Glossary of Design Terminology

Shauna Lynn Simon CEO Beyond The Stage Homes

Have you ever hired a contractor or designer to come into your home, and found yourself questioning your knowledge of the English language when they started explaining what they would like to do? These trades tend to use words from a dictionary all their own, so whether you are hiring someone to do work on your home, or planning to do work yourself, we’ve got you covered from alcove to zig zag.

ALCOVE A recess or niche in the wall of a room, as for a bed, books, windowsill, etc.

BEVELED Slanted and polished edge detail used on wood, marble, glass, etc.

BULKHEAD A boxlike structure covering ventilation systems in a home.

CALIFORNIA CEILING Adding a texture to a ceiling CASING The frame around a door or window.

CHEVRON A line or stripe in the shape of a V or an inverted V.

COLORWASHING A decorative paint technique in which a base color and glaze(s) are applied to a wall for a muted “washed” effect.

CONSOLE TABLE A small table fixed to a wall or designed to stand against a wall (also known as a sofa table, and often placed behind sofas).

COVERLET Bedspread; comforter; often quilted.

DAMASK To decorate or weave with rich patterns

DECANTER An ornamental glass bottle used for holding and serving wine, brandy, etc.

DECOUPAGE Artistic application of glue, paper cut-outs and varnish applied to the surface of any object

DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOW A window in which both the top and bottom sash open

DORMER A structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling the addition of windows.

ECLECTIC Combines various characteristics of at least two different styles to create a look that is unique.

EGRESS WINDOW A window that is required in specific locations in a dwelling and is intended to provide an emergency means of exiting a dwelling. Windows must meet specific size and requirements to qualify as an egress window.

FINIAL An ornamental terminating part, as on a post of piece of furniture. i.e. finished ends on fancy stair case railings; drapery rod ends

FOCAL POINT Specific visual elements such as a spectacular view, home entertainment system, fireplace, art, sculpture or furniture piece, which becomes the main focus of the room or vignette.

GABLE Two generally triangular sections of wall at the end of a pitched roof, occupying the space between the two slopes of the roof

GILDED An object with a thin overlay of gold leaf added to its surface. Gold leaf is paper thin layers of gold brushed onto a prepared adhesive surface, usually over a red primer to increase vibrancy and lustre

GROMMET An eyelet placed in a hole in a sheet or panel (often used for drapery) to protect the sheet or panel from being torn when hung on rings, hooks, or in the case of drapery, a rod.

KNOT A portion of a branch or limb that extends into the trunk of a tree and appears as a darker spot on sawn lumber.

HEARTH The original definition for this is a “fire-proof floor extending out from a fireplace into a room for fire protection”, however, many of these are now more decorative than anything else, and while they still provide fire protection, their main purpose is decoration

INCANDESCENT Refers to a light bulb that produces visible light using a metal filament encased in glass (standard light bulbs are considered incandescent).

IRIDESCENCE the property of certain surfaces, which appear to change colour as the angle of view, changes. Iridescence may be seen commonly in soap bubbles.

JOIST A beam used to support the floor or ceiling.

KEY PATTERN An ornamental design consisting of repeated and symmetrical geometric figures, often in relief, contained within a band or border.

KICKPLATE A metal strip mounted at the base of a door, wall, or cabinet to prevent scuffing

LATTICE A criss-cross pattern made from strips of metal, wood, or fabric.

LOUVRES The moveable slats on shutters

MOTIF A design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or color.

NICHE Recessed opening, often arched at the top, set in a wall with a shelf, often lit from the top to display sculpture or objects of art.

ORGANZA Sheer, stiff silk or synthetic fiber, often used for fashionable evening wear.

PAISLEY Paisley pattern is a term in English for a design using the boteh, a droplet-shaped

vegetable motif of Persian or Indian origin. Can sometimes be called “Persian Pickles”

PARQUET Wood floor laid in geometric patterns.

PENDANT A lighting fixture hung from the ceiling containing one or more lamps.

RADIANT HEATING Heat emitted from panels containing electrical conductors, hot water, etc.

ROSETTE Round, elaborately detailed pattern resembling a rose, most often found in a carved wood or plaster mould application. SCONCE Wall-mounted electrified or candlelight fixture.

SEMI-FLUSH MOUNT LIGHTING Light fixture that hangs down from the ceiling less than 2’

SHIMMING The use of small pieces of wood or plastic to compensate for an existing floor or wall which is uneven and not plumb or level.

TENSION ROD A type of rod mounted on the inside of a frame, and held in place by springs

TORCHIER Standing lamp with indirect upward light.

UNDERTONE The colour obtained when a coloured pigment is reduced with a large proportion of white pigment. The colour you would see when a coloured pigment is spread on glass and viewed with light passing through it.

VALANCE An ornamental drapery hung across a top edge, as of a bed, table, or canopy.

VIGNETTE Little displays; using art or decorative pieces to create small decorative displays. WAINSCOTING Paneling of wood; may also refer to decorative trim work on the walls

WIDOW’S WALK Rooftop platform, said to have been created for widows seeking their husbands who had been lost at sea, often found on Victorian homes.

ZIGZAG Pattern formed by a continuous line, which turns sharply back and forth making a series of “V’s”.

We hope you find this helpful! Feel free to contact Shauna Lynn for all your home staging & design needs!

www.BeyondTheStageHomes.com | 226 240 0766