INTERIOR DESIGN GLOSSARY Flashcards
Accessories
Decorative objects such as books, plants, vases, lamps
Alcove
A recess part of the room used for bookcases, sideboards, cabinets, desk.
Antique
Anything from a piece of furniture to a piece of Art that is over 100 years old.
Apron
The wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of the chair.
Arabesque
Decorative scroll work or other intricate ornaments consisting of foliage, vases, leaves, fruits, fantastic humans, animals figures.
Area Rug
A small carpet which only covers a part of the floor.
Architrave
Decorative molding that goes around windows and doors.
Armoire
A tall antique two door wardrobe with shelves for storing clothing.
Back Splat
A solid wooden slat in the middle of a chair back.
Banquette
A long, upholstered built-in bench seat.
Bead
A small, convex molding of a semi-circular section.
Beni Ourain
Moroccan area rug made from 100% sheep wool and 100% undyed.
Bevel
A slanted and polished edge that is not perpendicular to the face creating a mitred effect. Often seen on mirror edges.
Bespoke
Made specifically for you to your design requirements.
Bolster
A long and usually cylindrical stuffed pillow or cushion.
Bullnose
A rounded edge on tile or benchtops.
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.
Canopy
A fabric covering attached to a frame over a bed
Carver
Dining chairs with arms used at the end of a dining table.
Chair Rail
A moulding placed on a wall at chair height from the floor to protect the wall from being scratched by chair backs. Also known as Dado Rail.
Chaise Lounge
An upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining.
Chevron
A V-shaped ornamentation inspired by military insignia.
Chinoiserie
Derived from Chinese art and painted or lacquered on furniture or used as themes on wallpaper, fabric, etc.
Coffered Ceiling
Rectangle, square or octagon shaped sunken panels on a ceiling.
Cornice
Decorative plaster moulding around a ceiling.
Dentil Molding
Rectangular tooth-like blocks spaced at equal intervals along a cornice moulding.
Dormer
A window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof.
Drop Leaf
A dining or occasional table with hinged leaves that can be lowered.
Elevation
An elevation is a side view as viewed from the front, back, left or right.
Eyelet
A small hole in a piece of fabric designed for a cord to be threaded through.
Fanlight
Usually found above a door. A semi-circle with radiating glass sections that make it look like an open fan.
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.
Feng Shui
An ancient Chinese scientific practice based on selecting or configuring a site, structure or interior so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it.
Knocked Down
Furniture that is sold in pieced unassembled. Also known as flat-pack.
Lacquer
A hard, protective varnish that is applied as a topcoat to furniture.
Laminate
Any thin material such as wood or plastic that is glued to the exterior of a cabinet or other surface. Often laminates will mimic the visual look and sometimes physical texture of authentic materials such as timber, metal or stone.
Lattice
An openwork decoration of crisscrossed wood, iron plate bars, etc. in a diagonal or square pattern.
Lime wash
A mixture of lime and water used for coating walls.
Loose Cover
A throw or fitted cover that goes over a sofa, chair, etc.
FF&E
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment describing movable furniture, fixtures and other equipment that have no permanent connection to the structure or its utilities.
Filigree
A decorative ornamentation that’s often produced with fine wires of gold or silver in the form of scrolls and arabesques.
Finish
The surface coating of an item, which can include paints, stains, varnishes and metal finishes.
Flat-pack
Ready-to-assemble furniture, which is also known as knock-down furniture. It is a form of furniture that requires customer assembly. Think IKEA.
Fleur-del-lis
A stylized lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. It is especially known from the former royal arms of France.
Flock
Raised effect applied to wallcoverings and other objects.
Footboard
The piece at the foot of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
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.
Grasscloth
A natural fiber wallpaper.
Grout
Thin mortar used for filling spaces such as tiles, bricks, etc.
Hardwood
Wood derived from trees such as oak, beech, maple, mahogany and walnut.
Headboard
he piece at the head of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
Jabot
The cascading fabric at each side of a swaged valance.
Japanning
A European and American technique of painting that requires several coats of
heat hardened lacquer, commonly used in creating chinoiserie designs.
Jute
A plant fiber that can be spun into course thread used in natural fiber flooring.
Kilim
A flat-woven carpet or rug made in Turkey, Kurdistan and neighboring areas.
Plantation Shutters
A window shutter consisting of vertical stiles and horizontal rails. Louvered and set within a frame. They control both the light and privacy and enhance the aesthetics of a building.
Plaque
Term refers to a flat, thin ornament, usually made of metal or porcelain and inserted into wood.
Plinth
A pedestal base to display sculptures.
Plywood
Layers of wood attached in a cross grain method to assist in preventing the
contraction and swelling of wood surfaces from humidity changes in the air.
Reproduction
New furniture that’s a copy of an antique style or period.
Return
The piece of an L-shaped desk that is perpendicular to the main desk unit, which provides extra working or computer space.
Sconce
A light fixture fixed on a wall.
Scotchgard
Registered Trademark of the 3M Company for fabric protector that repels against staining from water and spills.
Shellac
A resinous varnish obtained from the lac insect and used in japanning.
Skirt
A piece of fabric at the bottom of a sofa or chair that hangs in a way resembling a woman’s skirt.
Tongue and Groove
Wooden planks that join on edge with a groove in one piece and a corresponding tongue on the other to interlock.
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.
Upholstery
Furniture such as sofas and chairs covered in fabric, vinyl, leather or other materials.
Valance
A horizontal feature used as a header for draperies, which can be made of fabric, wood, metal or other materials.
Veneer
A thin skin of real timber usually applied to MDF board (medium-density fiberboard) for application in kitchen cabinets and other joinery.
Manchette
A small, upholstered patch or cushion used on an armrest.
Marquetry
Decorative patterns made of inlays, usually applied to veneered surfaces.
Niche
A shallow recess in a wall for displaying a sculpture, accessories and ornaments.
Night Stand
A small, low table or cabinet with drawers that sits by a bed.
Occasional Furniture
General term for small furniture pieces like side tables, consoles and decorative chair.
Opaque
Applies to any material that does not allow light to pass through; something you can’t see through.
Parquet
Wood flooring that’s usually laid in blocks with boards at angles to each other to form decorative patterns.
Parquetry
Furniture that’s inlaid with geometrical designs similar to parquet floors.
Patina
An aged finish acquired through the oxidisation or exposure to elements of finishes
such as copper, bronze or metals, leather, timber and some stones.
Pelmet
Framework that is designed to conceal the tracks and headers of curtains to provide a cleaner look to the tops of drapery or to conceal blinds. They also serve as a physical barrier above curtains to prevent cold or hot air permeating a room from the windows behind window coverings.
Venetian Blinds
A window treatment consisting of a series of horizontal slats that can be turned or raised to control light or privacy.
Wainscoting
Wood molding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.
White Price
The price of an upholstered piece of furniture without the fabric included.
