ART DECO STYLE: A style of art, decoration and architecture, generally popular from 1925-1940. Often used geometric designs, bold colors, wood, metal, glass, stone and plastic either singly or in mixed media application.

ART NOUVEAU STYLE: A style of art, decoration and architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that depicted flowing leaves, flowers and natural elements. Typical materials used were wood, metal and glass.

ARTS & CRAFTS: A style of art, decoration and architecture made popular during the first half of the 20th century. Often associated with simple, clean-lined pieces that have a handcrafted look and feel. Also referred to as Mission style.

BERGERE: A chair of French design with carved wood framing, upholstered body and sumptuous seating. Popularized in the reigns of Louis XIV and XV.

BIAS: The cutting and sewing of a fabric at a diagonal or 45 degree angle in relationship to the pattern.

BOMBE: A French design silhouette common in chests, cabinets and armoires. Features a convex or outward curving of the dimensions in the lower portion of the piece.

CABRIOLE: A shape given to a furniture feature, usually a leg, with a gentle hip or bow near the top, then curving and tapering into a smaller foot.

CAMELBACK: The name referring to a style of furniture in which the back swells into a higher dimension at the center point and declines to a lower dimension at either side.

CASE GOODS: Furniture items that are generally used for storage and have a case as the primary component of construction. The case space is then filled with drawers, shelves and/or doors. Examples are dressers, armoires, cabinets and chests.

CASEMENT WINDOW: Vertically hinged, framed windows opening outward.

CLERESTORY WINDOW: A series of windows installed near the roof line providing privacy, additional light and air circulation.

CONTEMPORARY STYLE: A name given to a broad style range of designs from the 20th century. Generally, designs are simple and pure in concept and crafted from woods, metals, polymer products or glass.

DAMASK: A rich, flatly woven textile that features a pattern that is created with slightly varying shades of one color.

DENTIL MOLDING: An architectural detail featuring equally spaced wood blocks. Often found in traditional furniture and architecture.

ECLECTIC: A design aesthetic that mixes objects from various style categories or historical periods. From the Latin for “to gather.”

ELEVATION: A scaled drawing depicting details on an exterior or interior wall.

ENGRAVING: A block, print or surface made from an etched or engraved plate.

ERGONOMICS: The scientific analysis of human beings and how we function, in conjunction, with a variety of equipment, products, methods and circumstances to improve our health, safety and welfare.

ESCUTCHEON: The decorative plate around a keyhole.

FENESTRATION: The stylistic placement of windows on a building.

FINIAL: Decorative hardware, wood, metal or cast materials used to cap drapery rods, newel posts, furnishings, woodwork, etc.

FLOOR PLAN: Scaled drawing, typically drawn at 1/4" to 1'0" scale, indicating walls, windows, electrical outlets, interior finishes and furniture placement.

FRENCH PROVINCIAL STYLE: Designs inspired in the countryside and small cities of the south of France during the 17th and 18th centuries. Elements were pure, materials natural, and colors drawn from the earth and sky.

FOCAL POINT: The area in a room or a design piece to which the eye is drawn; the center of interest or activity.

GEORGIAN STYLE: Architecture or objects bearing characteristics from the period of the reigns of the four King Georges of Britain from 1714 to 1830. The design aesthetic might be described as less ornamentation to create a more masculine appearance.

HAND: The reaction to the sense of touch when fabric or leathers are held in the hand.

INLAY: The fitting together of wood, shell, bone or stone pieces into a surface area to create a desired pattern.

INTERIOR DESIGN: Refers to a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants, and are aesthetically attractive. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.

LOOSE PILLOW BACK: The back of an upholstered piece created by a series of unattached pillows.

MARKER RENDERING: A hand-drawn, detailed sketch of a proposed layout, room or project.

MARQUETRY: The craft of inlaying wood or other natural materials into a surface area to create a distinctive pattern; usually indicating a more elaborate and fine artistry than inlay.

MATELASSE: A textile weaving technique using two layers of fabric held together by stitches sewn into a pattern. The pattern could be botanical, such as leaves; geometric such as diamonds or squares; or abstract shapes. The space between the layers of fabric creates pockets between the stitches. Matelasse fabrics are heavy, sumptuous and durable.

MILLWORK: Woodwork manufactured at a lumber mill, used for interior trim.

MITERED CORNER: Any material, including wood or fabric, folded or joined to create a 45 degree angle.

MULLION: Slender strips of wood or metal dividing panes of glass in door or window units.

PALLADIAN WINDOW: An arched window mounted above two rectangular windows or over a door flanked by sidelights.

POCKET DOOR: An interior door on a track disappearing from view when slid into a recessed wall.

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN: A scaled drawing of a space indicating all ceiling fixtures and height transitions.

RETRO STYLE: A reference to designs inspired by objects from the period and movements of the first 60 years of the 20th century: Bauhaus, Deco, Jazz, Internationalism, Cubism, Modernism, etc.
REVIVAL: The reintroduction of designs from an earlier period, for instance, Renaissance revival or Greek revival.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: The conservation of building resources utilizing recycled or renewable materials.

TIGHT BACK: An upholstered style in which the cover is pulled tight over the inside back frame and padding of the piece, then attached. Pillows or back cushions are not required.


TRANSITIONAL STYLE: A generic label given to styles that combine elements of traditional and contemporary design.

TURNED FEET, POSTS, LEGS: Elements of a piece of furniture that have been processed through a lathe or otherwise shaped to create balls, buns, spirals, ropes or clubs, etc. The name is derived from a craftsman holding and turning a piece of wood against the lathe till the desired form is achieved.

TUXEDO STYLE: A style of upholstery with straight lines, higher back and arms. Usually, the arms are the same height as the back.

TWO-OVER-TWO: A reference to seat and back cushion configurations ie two back cushions over two seat cushions. Three-over-three is also a common combination.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN: Items and spaces which can be accessed and utilized by individuals regardless of their age, size or disabilities.

UP LIGHT: A light source originating at the floor, shining up.

VICTORIAN STYLE: Reference to characteristics of design during the latter half of the reign of Queen Victoria of England, 1837 to1901. Objects were massive in scale and heavily ornamented. Elaborate and delicate carvings and turnings were also popular.

WINGBACK: A chair, usually fully upholstered, with wings rising up from the arm and joining the back at a 90-degree or wider angle.