IDI_EN_Glossary

INDEX
PAGE
INTERIOR DESIGN GLOSSARY 2
BUILDING GLOSSARY 9
ELECTRICAL GLOSSARY 21
PAINT GLOSSARY 28
FINISHES GLOSSARY 34
CURTAIN AND UPHOLSTERY FABRIC GLOSSARY 41
ART GLOSSARY 51
GLOSSARY
1
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INTERIOR DESIGN GLOSSARY
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.
Antique - Anything from a piece of furniture to a piece of art over 100 years old; although
the term is often used loosely to describe any object that is old.
Apron - The wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of a chair.
Arabesque - Decorative scroll work or other intricate ornamentation consisting of foliage,

vases, leaves and fruits or fantastic human and animal figures.
Area Rug - A small carpet which covers only part of the floor.
Architrave - Decorative moulding that goes around windows and doors.
Armoire - A tall antique, two-door wardrobe with shelves for storing clothing.
Back Splat - A solid wooden slat in the middle of a chair back.
Banquette - A long, upholstered built-in bench seat.
Bead - A small, convex moulding of a semi-circular section.
Beni Ourain - Moroccan area rug made from 100% sheep wool and 100% undyed.
Bevel - A slanted and polished edge that is not perpendicular to the face creating a mitred
effect. Often seen on mirror edges.
Bespoke - Made specifically for you to your design requirements.
Bolster - A long and usually cylindrical stuffed pillow or cushion.
Bullnose - A rounded edge on tile or benchtops.
Button Tufted - Buttons that are fabric covered and sewn through the upholstery surface
and tied down. The placement of the buttons and their resulting folds produce geometric
patterns.
GLOSSARY
2
Canopy - A fabric covering attached to a frame over a bed.
Carver - Dining chairs with arms used at the end of a dining table.
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.
Chaise Lounge - An upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining.
Chevron - A V-shaped ornamentation inspired by military insignia.
Chinoiserie - Derived from Chinese art and painted or lacquered on furniture or used as
themes on wallpaper, fabric, etc.
Coffered Ceiling - Rectangle, square or octagon shaped sunken panels on a ceiling.
Cornice - Decorative plaster moulding around a ceiling.
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.
Dentil Moulding - Rectangular tooth-like blocks spaced at equal intervals along a cornice
moulding.
Dormer - A window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof.
Drop Leaf - A dining or occasional table with hinged leaves that can be lowered.
Elevation - An elevation is a side view as viewed from the front, back, left or right.
Eyelet - A small hole in a piece of fabric designed for a cord to be threaded through.
Fanlight - Usually found above a door. A semi-circle with radiating glass sections that make
it look like an open fan.
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.
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.
GLOSSARY
3
FF&E - Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment describing movable furniture, fixtures and other
equipment that have no permanent connection to the structure or its utilities.
Filigree - A decorative ornamentation that’s often produced with fine wires of gold or silver
in the form of scrolls and arabesques.
Finish - The surface coating of an item, which can include paints, stains, varnishes and
metal finishes.
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.
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.
Flock - Raised effect applied to wallcoverings and other objects.
Footboard - The piece at the foot of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
Fresco - A durable painting technique for walls and ceilings, created by blending water-
colours directly into wet plaster.
Fretwork - An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence.
Grasscloth - A natural fibre wallpaper.
Grout - Thin mortar used for filling spaces such as tiles, bricks, etc.
Hardwood - Wood derived from trees such as oak, beech, maple, mahogany and walnut.
Headboard - The piece at the head of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
Jabot - The cascading fabric at each side of a swaged valance.
Japanning - A European and American technique of painting that requires several coats of
heat hardened lacquer, commonly used in creating chinoiserie designs.
Jute - A plant fibre that can be spun into course thread used in natural fibre flooring.
Kilim - A flat-woven carpet or rug made in Turkey, Kurdistan and neighbouring areas.
GLOSSARY
4
Knocked Down - Furniture that is sold in pieced unassembled. Also known as flat-pack.
Lacquer - A hard, protective varnish that is applied as a topcoat to furniture.
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.
Lattice - An openwork decoration of crisscrossed wood, iron plate bars, etc. in a diagonal
or square pattern.
Limewash - A mixture of lime and water used for coating walls.
Loose Cover - A throw or fitted cover that goes over a sofa, chair, etc.
Manchette - A small, upholstered patch or cushion used on an armrest.
Marquetry - Decorative patterns made of inlays, usually applied to veneered surfaces.
Niche - A shallow recess in a wall for displaying a sculpture, accessories and ornaments.
Night Stand - A small, low table or cabinet with drawers that sits by a bed.
Occasional Furniture - General term for small furniture pieces like side tables, consoles
and decorative chair.
Opaque - Applies to any material that does not allow light to pass through; something you
can’t see through.
Parquet - Wood flooring that’s usually laid in blocks with boards at angles to each other to
form decorative patterns.
Parquetry - Furniture that’s inlaid with geometrical designs similar to parquet floors.
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.
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.
GLOSSARY
5
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.
Plaque - Term refers to a flat, thin ornament, usually made of metal or porcelain and
inserted into wood.
Plinth - A pedestal base to display sculptures.
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.
Reproduction - New furniture that’s a copy of an antique style or period.
Return - The piece of an L-shaped desk that is perpendicular to the main desk unit, which
provides extra working or computer space.
Sconce - A light fixture fixed on a wall.
Scotchgard - Registered Trademark of the 3M Company for fabric protector that repels
against staining from water and spills.
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.
Tongue and Groove - Wooden planks that join on edge with a groove in one piece and a
corresponding tongue on the other to interlock.
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.
Upholstery - Furniture such as sofas and chairs covered in fabric, vinyl, leather or other
materials.
Valance - A horizontal feature used as a header for draperies, which can be made of fabric,
wood, metal or other materials.
Veneer - A thin skin of real timber usually applied to MDF board (medium-density fibreboard)
for application in kitchen cabinets and other joinery.
GLOSSARY
6
Venetian Blinds - A window treatment consisting of a series of horizontal slats that can be
turned or raised to control light or privacy.
Wainscoting - Wood moulding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.
White Price - The price of an upholstered piece of furniture without the fabric included.
GLOSSARY
7
ARABESQUE PLINTH BUTTON TUFTS
ACCESSORIES FLAT-PACK
HEADBOARD ALCOVE UPHOLSTERY
GLOSSARY
8
BUILDING GLOSSARY
Access – Approach or way in.
Access Door – Door which allows access to concealed space or equipment.
Ag Line – A perforated pipe (usually covered with a geotextile fabric) laid behind retaining
walls and other areas to catch seeping stormwater.
Agreement – A contract between two or more parties, either written or verbal.
Air Brick – Ventilation built into brickwork to provide ventilation through the wall.
Allotment – A building site.
Aluminium Oxide – Synthetic abrasive made into stones, wheels or abrasive pater for
sharpening tools.
Ant Capping – Termite bbarrier, which is a shield, usually of galvanised iron, placed over
piers and dwarf walls to control the entry of termites.
Apex – The highest point of a gable.
Architect – A person who is qualified to design buildings and supervise their construction.
Architecture – Art and science of building.
Area – The measure of a plan surface within defined boundaries, e.g. land, buildings.
Arris – A sharp corner formed by the join of two surfaces along a length of timber or brick.
Backfill – To fill the earth, any remaining space after placing concrete, brickwork, timber,
pipes, etc. in an excavation.
Balcony – A platform, enclosed by a railing or balustrade, projecting from the face of either
an inside or outside wall of a building (e.g. a gallery in a theatre).
Barge Board – The board covering the roof timbers on the gable or skillion end of a roof
fixed parallel to the roof slope.
GLOSSARY
9
Basement – A room or rooms of a building, in part or wholly below ground level.
Batt – Any portion of a full brick.
Bay Window – A window of varying shapes, projecting outward from the wall of a building,
forming a recess in a room.
Bearer – A sub-floor structural timber member, which supports the floor joists.
Bed Joint – Horizontal joint in brickwork.
Benchmark (BM) – A fixed point of reference, the elevation of which is known and referred
to during levelling operations.
Bevel – An angle formed between two straight lines meeting at an angle other than 90
degrees.
Bit – An interchangeable cutting tool inserted into chuck of drilling machine.
Bore – Diameter of centre hole in circular saw blade.
Brace – A member, usually a diagonal, which resists lateral loads and/or movements of a
structure.
Building By-Laws – Regulations by which local authorities control building construction.

No new building work or alteration of existing structures may be carried out unless these
regulations are observed.
Building Trades – All trades which have a part in the construction of a building (e.g.
carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electricity and heating).
Cantilever – A projecting beam supported at one end or a large bracket for supporting a
balcony. Two bracket-like arms projecting toward each other from opposite pies or banks to
form the span of a bridge making what is known as a cantilever bridge.
Capping – The uppermost part of the top of a piece of work.
Capping Brick – Bricks which are specially shaped for capping the exposed top of a wall.
Carpentry – Trade of preparing, cutting and fixing timber in building construction.
GLOSSARY
10
Cast – To place some plastic material in a previously constructed form.
Chalk Line – Length of string thoroughly coated with chalk dust, used to strike a straight
guideline on a material. Line which is made with a chalking line.
Civil Engineering Works – Works comprising a structure other than a building and its
associated site works such as a dam, bridge, road, etc. or an operation such as dredging,
dewatering, soil stabilisation.
Column – Freestanding vertical load-bearing member.
Construction – The process of assembling materials and erecting a structure. The medium
in which a building is built (e.g. wood, steel, masonry).
Contractor – One who agrees by written agreement or contract to supply materials and
perform certain types of work for a specified sum of money.
Course – A single row or layer of bricks.
Crazing – Fine cracks that may occur on plastered rendered surface.
Cross-Cutting – Cutting timber across the grain.
Curing – Treatment of concrete or cement rendering to facilitate hardening.
Dead Load – A permanent, inert load on a building or other structure due to the weight of
its structural members and the fixed loads they carry, which impose definite stresses and
strains upon the structure.
Dimension – A measure of distance.
Door Frame – A frame into which a door is fitted.
Door Jambs – The two vertical members of a door frame.
Door Leaves – In wide openings, a door may be made up into two or more individual
sections or ‘leaves’, which are hinged together.
Dowel – A wood or metal pin used to strengthen a joint by its insertion partly into each of
the joined pieces.
GLOSSARY
11
Elevation – A geometrical drawing of a facade of a building.
End Matching – Milled tongue and groove on the ends of flooring boards.
Engineer – A professionally qualified person, who when associated with building and
planning, designs, supervises and manages Civil, Structural and Services components of
projects.
Excavation – A hole made by removing earth.
Expansion Joint – A joint in a building to permit thermal movement or creep.
Expansion Strip – A soft, resilient material used to fill the void provided for the expansion
and contraction of any two adjacent substances.
Flashing – A strip of impervious material used to prevent the ingress of water between two
surfaces.
Flush Joint – To place two adjacent surfaces together in the same plane. To form an
invisible joint between two such surfaces, e.g. sheets of plasterboard.
Footing – The construction whereby the weight of the structure is transferred from the
base structure to the foundation.
Forms – Prepared forms of timber or other material for the casting of concrete.
Grading – A classification of timber by strength required to perform a specific task.
Ground Line – The ground level or natural grade line.
Ground Plan (Floor) - Plan view of a horizontal section of a building showing the layout
of rooms on the ground floor.
Handrail – Railing which serves as a guard and which is intended to be grasped by the hand
to serve as a support.
Hardboard – A timber sheet product manufactured of compressed wood fibre.
Hardwood – A pored timber.
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Housing – Recess cut across the face of a piece of timber to receive the end of another
piece.
Identificatin Survey – A survey which indicates whether a building is erected on the

correct allotment and does not encroach on any of the side boundaries.
Joinery – Doors, windows, cupboards, manufactured in a joiner’s shop.
Kerb – An upstand. A raised edging to a pavement or path.
Kiln Drying – Controlled seasoning of timber by use of kilns.
Knot – Timber: Cross-section of branch in a sawn timber where it intersects with the main
trunk. To paint, cover the knots in timber with a knotting preparation generally composed
of shellac and methylated spirits.
Line Of Sight – The straight line projected from the telescope of a dumpy level.
Lining – Internal covering of walls of framed construction.
Lintel – Structural member or beam carrying loads over an opening.
Masonry – Brick, concrete, stone, artificial stone or terracotta laid in mortar.
Master Keying – A system by which all locks within a building are capable of being operated
by one key. Often there are a series of sub-masters.
Mastic – A waterproof, adhesive, plastic compound.
Matrix – The mixture of sand and cement that binds together the aggregate of concrete.
Milled – Timber that has passed through a moulding machine and is of a specific profile.
Mitre – Half angle of a joint.
Mitre Saw – A circular saw which can rotate on a swivel base for cutting timber at angles
up to 45 degrees.
Non-Load-Bearing Partition Or Non-Load-Bearing Wall – One which supports no

vertical load except that of its own weight and merely defines spaces.
GLOSSARY
13
Off-Form Concrete – Concrete which is formed by placing and stripping from formwork
and has no other applied finish.
Off-Site – In another place of building.
Outside Foundation Line – A line which indicates the location of the outside of the
foundation wall for a new building.
Overflashing – The flashing which is built into the wall surface and sits over the upturned
apron flashing.
Overhang (Roof) – The section of a roof extending over the external wall.
Overloading – Placing too heavy a load on a beam, column or floor.
Pane – Single piece of glass in a window or door.
Pier – A vertical member of a base structure.
Pilot Hole – A hole drilled to receive a nail or screw.
Plaster – Material of a mortar like consistency used for covering walls and ceilings of
buildings usually made of Portland cement mixed with sand and water.
Plasterboard – A rigid insulating board made of plastering material covered on both sides
with heavy paper.
Plastering – Any calcareous compound, usually of gypsum plaster, Portland Cement or lime
putty and sand, that has been applied to a surface in a plaster state and sets hard.
Parapet – A low wall to protect the edge of a roof, balcony or terrace. Many shops have a
parapet at the front of the building for signage.
Particle Board – A flat floor sheeting of good dimensional stability made from wood flakes
and synthetic resin / binder under heat and pressure. Can be produced with decorative
elements for joinery work.
Pelmet – A built-in head to a window to conceal the curtain rod or to a sliding door to
conceal the tracks. Usually made of wood.
Perp – A vertical joint in masonry construction.
GLOSSARY
14
Pitch Roof – The ratio of the height to span, usually measured in degrees.
Picture Rail – A wooden or plaster moulding fixed to a wall at or above door height for
hanging pictures or for decorative purposes.
Plywood – Sheeting made from thin layers of veneer at right angles to each other and
bonded together under heat and pressure. Can be used as flooring, wall sheeting, bracing
and formwork.
Portal Frame – Joining the rafters of a roof and wall frame together by a rigid joint such as
that providing by welding.
Prefabricated Construction, Prefabrication – The manufacture in a factory or whole or

parts of building such as individual rooms, walls and roofs, in contrast with the conventional
construction of a building piece on the site.
Retaining Wall – Any wall subjected to lateral pressure other than wind pressure and built
to retain material.
Return – A term denoting that a feature has been continued at another angle.
Reveal – The thickness of wall from the wall face to the door or window frame. The remainder
of the thickness of wall is known as the ‘jamb’.
Ripping – Sawing timber in the direction of the grain.
Roof Pitch – The angle formed between a sloping roof surface and horizontal line.
Sanding – The smoothing down of visible timber or other surfaces with sandpaper.
Sash – The framework in a window into which the glass is fitted.
Scaffolding – A temporary structure specifically erected to support access platforms or

working platforms.
Scissor Truss – A truss or strut with a sloping bottom chord to produce a raked ceiling at
a cheaper cost than rafters.
Scotia – A concave moulding.
Seasoning – The elimination of excess moisture from timber by air or kiln drying.
GLOSSARY
15
Shoring – The temporary or permanent support of an existing building, often due to
demolition or of footing excavation to prevent collapse.
Skew Nailing – The driving of nails at an oblique angle often in different directions to
improve the strength of a joint of fixing.
Soldier Course – A course of brickwork laid on its end.
Span – Face to face distance between points of support for loadbearing structural members.
Splice Joint – Joint used to extend timber in length.
Sprocket – A framing timber used in eaves construction.
Template – A guide for forming work to be done.
Tiler – A qualified tradesperson who specialises in laying ceramic tiles on floors and walls.
Trench – In joinery, a groove. In drainage and plumbing, the excavation in which pipes are
laid. In foundations, the excavation in which footings are placed.
Trestle – Steel or wood ladder structure used to support, planks to form a working platform.
Trimmer – A timber member fixed between joists or trusses to provide stiffening or to

support ceiling lining.
U Bolt – An iron bar bent into a U-shaped bolt with screw threads and nuts on each end.
Underpinning - The construction of new footings and walling under the footing of an
existing structure which have failed or may fail.
Vapour Barrier – Impervious membrane providing a barrier against water vapour.
Wind Brace – A structural member, either a tie or a strut, used to resist lateral wind loads.
Wind Load – The estimated pressure of force exerted upon a structure by the wind, which
must be provided for in the design of the structure.
Winders – Wedge-shaped treads in a staircase landing.
Z-Purlin – A metal purlin with a cross-section in the shape of the letter Z.
GLOSSARY
16
PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE TERMS
Absorption Trench – A trench, pit or well excavated from permeable ground filled with
broken stone, bricks or large granular materials and covered with earth to dispose of the
discharge from a septic tank, sullage system or stormwater by absorption into the ground.
Also called Absorption Pit, Absorption Well Or Soakaway.
Gully Trap (GT) – An assembly in a sanitary drainage system, consisting of a trap and
other fittings. Also called Gully.
Floor Waste Gully – A disconnector gully with a floor grate or waste outlet fitting located
inside the building and, where required, with provision for the connection of waste pipes
from sanitary fixtures.
Invert – The lowest point of the internal surface of a pipe or channel at any cross-section.
Junction (Pipe) – A pipe fitting incorporating one or more branched.
Manhole – A large chamber or opening on a drain, sewer or equipment to permit access for
inspection, testing or clearance if obstruction.
Stack – A vertical sanitary drainage pipe including offsets, which extends more than one
storey in height.
Sullage – Domestic wastewater other than from soil fixtures.
Sump – A pit at or below the lowest point of a structure to collect unwanted water and
facilitate its removal, usually by means of a Sump Pump. Also called Drain Pit.
Trap – a) A fitting usually in the shape of the letter P or S, which retains water, to form a
“water seal” so as to prevent the passage of gases or foul air into the building.
b) A fitting for the interception of silt, acids, grease, oils or fats.
Boundary Trap – A trap in the property service drain, usually near the boundary of a
property and below the lowest inlet, to prevent the entry of air or gases from the sewer into
property service drain. Also called Interceptor Trap.
Grease Trap – A grease trap is a plumbing device designed to intercept most greases and
solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system. Common wastewater contains small
amounts of oils, which enter into septic tanks and treatment facilities to form a floating
scum layer.
GLOSSARY
17
P-Trap – A trap in which the inlet leg is vertical and the outer leg inclined below the
horizontal to specified limits, with or without inspection opening at the lowest point.
S-Trap – A trap in which the outer leg is vertical and parallel with the inlet leg, with or
without inspection opening at the lowest point.
Silt Trap – A trap containing a removable container for the collection of silt, sand or grit.
Valve – A device for the control of liquid or gas flow, having an aperture which can be wholly
or partially closed by a plate, disc, door, gate, piston, plug ball or the flexing of a diaphragm.
Ball Valve – A valve having a turning ball with a port or ports to control the flow of fluid.
Float Valve – A valve actuated by a float (floating ball) to control the flow of liquid, used in
tanks or cisterns to maintain a minimum water level. Also referred to as Floating Ball Valve.
Flush Valve – A control device for water flow at mains pressure to a WC pan; used instead
of a cistern.
Gate Valve – A water control valve which closes like a sliding gate over an opening.
Mixing Valve – A valve which is designed to mix separate supplies of hot and cold water
and direct the maximum.
Non-Return Valve – A valve which prevents the reversals of flow by means of a flap or
mechanism. Also called Check Valve.
Pressure Reducing Valve – A valve designed to reduce or limit the pressure of a fluid to
a predetermined valve in the downstream side. Also called Pressure Limiting Valve.
Pressure Relief Valve – A spring-loaded or weight controlled automatic valve to limit the
build-up of pressure in pipe work, fittings or vessels by discharging excessive pressure to
the atmosphere.
Safety Valve – A pressure relief valve for a boiler or unfired pressure vessel.
Stop Valve – A valve, such as a gate valve, which can be operated to stop flow in a pipeline.
Also known as Isolating Valve.
Temperature Relief – A temperature activated valve to relieve excess pressure in water

heaters in the event of a thermostat failure and overheating.
GLOSSARY
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Vent (Vent Pipe) – A pipe provided to limit pressure fluctuations within a discharge pipe
system by the induction or discharge of air and/or to facilitate the discharge of gases.
Trap Vent – A vent pipe from an individual trap to the open air or to a main or branch vent
pipe for the prevention of loss of water seal in the trap. Also called Anti-Siphonage Vent or
Back Vent.
GLOSSARY
19
OFF-FORM CONCRETE AIR BRICK ARCHITECTURE
ELEVATION MASONRY
SANDING DOWEL Z-PURLIN
GLOSSARY
20
ELECTRICAL GLOSSARY
Accent Lighting – Used to target decorative features of the interior for visual effect.
Alternating Current (AC) – An electric current that reverses its direction many times a
second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies.
Ambient Lighting – Refers to a softer amount of light that is indirect in nature. It provides
overall illumination and is meant to create a general and uniform lighting level. It’s the first
layer of lighting and sets the tone of a space.
Amperes – Amps. A measurement of electrical current. The current is measured in ampere

(A or mA) and denotes the electric current that the lamp requires to operate.
Ballast – Electrical or electronic component required to start and operate fluorescent lamps.
Bayonet – A kind of bulb or globe that connects and locks to the base by pushing and
turning clockwise. It requires a ‘push and twist’ action to secure into the lamp holder. Also
known as BC and B22.
Beam – A cone of light generated by the lighting fixture. This is controlled by a reflector that
sits behind the light source to direct the light in a specific direction.
Beam Angle – The beam angle is the angle (expressed in degrees) showing how broadly
the light is distributed from a light source. The wider the beam angle, the more the light is
spread out. The narrower the beam, the more intense the light is.
BLT – The distance from ballast-to-lamp.
Bollard – A vertical post light that sits above ground. Often used outdoors alongside paths
and walkways.
Brass – A light gold metal used in light fittings.
Bulb – The bulb or globe refers to the outer glass container where the light source is.
Bulkhead – A lower portion of the ceiling generally constructed to conceal utility services.
Ceiling Height – The distance between the flat surface on the floor to the flat surface of
the ceiling and is an important factor in lighting.
Chrome – A silver colour metal used in light fittings.
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21
Colour Temperature – The appearance of white light emitted from a light source in terms
of warmth or coolness measured on the Kelvin scale.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) – Fluorescent lamps that have been designed to
produce light from a compact form and shape by including the ballast with the body of the
lamps.
Cool White – A high colour temperature where the colour of light is bluish white. Any light
above 4000 Kelvin is designated as cool white.
Copper – A pink-orange colour metal used in light fittings.
Cove Lighting – Lighting (usually a LED strip) built into a shelf or ledge at the upper part
of a wall to illuminate the ceiling.
CRI – Colour Rendering Index measured on a scale of 1 -100 with 100 being the ideal. It is
the ability of a light source to accurately render the colour of an object in comparison with
a natural light source.
CTC – Close to Ceiling.
Current Type (AC/DC) – Types of current. Either ‘alternating current’ or ‘direct current’.
Cut-out – The hole that needs to be cut into a surface to recess a light.
Diffuser – Any material that diffuses and softens light.
Downlight (recessed) – A light fixture recessed into the ceiling that concentrates the light
in a downward direction.
Downlight (surface mount) – A type of light, often cylindrical in shape, mounted to the
ceiling surface that directs light downwards.
Direct Light – An illuminant is designated as direct because the light is controlled, pushed
in a certain direction and used to highlight task areas or features.
Driver – A small device that controls the voltage and current supplied to a lamp. A driver
can be built-in to a light fitting or remote (separate) to a fitting. It can control an individual
light or multiple lights.
Dimmer – A control which allows the light level to be lowered to change the mood of a
room.
GLOSSARY
22
Edison – A type of lamp base that you twist around and screw into a lamp holder. Also
known as ES and E27.
Efficiency – A measurement of how effective the light source is in converting electrical

power into visible light.
Extension Rod – An extra length of suspension to increase the drop on a pendant.
Festoon Lighting – Also known as party lights, which are multiple light bulbs hanging on
a garland.
Floodlight – A high intensity light that produces a wide beam of light to illuminate large
areas.
Floor Lamp – A lamp designed to stand on the floor, and also known as a ‘standard lamp’.
Florescence – The ability to absorb short waves of light in order to emit longer waves of
light.
Fluorescent Lamp – A type of lamp where a phosphor coating inside a glass tube creates
a glow when exposed to UV radiation.
Gimble Lighting – An adjustable ring that holds the LED downlight by its rim so the
direction of light can be changed.
Globe – Term for a light bulb widely used in Australia. Can be used interchangeably in most
cases with bulb.
GPO – What you may know as a power point is technically referred to as a GPO, which
stands for ‘General Power Outlet’. GPOs are available in many different styles and can only
be installed or maintained by an electrician.
Halogen Lamp – A type of incandescent lamp with the addition of a small amount of
halogen gas in order to reduce heat and increase lamp life.
Hardwired – Term refers to a light fixture that is permanently connected to an electrical

source so there is no visible cord or plug. This type of fixture must be installed by a licensed
electrician.
Heat Rating – Lighting fixtures must pass heat tests to assure they do not affect combustible
ceiling materials; this limits the maximum wattage that can be safely used.
GLOSSARY
23
Illuminance/Luminance – The amount of luminous coverage of an area. Related to the
non-specific term ‘brightness’.
Illuminant – An illuminant denotes the technical implementation of an artificial light source.

The illuminant is used in the light, which then distributes the light of the illuminant, controls
it and simultaneously protects against glare.
Incandescent Lamp – A type of lamp where light is created by passing an electric current
through a filament (or metal wire) to heat it up, which then becomes visible light. Also
known as carbon filament.
IP or ‘Ingress Protection’ Rating – Determines how waterproof and dustproof a light

fitting is. The first digit in an IP rating refers to how dustproof a fitting is, and the second
digit refers to how waterproof a fitting is. This rating is important when selecting light
fittings for wet areas and outdoor lighting because it indicates the likelihood of moisture
and/or any foreign objects getting into the light fittings and causing damage.
Kelvin Scale – Light sources are often defined in terms of their colour temperature, which
is measured in degrees Kelvin. Light with a lower Kelvin temperature rating has a ‘warm’
yellow tint while light with a higher Kelvin temperature rating has a ‘cooler’ blue tint.
Kilowatt Hour/KWH – A unit of measurement for electrical energy. One kilowatt hour
equals 1000 watts of energy used for one hour.
Lamp – Any item designed for producing light and also known as a globe or bulb. In
Australia, this term also refers to plug-in lighting fixtures.
LED – Acronym for Light Emitting Diodes, which emit light.
Lumens – Measurement of the amount of light emitted and radiated in a beam. Related to
the non-specific term ‘brightness’.
Luminaire – Term used in the lighting industry for a complete lighting unit, which includes
a lamp, housing, ballast, sockets and any other necessary components.
Lux – The unit of illuminance measured in lumens per square metre.
Non-dimmable – The brightness of light is unable to be decreased.
Operating Voltage – The voltage at which lamps operate when they are fully warmed up.
Pendant – A light fixture suspended from the ceiling. It may be suspended by a chain, cord
or rod.
GLOSSARY
24
Reflectance – A measurement of the proportion of light reflected when the light hits a
surface and is reflected off it.
Retrofit – Replacing old and/or existing light fixtures with new technology that improves
the efficiency or safety of the lighting system.
Sconce – A light holder that is attached to a wall. Originally used to describe candle holders.
Sensor – A device attached to a light fitting used to detect changes in the environment and
trigger the light to switch on or off.
Shade (light shade) – A fixture that covers the light bulb on a lamp or pendant to diffuse
the light it emits.
Transformer – An electrical device used to convert one voltage to another. In Australia,

these are used to convert main electricity 240V to 12V or 24V.
Task Lighting – A lighting source directed onto a surface providing illumination for a
specific task.
Track Lighting – A system of interior lights fitted to run along a track.
Uplights – A light positioned to direct light upwards.
UV – Acronym for ultraviolet, which is a form of radiation with wavelengths shorter than
visible light.
Voltage – A measurement of the pressure of electricity going through the wires in the
home.
Wall Lighting – Lighting directed on a wall or vertical surface to emphasise that plane,
enhance the surface texture or bounce light back into the room. Increasing wall brightness
generally makes a room seem more spacious.
Wall Washing – A lighting technique in which a wall is evenly washed with light.
Watt – A unit of electrical power.
Wattage – The amount of electricity consumed by a bulb required for it to operate.
GLOSSARY
25
FLOOR LAMP PENDANT LIGHT BOLLARD LIGHT
COVE LIGHTING TRACK LIGHTING
UPLIGHTS LIGHTING TYPES SCONCE
GLOSSARY
26
ACCENT LIGHTING
AMBIENT LIGHTING
TASK LIGHTING
GLOSSARY
27
PAINT GLOSSARY
Acrylic - A water-based paint making it easy to clean brushes and rollers.
Adhesion Primer - A primer used on hard-to-paint surfaces such as tiles, laminates and
glossy finishes.
Apron - The piece directly below the sill that contacts the wall and gives a more “complete”
and eye-pleasing appearance to a window casing.
Bagging - A rough sand and cement finish applied to brick or blockwork.
Binder - An oil-based undercoat used to bind powdery or chalky paint.
Bleeding - Discolouration in a new coat of paint when the old application shows through.
Blistering - Bubbles under the surface of a paint coat.
Blocking - Occurs when two painted surfaces, such as a door and jamb, come together and
stick. More likely to occur when using acrylic paints rather than enamel.
Brush Marks - Visible ridges and lines of the brush left by the bristles when the paint dries.
Caulking - Waterproofing the gaps around or between building materials using a flexible
filler.
Chipping - Removing paint and particles with a sharpened implement.
Colour Match - Two colours with no visible difference.
Crocodiling - When wide, crossing cracks form in paint layers.
Curdling - Partial drying of paint.
Cutting In - A brushing technique used to apply paint to produce a true finished-line-edge

against an adjoining surface.
Dipping - A method of painting where an object is dipped in paint rather than having paint
applied to it with a brush or roller.
GLOSSARY
28
Drop Sheet - The cover placed over a surface to prevent paint drops or spatter from
landing on it.
Drying Time - The time it takes for paint to dry. Touch dry is when paint is dry to touch
while re-coat time is when paint has hardened sufficiently to be painted over.
Eggshell - Has less of a sheen than silk or satin and it does look like the surface of an
eggshell (the clue’s in the name). It sits somewhere between matt and a silk finish and gives
a beautiful classic look to woodwork. It can also be used on walls when you want a heritage
style look with a tough finish.
Enamel - Pigmented, organic, polymeric binders that simulate the appearance, flow,
smoothness and gloss of fused inorganic coatings.
Epoxy - A paint for metal surfaces that does not require a primer. It protects against rust
and has a very durable finish. Used in concrete flooring.
Extension Pole - The telescopic pole that a roller fits onto for painting ceilings and walls.
Exterior Paint - Specially formulated UV and weather resistant paints. Exterior acrylics are
self priming for most colours.
Fading - The loss of colour from paint due to exposure to the sun or weathering.
Feathering - Going over the wet edge of paint that has just been applied so it will blend
with the following paint.
Flaking - Where paint peels off a surface, usually after blistering or cracking.
Hi-Gloss Paint - Offers the highest level of reflection and gives a high shine, glasslike finish
that is popular for doors, cabinets, mouldings and trims. It provides curb appeal for outdoor
spots like shutters and window casings.
Jamb - The frame in which a door sits and is attached to.
Lap - The zone where a coat of paint extends over an adjacent freshly applied coat.
Laying Off - Going over freshly applied paint with a brush or roller so it has a uniform
appearance. Always lay off a surface in the same direction.
Lifting - Softening, swelling or separation from the substrate of a dry coat as the result of
the application of a subsequent coat.
GLOSSARY
29
Marbling - A painting technique that simulates the look of marble.
Masking - Covering of areas that are not to be painted. Usually achieved using masking
tape and paper.
Matt or Flat Paint - Provides a non-reflective, smooth appearance that hides surface
blemishes like nail holes and patches. It requires less coats than higher gloss paints and is
easier to touch up. It’s perfect for new construction, drywall, ceilings and low-traffic areas
like adult bedrooms and dining rooms.
Moulding - A profiled feature used to hide a gap or provide decoration. Skirtings, cornice
and architraves are examples of mouldings.
Mud-cracking - Visible cracking in thick films of paint caused by shrinkage tension during
drying, especially observed with zinc silicates.
Nap - The length of fibres on a paint roller. Short nap rollers are best for gloss finishes;
medium nap for low sheen and matt paints and long nap for rough or textured surfaces.
Oil-base - Contains pigments suspended in a drying oil. Turpentine is the solvent for oil-
based paints.
Overspray - Sprayed paint that has missed the intended surface.
Paint Pads - An alternative paint applicator to brushes and rollers on smooth surfaces.
Available in a range of sizes; some also come with guiding wheels for getting a smooth line
when cutting in.
Peeling - Loss of adhesion resulting in detachment and curling of the paint film from either
previous coatings or the substrate.
Pigments - Powders which give the paint its required anti-corrosive or coloured properties.
Primer - The first coat of a paint job. It protects the surface it is applied to and provides a
good bond for further coats.
Putty - A dough-like preparation that is applied by a knife and that normally hardens on
exposure to air.
Roller - Rollers are available in many different widths and also in a range of materials to
suit different types of paints and the surface being painted.
GLOSSARY
30
Runs - Paint film defects in the form of dripping paint in narrow ribbons flowing downwards
on vertical surfaces, usually caused by applying the coating above the recommended film
thickness or over-thinning.
Sanding - An abrasive process used to level a coated surface prior to the application of a
further coat.
Satin - Satin and silk are ‘mid-sheen’ finishes, which means they look like a slightly polished
surface and reflect a bit of light. Silk is a finish associated with walls and satin for woodwork.
You can wipe silk wall finishes easily, which makes them very practical but if you have less-
than-perfect walls, all the lumps and bumps may show up a bit more. A satin finish on
woodwork helps to hide imperfections and gives colour a softer appearance.
Sealer - Applied to porous surfaces to seal and provide a stable base for following coats.
Also used to prevent stains on a surface, such as water or mould stains, from bleeding
through the final coats.
Semi-Gloss Paint - Even more reflective than satin with a smooth sheen, semi-gloss paint
gives rooms a shiny, sleek appearance. Because it offers high resistance to moisture, it
works well in areas with higher humidity, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms,
as well as high-traffic spaces like doors and utility rooms. While easier to clean than other
finishes, semi-gloss will show most blemishes on walls and ceilings. White and off-white
paints in semi-gloss give rooms a brighter appearance than whites in other finishes.
Spatter - Small droplets of paint thrown off by a paint roller as the paint is applied.
Spraying - Applying paint by spraying it onto a surface.
Stencilling - An image or pattern created by applying pigment to a surface over an

intermediate object with designed gaps in it which create the pattern or image by only
allowing the pigment to reach some parts of the surface.
Solvent - The substance used to dissolve and clean up paint. The solvent for acrylic paint
is water and turpentine for oil-based paints.
Stain - A product that changes the colour of wood yet doesn’t hide the grain or texture.
Needs to be followed with a protective coating, usually varnish.
Stripping - Removing old paint layers in preparation for new paint.
Tacky - Paint that is not quite dry and is a little bit sticky.
GLOSSARY
31
Thinner - Any volatile liquid used for reducing the viscosity of coatings; may consist of a
simple solvent, a diluent or a mixture of solvents and diluents.
Top Coat - The final coat applied in a paint job.
Touch-up - Applying small amounts of paint to fix defects or damage to a finished paint job.
Turpentine (Turps) - A solvent for oil-based paints.
Undercoat - A coat of paint applied after a primer but before the top coats.
Undertone - A subdued colour that can be seen through another main colour.
Varnish - A transparent coating material based essentially on resins and/or drying oil and
solvent.
Washability - The ease with which soiling can be removed from a coated surface by washing.
Water-based - Acrylic paints that can be cleaned up with and diluted by water.
Whitewash - A paint made from lime and chalk commonly used on exterior masonry
surfaces.
Yellowing - When a paint or varnish goes yellow over time. Occurs with oil-based finishes.
GLOSSARY
32
MASKING TAPE BLISTERING VARNISH
PAINT TYPES
SPRAYING STENCILLING PRIMER
GLOSSARY
33
FINISHES GLOSSARY
A/C - An abbreviation for air conditioning.
Aerator - The round screened screw-on tip of a sink spout. It mixes water and air for a
smooth flow.
Aggregate - A mixture of sand and stone and a major component of concrete.
Architrave - Moulding surrounding a door or window opening to cover the join between the
frame and the wall finish. Also known as ‘casing’.
Asbestos - Asbestos (or magnesium silicate) is a material which was previously used in
construction and insulation products. Asbestos was an attractive material due to its stability
and fire-resistance. Exposure to asbestos over long periods of time has been proven to
cause various types of lung cancer.
Bagging - A method of finishing brickwork involving the application of a thin mortar slurry
using a hessian bag or sponge. Can be painted over or left to fade in an oxide finish. Usually
completed by the bricklayer. Bagging varies in texture & colour greatly and is not uniform
like render.
Balustrade - A series of vertical members supporting a handrail of a stair, landing, platform

or bridge.
Beam - Main horizontal structural member in the construction of a frame house. See also
post, joist, stud and rafter.
Bearer - A sub-floor structural timber member which supports the floor joists.
Bearing Wall - Wall that carries some or all of the weight of the structure above. Also called
a structural wall.
Blueprints - Architectural plans of a building. The name refers to the photographic print
in white on a blue ground or blue on a white ground that is made of the architect’s plans.
Brick Veneer - A method of construction in which a single leaf of non-load bearing wall of
brickwork is tied to a timber or metal framed load bearing structure to form the external
enclosure.
Cement - A finely ground inorganic powder that, mixed with water, binds an aggregate /
sand mixture into a hard concrete or mortar within a few days.
GLOSSARY
34
Chair Rail/Dado - Decorative interior moulding located at waist height that also protects
wall surfaces.
Chase - Wall or ceiling channel through which wiring, plumbing or vents pass.
Concrete - A conglomerated artificial stone made by mixing in specified proportions cement,

water and aggregates and pouring the mixture into prepared forms to set and harden.
Cornice - A moulding placed at the junction between a wall and ceiling.
Damp-proof Course (DPC) - A continuous layer of an impervious material placed in a

masonry wall or between a floor and wall to prevent the upward or downward migration of
moisture.
Drop-in Sink: A sink which contains a rim that fits over the countertop.
Drywall - Also commonly referred to as sheetrock, wall board or gypsum board, it is

lightweight and cost efficient for use on interior walls or ceiling panels in new construction,
renovation and repair work.
Eaves - The lower part of a roof that overhangs the walls.
Edge Profile: Defines the shape of the front edge of your countertops.
Edge Return: A thick countertop edge that gives the appearance of a thicker slab.
Fascia - A metal profile which is fixed to the lower ends of rafters and usually supports the
guttering.
Finial - A decorative fitting used at the junction of ridges and hips and at the top of conical,
pyramid or domed roofs.
Footing - That part of a construction designed to transfer loads to the supporting foundation,
usually constructed of reinforced concrete to support base brickwork.
Foundation - The natural or built-up formation of soil, sub-soil or rock upon which a
building or structure is supported.
Gable - The vertical triangular end of a building with a pitched roof, between the rafters
from eaves level to the apex (ridge). It may be formed in brickwork or timber framed and
clad with weatherboards.
GLOSSARY
35
Gauge - An indicating device usually in brickwork setting out the number of bricks to a
certain measurement, e.g. 7 brick courses per 600mm in height. This gauge is adjusted to
suit the brick and the site conditions.
Girder Truss - A truss that runs in the opposite direction to other trusses and has brackets
(shoes) to carry and support the other trusses. The girder truss is often a double truss,
made of hardwood in part or has bigger elements than other trusses.
Hanging Beam - A beam above the ceiling used to support ceiling joists.
Head - The upper horizontal member at the top of an opening or frame.
Header - A brick laid with its greatest dimension across a wall usually used to tie two skins
together or under a door sill or window.
Hearth - The floor area in front of a fireplace or the actual floor of the fireplace. The hearth
is usually constructed of brick, stone or cement.
Hip - A roof with four sloping sides. The external angle formed by the meeting of two
sloping sides of a roof.
Hip Roof - A roof which is pyramidal in shape with sloping surfaces and level edges all
round.
Honed Finish: A honed finish is a satin, smooth surface with relatively little reflection
of light. In other words, it means that a stone’s surface has been ground down slightly to
achieve a consistent, smooth texture and flat, matte finish.
Hydronic - Heating system term synonymous with hot water heating.
Infiltration - Flow of air that enters the house through gaps around windows, doors,
electrical boxes and other exterior openings.
Insulation - Materials used in walls, ceilings and floors to prevent heat transmission.
Integral Sink: The countertop and sink are made out of the same material to create a
continuous surface.
Jamb - Side or head lining of a door, window or other opening.
GLOSSARY
36
Joist - A timber or steel beam supported by a bearer, which the flooring is fixed directly to.
Knot - A knot is a part of a tree limb or branch that is sometimes visible on the surface of
a plank of wood.
Landing - A level part of a stairway, either between flights of stairs or at the end of a flight
of stairs.
Laminate - A product made by bonding together two or more layers.
Laminate Melamine - A laminate manufactured from layers of paper, textile, plastic, wood
or wood veneer compressed at high temperature and sealed in melamine plastic. Often used
as shelving in robes or kitchens.
Lath - In wet-wall construction (i.e. when the plaster is applied wet rather than in dry
gypsum boards), the lath is the wood, metal or other material that is attached to the frame
of the building prior to plastering to act as a base for the plaster.
Lintel - Horizontal member, usually of metal or stone that supports the load over an opening,
such as a door, window or fireplace.
Lip-Mount: A lip-mount sink is designed with a lip around the top edge and designed to
drop into a cut-out in your countertops, resting on the “lip”.
Louver - A vented opening into the home that has a series of horizontal slats and arranged
to permit ventilation but to exclude rain, snow, light, insects or other living creatures.
MDF: Medium Density Fibreboard - Fibreboard, in all its densities, is made from wood
fibres. Those would be little tiny pieces of hardwood or softwood. Mix these with some resin
and wax, then heat it up and press it together and you get fibreboard.
Mortar - A mixture of cement (or lime) with sand and water used in masonry work.
Newel Post - A post at the top or bottom of a stair flight to support the handrail and/or
winders in the stair treads.
Nosing - The projecting edge of a moulding or drip or the front edge of a stair tread.
Overhang - Outward projecting eave of a roof or project part of a benchtop to put stools
under.
Parapet - A low wall to protect the edge of a roof, balcony or terrace. Many shops have a
parapet at the front of the building for signage.
GLOSSARY
37
Pelmet - A built-in head to a window to conceal the curtain rod or to a sliding door to
conceal the tracks. Usually made of wood.
Picture Rail - A wooden or plaster moulding fixed to a wall at or above door height for
hanging pictures or for decorative purposes.
Plywood - A building material made of thin sheets of wood that have been glued together.
Pointing - Filling of open mortar joints between masonry units (brick, stone, block).
Repointing - Renewal of deteriorating mortar between masonry units (brick, stone or block)
by removal of old, crumbing mortar and the tooling in of fresh mortar.
Rafter - A sloping member in a roof providing the principal structural support for the roofing
material.
Render - Cement rendering is the application of a premixed layer of sand and cement to
brick, concrete, stone or mud brick. It is often textured, coloured or painted after application.
It is generally used on exterior walls but can be used to feature an interior wall.
Shiplap - Timber boards that are edge dressed and rebated so that the edges of each board
lap over the edges of the adjacent boards.
Sink Reveal: Applicable to under-mount sinks. It is used to describe the size of the hole cut
for an under-mount sink. A bigger cut-out reveals the top edge of the under-mount sink. A
smaller cut-out hides the top of the sink because the stone overhangs the edge of the sink.
Skirting - A wooden board fixed to the bottom of a wall at the junction of the floor to
prevent damage to the wall or to conceal small gaps.
Slip Joint - A joint designed to allow movement between two members usually in the form
of two layers of sheet metal with grease installed on top of a brick wall prior to installation
of a concrete slab.
Soffit - The underside of a slab or eave.
Starphire Glass - Is glass that is perfectly clear, and you can paint it any colour you like. If
you use normal glass, it has a blue/green tint, so if you paint it white, you get a blue/green
hue. If you use clear glass, you can paint it any colour you like.
Stair Risers - The vertical face of a step in a stair flight.
GLOSSARY
38
Stretcher Bond - Stretcher bond, also called as running bond, is created when bricks are
laid with only their stretchers showing, overlapping midway with the courses of bricks below
and above.
Stucco - Traditionally, an external render to provide a decorative finish, but now, generally
referred to as a fibro wall sheet with a decorative finish.
Terrazzo - A material consisting of irregular marble or stone fragments set in a matrix

of cement and mechanically abraded and polished after casting to produce a smooth hard
surface.
Threshold - The bottom metal or wood plate of an exterior door frame. Generally, they are
adjustable to keep a tight fit with the door slab.
Toughened Glass - Glass made by rapidly cooling the glass to make it shatter into small
pieces when broken for safety; it usually cannot be cut and needs to be made to order to
size. It is unlike laminated glass, which is made from layers of glass with silicon between, to
crack only when broken for safety and can easily be cut on site.
Tongue and Groove - Wooden planking in which adjacent boards are joined by means of
interlocking ridges and hollows down their sides.
Underpinning - The construction of new footings or concrete piers under an existing footing
to prevent its collapse or failure.
Valley - The meeting line of two inclined roof surfaces at a re-entrant angle.
Weep Holes - Vertical joints or perpends in brickwork left open above the flashing line to
allow water from behind the wall to escape.
Wet Wall - Bathroom or kitchen wall containing plumbing lines.
GLOSSARY
39
LAMINATE DRYWALL BALUSTRADE
CEMENT RENDER PLYWOOD
TONGUE AND GROOVE TERRAZZO WEEP HOLE
GLOSSARY
40
CURTAIN AND UPHOLSTERY FABRIC
GLOSSARY
Absorbency - The ability of a fabric to take in moisture.
Acrylic - A manufactured fibre; its major properties include a soft, wool-like hand, machine
washable and dryable and excellent colour retention.
Alpaca - A natural hair fibre obtained from the Alpaca sheep, a domesticated member of
the llama family.
Angora - The hair of the Angora goat. Also known as Angora mohair. Angora may also apply
to the fur of the Angora rabbit.
Antique Satin - A reversible satin-weave fabric with satin floats on the technical face and
surface slubs on the technical back created by using slub filling yarns. It is usually used with
the technical back as the right side for drapery fabrics and often made of a blend of fibres.
Bamboo Fabric - Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo
grass. Bamboo fabric has been growing in popularity because it has many unique properties
and is more sustainable than most textile fibres. Bamboo fabric is light and strong, has
excellent wicking properties and is to some extent antibacterial.
Basket Weave - Plain weave where two or more warp yarns interlace with the same
balance of filler yarns, so that the fabric surface resembles a basket.
Batik - A method of dyeing fabric where some areas are covered with wax or pastes made
of glues or starches to make designs by keeping dyes from penetrating in pattern areas.
Multicoloured and blended effects are obtained by repeating the dying process several times
with the initial pattern of wax boiled off and another design applied before dyeing again in
a new colour.
Batiste - A lightweight, plain weave fabric, semi-sheer and usually made of cotton or cotton
blends.
Boiled Wool - Felted knitted wool, it offers the flexibility of a knit with great warmth.
Boucle - A knit or woven fabric with small curls or loops that create a nubby surface. The
fabric has a looped, knotted surface.
Brocade - A heavy jacquard type fabric with an all-over raised pattern or floral design.
GLOSSARY
41
Brocatelle - Brocatelle is fairly similar to Brocade with a few subtle differences. Brocatelle
features linen to strengthen it and often sticks to just two colours. As it’s a stronger fabric,
it doesn’t drape well, making it a better choice for wall hangings than curtain fabric.
Brush Fringe - A brush fringe is a cut fringe that has a flat skirt made of thin yarns.
Buffalo Plaid - A plaid with large blocks formed by the intersection of two different coloured
yarns. Can be found in multipurpose or upholstery weight fabrics.
Bullion Fringe - Bullion Fringe is made of cords rather than yarns. The heading can be plain
or decorative.
Burlap - A loosely constructed, heavyweight, plain weave fabric. It has a rough hand.
Burn Out Velvet - Created from two different fibres, the velvet is removed with chemicals
in a pattern, leaving the backing fabric intact.
C.O.M. - Customer’s Own Material.
Calico - A lightly woven, cotton type fabric with an all over print; usually a small floral
pattern on a contrasting background colour.
Camel’s Hair - A natural fibre obtained from the underhair of the camel. It is relatively
close to cashmere.
Canvas - A strong, durable, closely woven cotton fabric.
Casement Cloth - A lightweight textile made in a combination of fibres usually dyed in light
neutral colours.
Cashmere - A natural fibre obtained from the soft fleecy undergrowth of the Kashmir goat.
A luxury fibre with a very soft hand.
Charmuese - A luxurious, supple, silky fabric with a shiny satin face and a dull back.
Generally, either silk, rayon or polyester.
Check - A pattern consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical bands in two or more colours
in a woven cloth that can be found in upholstery, multipurpose or drapery weight fabrics.
Cheesecloth - A lightweight, sheer, plain-woven fabric with a very soft texture. It may be
natural coloured, bleached or dyed.
GLOSSARY
42
Chenille - A fuzzy yarn whose pile resembles a caterpillar. Used mainly for decorative
fabrics, embroidery, tassels and rugs. Sometimes used broadly to define a fabric woven
from chenille yarns.
Chinoiserie - A Chinese decorative style that was extremely popular in France and
exemplified by its vogue in England, especially during the reign of Queen Anne.
Chintz - A plain weave fabric, which has been glazed to produce a polished look. Fabric
must be dry cleaned as the glazing will wash off the machine laundering.
Cord - Cords consist of plied yarns (plies) that have been twisted together. Cords are
frequently used in place of fabric welting.
Corduroy - A cloth made with cut pile ribs (or wales) running the length or width of the
fabric. The ribs are produced by wefts yarns that are carried over the fabric face and then
cut.
Cotton - A white vegetable fibre grown in warmer climates in many parts of the world that
has been used to produce many types of fabric for hundreds of years. Cotton fabric feels
good against the skin regardless of the temperature or the humidity.
Crewel - A true crewel fabric is embroidered with crewel yam loosely twisted, two-ply wool
on a plain weave fabric. Traditional crewel fabrics are handwoven and embroidered in India.
The design motif for crewel work is typically outlines of flowers, vines, and leaves in one
or many colours. Modern weaving technology and inventive designers create traditional
“crewel” looks with weave effects alone, without the use of embroidery.
Denim - A twill weave cotton fabric made with different coloured yarns in the warp and the
weft. Due to the twill construction, one colour predominates on the fabric surface.
Dobby - A decorative weave, characterised by small figures, usually geometric, that are
woven into the fabric structure.
Doeskin - Generally applied to fabric with a low nap that is brushed in one direction to
create a soft suede-like hand on the fabric front.
Drill - Strong, medium to heavyweight, warp-faced, twill weave fabric.
Duck - A tightly woven, heavy, plain weave, bottom weight fabric with a hard, durable
finish. The fabric is usually made of cotton.
Dupioni Silk - A crisp fabric with irregular slubs.
GLOSSARY
43
Elasticity - The ability of a fibre to return to its original length, shape or size immediately
after the removal of stress.
Embossing - A calendering process in which fabrics are engraved with the use of heated
rollers under pressure to produce a raised design on the fabric surface.
Embroidery - An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which coloured threads are sewn

on to the fabric to create a design. Embroidery may be done either by hand or machine.
Faux Fur - Artificial fur made from synthetic material.
Felt - A non-woven fabric made from wool, hair or fur; and sometimes in combination with
certain manufactured fibres, where the fibres are locked together in a process utilising heat,
moisture and pressure to form a compact material.
Flannel - Usually a 100% cotton fabric that has been brushed on one or both sides for
softness.
Flax - The plant from which cellulosic linen fibre is obtained.
Fleece - Synthetic knit fabric that stretches across the grain.
Foulard - A lightweight, twill weave fabric, made from filament yarns like silk, acetate,
polyester, with a small all over print pattern on a solid background.
Gabardine - A worsted twill weave that is wrinkle resistant.
Gauze - A sheer, open weave fabric usually cotton or silk.
Georgette - A drapery woven fabric created from highly twisted yarns creating a pebbly
texture.
Gimp - Gimps are flat, narrow, woven textiles made in many styles. One or both edges of
a gimp can plain or cut or have scalloped loops.
Gossamer - Very soft, gauze like veiling originally of silk.
Grois Point - A fabric which features large points of yarn on the surface of the fabric.
Grosgrain - A tightly woven, firm, warp-faced fabric with heavy, round filling ribs created
by a high warp count and coarse filling yarns. Grosgrain can be woven as a narrow ribbon
or a full width fabric.
GLOSSARY
44
Heather - A yarn that is spun using pre-dyed fibres. These fibres are blended together to
give a particular look. The term, heather, may also be used to describe the fabric made from
heathered yarns.
Interlining - An insulation, padding or stiffening fabric, either sewn to the wrong side of
the lining or the inner side of the outer shell fabric.
Iridescent - A colour effect created by weaving warp ends of one colour and a weft of
another colour. The taffeta weave creates the best iridescent effects.
Irish Poplin - There are two types of Irish poplin: (1) Originally a fabric constructed with
silk warp and wool filling in plain weave with fine rib; (2) Fine linen or cotton shirting also
made in Ireland.
Jacquard - Intricate method of weaving invented by Joseph J.M. Jacquard in 1801-1804

in which a head motion at the top of the loom holds and operates a set of punched cards
according to the motif desired. The perforations in the cards, in connection with the rods
and cords, regulate the raising of the stationary warp thread mechanisms. Jacquard knitting
is a development of the Jacquard loom and its principles. Jacquard fabrics are simple or
elaborate in design and include brocade, brocatelle, damask, neckwear, evening wear, formal
attire, some shirts, tapestries, etc.
Jersey Fabric - Usually thinner or lighter weight than interlock knit with less stretch.
Jute - A base fibre, chiefly from India, used primarily for gunny sacks, bags, cordage and
binding threads in carpets and rugs.
Kapok - A short, lightweight, cotton like, vegetable fibre found in the seed pods of the
Bombocaceae tree. Because of its brittle quality, it is generally not spun. However, its
buoyancy and moisture resistance makes it ideal for use in cushions, mattresses and life
jackets.
La Coste - A double knit fabric made with a combination of knit and tuck stitches to create
a mesh like appearance. It is often a cotton or cotton/polyester blend.
Lame - A woven fabric using flat silver or gold metal threads to create either the design or
the background in the fabric.
Lawn - A light, fine cloth made using carded or combed linen or cotton yarns. The fabric has
a crease-resistant, crisp finish. Linen lawn is synonymous with handkerchief linen. Cotton
lawn is a similar type of fabric, which can be white, solid coloured or printed.
Leather - Animal skin dressed for use in clothing.
GLOSSARY
45
Leatherette - A simulated leather.
Linen - A natural plant fibre, linen fibres are stronger and more lustrous than cotton.
Lisere - The design is created by coloured warp threads brought up on the face of the
fabric, leaving loose yarns on the back woven vertically, which gives it a vertical stripe
effect. Liseres are Victorian in appearance and have embroidered style patterns.
Matelasse - A medium to heavyweight luxury fabric made in a double cloth construction to

create a blistered or quilted surface.
Merino - A type of wool that originates from pure bred Merino sheep. The best Merino wool
comes from Italy.
Mesh - A type of fabric characterized by its net-like open appearance and the spaces
between the yarns. Mesh is available in a variety of constructions including wovens, knits,
laces or crocheted fabrics.
Microfibers - An extremely fine synthetic fibre that can be woven into textiles with the
texture and drape of natural fibre cloth but with enhanced washability, breathability and
water repellence.
Mohair - Hair fibres from the Angora goat.
Moiree - A corded fabric, usually made from silk or one of the manufactured fibres, which
has a distinctive water marked wavy pattern on the face of the fabric.
NAP - The raised hairs or threads on the surface of fabric or suede leather, in terms of the
direction in which they naturally lie.
Natural Fibre - Any textile fibre manufactured from an animal or vegetable source. Cotton,
linen, silk and wool are the foremost examples.
Ombre - A fabric made by laying in wefts of yarn that are closely coloured hues that after
weaving created a shaded effect.
Organdy - A stiffened, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric usually cotton or polyester.
Organza - A crisp, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count,
made of silk, rayon, nylon or polyester.
Passementerie - The French term for the ribbons, trims and tassels.
GLOSSARY
46
Pelmet - A pelmet is the framework that sits at the top of the window and used for decorative
purposes to hide fittings and curtain rods.
Percale - A superior quality, plain weave cloth of closely set combed and carded long staple
cotton.
Petit Point - A needle point stitch made on canvas with one foundation thread in contrast
to two or more threads of a gros point.
Pilling - A fuzzy ball caused by the rolling up of abraded surface fibres.
Pique - A medium weight cotton or cotton blend fabric with a pebbly weave that looks
almost like a check.
Plisse - A lightweight, plain weave, fabric, made from cotton, rayon or acetate and
characterised by a puckered striped effect, usually in the warp direction. The crinkled effect
is created through the application of a caustic soda solution, which shrinks the fabric in the
areas of the fabric where it is applied. Plisse is similar in appearance to seersucker.
Plush - A compact, woven fabric with warp pile higher than that of velvet. Made of cotton,
wool, silk or manmade fibre, often woven as double face fabric and then sheared apart.
Higher pile gives bristly texture. Usually piece-dyed but may be printed.
Ply - The number of yarns twisted together to make a composite yarn.
Polyester - A manufactured fibre introduced in the early 1950s and is second only to
cotton in worldwide use. Polyester has high strength (although somewhat lower than nylon),
excellent resiliency and high abrasion resistance. Low absorbency allows the fibre to dry
quickly.
Quilting - A fabric construction in which a layer of down or fibrefill is placed between two
layers of fabric and then held in place by stitching or sealing in a regular, consistent, all over
pattern on the goods.
Railroad - To turn a fabric in a direction where the selvedges are in a horizontal position.
In a plain fabric or when the design is non directional, you can avoid making seams when
the width of the goods will accommodate the height required. Some upholstery fabrics are
designed in this manner to be used exclusively for furniture.
Ramie - A base fibre, similar to flax, taken from the stalk of a plant grown in China.
Rayon - A natural fibre created from wood pulp, it usually has good drape and a soft hand.
GLOSSARY
47
Repeat - One complete pattern of the fabric measured vertically and/or horizontally.
Sateen Fabric - A fabric made from yarns with low lustre, such as cotton or other staple
length fibres. The fabric has a soft, smooth hand and a gentle, subtle lustre.
Satin - With a lustrous, shiny surface, drapability depends on fibre content. Silk and rayon
satins have the best stitch results.
Satin Weave - A basic weave where the face of the fabric is almost entirely warp threads
on the surface.
Selvage - The edge on either side of a woven or flat knitted fabric, often of different threads
and/or weave, so finished to prevent raveling.
Sequin - A sequin is a disk-shaped bead used for decorative purposes. In earlier centuries,
they were made from shiny metals. Today, sequins are most often made from plastic. They
are available in a wide variety of colors and geometrical shapes.
Sheer - Any very lightweight fabric (e.g. chiffon, georgette, voile, sheer crepe). Usually has
an open weave.
Silk - A natural filament fibre produced by the silkworm in the construction of its cocoon.
Most silk is collected from cultivated worms, Tussah silk or wild silk, is a thicker, shorter fibre
produced by worms in their natural habitat.
Silk Shantung - Similar to Dupioni silk, Shantung has a more refined appearance with
smaller slubs.
Suede - Leather with a napped surface.
Suzani - A heavy and soft upholstery weight textile in a jacquard weave. Surface appears
puffy or cushioned. The pattern can vary in size or shape and can have multiple colourways.
Swag - Swags are long side pieces that hang from the top of the window.
Synthetic Fabric - Fabric made of manmade fibres. Examples are polyester, Avora and
nylon.
Tapestry - A heavy, often hand-woven, ribbed fabric, featuring an elaborate design

depicting a historical or current pictorial display. The weft-faced fabric design is made by
using coloured filling yarns, only in areas where needed, that are worked back and forth
over spun warp yarns, which are visible on the back.
GLOSSARY
48
Tassel - Tassels come in all sizes, shapes and forms. A hanging ornament consisting of a
head and a skirt of cut yarn, looped yarns or bullion fringe.
Tassel Trim - A plain or decorative gimp with attached tassels.
Ticking - Originally hand woven of linen as covering for feather mattresses, the characteristic
herringbone weave was intended to keep feathers in and ticks out. A closely woven cotton
in a twill or satin weave and usually with woven (sometimes printed) stripes.
Tweed - A medium to heavy weight, fluffy, woollen, twill weave fabric containing coloured
slubbed yarns.
Twill - A fabric that shows a distinct diagonal wale on the face (e.g. denim, gabardine,
tricotine).
Ultrasuede - An imitation suede fabric composed of polyester microfibres combined with

polyurethane foam in a non-woven structure. Hand and appearance resemble sheep suede.
Valance - A valance is made from fabric and can look much like a short curtain.
Velour - Usually with a knitted back, velour resembles velvet but has some stretch.
Velvet - With a longer pile, velvet is the most luxurious fabric. Stretch velvet has some
lycra, it can be machine washed and will not create a shine in the seat or elbows.
Velveteen - A cotton or cotton blend fabric with a short, dense pile. It lacks the sheen and
drape of velvet.
Waffle Cloth - Similar to pique in texture. Waffle cloth has a honeycomb weave made on
dobby loom. Usually made of cotton.
Wool - Wool is naturally stain and wrinkle resistant. It can absorb up to 40% of its weight
in moisture without feeling damp. Wool comes in many forms including crepe, challis,
gabardine, merino, melton, jersey and worsted wool suitings.
Woven - Woven fabrics are produced from virtually all types of textile fibres and threads.
The fabric is produced by weaving the perpendicular threads, the warp and weft. The fabric
is very durable and is most commonly found in upholstery weight goods.
Yarn - A continuous strand of textile fibres created when a cluster of individual fibres are
twisted together. These long yarns are used to create fabrics, either by knitting or weaving.
GLOSSARY
49
SATIN CORDUROY SUEDE
CHEVRON PATTERN VS HERRINGBONE PATTERN
SEQUIN CASHMERE CHINOISERIE
GLOSSARY
50
ART GLOSSARY
Abstract - A term generally used to describe art that does not attempt to represent an
accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms and gestural
marks to achieve its effect.
Accent - Emphasis given to certain elements in a painting, which makes them attract more
attention. Details that define an object or piece of art.
Aesthetic - Relating to or characterized by a concern with beauty or the appreciation of

beauty.
Avant-garde - French for “advanced guard,” this term is used in English to describe a group
that is innovative, experimental and inventive in its technique or ideology, particularly in the
realms of culture, politics and the arts.
Brushwork - The characteristic way each artist brushes paint onto a support.
Canvas - A closely woven, sturdy cloth of hemp, cotton, linen or a similar fibre, frequently
stretched over a frame and used as a surface for painting.
Ceramics - Objects, such as pots and vases, made of clay hardened by heat.
Chalk - Made of calcium carbonate, chalk crayons are a dry medium used in the same
manner of charcoal. Once a chalk drawing has been completed, it requires a fixative to hold
the finished image in place and prevent smudging.
Charcoal/Graphic - One of the oldest drawing materials, charcoal is composed of charred

wood, usually willow. Like chalk, charcoal is a dry medium and smudges easily and requires
a fixative to hold it in place.
Commission - To request or the request for the production of a work of art.
Composition - The arrangement of the individual elements within a work of art so as to

form a unified whole; also used to refer to a work of art, music, literature or its structure or
organisation.
Content - The subject matter or significance of a work of art, especially as contrasted with
its form.
Cubism - Describes the work of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and those influenced by
them.
GLOSSARY
51
Curator - A person whose job it is to research and manage a collection and organise
exhibitions.
Découpage - The act of cutting out paper designs and applying them to a surface to make
an all over collage.
Earthenware - Ceramic ware, usually coarse and reddish in colour, fired in the lowest
temperature ranges. Used for domestic ware, glazed or unglazed.
Engraving - Printmaking method in which a sharp tool (burin) is used to scratch lines into
a hard surface such as metal or wood.
Etching - The technique of reproducing a design by coating a metal plate with wax and
drawing with a sharp instrument called a stylus through the wax down to the metal.
Enamel - Enamel is a vitreous porcelain or ceramic glaze with a hard smooth finish that is
applied to a surface, such as pottery or metal. It is finished by firing in a kiln and comes in
varying colours and opacities.
Expressionism - Any art that stresses the artist’s emotional and psychological reaction to
subject matter, often with bold colours and distortions of form. Specifically, an art style of
the early 20th century followed principally by certain German artists.
Fine Art - An art form created primarily as an aesthetic expression to be enjoyed for its own
sake. The viewer must be prepared to search for the intent of the artist as the all-important
first step toward communication and active participation.
Firing - Heating pottery or sculpture in a kiln or open fire to bring the clay to maturity. The
temperature needed to mature the clay varies with the type of body used. Also, heating
glazed ware to the necessary point to cause the glaze to mature.
Framing - The method by which information is included or excluded from a photograph,

film or video. A photographer or filmmaker frames an image when he or she points a camera
at a subject.
Genre - A category of artistic practice having a particular form, content or technique.
Glaze – A mixing paint with a transparent, resinous medium to create a thin, shiny, layer
over a painting or a thin, vitreous coating used in ceramics to create a waterproof or colourful
surface after firing.
Gouache - An opaque, reflective variant of watercolour created by adding chalk to the

traditional watercolour formula.
GLOSSARY
52
Graphite - A type of carbon unsuitable for use in a chalk, like charcoal, but ideal for use in
pencils.
Hue - Hue means colour.
Impressionism - A label applied to a loose group of mostly French artists who positioned
themselves outside of the official Salon exhibitions organised by the Académie des Beaux-
Arts. Rejecting established styles, the Impressionists began experimenting in the early 1860s
with a brighter palette of pure unblended colours, synthetic paints, sketchy brushwork and
subject matter drawn from their direct observations of nature and of everyday life in and
around Paris.
Inlay - In woodworking, a technique in which small pieces of wood, often with varying
grains and colours, are glued together to make a pattern.
Kiln - A furnace used to fire ceramic objects at high temperatures and render their shapes
and colours permanent.
Landscape - A generalisation for any artist’s depiction of natural scenery. Figures and other
objects should be of secondary importance to the composition and incidental to the content.
Limited Edition - To create replicas of an original work of art in a limited number. These
reproductions are then called the edition, and each piece is given a number to indicate that
it is part of that edition (i.e. A bronze that is in a limited edition may be 4 of 50; therefore
its edition number is 4/50).
Line Drawing - A drawing that is composed completely by lines, with no colour, shading or
other embellishment.
Linocut - Similar to a woodcut, a linocut is a block of wood covered by a thick piece of

linoleum on top. The image is carved into the thick surface of the linoleum, making a relief
of the desired image. The linocut is then inked and pressed on fabric or paper to create a
print.
Lithography - A process that creates prints by using a flat surface that has been chemically
sensitised so that ink adheres only to the areas that have been treated and is not attracted
to the blank areas.
Modelling - In sculpture, shaping a form in some plastic material, such as clay, wax or
plaster.
Modelling - In drawing, painting or printmaking, the illusion of three-dimensionality on a

flat surface created by simulating effects of light and shadow.
GLOSSARY
53
Monochrome - A work of art rendered in only one colour.
Mural - A large painting applied to a wall or ceiling, especially in a public space.
Oil Paint - A paint in which pigment is suspended in oil, which dries on exposure to air.
Old Master - A distinguished European artist of the period from about 1500 to the early
1700s.
Palette - 1. The range of colours used by an artist in making a work of art; 2. A thin wooden
or plastic board on which an artist holds and mixes paint.
Paper Mâché - French for “chewed paper”, paper mâché is an easy moulding technique that
uses strips of paper affixed together with a flour paste. It can be used for many different
types of objects and can be painted or varnished.
Pastels - A coloured crayon that consists of pigment mixed with just enough of an aqueous
binder to hold it together; a work of art produced by pastel crayons; the technique itself.
Pastels vary according to the volume of chalk contained. The deepest in tone are pure
pigment. Pastel is the simplest and purest method of painting.
Pop Art - A style derived from commercial art forms and characterized by larger than
life replicas of items from mass culture. This style evolved in the late 1950s and was
characterized in the 1960s by such artists as Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Claus Oldenberg,
Roy Lichtenstein, Larry Rivers, Robert Rauschenberg, George Segal and Robert Indiana.
Portrait - A representation of a particular individual, usually intended to capture their

likeness or personality. A portrait the artist creates of him or herself is called a self-portrait.
Pose - The way a figure is positioned.
Pottery - Ceramic ware fired at a low temperature and typically fired at a much lower
temperature than porcelain.
Print - A work of art on paper that usually exists in multiple copies. It is created not by
drawing directly on paper but through a transfer process. The artist begins by creating a
composition on another surface, such as metal or wood, and the transfer occurs when that
surface is inked and a sheet of paper, placed in contact with it, is run through a printing
press. Four common printmaking techniques are woodcut, etching, lithography and screen
print.
Profile - A side view, usually referring to that of a human head.
GLOSSARY
54
Prop - An object used to aid or enhance a story or performance.
Renaissance - A term meaning rebirth or revival; applied to a period characterized by the

humanistic revival of classical art, architecture, literature and learning, originating in Italy
in the fourteenth century and later spreading throughout Europe and lasting through the
sixteenth century.
Replica - An exact copy executed in the same manner and in the same materials by the
artist that created the original or by someone supervised by the original artist. Usually
considered to be of the same value as the original.
Sculptor - One who produces a three-dimensional work of art using any of a variety of
means including carving wood, chiseling stone, casting or welding metal, moulding clay or
wax or assembling materials.
Sculpture - A three-dimensional work of art made by a variety of means, including carving

wood, chiselling stone, casting or welding metal, moulding clay or wax or assembling
materials.
Silhouette - The outer shape of an object.
Sketch - A preliminary drawing of a composition. Sketches are sometimes used as preparation

or a guide for a final, more detailed project or just to quickly catch the impression of a
moment.
Stencil - An impervious material perforated with letters, shapes or patterns through which
a substance passes to a surface below.
Still Life - A drawing or painting of a group of inanimate objects. Fruit and flowers are some
of the most common objects depicted in a still life.
Stretcher - The wooden frame on which an artist’s canvas is stretched.
Subject Matter - The visual or narrative focus of a work of art.
Symbol - A form, sign or emblem that represents something else, often something
immaterial, such as an idea or emotion.
Trompe-l’oeil - A French term meaning “deception of the eye.” A painting or other work
of two-dimensional art rendered in such a photographically realistic manner as to ‘trick’ the
viewer into thinking it is three-dimensional reality.
GLOSSARY
55
Vignette - A small illustration or portrait photograph, which fades into its background
without a definite border.
Watercolour - Paints composed of pigments ground to an extremely fine texture in an

aqueous solution of gum Arabic or gum tragacanth. The absence of white fillers, such as
those in gouache, creates a medium with luminous transparency.
GLOSSARY
56
CUBISM OIL PAINT ABSTRACT
SCULPTURES PRINT
POP ART PORTRAIT SKETCH
GLOSSARY
57

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INDEX

INTERIOR DESIGN GLOSSARY 2

CURTAIN AND UPHOLSTERY FABRIC GLOSSARY 41

Arabesque - Decorative scroll work or other intricate ornamentation consisting of foliage,

Architrave - Decorative moulding that goes around windows and doors.

Back Splat - A solid wooden slat in the middle of a chair back.

Banquette - A long, upholstered built-in bench seat.

Bead - A small, convex moulding of a semi-circular section.

Bespoke - Made specifically for you to your design requirements.

Bolster - A long and usually cylindrical stuffed pillow or cushion.

Bullnose - A rounded edge on tile or benchtops.

Chevron - A V-shaped ornamentation inspired by military insignia.

Coffered Ceiling - Rectangle, square or octagon shaped sunken panels on a ceiling.

Cornice - Decorative plaster moulding around a ceiling.

Dormer - A window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof.

Flat-pack - Ready-to-assemble furniture, which is also known as knock-down furniture. It

Flock - Raised effect applied to wallcoverings and other objects.

Fretwork - An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence.

Grasscloth - A natural fibre wallpaper.

Jabot - The cascading fabric at each side of a swaged valance.

Lacquer - A hard, protective varnish that is applied as a topcoat to furniture.

Limewash - A mixture of lime and water used for coating walls.

Manchette - A small, upholstered patch or cushion used on an armrest.

Marquetry - Decorative patterns made of inlays, usually applied to veneered surfaces.

Plinth - A pedestal base to display sculptures.

Reproduction - New furniture that’s a copy of an antique style or period.

Sconce - A light fixture fixed on a wall.

Wainscoting - Wood moulding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.

HEADBOARD ALCOVE UPHOLSTERY

Access Door – Door which allows access to concealed space or equipment.

Agreement – A contract between two or more parties, either written or verbal.

Allotment – A building site.

Apex – The highest point of a gable.

Architecture – Art and science of building.

Batt – Any portion of a full brick.

Bed Joint – Horizontal joint in brickwork.

Bit – An interchangeable cutting tool inserted into chuck of drilling machine.

Bore – Diameter of centre hole in circular saw blade.

Building By-Laws – Regulations by which local authorities control building construction.

Capping – The uppermost part of the top of a piece of work.

Carpentry – Trade of preparing, cutting and fixing timber in building construction.

Column – Freestanding vertical load-bearing member.

Course – A single row or layer of bricks.

Crazing – Fine cracks that may occur on plastered rendered surface.

Cross-Cutting – Cutting timber across the grain.

Curing – Treatment of concrete or cement rendering to facilitate hardening.

Dimension – A measure of distance.

Door Frame – A frame into which a door is fitted.

Door Jambs – The two vertical members of a door frame.

Excavation – A hole made by removing earth.

Expansion Joint – A joint in a building to permit thermal movement or creep.

Grading – A classification of timber by strength required to perform a specific task.

Ground Line – The ground level or natural grade line.

Hardboard – A timber sheet product manufactured of compressed wood fibre.

Hardwood – A pored timber.

Identificatin Survey – A survey which indicates whether a building is erected on the

Joinery – Doors, windows, cupboards, manufactured in a joiner’s shop.

Kerb – An upstand. A raised edging to a pavement or path.

Kiln Drying – Controlled seasoning of timber by use of kilns.

Lining – Internal covering of walls of framed construction.

Lintel – Structural member or beam carrying loads over an opening.

Masonry – Brick, concrete, stone, artificial stone or terracotta laid in mortar.

Mastic – A waterproof, adhesive, plastic compound.

Mitre – Half angle of a joint.