Glossary of Terms

Alcove
A recessed area in a room

Apron
Trim attached below a tabletop or window sill

Antique
Art, buildings, furniture, accessories, or personal possessions that are more than 100 years old

Appliance Garage
A common name for a roll-up or single door unit placed under a wall cabinet

Banquette
A built-in upholstered bench along a wall, often used in breakfast areas

Batting
Thin layers of natural or synthetic cloth used to line cushions, pillows, quilts, or crafts

Breakfront
A large cabinet or bookcase whose center section projects beyond the two end sections

Burled wood
A hard wood cut from a large rounded growth on a tree characterized by a large swirl and often used as a veneer or inlay

Casing
An enclosed frame around a door or window opening

Colorwashing
A decorative paint technique in which a base color and glaze(s) are applied to a wall for a muted "washed" effect

Concealed Hinge
A hinge that is attached to the door and the inside end panel of a cabinet, making it not visible from the exterior of the cabinet

Diagonal Cabinet
A cabinet used to span across a corner; other terms for this type of cabinet are wall angle, lazy susan angle, or corner wall cabinet

Dormer
A window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof

Emboss
A raised effect on an object

Exposed Hinge
A hinge attached to the door and the front frame of the cabinet, making it visible from the exterior of the cabinet

Green Design
A design, also referred to as a sustainable design or eco-design, which conforms to environmentally sound principles of building, material, and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of skylights, recycled building materials, and energy efficient appliances.

Laminate
Any thin material such as wood or plastic glued to the exterior of a cabinet, countertop or other surface.

Lattice
Wood, wrought iron, or other material formed in a cross-hatch design

Linoleum
An all natural flooring material made of linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone, and pigments; regarded as environmentally friendly flooring.

Molding
An embellishment in strip form, made of wood or other structural material, that is used to decorate or finish a surface, such as the wall of a room or around a door or window

Sisal
A natural, durable fiber frequently used for floor coverings

Universal Design
The design of products and environments to be as accessible to useable by all people, regardless of age, size, or physical ability, to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Veneer
Thin sheets of wood applied to a furniture surface

Wainscoting
An application of wood paneling up to the middle or lower half of a wall