A

Abacus

The flat stone at the top of a column's capital.

Abutment

The stone or brickwork from which an arch or vault arises.  Support provided by horizontal pressure.

Acanthus

An ornamental leaf motif element of a Corinthan column.

Acroteria

Plinth on which statues or other ornaments stand at the end of a pediment.

Accent lighting

Lighting used to highlight texture, colour or objects such as paintings

Acrylic colours

Quick drawing artists paints - excellent for stencilling.

Adobe

Brick made from dried earth and straw.

Advancing (or warm) colours

Warm colours such as reds and yellows used in a design scheme to make a wall or other object appear to be closer or bigger.

Aesthetic Movement

19th century British art and design movement inspired by a Queen Anne revival and an interest in Japanese aesthetics.  Influence on both sides of the Atlantic and encouraged the use of light and bright designs for comfort and informality.  Symbols of the scheme include sunflowers and peacocks.

Aisle

A passage at the side of a church.

Alabaster

Fine grained limestone which can come in a variety of colours and is translucent and delicately marked.

Ambient Lighting

General lighting which should be unobtrusive and indirect.

Ambulatory

A passage around the sides and rear of the chancel of a church.

Andiron

One of a pair of metal stands of holding logs in a fire.

Antefixae

Decorative tiles that hide the end or edges of roof tiles.  Usually made from terracotta or marble.

Aniline

A type of dye created from coal tar.

Antiquing

A method of artificially aging an object by using glaze or colourwash (including burnt umber or burnt senna) or of rubbing down new paint with wirewool to leave a patchy surface.

Apron

A panel below a window sill which is often seen in Renaissance design and may be ornamental or shaped.

Apse

The semicircular end of a church chancel.

Arcade

A series of adjacent arches.

Arch

A structure of shaped blocks over an opening which does not use a lintel.

Architrave

The lowest horizontal band of an entablature.

Archivolt

A moulding on the face of an arch that follows its curve.

Armoire

A moveable wardrobe with a door front.

Arris

The sharp edge formed where two surfaces meet.

Art Deco

A decorative movement popular during the 1920s and 1930s that took advantage of new materials, new methods of production and new discoveries.

Art Nouveau

A late 19th century design movement which used sweeping curves and elements from Nature.

Arts & Crafts

A 19th century design movement in England lead by William Morris who rebelled against mass production and reverted to craftsmanship and the ideas of the Age of Chivalry.

Ashlar

Regular rectangular blocks cut to make walls.

Astragal

Small, concave moulding, often including carved beads in the design.

Asymmetrical designs

Design schemes that are not balanced as in symmetrical designs.

Atrium

A central, open space.

Attic

The upper storey of a house, just beneath the roof.

Axminster

A decorated carpet, originally from the English town of that name, which is made by using cut pile to form a variety of patterns in coloured wool.

B

Baffle

A device attached to a light fitting to reduce glare.

Bagging

The method of creating a textured paint finish by using a wrapped cloth in a bag to randomly remove paint or glaze from a newly painted/still tacky paint surface.

Baize

Felt-like coarse weave fabric.

Ball & claw foot

A decorative element of a furniture leg which is carved in the shape of a claw holding a spherical ball.

Ball foot

A decorative element of a furniture leg which terminates in a spherical shape.

Balloon back

A chair back where the uprights merge into a curved top rail.  Popular in Victorian design.

Baluster

Part of a handrail system - the post that supports the handrail.

Balustrade

A series of balusters with a top rail forming a barrier.

Banquette

An upholstered bench.

Barn door

The flaps on the front of some spot lights.

Baroque

A complex form of architecture and design in the latter part of the Renaissance movement.  Elaborate decorative detail was typical.

Barrel vault

A semicircular masonry vault commonly found in medieval church architecture.

Base coat

The initial coat of paint or glaze applied to allow for better coverage and long life of top coats.

Bas-relief

Three dimensional design in which the image stands in the shallow relief from a flat background.

Batiste

A fabric that is soft and sheer.  Normally in white and made from, for instance, silk, cotton or wool.

Batten fitting

The fitting used to hold a fluorescent tube.

Batter

Inward sloping of a vertical wall surface.

Bauhaus

A German school of art and design from 1919 to the early 1930s.  Founded by Walter Gropius which employed modern methods of design and production.  Many of the designers and artists moved to England during the rise of Nazi Germany and introduced Art Deco/Moderne designs to the public.

Bayonet fitting

A tungsten bulb light fitting with two lugs as opposed to a screw bulb

Bay window

A projecting window.

Beam

A horizontal element used to provide structural support.

Beau Brummel

A Georgian dressing table for men named after the associate of the Prince Regent.

Berber carpet

Made from natural, undyed sheep's wool.

Belle Epoque

A French opulent style popular at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century.

Bentwood

A method of shaping strips of wood by using steam heat and moulds.

Bergere

A low upholstered armchair made and used in France.

Beton brut

A French term for exposed, reinforced concrete.

Biedermeier

A 19th century, German style of furniture which combined neo-classical elements with provincial elements.

Bird's eye maple

Wood from the sugar maple with small, dark knots.

Block foot

A square foot at the end of a tapered leg.

Blockfront

A piece of furniture which has three sections - the two sides projecting beyond the middle section.  Popular in America during the 18^th century.

Bombe

A French term for a furniture design which employs an outward swelling curve.

Boulle

Inlay work using metal and tortoise shell - developed in France by Charles Boulle.

Box joint

Wood joint that uses interlocking, projecting fingers.

Breakfront desk

A piece of furniture which has a bookcase on the top half and a projecting desk beneath.

Broadloom

The term for broader widths of carpet (more than 2m).

Brocade

Heavy silk or synthetic material woven into elaborate patterns with silver and gold threads.

Broken pediment

A pediment with a central opening.

Brownstone

Soft brown sandstone - also the name used for the buildings constructed using this material.

Brutalism

Modern architectural design using massive elements of cement - adopted by Le Corbusier after the Second World War.

Buckram

A stiffened material, usually cotton, with a glue sizing.  Can be used to stiffen curtains, valances and tie-backs.

Bureau a cylindre

A writing desk with a roll-top closure.

Burl

Decorative veneer made from wood which has grown into irregular patterns.

Buttress

A structural element that is used for bracing or support.

C

Cable

A covered bundle of insulated wires used to carry electricity.

Cabriole

Curved, tapered furniture leg.

Calico

An inexpensive, plain weave lightweight fabric.

Cambric

A fine, coarse white or plain coloured cotton.

Candela

The si unit of light intensity.

Cantilever

A projecting beam or other structure supported only at its inward point.

Capital

The topmost part of a classical column.

Carolean

The English style of furniture and design style in the reign of Charles II.

Carolingian

The Romanesque style of France and Germany.

Caryatid

A human shaped column used as a structural support.

Casein paint

A paint made by mixing pigments with a milk-curd (casein) medium.  Not widely available it is tough and water resistant.

Casement window

A window with single hinged sash.

Cassapanca

An ornate chest design from Italy during the Renaissance which could also be used as a bench.

Centering

The temporary structure used during the building of an arch or vault.

Chaise longue

An extended length chair.

Chambray

A fine woven plain weave, linen like fabric.

Chancel

The sanctuary of a church.

Chiffon

A gauze fabric made from silk.

Chino

A coarse cotton fabric.

Chinoiserie

The use of traditional Chinese elements in design of the 18th century (France and England).

Chintz

A plain weave cotton fabric with a decorative glazing.

Churrigueresco

Spanish Baroque of the late 17th to mid 18th century.

Circuit breaker

A switch that will cut the electricity on a consumer unit that will act like a fuse if there are dangerous electric current flows.

Cissing

Glaze or colourwash is added to a dry base coat and whilst still wet  spattered with white spirit or water to create an uneven pattern.

Clapboard

External, overlapping horizontal flat boards.

Classical

A style based on mathematical proportions and ornamentations of ancient Greece and Rome.

Classical Orders

Five architectural styles - Doric (simple), Ionic (slightly ornamental), Corinthian (highly ornamental), Tuscan & Composite.

Claw and ball foot

A leg usually on a chair which ends in a carved claw holding a ball.

Clerestory

Windows in the upper part of a wall.

Cloister

Enclosed courtyard of a monastery.

Colonial

American design before 1776.  Epitomised by strong colours, white-washed verandas, shutters and clapboards.  Was revived in the 1930s.

Colonade

A series of columns

Colourwash

A transparent was of colour - often created by watering down paint.

Colour wheel

Devised by Isaac Newton in the seventeenth century to allow for the study of colours and the way they interact.

Combing

A textured pattern created by dragging a coarse comb of wood, pastic or steel through a wet glaze.

Complementary colours

A complementary colour is created by mixing two primary colours.  Complementary colours appear opposite one another on the colour wheel so that red is the complement of green which is produced by mixing blue and yellow.  Generally, the term means any colours that work well together.

Composite order

An order of classical design that incorporates Ionic and Corinthian elements.

Consulate style

A decorative style of France during the Napoleonic era.

Contrasting colours

Generally, colours that are not near to one another of the colour wheel

Cool (or receding) colours

These are colours that are either pure blue, violet or green or are created by using these in their mix.  They make rooms appear larger as the eye is fooled into believing that the walls are further away.

Corbel

A protruding element used to support a structural element.

Cord

A low loop woven carpet with a ribbed appearance.

Coir matting

Made from coconut husks in natural colours.  Latex backing extends life and prevents dirt from dropping through the weave.

Corinthian

The most elaborate of the ancient Greek and Roman orders using carved acanthus leaves around the top of the column.

Cornice

The top of any projecting element.

Cotton

A natural fibre that is very versitile.

Cove

A concave projecting molding.

Crackle glaze

This specialist product is applied between two coats of paint and produces a network of cracks to show the the colour of the basecoat.

Craftsman Movement

The American version of the Arts & Crafts movement.

Cut pile

The strands of yarn are cut rather than left looped.  Common in Axminster and Wilton carpets.

D

Dado

Lower portion of an interior wall.

Damask

A jacquered weave made from silk, cotton, wool or artificial fibres.  The colour of the material is different on the reverse.

Danish Modern

A 20th century design style from Denmark.

Davenport

First made at the end of the 18th century - a small chest of drawers with a writing slope.

Decorated

The second period of the English Gothic movement.

Denim

A heavy twill material.

De Stijl

Avant garde Dutch designers of the 1920s.  Designs incorporated right angles and primary colours.

Diffused lighting

Light that is filtered through a translucent fabric.

Dimmer switch

A lighting switch that allows the level of lighting to be raised or lowered.

Directional lighting

Lighting that is specifically designed to illuminate a particular object from a given direction eg Spotlights

Directoire

French design style (post the Revolution) with elements of ancient Rome.

Di sotto in su

Ceiling painting in perspective.

Distemper

Made from a mixture of water, ground china, animal glue and pigment.  A powdery paint that can create pale pastel tones.

Distressing

A means of making a new object look old.

Dome

A circular vault created by the rotation of an arch.

Doric

The simplest of the ancient classical orders.

Dormer

A sloping roof with space for a window.

Dovetail

A joint using tapered interlocking elements.

Dowel

A round pin used to connect two parts in furniture construction.

Down light

Lighting that is usually ceiling mounted or track mounted (other options available) that directions light vertically downwards.

Dragging

A paint technique where a dry brush is lightly dragged through wet glaze or colourwash.

Duplex

A flat over two stories.

Dutch bed

A bed fitted into an alcove.

E

Early English

13^th century English Gothic.

Earth

The necessary connection between an electric circuit and the earth to conduct electricity from being harmful.

Ebonized wood

Wood stained black to look like ebony.

Echinus

The element at the top of a Doric column before the abacus.

Eclecticism

The mixture of elements from different design styles - popular in the early part of the 20th century.

Edwardian

The period between 1890 and the First World War.  The design used simpler, lighter versions of Victorian decoration.

Egg and dart

A decorative detail with alternating egg and dart element, particularly common for molding.

Elizabethan

The design style during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.  As England was becoming more prosperous there was a greater need for furniture, tapestries etc.  Influenced by French Renaissance  using classical orders together with paneling and plasterwork.

Empire

French Neoclassical style during the time of Napoleon.

Emulsion paint

A water based paint.  It can be produced in a variety of finishes including matt, silk and satin.

Entablature

The horizontal band supported by columns in classical architecture.

Epoxy enamel

A tough oil based enamel paint that resists dirt and scratches.  Can be used to paint over ceramic tiles, masonry and metal.

Escritoire

A French term for a fall front writing cabinet from the early 18th century.

Etruscan

A revival style from ancient Rome that was made popular by Robert Adam and later was an influence on French late 18th century design.

Expressionism

A design style seeking emotional expression.

F

Fan vault

A ribbed vault.

Farthingale chair

An armless wide upholstered chair from Elizabethan times.

Federal

American design style of the period from the Wars of Independence to 1830.

Fiddle back chair

A chair splat that is shaped like a fiddle.

Filament

The thin wire in a tungsten lightbulb that emits the light.

Flannel

A soft fabric in either plain or twill weave.

Flock

Short fibres glued to wood, paper or fabric to create a suede effect.

Floodlight

A spotlight that provides a very concentrated beam of light.

Fleur de lis

A motif consisting of three petals bound at the bottom to create a standardised lily.

Fluorescent lightbulb

A cheaper lightbulb than a tungsten or halogen fitting it works by using fluorescent phosphors to produce ultraviolet radiation.

Fluting

Carved parallel grooves used on classical columns.

Flying buttress

An external arch form used to apply pressure to an internal vault.

Fresco

A painting produced on damp plaster using tempera colours.

Frieze

The second or middle band of classical entablature.

Futurism

Italian style of the 1920s.

G

Garbardine

A firm tightly woven fabric.

Gate leg table

A drop fronted table with rounded, hinged flaps.

Georgian

A term applied to English architecture during the reigns of the first Georges (1714 to 1830).

Gilding

A process of using gold or other metal leaf and size (a rapid drying varnish/glue) to decorate a surface.

Gingham

Checked plain weave fabric.

GLS bulb

An ordinary tungsten lightbulb.

Glazed ceramic tiles

The most common form of floor and wall tiles.  Made from a mixture of sand and clay with a red or white body which is then rendered with a glaze that makes them impervious to water for interior schemes.  They come in wide variety of designs, colours and textures.

Gothic

Originally an ecclesiastical movement in the Middles Ages (Europe). It was revived in the eighteenth century as an antidote to the Classical revival and then again during the 19th century when it was termed Neo-Gothic when it was taken very seriously.  Elements of the Gothic include pointed arches, trefoils and medieval motifs.

Gouache

Concentrated water based paint that give a clear matt finish.  Used by designers to create coloured representations of schemes but also can be used to decorate paneling and funiture.

Graining

A method of making an surface look like wood.

Gustavian

An 18th century Swedish design style.  Light was important so mirrors, large windows and chandeliers were the order of the day.  Other elements included flowers, symmetrical design and painted furniture.

H

Halogen bulb

A longer life tungsten lightbulb.  It is also brighter than a standard bulb.

Hand-knotted

A technique used in the manufacture of oriental and Native American rugs.  The yarn is hand-tied with a woven backing.

Harmonious colours

These are colours that close to one another on the colour wheel.

Herringbone

A pattern created by two rows of straight lines where in each row the lines go in opposite direction.

Hessian

Coarse cloth woven from jute.

HID bulb

A High Intensity Discharge bulb that is used for outdoors lighting.

Hopsacking

A rough cotton fabric.

Hue

A pure colour.

I

Incandescent bulb

A bulb that produces light by means of a filament.  This was the type of bulb originally designed by Thomas Edison.

Indirect lighting

Lighting reflected off another surface eg the ceiling or walls.

ISL bulb

Also known as a reflector bulb it contains an Internally Silvered Lamp.

J

Jacobean

Early 17th century design style in England.  A more elaborate Elizabethan style.

Japanning

An old term for lacquering

Jacquard weave

A complex pattern woven on a jacquard loom by combining different types of weaves on a plain or satin background.

Jute

An Asian plant that is used for mating.  Very soft and not very hard wearing.

K

Kilim

A traditional rug from Turkey made with geometric patterns in vegetable dyed wool.

L

Lace

A fine open-work fabric with a noted, twisted pattern.

Lacquering

A method of applying several thin layers of varnish to provide a smooth, shiny surface.  Between each layer the previous has to be lightly sanded and dusted off.  The technique can be used on furniture and walls.

Lamp

The trade name for a lightbulb.

Lawn

Light smooth fabric made from highly polished yarn.

Limewash

A version of distemper where slaked lime is used instead of ground china.  It must be used with care as it is very caustic.

Linen carpet

Has the natural feel of sisal or coir.  Requires a rubber underlay.  Is very expensive and not very long lasting.

Liming

A method of lightening dark wood.

Lumen

The si unit of luminous lux or the amount of light given off by a lightsource.

Luminaire

The trade name for a light fitting.

Lux

Lumens measured by the square metre or square yard ie the measure of the light leaving a surface in an given direction.

Lyre back

A shaped back popular in the late 18th century.

M

Marbling

A paint technique of making a surface look as though it is made from marble.

Mannerism

The transitional period between Renaissance and Baroque which included the use of mythological and grotesque such as griffins and birds set in cartouches.  A reaction against the Classical Movement.

Marquisette

An open weave made from rayon, cotton or silk.  Ideal for curtains.

MCB

A miniature circuit breaker.

Minimalism

A twentieth century movement which encourages lack of ornamentation, no clutter and little colour.

Moire

A type of silk fabric with a water or wavy pattern.

Monochromatic scheme

A scheme that uses one basic colour in a variety of tones although other colours may be introduced to add interest.

Mosaic Tiles

These are small tiles, sometimes on a mesh backing for ease of use.  Used in designs since the time of ancient Rome they can be used to form motifs and pictures.

Muslin

A plain weave fabric made from cotton.

Muted colour

Also known as 'knock-backed' colour which is the opposite of a bright or saturated colour which can be used to improve the muted scheme.

N

Natural Stone Tiles

Because the material is natural the colour and texture of the material can variety greatly which adds to its beauty.  It needs to be treated and sealed to protect the material’s appearance and to avoid it wearing. 

Neon bulb

A bulb using neon or inert gas which throws of red or pink light when voltage is applied.

Neo-Classical Movement

An international design movement from 1760 to 1830.  A reaction against the excesses of the Rococo Movement.  It was influenced by the discoveries of ancient Greece and Rome.  Motifs included acanthus leaves, laurel wreaths, swans necks and crossed spears.

Neutral colours

These are colours ranging from black to white including the greys, creams, and off-whites.

Nylon

A synthetic material known for its strength and toughness.

O

Organdie

A fine type of lawn treated to make it crisp and stiff.

P

Paisley

A multi-coloured design originally from India.

Palladianism

Architectural style from the designs of Andrea Palladio.  First introduced to England by Indigo Jones in the 17th century.  Initially,the scheme was based on classical symmetry.  When the style was revived the architecture was more severe and the furniture more Baroque

Palette

The selection of colours used by an artist or designer which creating a particular scheme or painting.

Panne

Plush velvet, mohair or silk that has been steam pressed.

Pastel colours

These soft colours are creating by adding a large amount of white to other colours.

Pediment

In classical times the triangular space at the end of a Greek temple.

Pendant

A light fitting that hangs from the ceiling or a projecting beam.

Pigment

The colour element of a paint.

Pile

The loops or tufts of a carpet above the backing.  The fibre size and weight of the yarn affects the quality of the pile.

Polyester

A synthetic fabric that although strong and durable can soil easily.

Poplin

Fine cotton fabric.

Porcelain Tiles

Fired longer than ceramic tiles they are less porous.  They use a variety of materials in the basic mix.  They can be used both indoors and outdoors, on walls and floors.  Like glazed ceramic tiles they come in a wide variety of designs, colours and textures.

Prairie school

The design style of Frank Lloyd Wright in America during the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Primary colours

These are red, yellow and blue.

Q

Queen Anne

An English simplified version of the Baroque Movement.  Furniture was designed with elegant curves and the emphasis on the understated.  Chinoisere became popular including Chinese patterns for wallpapers.  Revived in the 19th century but was in fact more a mixture of Neo-Classical and Rococo.

R

Ragging

A paint technique that is achieved through the use of different materials.

Rayon

A synthetic fabric made from converting wood pulp or cotton linters into a filament with the aid of chemicals.

Regency

Popular in the early part of the 19th century it included motifs from a number of different sources including ancient societies (Rome and Egypt) as well as Chinese and Hindu motifs.  The eagle was often used on furniture and curtains.  Walls were generally painted in deep colours such as terracotta and yellow.  Drapes were elaborate and multi-layered with complex trimmings. 

Reflector bulb

A bulb that has an internally silvered surface to direct light – used in spotlights

Renaissance

The first revival of the Classical style it was first developed in Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries.  A revised version was introduced in America and Britain in the 19th century and included elemets of the Baroque.

Restoration

The period after the restoration of monarchy in England.  A sumptuous version of the Baroque that reflected the experiences of Charles II whilst in exile.  Marquetry, gilded gesso and paneling all became popular.  If expensive walnut could not be used cheaper woods were grained to give the impression that it was walnut.  Instead of paneling plasterwork was covered with velvet and damask.  The first crystal chandeliers were used along with candle scones.

Rococo

Originating in France in the early 18th century.  It was identified with Louis XV and spread throughout Europe although it was never particularly popular in England.  It was a light-hearted style that was a reaction against the Baroque Movement   Candles were reflected in mirrors and windows were enlarged.  The movement was reintroduced in the 19th century.

Rush matting

A loose laid covering of woven rushes.  As it is not hard wearing it needs to be replaced often.

S

Saturation

The intensity, brightness or purity of a colour.

Seagrass

A plant fibre used for matting.  Naturally water and stain resistant.

Secondary colours

Created by using an equal mix of primary colours.  Each secondary colour is a complementary colour of its primary colour elements.

Seersucker

Cotton or rayon fabric with a crinkled surface.

Shades

Created by adding black to a hue.

Shag pile

Carpet of between 2.5 and 5 cm of cut pile.  Once very popular it is not advisable to be used in high traffic areas or locations that are dangerous such as stairs because of the danger of catching heels in the pile.

Shaker

A design style inspired by the American Shaker sect of the late 18th century.  The style is characterised by simple, clean lines and the hanging of chairs, brooms etc from pegs to keep the floor clear.

Shellac

A quick drying spirit based varnish.

SI

Systeme Internationale d’Unites – the internationally agreed measure for lighting units.

Silk

A soft natural fibre.

Sisal

Tough natural fibre which can be dyed.  It is softer than coir

Spattering

A paint technique that allows for dots of colour to be randomly distributed on a dry surface

Spectrum

Isaac Newton studied the way a prism can split the colours of a beam of light just like a rainbow.

Sponging

This technique can either add or remove colour.

Spotlight

A directional or decorative lighting mechanism.

Spur

A cable used to extend an electrical circuit.

Stencilling

A paint technique that allows for a repeated pattern to be created through the application of the paint to an object through cut out template.

Stippling

A paint technique that applies a soft finish to a dry surface.

T

Taffeta

A general term given to a variety of fine plain weave fabrics.  Can be made from silk, cotton or linen.

Tapestry

Originally hand-woven to create elaborate pictures and patterns.

Task lighting

A lighting source used specifically designed to facilitate a given activity eg reading, working on a computer, drawing etc.

Terrazzo

These are small chips of marble which have been embedded in cement and polished to form a smooth flooring surface.

Tertiary colours

These are created by mixing equal parts of primary colours and secondary colours.

Throw

The distance that can be measured between a reflector bulb and the furthest object it can light.

Tiles

Made from a variety of material.  See further under:

Glazed Ceramic Tiles
Mosaic Tiles
Natural Stone Tiles
Porcelain Tiles
Terrazzo

Floor tiles are graded according to how the area is used:

PEI 1 - very light traffic eg bathrooms
PEI 2 - light traffic eg bathrooms and bedrooms
PEI 3 - light to moderate traffic, any residential area with the exception of hallways and kitchens
PEI 4 - moderate to heavy traffic where external materials may be brought in eg hallways, balconies (also good for work surfaces)
PEI 5 - heavy traffic for use in commercial and institutional areas as well as residential locations which gets a lot of wear

Tints

Tones of colour produced by adding white.

Tones

The grades of a colour from the palest to the darkest of its range.

Towelling

An absorbent fabric made from cotton.

Trompe l'oeil

A paint effect that creates an illusion by using shading and highlights.

Tufted

The most widely available variety of carpet.  The fibre is punched into the backing rather than woven.  It is secured in place with the use of an adhesive and sealed with a waterproof backing.

Tweed

A rough wool fabric of mixed colours.

Twisted

A hardwearing carpet.

U

Uplight

A mechanism that throws light upwards to be reflected back.  They can be ceiling mounted, free standing or object related that can be used to highlight plants and objects

V

Velvet pile

Usually found in Wilton and Axminster carpets.  It is a smooth cut pile and is available in a variety of colours and designs.

Verdigris

A blue green shade that affects older copper and bronze.  It can be artificially reproduced.

Victorian

A term to cover the whole of the reign of Queen Victoria.  In fact a number of movements grew during this period including the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau.

Voile

A translucent plain weave fabric

Voltage

The pressure of electricity flowing throw an electric circuit.

W

Wall washer

A downlight that bathes the wall in light and can be fixed at between 45-90cm from the wall depending on desired effect.

Warp

Yarns that run the length of fabric.

Weft

Yarns that run the width of fabric.

William & Mary

A Baroque style of the 17th century started in England and then transferred to America.  It was a more elegant and less exuberant version of the Restoration design style.  One of the greatest successes was the introduction of the manufacture of blue and white china into England thanks to the arrival of Dutch craftsmen.  Huguenot craftsmen also took up residence, fleeing Louis XIV, and they brought with them highly successful cabinet making skills.

Wilton

A woven carpet similar to Axminster

Worsted

A smooth tightly woven wool fabric eg gabardine.

XYZ