(C) ID Glossary of Terms by Dezignare

CABINET - free-standing or built-in furniture piece designed with shelves or drawers for storage and display, i.e. bookcase
CABINETRY - combination of built-in cabinets
CABRIOLE LEG - carved wood furniture leg curving outward at the knee and tapering inward at the ankle, resembling an animal's hip, thigh and ankle, often finished with a claw foot or rounded pad
CAD/CADD - computer aided drafting and design
CAFE CURTAIN - window treatment typical gathered, stationary, hung from rods and rings installed half-way up a window
CALENDARING - fabric pressed between hot rollers and cylinders to create a glossy finish
CALICO - inexpensive cotton or blend, printed with small, bright patterns
CAMELBACK SOFA sofa style characterized by a large curved rise or "hump" located on the seat back
CANDELABRA - multiple candle holders supported on a decorative stand, which can be electrified
CANTILEVER - projecting structural member supported on a fulcrum, which is held in place by a downward force behind the leverage point
CANVAS - tightly woven cotton, linen or hemp fabric
CAPITAL - decorative cap placed on a column, pillar or pilaster i. e. Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Composite, Tuscan architectural orders
CARPET - fabric for floors woven from natural fibers such as wool, or synthetic fibers such as nylon or olefin, available in many textures and patterns
i.e. cut pile, cut and loop, level loop, plush, shag
CARPET CUSHION - padding used underneath carpet or area rugs made of felt, polyurethane foam, rubber and other materials to provide comfort and durability
CARPET NAP - the direction carpet pile tends to slant, which affects color and shading
CARPET SEAM - a glued or taped joint between two pieces of carpet, which can be hand sewn or attached with hot-melt or latex tape
CARTOUCHE - ornamental shield or scroll, often used as a decorative element above a door, in cornice treatments or on a fireplace
CARVE - adorn objects by cutting wood with sharp hand-held instruments
CARVING - the act of adorning objects by cutting wood with sharp hand-held instruments
CARYATID - draped female figure supporting an entablature or shelf
CASCADE - short side panels of a valance, often forming a zigzag pattern as they terrace down to a point. See JABOT
CASE GOODS - furniture pieces primarily constructed of wood
CASEMENT CLOTH - semi-sheer, translucent or opaque novelty fabric, typically in neutral color ways
CASEMENT WINDOW - vertically hinged, framed windows opening outward
CASEWORK - custom woodwork
CASHMERE - twill fabric, originally from a Cashmere goat
CASING - trim around a window or door opening. See DOOR SURROUND
CAST IRON - molten iron poured into a mold to create multiple castings. See WROUGHT IRON
CEILING - permanently constructed, affixed or suspended horizontal structural-plane designed to protect individuals or objects from exterior weather conditions
CEILING TREATMENT - decorative details applied to any type of ceiling
CELLULAR SHADE - accordion-pleated window shade constructed of reinforced fabric bonded together
CHAIR - individual seat constructed with a back rest, which is most often supported by 4 legs, featuring single or double armrests, i.e. Captain's chair, host and hostess chairs, ladder-back chair, side chair, wing chair
CHAIR RAIL - wood trim installed horizontally on a wall around a room, usually about 30" off the ground, used to scale down a large wall, further adorned with bead board, trim, wallpaper or contrasting paint colors, above and below
CHAISE LOUNGE - long reclining chair or sofa
CHALLIS - fine, soft, lightweight worsted cotton, wool or synthetic weave
CHAMBRAY - lightweight cottons or blends with a mottled appearance created by a colored warp and white filling yarns
CHANDELIER - ceiling mounted light fixture with arms branching out from a central support
CHARETTE - intense design exercise
CHECK - printed, dyed or woven fabric with a small-scaled, square pattern
CHENILLE - novelty yarn featuring a raised, fuzzy surface and soft hand, French origins
CHEVRON - design formed by reversing twill weave with a "V" or inverted "V" pattern, i.e. herringbone, zigzag; architectural 2D or 3D zigzag ornamentation on arches i.e. lateral, frontal, angled
CHIFFEROBE - large furniture wardrobe with drawers
CHIFFON - sheer, lightweight, plainly woven fabric made of twisted yarns
CHINOISERIE - style of art depicting Asian or Chinese motifs popular in France and England
CHINTZ - plain, woven cotton fabric printed in multi-colors, often printed with floral designs. See GLAZED CHINTZ
CHISELED - stone shaped by a sharp hand tool
CID - Certified Interior Designer, used by some state licensing agencies to identify an interior designer registered with the state; ALSO used by various organizations to indicate a member meets their standards
CIDA - Council for Interior Design Accreditation
CIRCA - best estimate of an exact date, circa 1892 or c. 1892
CIRCULATION - spaces designated for movement by individuals from one area to another
CLASSIC - designs having withstood the test of time; classical proportions in architecture; classy or sleek
CLASSIC ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE - a formulation by noted scholars of Greek and Roman architectural designs into five distinct orders; i.e. Greek Doric Order, Ionic Order and Corinthian Order, with the Roman Composite Order and Tuscan Order
CLASSICAL PROPORTIONS - idyllic proportions established in Greek and Roman architecture. See ANDREA PALLADIO, PALLADIAN, PALLADIAN ARCH
CLAW FOOT - carved end on a furniture leg resembling an animal claw
CLEAN-ABILITY CODE - manufacturers recommended cleaning procedures
CLERESTORY WINDOW - series of windows installed near the roof line providing privacy, additional light and air circulation
CLIP RINGS - rings fashioned with a clip at the bottom to secure fabric panels
CLOSET - free-standing furniture, sheetrock enclosure or custom cabinetry implemented to store belongings, fitted with drawers, rods and racks
CLOTH BACKED - wallcovering with a woven backing covered with cloth
COATED - coatings such as resin, wax, oil, varnish or lacquer applied to fabrics to provide water proofing or other decorative effects
COFFEE TABLE - a low table typically placed in front of a sofa
COFFEE TABLE BOOK - a large book with a decorative cover primarily featuring illustrations
COFFERED CEILING - recessed panels created in a ceiling
COLONNADE - series of evenly spaced columns supporting arches. See ARCADE
COLOR - a visual perception of light casting on objects in various hues, lightness and saturation. See ANALOGOUS, SECONDARY, TERTIARY
COLOR BOARDS - presentation media to convey a specific design concept utilizing interior finish samples, photographs, etc. for a specific project
COLOR FASTNESS - ability to resist color changes due to exposure to sunlight
COLOR FLAG - small samples of various color ways attached to a larger sample showing the full repeat offered by a manufacturer
COLOR LINE - the full range of colors available in a specific product line
COLOR PALETTE - a specific group or range of traits in various colors, which can be contrasting, complimentary or monochromatic, utilized in a specific project
COLOR SCHEME - particular attributes of color in a project, i.e. light, dark, theme of color
COLOR TRENDS - introduction of popular color palettes
COLOR WASHING - faux painting technique using a solid base color and a secondary color glaze, lightly applied to give a weathered appearance. See WHITE WASH
COLOR WAY - a variety of color schemes in a particular pattern created for a textile fabric, carpet, wall covering, etc.
COLUMN - round or square slender pillars used as structural supports, which can also be purely decorative. See GREEK COLUMN
COLOR WHEEL - Johannes Itten, mid-1900's Bauhaus designer, expanded upon the color wheel developed by Adolf Hozel, creating a color circle with seven contrasts and analyzing color from a philosophic, religious, psychic, psychological and physical perspective
COMBED - manufacturing process for cotton and other staple yarns to align yarn and remove all foreign matter prior to spinning
COMBING - faux painting technique where a tool with "teeth" is dragged through the wet paint to create striations
COMFORTER - bedcover with two layers of fabric filled with down or a synthetic fiber fill stitched together. See DUVET
COMPLIMENTARY COLOR - colors opposite each other on a color wheel i.e. Red vs. Green, Blue vs. Orange, Purple vs. Yellow See ANALOGOUS, PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY
COMMODE - cabinet or chest, typically raised off the floor with legs, which can hold a wash basin or chamber pot
COMPOSITE ORDER - one of five Roman classical column designs featuring a combination of elements; a subset of designs referred to as the "Classic Orders of Architecture" i.e. Doric Order, Ionic Order, Corinthian Order, Composite Order, Tuscan Order
CONCEALED HINGE - hinge attached to a door and frame from the inside, making it invisible from the exterior
CONCRETE SURFACE - combination of sand, gravel and water formulated into light mixes suitable for interior usage
CONSOLE - carved decorative bracket; control panel for monitoring electrical equipment usage
CONSOLE TABLE - a table supported by ornamental consoles
CONTEMPORARY - designs 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
CONTINUOUS FILAMENT - continuous strand of synthetic fiber extruded into yarn form
CONTRACT - written agreement between two parties establishing operating procedures, pricing, work performance schedule, timeline for completion and other factors related to the progress of a project
CONVERSATIONAL - fabrics depicting fanciful objects or scenes
COPING - protective cap on exterior wall sloped to shed water
CORBEL - architectural detail projecting from a wall, which extends upward and outward. See BRACKET
CORDING - machine-made or handmade decorative binding
CORDUROY - durable, cottons or blends woven with ribs, created by weft yarns guided over the fabric face, which are then cut
CORINTHIAN ORDER - one of five Roman classical column designs featuring a fluted column and decorative capital with acanthus leaves; a subset of designs referred to as the "Classic Orders of Architecture" i.e. Doric Order, Ionic Order, Corinthian Order, Composite Order, Tuscan Order
CORNER CABINET - built-in or independently crafted cabinet designed to fit tightly into the corner of a room, often symmetrically flanking two sides of a room
CORNICE - horizontal band mounted on the wall, often topping drapery treatments, i.e. plain box, padded and upholstered, carved wood, painted or stained; classic Greek architectural construction element, used to cap an architrave, with decorative molding applied to a triangular structure crowning a building to shed rain
CORNICE BOARD - box or carved banding constructed of wood covered with fabric or painted, which is installed above windows to conceal drapery hardware or heading and provide additional embellishment
COTTAGE - a small English inspired single- or 1½-story country house built with gable roof and dormers, often featuring a picket fence and garden, using rustic materials such as stone and wood shingles. See ABODE, APARTMENT, BUNGALOW, DOMICILE, DWELLING, FARMHOUSE, HOME, HOUSE, LOFT, MANOR, MANSION, RANCH HOUSE, STUDIO, VILLA
COTTON - soft, absorbent fabric made from the seed pod of a cotton plant, composed of pure cellulose, frequently blended with other fibers. See POLISHED COTTON
COUCH - upholstered furniture used for sitting or reclining. See SOFA, SECTIONAL
COUCHING - embroidery technique of positioning thread and attaching it to base fabric by sewing small stitches at equally spaced intervals
COUNTER - horizontal work surface, which can be free-standing or built-in, often constructed at 29" for seating height, or 36-39" for standing height
COUNTRY STYLE - characteristic of country living; rustic, time-worn, utilitarian and primitive in nature
COURTYARD - private space open to the sky used for a variety of functions, i.e. Viscaya, located in Miami, Florida features a courtyard on the main floor for receiving guests, while the whole two-story home surrounds the courtyard on three sides with balconies overlooking the second floor
COVERLET - decorative bedspread or bed covering
CRACKLE - surface finish creating a glaze of fine cracks. See FAUX
CRAFT - to hand-fabricate an object
CRAFTSMAN - individual skilled in the mechanics of a specific art. See ARTISAN
CREDENZA linear wood chest, often used in commercial interiors for computers or as a work surface, or as a sideboard or buffet table in residential interiors
CREMONE BOLT - French surface mounted hardware locking mechanism with a sliding rod, operated by a center knob, which moves the rod in opposite directions for locking into strike plates mounted on the frame, top and bottom
CREPE - fine woven fabric with a light crinkled surface made from high twist yarns
CRESTING - ornamental ridge at the top of a wall or roof peak
CREWEL - embroidery created by stitching various colored wool yarns over an unbleached cotton or linen base fabric, typically in floral motifs
CRINKLED - irregular puckered effect created by high-twist yarns, chemical applications or mechanical means
CROCKING - undesirable dye or color transfer
CROSS DYED - fabric dying technique where different fibers accept different dye baths based on the yarn and the dye utilized
CROSS SEAMS - seams created by joining carpet end-to-end rather than side-by-side
CROWN MOLDING - molding installed where the wall and ceiling meet or applied at the top of case goods
CRUSHED - irregular crinkled finish on a fabric surface
CRYSTAL - transparent, brilliant-cut or translucent quartz ornaments; lead-crystal accessories and serving pieces; clarity
CSI - Construction Specifications Institute
CUBIC AREA - refers to length x width x height
CUBICLE CURTAIN - institutional curtain fabricated to hang from the ceiling down to 14-16" above the floor for privacy
CUPOLA - roof with a dome shape
CURIO CABINET - slender display cabinet, typically with glass shelves
CURE - the final hardening of plaster or concrete
CURLY - undulating grain in wood, ribbon spiral
CURTAIN - partial or full length fabric screen
CURVILINEAR - curving lines
CUSHION - soft pillow or padding
CUSTOM - made to order
CUT GLASS - clear glass ornamentation created using a diamond wheel to cut a decorative pattern onto the surface of glass, which are 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 craftsman manipulate a large curved glass panel, suspended in a sling, over a diamond cutting wheel to engrave a pattern into the surface of the glass
CUT LENGTH - distance from top to bottom of drapery plus hems and top headings
CUT PILE - tufted wool, nylon or other yarn shirred by machine, leaving the ends of the fibers evenly cut; carpet with a smooth and consistent surface
CYLINDER - round tube made of various materials, i.e. cardboard, metal
CYLINDRICAL - round tubular shape

HOME RESOURCES EDUCATION MARKETPLACE NEWS CORPORATE SITE MAP
Dezignaré Interior Design Collective, Inc. T: F: ©1998-2008 Copyright All Rights Reserved E: W: dezignare.com