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Glossary
“a dictionary of the special terms in
a particular field; in this case
Interior Design”
Banquette
A long, upholstered built-in bench seat.
Chevron
A V-shaped ornamentation inspired by military insignia.
Bead
A small, convex moulding of a semi-circular section.
Button Tufted
Buttons that are fabric covered and sewn through the upholstery surfaceand tied down. The placement of the buttons and their resulting folds produce geometric patterns.
Feng Shui
An ancient Chinese scientific practice based on selecting or configuring a site, structure or interior so as to harmonise with the spiritual forces that inhabit it.
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.
Footboard
The piece at the foot of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
Chinoiserie
Derived from Chinese art and painted or lacquered on furniture or used as themes on wallpaper, fabric, etc.
Dentil Moulding
Rectangular tooth-like blocks spaced at equal intervals along a cornice moulding.
Clearance
The distance between two or more obstacles in the users path of travel.
Design Fee
The actual service fee based off of the agreed budget determined through the initial phase of design (the retainer part). This is our fee associated with the work as contracted by you to us. We do not do hourly as this affects our relationships with you, the client.
Dye-lot
Refers to a group of batches of dye with the same colour tone, used for matching fabric, wallpaper, or other materials in interior design.
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.
Filigree
A decorative ornamentation that’s often produced with fine wires of gold or silver in the form of scrolls and arabesques.
Jute
A plant fibre that can be spun into course thread used in natural fibre flooring.
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.
Loose Cover
A throw or fitted cover that goes over a sofa, chair, etc.
Niche
A shallow recess in a wall for displaying a sculpture, accessories and ornaments.
Elevation
A two-dimensional drawing of a wall (or series of walls) with varying degrees of detail.
Jabot
The cascading fabric at each side of a swaged valance.
Lacquer
A hard, protective varnish that is applied as a topcoat to furniture.
Parquetry
Furniture that’s inlaid with geometrical designs similar to parquet floors.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics refers to the study of how furniture and accessories can be designed to maximize comfort and efficiency.
Fresco
A durable painting technique for walls and ceilings, created by blending watercolours directly into wet plaster.
Flock
Raised effect applied to wallcoverings and other objects.
Japanning
A European and American technique of painting that requires several coats of heat hardened lacquer, commonly used in creating chinoiserie designs.
Floorplan
A diagram of a room's layout showing its walls, windows, doors, and furniture arrangement.
Grasscloth
A natural fibre wallpaper.
Focal Point
The point in a room or design that the eye is drawn to. The decorative center of a room from which all other design elements take their cue.
Hardwood
Wood derived from trees such as oak, beech, maple, mahogany and walnut.
Kilim
A flat-woven carpet or rug made in Turkey, Kurdistan and neighbouring areas.
Lead time
The duration of time between placing an order and receiving the order.
Opaque
Applies to any material that does not allow light to pass through; something you can’t see through.
Headboard
The piece at the head of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
Knocked Down
Furniture that is sold in pieced unassembled.Also known as flat-pack.
Limewash
A mixture of lime and water used for coating walls.
Mood board
A collection of inspirational images, materials, and colours used to communicate a particular aesthetic for a room.
Parquet
Wood flooring that’s usually laid in blocks with boards at angles to each other to form decorative patterns.
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.
PVC-Polyvinyl Chloride or Vinyl
A synthetic petroleum-based material - plastic - that may be used a flooring covering or other finishing material. This is not a sustainable or economical material to use.
Armoire
A tall antique, two-door wardrobe with shelves for storing clothing.
MDF Microfibre Density Board
A blend of wood fibre and resin to mimic the properties of wood.
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.
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.
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.
White Price
The price of an upholstered piece of furniture without the fabric included.
Architrave
Decorative moulding that goes around windows and doors.
Cornice
Decorative plaster moulding around a ceiling.
Drop Leaf
A dining or occasional table with hinged leaves that can be lowered.
Return
The piece of an L-shaped desk that is perpendicular to the main desk unit, whichprovides extra working or computer space.
Valance
A horizontal feature used as a header for draperies, which can be made of fabric, wood, metal or other materials.
Bespoke
Made specifically for you to your design requirements.
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.
Coffered Ceiling
Rectangle, square or octagon shaped sunken panels on a ceiling.
Upholstery
Furniture such as sofas and chairs covered in fabric, vinyl, leather or other materials.
Dormer
A window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof.
Fanlight
Usually found above a door. A semi-circle with radiating glass sections that make it look like an open fan.
FF&E
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment describing movable furniture, fixtures and other equipment that have no permanent connection to the structure or its utilities.
Grout
Thin mortar used for filling spaces such as tiles, bricks, etc.
Lattice
An openwork decoration of crisscrossed wood, iron plate bars, etc. in a diagonal or square pattern.
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.
Plaque
Term refers to a flat, thin ornament, usually made of metal or porcelain and inserted into wood.
Reproduction
New furniture that’s a copy of an antique style or period.
Sconce
A light fixture fixed on a wall.
Retainer
A payment to retain I64 services. This gives us the runway to start planning your project, including: Initial layouts, sourcing, trade connection and planning, budget preparation.
Venetian Blinds
A window treatment consisting of a series of horizontal slats that can be turned or raised to control light or privacy.
Accessories
Decorative objects such as books, plants, vases and lamps.
Alcove
A recessed part of a room used for bookcases, sideboards, cabinets or a desk.
Wainscoting
Wood moulding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.
Arabesque
Decorative scroll work or other intricate ornamentation consisting of foliage, vases, leaves and fruits or fantastic human and animal figures.
Scotchgard
Registered Trademark of the 3M Company for fabric protector that repels against staining from water and spills.
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.
Fleur-del-lis
A stylised lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. It is especially known from the former royal arms of France.
Manchette
A small, upholstered patch or cushion used on an armrest.
Night Stand
A small, low table or cabinet with drawers that sits by a bed.
Plinth
A pedestal base to display sculptures.
Beni Ourain
Moroccan area rug made from 100% sheep wool and 100% undyed.
Schedule
Details the type and placement of each colour, material or style (paint, trim, wall coverings, etc.) in an interior.
Tongue and Groove
Wooden planks that join on edge with a groove in one piece and a corresponding tongue on the other to interlock.
Veneer
A thin skin of real timber usually applied to MDF board (medium-density fibre board) for application in kitchen cabinets and other joinery.
Area Rug
A small carpet which covers only part of the floor.
Carver
Dining chairs with arms used at the end of a dining table.
Eyelet
A small hole in a piece of fabric designed for a cord to be threaded through.
Marquetry
Decorative patterns made of inlays, usually applied to veneered surfaces.
Occasional Furniture
General term for small furniture pieces like side tables, consoles and decorative chair.
Bevel
A slanted and polished edge that is not perpendicular to the face creating a mitred effect. Often seen on mirror edges.
Canopy
A fabric covering attached to a frame over a bed.
Fretwork
An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence.
Turn Key
A term for installation referring to a full service where you walk into the space with all furniture, accessories, art, ligthing, fully realized. A great reveal as one might recognize from the home shows (but better).
Antique
Anything from a piece of furniture to a piece of art over 100 years old; althoughthe term is often used loosely to describe any object that is old.
Bolster
A long and usually cylindrical stuffed pillow or cushion.
White Glove
A term for delivery in which the movers administer superior service with attention to detail & care. Placing the pieces in their final spot and removing all packaging from the site, the movers will provide excellent care.
Verdigris
A green or blue green encrustation caused by the corrosion of copper, brass and bronze.
Apron
The wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of a chair.
Back Splat
A solid wooden slat in the middle of a chair back.
Bullnose
A rounded edge on tile or benchtops.
Chaise Lounge
An upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining.
Dado Rail
A moulding placed on a wall at chair height from the floor to protect the wall from being scratched by chair’s back. Also known as Chair Rail.
Finish
The surface coating of an item, which can include paints, stains, varnishes and metal finishes.