Wainscotting? Boucle? Schluter? What? Interior design has a language all its own and understanding the terms and jargon used by professionals in the field can be a challenge.
Knowing the lingo can help in your communication with your interior designer so you fully understand what she is trying to convey when discussing different design concepts.
The team at Talie Jane Interiors put together some of the design terms they use everyday. Whether you’re working with Talie Jane Interiors or just doing your own research online, this guide will help you get to know some of the important terminology so you can talk the talk and sound like a pro.
Wainscotting
Wainscotting is a decorative wall molding made of wood or molded drywall, usually used for decorative purposes.
- Where should you add wainscotting? Consider the entryway, along stair walls, above fireplaces or in bathrooms to add architectural interest.
- Types: Raised panel, wall panel, flat panel, beaded panel.
Settee
A settee is generally a smaller version of a sofa that sits on raised legs and often has a high back. It’s not meant to be a loungey piece, but rather a perch upon which to sit alone or with one other person. It’s usually more formal and can be in spaces other than a living room – try the end of a bed or a front hallway.
Add a few pillows and a piece of art behind a settee to create a perfect spot to put on or take off shoes. Settees should not be smothers in pillows and throws. One lumbar pillow or two square pillows is plenty.
Boucle
This nubby, multi-use textile is generally made from wool, although cotton, linen, and silk can also be used. It’s versatile and soft to the touch with a fleecy, teddy-bear-like appearance.
Bouclé fabric provides a unique range of benefits: heavy enough to offer some acoustic absorption when used for, say, window treatments, but soft enough to cover a pillow. Because of its texture, boucle creates depth and interest without the fuss of a pattern.
This fabric has recently had a resurgence and is absolutely everywhere!
Flock
Flock is the name given to very short fibers, either from fabric making waste or created from rags. A flocked fabric is one on which flocking has been applied with an adhesive, either all over or in a pattern. This can be seen in fabrics or wallpapers alike.
Patina
Patina is a thick layer that forms on the surface of metals like copper, brass, bronze, and similar metal alloys. Its tarnish is produced by oxidation or other chemical processes on metals and sometimes even wood or any similar acquired change of a surface through age and exposure. Aging of high-quality leather is also referred to as patina.
Patina provides a protective covering to materials that would otherwise be damaged by corrosion or weathering. This happens gradually over time and creates a beautiful affect.
Welt
In the design world, a welt is a double edge, strip, insert or seam for ornament or reinforcement.
There are two types of welts and knowing the difference is important.
- Self –Welt: The cord is done out of the same fabric as the rest of the piece (pillow/cushion/sofa, etc.)
- Contrasting Welt: The cord is done out of a different fabric than the piece.
Schluter
A Schluter is a stainless-steel metal strip used as edge protection or to achieve a clean line when transitioning from tile to another material or corner edge. There are multiple height, profile, and finish options to match your bathroom and kitchen hardware.
Schluter strips can be found in the bathroom and kitchen or on your walls or floors and provide a smooth edge, eliminating the need for caulking or bulky bullnose tile.
Niche
A Niche is a shallow recess or alcove in a wall for display or storage.
- Storage Solution – Kitchen storage for spices, cookbooks, and decorative items and in the bathroom for products in the shower or at the vanity.
- Aesthetic Purposes – Great Room for displaying décor or art.
Kelvins
(K) is a measurement used to calculate the color temperature of white light. (Scale from 1,000 to 10,000)
Notice that the lower the K rating, the warmer, more yellow the light. Higher Kelvin ratings are not brighter, just whiter or bluer.
Here’s a helpful guide to determine which temperature is right for your next project.
AFF/CFA/COM
If you have worked with Talie Jane Interiors before, you have most likely overheard one of all of these acronyms!
- AFF: Above Finished Floor
- Refers to the height above the finished floor.
- CFA: Cutting for Approval
- A sample of the selected fabric is sent for approval. Since dye lots can differ, it’s important to make sure that the roll of fabric your material is coming from is exactly what you want.
- COM: Customers Own Material
- This is the acronym used when fabric is already selected from an outside vendor vs the manufacturer of the piece.
Hygee
Hygge is a Scandinavian word describing the quality of coziness and comfort. A feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).
Nordic design is deeply rooted in nature and is inspired by the landscape of fjords, forests and mountains.
You can achieve hygge in your home by, bringing in more natural colors into your space and introducing new textures like faux fur to create coziness.
Feng Shui
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that seeks to find balance and harmony between elements. Incorporating feng shui goes beyond Western design tenets of comfort or aesthetic. Instead, it places emphasis on physical and mental health, success, and healthy relationships, which is brought on through positive energy flow.
- Often referred to as the art of placement, in the simplest of terms feng shui is about positioning different elements to optimize “Chi,” or energy. The term is comprised of two words: “feng,” meaning wind and “shui,” meaning water. Not only are these two elements basic and vital to human existence, but they also move and flow around the world.
- While the principles of feng shui apply to many elements of life, they are commonly practiced in interior design because the tools used in feng shui analysis can most easily be applied in the context of a home.
Cabinet Overlay Styles Explained
What is a cabinet overlay?
Overlay (sometimes called “reveal”) refers to the amount of cabinet face frame that is covered by the doors and drawer headers. There are three main types of overlay: inset (beaded and non-beaded), full overlay and frameless.
Framed vs Frameless
Frameless box construction is sometimes referred to as European or Full Access because it offers greater accessibility by eliminating the face frame.
Within framed cabinetry there are typically two options:
Full Overlay – cabinet doors lay on top of the frame.
Inset – cabinet doors mount flush inside the frame.
Also known as face frame cabinetry.
Full or Partial Overlay
Framed cabinetry has doors that overlay the face frame of the cabinet.
Partial-overlay: cabinet doors are a more traditional option that still remains popular in many homes. These cabinets feature doors and drawers that only partially cover the front of the cabinet frame, leaving some of the frame exposed. This style is often used in more traditional or rustic designs.
Frameless, Full Access or European
Frameless cabinetry is sometimes called “full access” cabinetry because it offers greater accessibility by eliminating the face frame. Instead, it relies on thicker box construction for stability.
Modern Inset
Combines frameless cabinets with panels, the overall look, looks like non-beaded inset.
Now that you know the lingo, let’s chat! Call Talie Jane Interiors at 855-TALIE JANE (855-825-4352) to collaborate on your next interior design project.
Article by the Talie Jane Interiors team.
Sources
- What Is Wainscoting? Pros, Cons, and Costs of This Trendy Wall Decor (realtor.com)
- What Is a Settee? (thespruce.com)
- Flock And Flocking – Understanding the Flocking process (swicofil.com)
- https://www.evokebuilders.com/post/2018/06/18/schluter-vs-bullnose
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patina
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welt
- https://www.wentworthstudio.com/blog/home-niches#:~:text=What%20Is%20a%20Niche%3F,shower%20stall%20for%20convenient%20storage.
- https://www.capellakincheloe.com/blog/design-dictionary
- Kelvin Color Temperature Chart | Lighting Color Scale at Lumens
- https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/what-does-hygge-really-mean-signe-johansen-nordic-design
- What is Feng Shui? | An Interior Decorating Guide – Invaluable
- Bouclé Fabric: Your Ultimate Guide to Everything Bouclé – NEST Casa
- Beth Finley
Images
- Onyx Black Flock Velvet Pillow Cover | Chairish
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd%2FSchluter-Systems-Reno-U-0-375-in-W-x-98-5-in-L-Aluminum-Tile-Edge-Trim%2F3772499&psig=AOvVaw1RQFmXPZCrMAXr0EPNkd3d&ust=1683301934566000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCNjg5MCC3P4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAz
- https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsccpublic.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com%2Fsys-master%2Fimages%2Fhd1%2Fhc9%2F9118641717278%2FCategory_Background_Profiles_Mobile.jpg&tbnid=Z0I2linRZU8cSM&vet=12ahUKEwjj1JLAgtz-AhXrPUQIHQNNAl4QMyggegUIARDHBA..i&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.schluter.com%2Fschluter-us%2Fen_US%2FProfiles%2Fc%2FP&docid=Q3hpJpQOW7bk5M&w=960&h=560&q=schluter%20strip&ved=2ahUKEwjj1JLAgtz-AhXrPUQIHQNNAl4QMyggegUIARDHBA
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.schluterspecifier.co.uk%2Ffloor-edge-profiles.aspx&psig=AOvVaw1RQFmXPZCrMAXr0EPNkd3d&ust=1683301934566000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCNjg5MCC3P4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABA5
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.masterwholesale.com%2Fschluter-quadec-inside-outside-corners.html&psig=AOvVaw1RQFmXPZCrMAXr0EPNkd3d&ust=1683301934566000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCNjg5MCC3P4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABA-
- April Tomlin Interiors Install Shots