Adaptations: Furnishing that capture the flavor of the original but are not authentic.
Antique: An object 100 or more years old.
Area Rug: A rug intended to cover a limited area of a floor. Area rugs come in a variety of different materials, including wool, leather, silk and more.
Armoire: A tall, freestanding wardrobe devised by the French in the 17th century; originally used to store armor.
Banquette: A long benchlike seat, often upholstered, and generally built into a wall.
Cabriole: A style of furniture leg where the top curves out, the center curves in, and the foot curves out.
Case goods: Furniture industry terms for chests, cabinets and other wooden pieces.
Chaise lounge: Pronounced shez long; literally, a "long chair," designed for reclining.
Chinoiserie: Chinese style painted or lacquered furniture.
Coffee table: An occasional table usually placed in front of a sofa. Also known as a “Cocktail Table”. Coffee tables are used for display or storage of magazines and books and also for the placement of beverages.
Console: A rectangular table usually set against a wall in a foyer, living or dining room.
Credenza: A sideboard or buffet.
Curio: A case piece which has glass doors, panels and shelves, which is used to display collectibles. Derived from "curiosity" cabinet.
Day bed: A sofa with head and foot and/or back pieces, having a twin sized mattress which doubles as a sitting and sleeping surface. Daybeds often have decorative removable covers and matching pillows or bolsters which act as back rests.
Dining chair: A chair usually accompanied by a dining table. The most popular style of dining chair is the side chair, a chair with a back but no arms. Although the armless chair is most popular for dining, a chair with arms may also be a comfortable alternative.
Dining table: A dining table is a table at which meals are served. Dining tables have evolved into many different styles and shapes. The most common shapes are square or rectangular and round or oval. Some dining tables have the versatility of additional leaves that can be added or removed from the table to provide for extra space when needed.
Down: The fine, soft fluff from the breasts of geese or ducks; considered the most luxurious filling for seat cushions and bed pillows.
Drop-leaf table: A table with hinged leaves that can be folded down.
Easy chair: Any large chair which is suitable for lounging.
Entertainment Center: A shelving unit to place a TV and stereo equipment on. The larger TV’s have become, the larger entertainment units have grown.
Etagere: An open-shelved stand used for display of decorative objects.
Finials: The curved cast, turned or stamped decorative piece that adorns the top of lamps.
Floor lamp: A tall lamp which stands on the floor, usually including a wide base to prevent the lamp from falling or tipping.
Four poster: Any bed with four high posts positioned at each corner. Originally, the posts were designed to support elaborate fabric curtains and upholstered treatments which totally enclosed the bed.
Hardwood: Wood derived from angiosperms (broad leafed trees such as acacia, oak, beech, maple, mahogany, and walnut).
Hardwood Frames: Furniture frames which are made from hardwoods. These woods are kiln dried and resist splitting.
Headboard: An upright structure rising above the mattress at the head of the bed. Common types include the chairback headboard, panel headboard, and bookcase headboard.
Highboy: A tall chest of drawers, sometimes mounted on legs.
Hutch: A two-part case piece that usually has a two-doored cabinet below and open shelves above.
Inlay: Wood or other materials which are set into corresponding carved out recesses often producing a pattern.
Jardinere: An ornamental plant stand.
Kiln dried: Kiln drying reduces the moisture content of the lumber, a process which inhibits checking, splitting and strengthens the finished product.
Ladder-back: A chair that has horizontal slats between its upright supports.
Loveseat: Double chair or small sofa.
Modular furniture: Seating or storage units designed to fit many configurations.
Nesting tables: Small occasional tables which are graduated in size so that they slide beneath one another.
Night stand: A small, low table or cabinet which sits by a bed.
Occasional furniture: Small items such as coffee tables, end tables, or tea carts that are used as accent pieces.
Ottoman: An upholstered seat or couch usually without a back or an overstuffed footstool.
Parsons table: An unadorned square or rectangular straight-legged table in various sizes; named for the Parsons School of Design.
Parquet Top: A table top made by using joinery or inlay which has geometric or other patterns usually made from different colored woods.
Patina: The natural finish on a wood surface that results from age and polishing.
Pedestal table: A table supported by one central base rather than four legs.
Pickled finish: The result of rubbing white paint into previously stained and finished wood.
Platform bed: Beds whose bases consists of a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface meant to support a mattress. Usually, they have a ‘low-profile’ footboard. You can use them with or without a boxspring, depending on your preference.
Rattan: Furniture made from Rattan, which is the name used for roughly 600 species of palms native to various tropical regions. Rattan features a slender, flexible stem which makes it very easy to craft into furniture items. Rattan furniture is used both indoors and outdoors to create costal or natural looks.
Recliner: An upholstered armchair which can be put into a reclining position, with the back lowered and the front (foot rest) raised.
Refectory table: A long, narrow dining table; originally used in monasteries for community dining.
Rolled arm: Arms which flare out, then down and return to meet the sides of a chair or sofa - appearing to have been rolled.
Rug: A thick woven piece of fabric used for covering certain areas of a floor, either for aesthetics or comfort. Rugs are highly customizable, using varying materials and colors. Designs may be abstract or displaying a certain image.
Sectional: Furniture made up of modular units capable of use separately or in locked combinations.
Sleigh bed: This bed has a high, scrolled headboard and footboard resembling the front of a sleigh.
Slipcovers: Removable fabric covers for upholstered furniture.
Sofa table: A long, thin, tall, occasional table placed against the back of a sofa or against a wall. Original 18th century versions had small, rounded drop leaf ends and drawers.
Tapered leg: A chair leg whose thickness is reduced as it approaches the bottom.
Urethane Foam (Polyurethane): Flexible polyurethane foam is used as a cushioning material in upholstered furniture seats, backs and arms. It is an extremely versatile product that can be produced to have practically any "feel" - from very firm to very plush.
Wing back chair: A comfortable large chair with side pieces (ears, wings) attached to the sides of the back, usually overstuffed.
{Glossary via Better Homes & Gardens + Furnishings Guide / Photo via istockphoto.com}
No comments:
Post a Comment