtain panels,or sheers. |
| Valance Lighting | A light over the top of a window placed behind a hoard that directs light both upward and downward. |
| Value | The lightness or darkness of a color. |
| Value Contrast | Hues or neutrals that differ in value. Iow-value contrast is seen when light and dark values are used together; low-value contrast refers to similar hues or neutral values. |
| Value Distribution | The placement of differing values in an interior to create a balanced and pleasing effect. |
| Vanity | The countertop and cabinet used to support a sink in a bathroom. Find bathroom furniture. |
| Vanity Table | Normally a small table with a drawer and mirror for use in a woman's or girl's bedroom for doing their hair, applying makeup, etc. Find a vanity table. |
| Vapor Barrier | A heavy-gauge plastic applied to walls or insulative window treatments to prevent moisture and air penetration. |
| Vargueno | A fall or drop front desk of Spanish origin. Popular in the 16th and 17 Centuries. |
| Variety | A subelement of harmony made possible through repetition or similarity of objects or elements in an interior. |
| Varnish | A coating that lacks pigment, offering a transparent finish for a wood surface. |
| Vase | A decorative container or urn, often used to display floral arrangements. |
| Vasselier | A traditional French style china cupboard/hutch and buffet. Find a china cabinet. |
| Vault | A ceiling constructed on the principle of an arch. An arched roof. |
| Vaulted System Construction | A tunnel-like arch system of building. |
| Vectra | A registered trademark of Veara for olefin. |
| Vegetable Dye | Dye colors that are derived from the natural pigments of plants and botanical products. |
| Vehicle | In painting, the binding agent that holds the particles of pigment together and creates the film that adheres to the surface being painted. |
| Veiling Glare | The reflecting of a light source from a shiny surface into the line of vision. |
| Velocity | The medium in which the sound is traveling and the temperature of the medium. |
| Velvet | A plush fabric with a short dense pile. |
| Velvet Weave Carpet | A cut-pile woven carpet with no design. Colors are solid or utilize variegated yarns. |
| Veneer | Decorative or prized wood cut very thin and applied to an inferior wood. |
| Venetian Blind | A window treatment consisting of a series of horizontal slats that can be turned or raised to control light or privacy. Find window blinds. |
| Venetian Glass | Delicate and fine glassware made at or near Venice, Italy. A term used to describe glass mirrors with an antique or veined appearance. |
| Ventilation | Natural fresh air through windows or through a central HVAC unit that circulates clean air through a building. |
| Venting | A natural hairline crack in the stone. |
| Veranda | A long covered porch along the front and/or side of a building. |
| Verdigris | The greenish-blue patina that forms on oxidized copper, brass,or bronze surfaces. |
| Verel | A registered trademark of Eastman Kodak for modacrylic. |
| Vernacular | A type of building method common to a specific region, often build with wood indigenous to the area. |
| Vertical Lines | Up-and-down lines that lift the eye, and give dignity and formality to interiors. |
| Vertical Louvers | Movable louvered blinds with vertical, rather than horizontal, slats. |
| Vertically Run | A fabric that's been applied with the warp threads (bolt length) running top to bottom over the furniture's back, front and arms. |
| Vestibule | An air-lock entry consisting of two doors and a compartment-like room that prevents excessive heat or cold from entering the building. |
| Victorian | A furniture style named after England's Queen Victoria, which was very popular through the latter half of the 1800's. Victorian furniture was usually constructed of mahogany, walnut and rosewood in dark finishes, which were often highlighted with elaborate carved floral designs. Common elements of this style include oval chair backs and marble tops on tables and dressers. |
| Victorian Era (1837-1901) | The English and American era that coincided with the reign of Queen Victoria. It paralleled the Industrial Revolution, during which time many styles were seen. Victorian design is characterized by revivals of nearly every previous historical style, together with rapid technological development. |
| Vienna Secession | A group of young Viennese artists and craftsmen including Otto Wagner, Josef Hoffmann, and joseph Maria Olbrich who broke away from the mainstream of traditional art and design around 1897. The group eventually evolved into a more formal workshop?the Wiener Werkstate headed by Josef Hoffmann. |
| Viga | A heavy rafter, most commonly a log, used for roof support in southwestern architecture. |
| Vignette | A display of furniture and furnishings in a store or showroom that is done to simulate an actual room. |
| Vintage | Furniture and decorative elements that are between 10 and 100 years old. Often found at flea markets, garage sales,and specialty vintage retailers. |
| Vinyl | Polymerized vinyl (ethylene), essentially a plastic compound, extruded into sheets for floor and as wall coverings; also a coating for wall coverings and fabrics. |
| Vinyl Composition | A resilient hard flooring of vinyl and other compounds. |
| Vinyl Latex Wall Coverings | Wall coverings that are vinyl through to the backing, which is usually a fabric. They are usually very durable, heavy, and scrubbable. |
| Vinyl Tile | Extruded vinyl sheets cut into square tiles. |
| Vinyl Wall Coverings | Any wall covering with a vinyl surface, including vinyl-protected, vinyl latex, and coated fabric wall coverings. |
| Vinyl Wrap | Flexible vinyl wrapping applied to underlying wood solids or particleboard to produce a surface that most often resembles wood. |
| Vinyl-Protected Wall Coverings | Wall coverings, usually paper, with a coating of vinyl, which makes the covering washable. |
| Vinyon | A synthetic vinyl chloride long-chain polymer generally extruded in sheet form, and often imitating leather, suede, or nearly any surface texture. Often called vinyl or PVC (polyvinyl chloride). |
| Vis-A-Vis | A tete-a-tete chair in which two sitters face oppositely. |
| Viscoelastic | Heat sensitive, polyurethane foam. Often referred to as visco or memory foam. Find a viscoelastic mattress. |
| Visual Proportion | The way a proportion might appear regardless of actual dimensions or proportions. |
| Visual Weight | The weight or scale an object appears to have, regardless of actual weight. |
| Vitreograph | A print made from a glass plate that has been prepared by sandblasting or etching. |
| Vitreous | Clay fired to maturity, so that it is hard, dense, and nonabsorbent. |
| Vitrify | To change into a glasslike ceramic by high heat. |
| Vitrine | A glass-doored cabinet for display. |
| Vitruvian Proportions | Correct classical proportions as recorded by Vitruvius. |
| Vitruvius | A first-century Roman architect and writer responsible for standardizing classical architectural forms. |
| Voile | A sheer lightweight fabric used to make sheets, pillows, shams, duvet covers, and draperies for canopy beds. |
| Volts Or Voltage | The measurement of power that comes through the power line. |
| Volume | Is the true three-dimensional aspect of interior design because an object with volume is clearly perceived as a spatial form having length, width, and depth. |
| Volute | A spiral, scroll-like ornament on Iconic and Corinthian capitals. |
| Volutes | The scroll-like details on the capital of a Ionic column. |
| Vycron | A registered trademark of Beatinit for polyester. |
| Wabi-Sabi | Representing a Japanese worldview, it's a style of perceiving art and beauty that pervades all things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. |
| Wainscot | A wainscot, usually wood panels, are applied on the lower portion of a wall below the chair rail, and above the base molding. It is a different material then the rest of the wall. |
| Wainscot Chair | An Elizabethan oak chair with a back that's paneled like wainscoting on a wall. These chairs are quite massive and ornately carved with strap work. |
| Wainscoting | Wood panels or boards that cover the lower portion of a wall, often capped with molding. |
| Wainscotting | Panelling on the lower half of a wall that differs from the upper half. Usually separated by a chair rail. |
| Wale | A pronounced rib or raised cord that may run vertically with the warp, horizontally with the filling threads or weft, or diagonally as in a twill weave. |
| Walk-Through | A final inspection of the job to be sure that everything ordered is present, and that any omissions or damaged goods are noted. |
| Wall Clock | Any type of clock that's made specifically for hanging on a wall. Find a wall clock. |
| Wall Composition | The arrangement of furniture, architectural openings, and accessories against a wall. |
| Wall Coverings | Paper, fabric, or vinyl rolls or bolts prepared for gluing onto the wall |
| Wall Mirror | Any type of mirror that's designed to be hung on a wall. Find a wall mirror. |
| Wall Sculpture | A decorative wall hanging made from any material including wood, metal and synthetic materials. Find a wall sculpture. |
| Wall Units | Large free-standing or wall hung units which can have drawers, shelves, cabinets, desks, entertainment centers or other features. |
| Wall Washer | A general term for a series of Lights that wash a wall. These may be recessed adjustable lights or eyeball spotlights, for example. |
| Wallboard | A term for rigid wall materials installed in sheets or boards: sheetrock (gypsum board), masonite, paneling. Also called drywall. |
| Wallpaper | Is available in a range of colors, patterns, textures, and materials for direct application to plaster or gypsum wallboard partitions. |
| Wardrobe | A tall enclosed cabinet with doors, used for storing clothing and linens. Also see Armoire. |
| Warm Colors | The hues on the color wheel generally considered to produce feelings of warmth. They are red-violet, red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, and yellow-green. |
| Warm White Deluxe Fluorescent Lamp | Contains a warm light spectrum similar to incandescent lighting. |
| Warp (Or Weft) | The yarns running lengthwise in a piece of fabric, i.e., perpendicular to the woof (or welt). |
| Warp Threads Or Yarns | The lengthwise or vertical fabric yarns that are threaded onto the loom and form the basis for woven cloth. |
| Wash | A soft plane of light from spotlights or track lighting. |
| Wash Stand | A cupboard or chest of drawers on four legs with a basin sunk into the top. These were specially adapted for bedroom use after 1750. |
| Washable | A wallpaper term meaning that the paper can be gently cleaned with a little soap and water. |
| Water Closet | A toilet. |
| Watercolor | Watercolor paints are made with pigments dispersed in gum arabic and are characterized by luminous transparency. |
| Waterfall Skirt | A skirt on an upholstered piece of furniture that falls from the top of the base below the cushion line to the floor without interruption. |
| Waterproofing | Coating the building's foundation with a tar mixture or with tar paper. |
| Water-Repellent Finish | A functional, wet, or standard finish that allows the fabric to shed or repel moisture and stain due to condensation or excessive humidity. |
| Watt Or Wattage | A unit of electric power equal to the power of one ampere (amp) as compared to one volt. |
| Wattle | A panel of woven sticks used as infill for timber framing or as fencing material. |
| Wattle And Daub | Woven sticks smeared with clay to fill the spaces between the posts and beams of half-timbered homes. |
| Weatherstripping | Thin strips of insulation, usually with a sticky side, that insulate around windows and doors to prevent cold air infiltration. |
| Weaving | Is the traditional method of making carpet by interlacing warp and weft yarns. |
| Webbing | Interwoven strips of material attached to a frame; used for support in upholstery pieces in place of traditional spring systems. |
| Weft Threads Or Yarns | Inserted into the opened shed of warp threads to create a woven fabric. Also called filling yarns. |
| Wegner, Hans (B. 1914) | Important Danish furniture craftsman, designer of several modern classic pieces. |
| Wellington Chest | A tall, narrow, relatively plain type of chest named after the Duke of Wellington. Find a chest of drawers. |
| Welsh Cupboard | A cabinet with a large enclosed storage base and upper area with open shelves. |
| Welt | A fabric-covered piping cord sewn between two pieces of the covering in upholstery. |
| Welting (Or Piping) | A cord wrapped in fabric, which is used to trim upholstery seams and places where the fabric meets with exposed wood. |
| Wet | finishes See standard finishes. |
| What-Not | A mobile stand/cart with open shelves. In use after 1800 for books, decorative accents, etc. |
| Wheat | Term refers to carved ornamentations representing three ears of wheat. This motif was extensively used by Hepplewhite. |
| Whiteware | A generic term for white clay bodies. |
| Whitewash | White wash is a mixture with lime that is used to lighten or whiten walls |
| Wicker | Furniture, baskets, or other objects woven from twigs. |
| Wicker Furniture | Furniture woven from materials such as willow, reed, and rattan. Find wicker and rattan furniture. |
| Wiener Werkstate | See Vienna Secession. |
| William & Mary | This style is named after the 17th Century English King and Queen. This style came to America in the early 1700's. Common pieces of this style included high-backed upholstered armchairs, highboys, lowboys, etc. The elements of this design include features such as curved lines, marquetry, bun or ball feet, inlay and oriental lacquer-work. |
| Williamsburg Style | A style of decor inspired by the early colonial settlement of Williamsburg, Virginia. |
| Wilton | Broadloom loop-pile carpeting woven on a Jacquard loom. All colors used in the carpeting are carried beneath the carpet face, creating a thick, heavy carpet. |
| Windbreak | Trees, hedges, or fences that provide protection from wind. |
| Window Sill | The horizontal ridge or shelf beneath the glass, usually within the frame. |
| Window Treatment | A window treatment is a covering or decorative accessory for your windows. They are usually blinds, fabric or shades. |
| Window Wells | The corrugated metal or concrete form that keeps dirt away from basement windows. |
| Windsor Chair | A style of wooden chair originating in the early 1700's, which is still very popular today that features a spindle back shaped in fans, hoops or combs. This style was named for Windsor Castle but gained true popularity in America. Woods used included birch, pine, hickory, ash, maple and oak. Find dining room chairs. |
| Wine Rack | A rack for storing bottles of wine. Wine racks can vary in size from a small rack used on a kitchen counter to something as large as a big bookcase. Find a wine rack. |
| Wine Table | Traditionally a horseshoe shaped serving table for serving wine and hor d'oeuvres. |
| Wing Chair | An upholstered easy chair with a high back and wings on each side for resting the head. |
| Wing Chair (Wing-Back Chair) | A high backed upholstered chair featuring rolled arms and wing shaped protrusions that extend over the arms at the head level. Introduced in America around the early 1700's. Find a wing back chair. |
| Wing-Back Chair | A high, traditional chair that features projections on either side at head level. |
| Wire Construction | See round wire tufting weaving. |
| Wiring Plan | The portion of the blueprints or working drawings that indicate placement of all electric wiring, fixtures, switched outlets, and connections. Also called the lighting plan. |
| Wood Blinds | Thin flat slats of wood made into miniblinds. They take more stacking space and are more costly than metal miniblinds. |
| Wood Filler | A paste or liquid used in the wood-finishing process to fill the natural pores of the wood and create a smooth surface. |
| Wood Frame Or Wood Truss System | The conventional system of framing a building with wood studs, joists, rafters, and beams, reinforced with the herringbone (zigzag) truss system between joists. |
| Wood Graining | Brushing on a glaze and drawing wood grains and lines with an artist's brush. |
| Wood Molding | Narrow strips of concave and/or convex wood molding. May also be plastic. |
| Wood- Or Coal-Burning Stove | A self-contained so we, usually of cast-iron, that burns wood or coal for space heating. |
| Wood Plank | Flooring of strips of wood. Planks may be laid in even width strips or random plank (three different widths). |
| Wood Rods | Curtain and drapery rods of solid wood, often fluted. |
| Woodcut | A relief printing process in which a picture or design is cut in relief along the grain of a wood block. |
| Woof | The yarns running crosswise on a piece of woven fabric that interlace with the warp (or weft). |
| Wool | Natural protein staple fibers taken from the fleece of sheep and the hairs of goats. Wool?absorbent, resilient, and flame resistant?is woven and knitted into high-quality textiles for both residential and nonresidential use. Used for carpeting, Oriental and folk rugs, wall coverings, and some window covering fabrics. |
| Wool Rugs | A term for natural fiber rugs or carpeting left in its undyed state. The most common is the berber rug. |
| Word-Processing Programs | Software programs that offer options in text writing. |
| Work Zones | Areas for tasks such as food preparation, office work. |
| Working Drawings | The final mechanical drawings that are used to obtain bids and construct a design. |
| Worm Holes | Small holes found in wood, considered a defect in many instances and a character-providing element in others such as rustic furniture pieces. |
| Wrap Group | Bedroom furniture that's usually designed for children's bedrooms to go against the walls so it can wrap around a room. Wrap groups often include small chests, dressers, student desks and hutches. They make a great use of limited space and provide a lot of storage. |
| Wren, Sir Christopher (1632-1723) | One of England's most important and influential architects, responsible for building London's City churches after the great fire of 1666. |
| Wright, Frank Lloyd (1869-1959) | A great American architect who believed that a building should relate to its setting. Fie designed the complete building, including interiors and furniture. |
| Wrinkle-Resistant Finish | Treating a fabric with a functional finish process so it does not easily wrinkle. |
| Writing Desk | A smaller sized desk or table commonly used for personal use such as writing letters or paying bills. Find a writing desk. |
| Wrought Iron | Iron that is welded and forged into different shapes. |
| X-Base | A crossed frame supporting a table, chair, or bench that spans diagonally from both sides. |
| X-Chair | An 'X' shaped folding chair. X-chairs date back to ancient Egypt, Rome and the Middle Ages. |
| Xenon | An elemental gas used in flash lamps and arc lamps. |
| X-Stretcher | A crossed stretcher at the bottom of a chair or table. |
| Yarn Dyeing | Coloring yarn before it is woven or knitted into a fabric. |
| Yin And Yang | Chinese philosophy terms used to describe how polar or contrary forces are interconnected in the natural world. In the design world yin and yang are often used to explain the motivation behind Feng Shui principles. |
| Yorkshire Chair | An oak chair featuring turned front legs and stretchers. Native of Yorkshire, England during the 17th Century. |
| Yorkshire Dresser | A dresser or cupboard, of oak or deal with a low back. |
| Yo-Yo Effect | Uneven high and low areas along the bottom hemline of a draped fabric due to alternating humidity absorption and drying. |
| Yucca Plant | A genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the agave family. Found in hot, dry climates, and notable for long,spiky leaves. The yucca flower is the state flower of New Mexico. |
| Zapata | Carved decorative corbel on the porch of the Southwest Adobe house. |
| Zebrawood | Wood that resembles the striping of a zebra, with dark stripes on a light background. Found on contemporary furniture pieces and decorative wall panelling. |
| Zeflon | A registered trademark of Dow Badische for nylon. |
| Zefran | A registered trademark of Dow Badische for nylon, acrylic, and polyester. |
| Zen | Meditation school of East Asian Buddhism. |
| Zenana | Furniture that was reserved for the part of a home in which women and girls were secluded in ancient Persia. |
| Zero-Clearance Fireplace Unit | A fireplace unit that can be set into combustible walls with no clearance. |
| Zigzag | A molding or stitching with a series of frequent sharp turns from side to side. |
| Zigzag Lines | Lines that reverse upon themselves in a regular order, such as a herringbone pattern, or in an irregular order, such as a flame pattern. |
| Zones | Areas that have similar functions or purposes, such as work zones, social zones, private zones, and storage zones. |