Interior Design Glossary of Terms

Accessory

Decorative objects of art, lighting, plants, area rugs, wall decorations added to the interior to enhance and reinforce the design style.

Accordion fold

Tailored, pleated fabric with uniform exterior & interior appearance. (zigzag configuration)

Acetate

Manufactured cellulose acetate textile fiber with fast drying, wrinkle & shrink resistance

Acrylic

Plastic resins to make synthetic fibers as coating or to bind pigment

Acrylic Coated

fabric coated with resin for waterproofing

A&D

Architecture and Design

Advancing Colors

warm or dark colors that make surfaces appear closer or larger

Adhesive

tacky material, glue like, mastic, paste, cement to secure one object to another.

Alligator Skin

printed or embossed fabric simulating the alligator skin

Anodize

a chemical process where a coating is etched onto metal

Anthropometric

The study of human measurements

Antique

All items that exists within or over 100 years (items, buildings, furniture)

Applique

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

Apron

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

Arabesque

a pattern with multiple interlaced flowers, foliage, fruits, urns, and scrolls, often symmetric plaster castings adhered to wood doors and framed wall panels

Armoire

a large cabinet or wardrobe; can be converted to entertainment or computer center

Astragal

small convex molding, like a repetitive beaded details

Aubusson

named after a French village, these are handmade area rugs & tapestries for walls, featuring figures & scenic landscapes

Bachelor's Chest

small, low, wooden cabinet w/ drawers & a top surface for writing

Backsplash

a vertical area behind a counter w/ or w/o sink, 4"(partial splash) -18" (full backsplash)

Baker's table

English marble-topped table, w/ decorative open iron base use for cooking pastry, 32-33" high

Baluster

Small, heavily proportioned pillar used for vertical support of a railing. (vern: balustre, barandilla)

Venetian balcony

a column form of turned wood, twisted or tapered form or vase-shaped column

Balustrade

a railing composed of a series of balusters, bottom rail or top handrail; also used in smaller scale for furniture embellishments

Balloon Shade

fabric shade when raised, has a gathered bottom edge; it forms like a balloon

Banding

inlay or marquetry technique producing a contrast on the surface of the wood furniture

Banquette

a built-in or free-standing upholstered bench

Batting

thin layers of natural or synthetic cloth used to line cushions, pillows, quilts, & crafts

Bauhaus

a 20th century design school; promotes practical, theoretical, and influential art, craft, and architecture

Bead

small round ball made of a variety of materials with a center hole; that can be sewn or strung onto a cord

Bedding

a custom handmade or manufactured materials used on a bed for utilitarian purposes

Bed sheet

square panel of fabric w/ or w/o elastic edge used to encase the top mattress on a bed

Bed skirt

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)

Bedspread

fabric bedding treatment that covers a top mattress

Bench

long seat for several individuals, w/ or w/o a back support; workable for machinery

Bench-made

one artisan creates a piece of furniture from start to finish

Bench seat

built-in bench

Bentwood

wood steamed and bent to form a structural member of a furniture

Bergeré chair

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

Bevel

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

Beveled edge

slanted and polished edge detail used on wood, stone, glass, etc.

Bibliotheque

a cabinet that stores literary and artistic materials

Board and Batten

barn like exterior siding constructed of 12" wide vertical boards joined side-to-side with smaller 1/2" - 1" boards covering the joints

Bobeche

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

Bolster

a cylindrical shaped pillow (w/ or w/o tassels, & trims)

Bombé

outward swelling of a commodes, bureaus, and armoires

Bookcase

a chest constructed with several open shelves to hold books and accessories

Book match

a method for a veneer, glued together to create a mirror image pattern

Bow front

convex cabinet front

Bowed

a board that does not sit flat, warped

Box spring cover

fabric sleeve constructed to hide box springs, often gathered with elastic on the underneath side

Box springs

wire coils connected to one another with an outer metal frame, often padded and encased in quilted fabric

Boulle work

applied to form a marquetry, veneer of tortoiseshells and brass, sometimes with other materials

Bracket

a decorative or structural (upside-down L-shape) projection of wood, iron, marble, polyurethane, or other materials to support overhangs, cantilevered objects; corbel

Breakfront

a large cabinet where the center section projects beyond the two side sections

Brushed finish

fabric finishing process using an abrasive surface creating a raised nap on the surface

Buffet

a linear furniture piece with storage for flatware; can also be use as a counter for serving

Bullion fringe

long, twisted, heat-set, multi-ply fringe often used on upholstery

Bullnose edge

thick, round edge detail usually for counter tops or other areas with edges

Bun foot

a furniture leg shaped like a bun or series of flatten balls

Bureau

American dresser or French writing desk

Burled wood

a hardwood w/ swirling growth patterns, used as a veneer for inlays

Burn out

a fabric composed of 2 fibers chemically printed to dissolve one of the fibers, leaving a see-through design or a positive/ negative appearance

Butt joint

woodworking joint for decorative purposes; 2 pieces of wood are joined together

Cabinet

a free-standing / built-in furniture w/ shelves & drawers for display and storage

Cabinetry

combination of built-in cabinets

Cabriole leg

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)

Camelback Sofa

Sofa style with a hump or a large rise that resembles a camel's back

Candelabra

decorative candle holders, can also be electrified

Cantilever

a projecting structural member supported on a fulcrum, held in a place by a downward force behind the leverage point

Carpentry

a process by w/c woodwork materials are manufactured and produced

Carve

adorn objects by cutting wood w/ sharp handheld instruments

Case goods

furniture pieces primarily constructed of wood

Casement cloth

semi-sheer, translucent, or opaque novelty fabric, in neutral color ways

Casework

custom woodwork of all parts that constitutes a finished case (e.g. cabinet)

Cast Iron

molten iron poured into a mold to create multiple castings (vern. pundido)

Chair

an individual seat constructed w/ a backrest, w/ 4 supporting legs or so

Chair rail/ Dado

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

Chaise lounge

long reclining chair or sofa

Chifferobe

a large furniture wardrobe with drawers

Chinoiserie

a style of art depicting Asian/ Chinese motifs popular in France and England

Chiseled

stone shaped by a sharp hand tool

Classic

designs having withstood the test of time; classical proportions in architecture; classy or sleek

Claw foot

carved end of a furniture leg resembling an animal's claw

Closet

a free-standing furniture, sheetrock enclosure or custom made cabinetry implemented to store belongings, fitted with drawers, rods, & racks

Coffee table

a low table placed in front of a sofa for coffee

Collage

patterns, images, and textures joined together in a surface to show another image, decoupage contrasting

Combing

a faux painting technique the teeth of the tool is dragged onto wet paint creating striations

Comforter

a bedcover with 2 fabric layer stitched down filled with a down or synthetic fiber fill

Commode

a cabinet or chest, typically raised off the floor with a legs, w/c can hold a wash basin or chamber pot

Concealed hinge

a hinge attached to a frame and door from the inside, making it invisible from the outside

Console

a carved decorative bracket; a control panel for monitoring electrical equipment usage

Console table

a table supported by ornamental consoles

Contemporary

Design style with simple lines, curves and geometric patterns

Continental pillow

24" European square decorative pillow, often used in sets of 3 on a king bedding as a backrest for a bank of pillows

Cording

machine-made or handmade decorative binding

Corner cabinet

built-in or independently crafted cabinet designed to fit tightly into the corner of a room, often symmetrically flaking 2 sides of a room

Couch

upholstered furniture used for seating or reclining; sofa

Counter

a horizontal work space that can be built-in or free-standing; 29" for seat ht., 36"-39" for standing ht.

Coverlet

decorative bedspread or bed covering