FURNISHING AND INTERIOR DESIGN GLOSSARY
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PADDING - fabric or materials used to provide cushioning
PAISLEY - intricate interlocking curvilinear pattern originating in India
PALLADIAN WINDOW - Greek revival styled arched window flanked by two square windows, originally created by Roman architect Andrea Paladio
PANELING - wood panels applied continuously to an interior wall
PANIC HARDWARE - door locking hardware designed to allow immediate egress from a building
PARQUET - wood floor laid in geometric patterns
PARABOLIC - bowl-shaped reflector
PARQUETRY - geometric wood patterns inlaid in flooring and furniture
PARITION WALL - non-structural interior dividing wall
PASSEMENTERIE - highly decorative tassels, tiebacks, ribbon trim
PATINA - lustrous, aged finish
PATTERN - arrangement of design or decoration
PATTERN REPEAT - increments between horizontal or vertical patterns repeated in fabric, wall coverings or flooring
PEAU DE SOIE - fine silk fabric
PEDIMENT - decorative interior architectural detail applied to the top of doorways, mantles or window openings (arched, triangular, broken)
PELMET - framework to conceal drapery hardware at the top of a window SEE LAMBREQUIN
PENDANT - hanging ornamentation or electrical fixture mounted from the ceiling
PERCALE - plain weave, medium-weight, tightly woven cotton created from combed and carded long staple yarns
PERIOD - suggesting a specific time in history
PERSONAL STYLE - an eclectic interior furnishings style indicative of your personal preferences and lifestyle
PETIT POINT - fine, hand stitched needlepoint design on canvas created with only one foundation thread, rather than multiple threads
PHOTOGRAPHER - artisan hired to capture the essence of an object on film
PICK COUNT - the number of filling yarns per inch of fabric
PICKLING - painted whitewash finish
PIECE DYED - cloth dyed by the bolt after it is woven
PIGMENT - substance imparting a color to other materials
PILASTER - decorative architectural vertical element utilized similar to a half-column with a shallow projection often used on a door surround
PILE FABRIC -deep woven or knitted fabric created by adding an extra warp or weft set (sheepskin)
PILLOW - cushions of various shapes stuffed with feathers, polyester fills or foam created to provide support (kidney, continental, decorative, down)
PILLING - fiber filaments that break in yarn due to friction leaving small clumps of loose fibers on the surface
PINCH-PLEAT - drapery construction where folds are divided into equal fingers, often utilizing pleating-tape attached to slide carriers with hooks
PITCH - rate of roof slope
PLAID - woven or printed fabric with unevenly spaced repeated strips crossing at right angles
PLAIN WEAVE - basic, reversible, non-directional weave where the same size yarn where each filling thread runs under and over the warp yarn
PLEATING TAPE - pre-made and evenly spaced tape sewn at drapery heading for stiffness to receive concealed drapery hooks
PLINTH - square block serving as a base for a pilaster or column
PLISSE' - lightweight fabric with a permanently puckered by chemical treatments
POCKET DOOR - interior door, which recesses into a wall cavity to disappear from view
POLISHED COTTON - combed and carded fabric in a satin construction which has been calendared to produce a high-luster surface finish
POLYESTER -manufactured synthetic polymer fiber manufactured from coal, water and petroleum, which is resistant to shrinking, stretching or wrinkling
POLYMER - basic chemical used to produce synthetic fibers
POLYPROPYLENE FIBER - lightweight manufactured synthetic propylene polymer fiber resistant to chemicals and wear
PORCH - open or closed gallery or glassed-in room attached to a main structure
PORTFOLIOS - collection of images, color boards and other multi-media for presentation purposes to show level of expertise
PORTICO - entrance to a building with columns supporting a roof, which can be large enough to enable cars to drive under for protection while exiting a vehicle
PORTIERES - window treatment, often used in cased openings, of two separate drapery panels hung back to back and joined at side seams, made with identical or contrasting fabric on each side
POWER STRETCHER - extension type knee kicker used to stretch large areas
POLY - continuous filament polymer yarn
PRE-PASTED - wall covering with a factory applied adhesive backing
PROPORTION - comparative relationship between elements or objects: BALANCE, SYMMETRY, SIZE, AMOUNT, DEGREE, RATIO, DIMENSION
PRIMARY BACKING - material on which carpet is constructed
PRIMITIVE - crude, early stage of development
PRINTING - process of producing a pattern
PSYCHOGRAPHICS - the study and measure of attitudes, values, lifestyle and opinion for marketing purposes
PUCKER - wrinkled fabric finish created by an uneven weave, different yarn sizes or shrinkage
PUCKERING - carpet seam flaw due to poor layout or stretching
PURCHASE ORDER - document given to a vendor to outline a specific order
Glossary from
dezignare.com