Interior Design Glossary of Terms Flashcards
Decorative objects of art, lighting, plants, area rugs, wall decorations added to the interior to enhance and reinforce the design style.
Accessory
Tailored, pleated fabric with uniform exterior & interior appearance. (zigzag configuration)
Accordion fold
Manufactured cellulose acetate textile fiber with fast drying, wrinkle & shrink resistance
Acetate
Plastic resins to make synthetic fibers as coating or to bind pigment
Acrylic
fabric coated with resin for waterproofing
Acrylic Coated
Architecture and Design
A&D
warm or dark colors that make surfaces appear closer or larger
Advancing Colors
tacky material, glue like, mastic, paste, cement to secure one object to another.
Adhesive
printed or embossed fabric simulating the alligator skin
Alligator Skin
a chemical process where a coating is etched onto metal
Anodize
The study of human measurements
Anthropometric
All items that exists within or over 100 years (items, buildings, furniture)
Antique
decorations sewn onto or added on an existing surface; section of a wood that has been pre-cut, then glued and tacked to the main body parts of the furniture
Applique
Horizontal member or decorative band mounted below a work surface, attached to side vertical elements for stability and support; raised panel below a window seal
Apron
a pattern with multiple interlaced flowers, foliage, fruits, urns, and scrolls, often symmetric plaster castings adhered to wood doors and framed wall panels
Arabesque
a large cabinet or wardrobe; can be converted to entertainment or computer center
Armoire
small convex molding, like a repetitive beaded details
Astragal
named after a French village, these are handmade area rugs & tapestries for walls, featuring figures & scenic landscapes
Aubusson
small, low, wooden cabinet w/ drawers & a top surface for writing
Bachelor’s Chest
a vertical area behind a counter w/ or w/o sink, 4”(partial splash) -18” (full backsplash)
Backsplash
English marble-topped table, w/ decorative open iron base use for cooking pastry, 32-33” high
Baker’s table
Small, heavily proportioned pillar used for vertical support of a railing. (vern: balustre, barandilla)
Baluster
a column form of turned wood, twisted or tapered form or vase-shaped column
Venetian balcony
a railing composed of a series of balusters, bottom rail or top handrail; also used in smaller scale for furniture embellishments
Balustrade
fabric shade when raised, has a gathered bottom edge; it forms like a balloon
Balloon Shade
inlay or marquetry technique producing a contrast on the surface of the wood furniture
Banding
a built-in or free-standing upholstered bench
Banquette
thin layers of natural or synthetic cloth used to line cushions, pillows, quilts, & crafts
Batting
a 20th century design school; promotes practical, theoretical, and influential art, craft, and architecture
Bauhaus
small round ball made of a variety of materials with a center hole; that can be sewn or strung onto a cord
Bead
a custom handmade or manufactured materials used on a bed for utilitarian purposes
Bedding
square panel of fabric w/ or w/o elastic edge used to encase the top mattress on a bed
Bed sheet
fabric bedding treatment, which spans bet. the upper & lower mattress beginning beneath a comforter to touch the floor. (to cover the bottom part of a bed with sewn fabrics)
Bed skirt
fabric bedding treatment that covers a top mattress
Bedspread
long seat for several individuals, w/ or w/o a back support; workable for machinery
Bench
one artisan creates a piece of furniture from start to finish
Bench-made
built-in bench
Bench seat
wood steamed and bent to form a structural member of a furniture
Bentwood
overstuffed French upholstery chair with exposed wood frame; an armchair with closed arms; a chair with curvy wood frame or “bones”, & with soft padded cushions
Bergeré chair
the slopping on the edge of a material (mirror) that diminishes the apparent size of the surface; it provides play of light and shade on the material
Bevel
slanted and polished edge detail used on wood, stone, glass, etc.
Beveled edge
a cabinet that stores literary and artistic materials
Bibliotheque
barn like exterior siding constructed of 12” wide vertical boards joined side-to-side with smaller 1/2” - 1” boards covering the joints
Board and Batten
glass ring added at the base of a candle to gather was or on the base of an electrified chandelier candle-cover to dangle prisms
Bobeche
a cylindrical shaped pillow (w/ or w/o tassels, & trims)
Bolster
outward swelling of a commodes, bureaus, and armoires
Bombé
a chest constructed with several open shelves to hold books and accessories
Bookcase
a method for a veneer, glued together to create a mirror image pattern
Book match
convex cabinet front
Bow front
a board that does not sit flat, warped
Bowed
fabric sleeve constructed to hide box springs, often gathered with elastic on the underneath side
Box spring cover
wire coils connected to one another with an outer metal frame, often padded and encased in quilted fabric
Box springs
applied to form a marquetry, veneer of tortoiseshells and brass, sometimes with other materials
Boulle work
a decorative or structural (upside-down L-shape) projection of wood, iron, marble, polyurethane, or other materials to support overhangs, cantilevered objects; corbel
Bracket
a large cabinet where the center section projects beyond the two side sections
Breakfront
fabric finishing process using an abrasive surface creating a raised nap on the surface
Brushed finish
a linear furniture piece with storage for flatware; can also be use as a counter for serving
Buffet
long, twisted, heat-set, multi-ply fringe often used on upholstery
Bullion fringe
thick, round edge detail usually for counter tops or other areas with edges
Bullnose edge
a furniture leg shaped like a bun or series of flatten balls
Bun foot
American dresser or French writing desk
Bureau
a hardwood w/ swirling growth patterns, used as a veneer for inlays
Burled wood
a fabric composed of 2 fibers chemically printed to dissolve one of the fibers, leaving a see-through design or a positive/ negative appearance
Burn out
woodworking joint for decorative purposes; 2 pieces of wood are joined together
Butt joint
a free-standing / built-in furniture w/ shelves & drawers for display and storage
Cabinet
combination of built-in cabinets
Cabinetry
a carved wood furniture leg that resembles an animal’s hip, thigh, & ankle, curving outward at the knee & tapering inward at the ankle (finished w/ foot, claw or a rounded pad)
Cabriole leg
Sofa style with a hump or a large rise that resembles a camel’s back
Camelback Sofa
decorative candle holders, can also be electrified
Candelabra
a projecting structural member supported on a fulcrum, held in a place by a downward force behind the leverage point
Cantilever
a process by w/c woodwork materials are manufactured and produced
Carpentry
adorn objects by cutting wood w/ sharp handheld instruments
Carve
furniture pieces primarily constructed of wood
Case goods
semi-sheer, translucent, or opaque novelty fabric, in neutral color ways
Casement cloth
custom woodwork of all parts that constitutes a finished case (e.g. cabinet)
Casework
molten iron poured into a mold to create multiple castings (vern. pundido)
Cast Iron
an individual seat constructed w/ a backrest, w/ 4 supporting legs or so
Chair
any material in a horizontal trim installed on the wall in a room, usually 30” / 762mm off the floor; used in large walls, further adorned with bead board, trim, wallpaper, or contrasting colors below and above
Chair rail/ Dado
long reclining chair or sofa
Chaise lounge
a large furniture wardrobe with drawers
Chifferobe
a style of art depicting Asian/ Chinese motifs popular in France and England
Chinoiserie
stone shaped by a sharp hand tool
Chiseled
designs having withstood the test of time; classical proportions in architecture; classy or sleek
Classic
carved end of a furniture leg resembling an animal’s claw
Claw foot
a free-standing furniture, sheetrock enclosure or custom made cabinetry implemented to store belongings, fitted with drawers, rods, & racks
Closet
a low table placed in front of a sofa for coffee
Coffee table
patterns, images, and textures joined together in a surface to show another image, decoupage contrasting
Collage
a faux painting technique the teeth of the tool is dragged onto wet paint creating striations
Combing
a bedcover with 2 fabric layer stitched down filled with a down or synthetic fiber fill
Comforter
a cabinet or chest, typically raised off the floor with a legs, w/c can hold a wash basin or chamber pot
Commode
a hinge attached to a frame and door from the inside, making it invisible from the outside
Concealed hinge
a carved decorative bracket; a control panel for monitoring electrical equipment usage
Console
a table supported by ornamental consoles
Console table
Design style with simple lines, curves and geometric patterns
Contemporary
24” European square decorative pillow, often used in sets of 3 on a king bedding as a backrest for a bank of pillows
Continental pillow
machine-made or handmade decorative binding
Cording
built-in or independently crafted cabinet designed to fit tightly into the corner of a room, often symmetrically flaking 2 sides of a room
Corner cabinet
upholstered furniture used for seating or reclining; sofa
Couch
a horizontal work space that can be built-in or free-standing; 29” for seat ht., 36”-39” for standing ht.
Counter
decorative bedspread or bed covering
Coverlet
surface finish creating a glaze of fine cracks; a fake crack texture
Crackle
a handmade object; or hand-fabricated
Craft
a linear wood chest, may have shelves and drawers, usually used in commercial spaces as other work space for computers, or sideboard or buffet in residential spaces
Credenza
French surface mounted finish locking hardware with a sliding knob, operated by the center knob, in which the rod goes opposite directions to lock
Cremone bolt
molding installed between the wall and the ceiling, applied at the top of case goods
Crown molding
a slender display cabinet with glass shelves
Curio cabinet
undulating (wave-like) grain in wood, ribbon spiral
Curly
a smooth continuous line deviating from a straight line (arch, wave, etc.)
Curve
a soft pillow or padding
Cushion
made-to-order
Custom
a clear glass ornamentation cut by a diamond wheel to create decorative pattern on the glass, sometimes combined with etched glass patterns. Note: the art of creating hand-cut glass ornamentation on a curved glass surface has been lost; a method where a large curved glass panel is manipulated, suspended in a sling, over a diamond cutting wheel to create patterns
Cut glass
wrapping foam cushions with synthetic polyester layers for padding
Dacron wrap
a decoration on the lower portion of the wall, between the baseboard and the chair rail; section of a column pedestal above the base
Dado
woodworking joint where a groove is cut across the grain and another board is fitted into the groove
Dado joint
the art of decorating a surface with cut-outs, papers, memorabilia, that are sealed with lacquer or varnish for protection
Decoupage
embellishment, ornamentation
Decoration
a molding pattern that is rectangular/ square blocks that are equally spaced along the surface creating a “teeth” motif
Dentil
the overall measurement of an object from front to back
Depth
executing, creating artistic arrangement skillfully
Design
a horizontal or slanted working surface with storage, most often 29-30” high (736mm)
Desk
a drawing in a larger scale, showing a portion or a part of a drawing, indicating the components all in all; specified markings
Detail
is a corner wall cabinet
Diagonal cabinet
spatial qualities; measurements or height, length, width
Dimension
a finish technique creating an aged patina, uneven or worn appearance
Distressed
a mechanical attachment on a loom to weave geometric patterns
Dobby
a small symmetrical pattern repeats, formed by adjusting the harness attached to on a plain loom
Dobby weave
a furniture joinery technique of interlocking “wedge” shaped finger cut-outs
Dovetail joint
a round wood or metal pin used to reinforce furniture construction
Dowel
a wooden box, upper side open with a handle, function to be pulled out horizontally w/in a cabinetry or furniture
Drawer
a horizontal cabinet with drawers and usually with back paneled mirror, designed to store clothes, & personal items (bureau)
Dresser
patterns where every other repeat (side to side) is dropped down one half of its length
Drop match pattern
a custom fabric bedding treatment applied between upper and lower mattress, touching the floor. (bed skirt)
Dust ruffle