Crash Course - Home Interior Vocabulary
Bergère Chair
a French upholstered chair with exposed wood frames (pronounced "bear-zhayre")
banquette
a built-in or free-standing upholstered bench (pronounced bang-kett)
country style
a casual aesthetic often featuring natural and nostalgic motifs. The appearance of handcrafting and distressing is commonly found in this style
drum table
a circular top table on a tripod base with a deep skirt that may contain drawers
bolster
a cylindrical-shaped pillow.
console table
a table used along a wall
embossing
a technique to impress or stamp a design onto a piece of furniture. It is mostly used on wood pieces to resemble carving
ebonized
made black or stained black in imitation of ebony
wood finish
the surface coating of an item, which can include paints, stains, varnishes, and fabric treatments. Wood, metal, fabric, stone, and many other materials require this for coloring, texture, and moisture protection.
Americana
Objects and decor that are characteristic of American history and culture.
floor plan
a diagram showing a view from above of the relationships between rooms, spaces, and other physical features at one level of a structure. Dimensions are usually drawn to specify room size and details like sinks, water heaters, and other fixtures are often noted.
drapery
a draped fabric window treatment (heavier, lined fabric generally)
bureau
a dresser used to store clothing that also can be used as a desk
bedspread
a fabric bedding treatment that covers the top mattress
box Spring
a foundation that's designed to support an innerspring mattress
damask
a heavy reversible fabric featuring a pattern that's distinguished from the background by contrasting luster (could be rug or quilt)
armoire
a large cabinet or wardrobe
easy chair
a large chair that is suitable for lounging
bench
a long seat that may or may not have back support
backsplash
a panel behind a sink or stove that protects the wall from splashes
daybed
a seating piece that can also serve as a bed
credenza
a sideboard or buffet table. However an office credenza is a horizontal filing cabinet.
end table
a small accent table that is usually placed at the end of a couch, bedside chair, or bedside
eclectic
a style of decorating combining furniture and accessories from a variety of styles and periods
antique
all items 100 years or older
Bungalow Style
an architectural style of a small house or cottage usually having a single story often associated with the Victorian or Craftsman period.
focal point
an area where the eye is drawn. This could include a part of a room, a view, or landscaping
hutch
an enclosed cupboard with shelves resting on a solid base such as a buffet or desk
casing
an enclosing frame around a door or window opening
banding
an inlay technique producing a contrast on the surface of wood furniture (picture an inlayed pattern on a wooden floor or edge of cabinets)
chaise lounge (long chair)
an upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining
Arabesque
a pattern with multiple interlaced flowers, foliage, fruits, urban, and scrolls
alcove
a recessed part of a room
faceted
decorative surface cut into sharp-edged planes in a crisscross pattern to reflect light is faceted (imagine a wall with a pattern of 3-D triangles popping out)
inlay
a decorative pattern created with pieces of different woods or bone set into the surface of a furniture piece
Art Noveau
a decorative style developed in France between 1890 and 1910 with ornate designs found in items like Tiffany lamps
contemporary
a design style created in the latter half of the 20th century
apron (window)
A piece of the horizontal frame, window moulding or boxing, applied directly under the window stool on the wall
Art Deco
The 1920's modernistic art style that captured modernistic simplification of forms, while using machine age materials. (p. 482)
colorwashing
a decorative painting technique where a thin glaze is applied over the base coat of paint to create an effect of subtle layers of color
gallery wall
a cohesive grouping of artwork, photographs, or decor pieces on a wall
calico
a cotton or cotton-blend fabric printed with small, colorful patterns