Design Speak lets you in on a some industry lingo so that you will sound oh-so-smart. From abbreviations to acronyms to phrases to trendy words, we’ll do our best to cover it, and we’ll do it in language you’ll understand.

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shagreen

(pronounced sha-GREEN or sheh-GREEN)

Originating from the Turkish word "saghri" meaning the hindquarters of a beast, shagreen was originally made in Persia from hides of camels, horses and donkeys. It is thought that small seeds were crushed into the untanned hide when it was damp and then removed when dried so as to leave the grainy indentations. Finally, the hide was stained. Since the 16th century, shagreen has been made from the rough skin of various sharks and rays, all of which have a semi-rough texture made up of small, pearl-like granules. The material is used on furniture, decorative objects, and walls. Many manufacturers now offer faux-shagreen textiles so that actual hides are not used and consistent sizing, coloring and patterning are possible.

shantung

(pronounced shan-TUHNG)

This heavy fabric is traditionally woven with silk fibers, but more modern versions contain synthetic fibers that simulate the semi-rough, nubby texture of a silk version. The luxurious, highly textured fabric uses a surprising uncomplicated weave design that produces a ribbed effect due to the use of slubbed yarns in the warp of the material. Shantung is often used for drapery panels, bed skirts, bedspreads, upholstered cornices, lampshades, tablecloths and table runners.

See also: cornice

Sheetrock

(pronounced SHEET-rahk)

See drywall.

shop drawings

(pronounced shahp DRAHW-ingz)

This term describes the very detailed drawings that a contractor, sub-contractor, manufacturer, millworker, or furniture fabricator prepares and submits to an interior designer, architect or structural engineer to explain how he plans to build what has been called out on construction documents or, in some cases, simple sketches. Shop drawings should show critical dimensions, joinery methods, materials, etc. – basically anything and everything that has an impact on the function and design of the element in consideration. They are a method of communication between designer and contractor that act as preventative medicine. In other words, they may take time and effort in the beginning, but ultimately they prevent hassle, lawsuits and budget overruns. Also, they allow for improvements upon the design. Many times, the fabricator will suggest alternative materials or methods than called out by the designer because of the knowledge base he has gained from years of accumulated experience.

skim coat

(pronounced skihm koht)

Just like skim milk, a skim coat is thin. To be exact, it’s a thin coat of joint compound that is spread over a sub-surface to prepare that surface to receive a finish like wallcovering or paint. The purpose of the skim coat is to mask blemishes so that the final finished surface will appear as intended.

See also: float

skirt

(pronounced skirt)

Rather than referring to the latest mini-, pencil or slit skirt dominating the fashion runways, we are instead describing the cloth piece applied to the bottom of a bed, sofa, chair or table that both hides the legs and open area underneath the piece of furniture and allows for additional ornamentation to the piece.

slipper chair

(pronounced SLIH-per chehr)

A type of armless, upholstered chair having a low seat that can come in a variety of styles and sizes, most often small.

slub

(pronounced SLUHB)

Though it sounds like a name that kids would cruelly taunt one another with, a slub is an important term in the textile trade. When wool is drafted unevenly as it is spun it forms lumps, or slubs, in the yarn, which are thicker than the rest of the yarn and have little to no twist. Once considered a mistake, these irregularities have become a popular effect designed intentionally into various fiber types as they can be used to add beautiful visual and tactile texture to the resulting woven fabric.

smart glass

(pronounced SMART-glas)

See electric privacy glass.

sofa table

(pronounced SO-fuh TAY-buhl)

See console table.

soffit

(pronounced SAH-fit)

This word tends to baffle people because it can mean several things, though they all correlate to the built environment. As related to architectural exteriors, a soffit is the underside of a part or member of a building. This especially applies to an arch, but it could be a beam, cornice, balcony, or lintel. On the interior, this definition could also apply to the bottom of a staircase or an overhang.

A more modern application of the word soffit is a lowered ceiling plane around the perimeter of a room, above cabinetry, or any place one wants to place recessed lighting. Designers may also use soffits to delineate a circulation path or a change in space function. Soffits can be with constructed with metal or wood stud framing, and they are typically finished with drywall. See – they’re not so mysterious afterall.

solution dyed

(pronounced suh-LU-shehn dyed)

In solution dyeing, dye is added to a manufactured fiber (such as nylon) while it still exists as a chemical solution – i.e., before it is extruded into yarn. Because the filament is impregnated with pigment, solution dyeing is an incredibly colorfast method of dyeing.

sound attenuation batts

(pronounced SOWND eh-TEN-yeh-WAY-shun BATZ)

Otherwise known as SABs, sound attenuation batts are flexible, lightweight sheets of fiberglass insulation designed to control noise transmission between interior walls. Batts are typically manufactured 8’ long, between 2-1/2" and 3-1/2" thick and a little bit wider than typical stud spacing, which mostly eliminates the need for fasteners and makes installation within stud cavities easier and faster. SABs are easily cut to fit around obstructions such as pipes, outlets, wires, junction boxes, etc., which helps provide higher acoustical performance. When combined with certain practices – such as sealing wall perimeters and properly locating and installing doors, sidelights, switches, outlets, ducts, and mechanical equipment – acoustical performance can be significantly improved. As most SABs manufactured are made of materials that slow the spread of fire, they are considered noncombustible by most major building code authorities.

spandrel

(pronounced SPAN-drehl)

Just as there are many types of Spaniels, there are many types of spandrels. Before we go any further, we want to mention that a alternative, though lesser used, spelling is “spandril.” The general idea to remember is that the term relates mostly to a space bounded by other architectural elements. First off, a spandrel is the triangular area between the side of an arch and the rectangular molding surrounding it above and to the side. It is also the larger triangular area between the adjacent sides of two arches and the rectangular molding above. Thirdly, in a two+ story building, the term can also be used to describe the space between the top of the window in one story and the sill of the window in the story above. In older buildings, many times there are sculpted panel spandrels having ornamental elements or figures. In more modern buildings, this space might be filled with opaque or translucent glass – i.e., spandrel glass. Next, it is also considered the space between the arch of bridge and the upper deck. Before technological advances in reinforced concrete made it possible to have open spandrels, these spaces were filled in with stone. Lastly (and not pictured), a spandrel can also be 3-D. When a dome sits upon a rectilinear base and is raised above the level of the supporting pillars, three-dimensional concave spandrels – also called pendentives – distribute the weight of the dome onto the supports.

spandrel glass

(pronounced SPAN-drehl glas)

See spandrel.