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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thermostatic shower

(pronounced THER-moh-STA-tihk SHOW-er)

Just like a thermostat regulates consistent air temperature, a thermostatic shower regulates consistent water temperature. This stabilization feature prevents the fluctuations in water temperature that could either scald you (too hot) or surprise you (too cold). By having a pre-set thermostat inside the shower mechanism, it senses changes in the water temperature adjusting accordingly. Ahhhh...now that’s more like it.

three-way switch

(pronounced THREE-way swich)

This is a bit of a confusing term when you first hear it because it seems to be improperly named. A three-way switch is a pair of light switches wired to control the same fixture or group of fixtures. (So wouldn’t you think that it would be called a two-way switch?) Similarly, a four-way switch is a set of three switches wired to control the same fixture or group of fixtures. Whatever – we don’t make the rules.

throw

(pronounced THROH)

In the design industry, this word actually has a couple of meanings. In decorative terms, throw is a shortened term for a “throw blanket” or the adjective preceding the word “pillow” when referring to ornamental pillows for sofas, chairs, and beds. In a construction sense, the throw is the distance which a latch or lock bolt projects when in the locked position. The longer the throw, the deeper the bolt inserts into the strike plate and jamb, and the seemingly more secure the connection.

tilt wall construction

(pronounced TIHLT-wahl kehn-STRUHK-shehn)

Also known as tilt-up construction, this building method is quite common due to its speed. First a foundation is poured and set, and footings are installed to receive the vertical panels that will be tilted up into place as the building’s exterior. Then the forms to create the vertical panels are constructed. These forms become a mold for the panels’ exact size with openings for doors and windows as per the structure’s design. Once the panels are poured and solidified, one by one they are tilted up with cables via a crane, connected, patched, caulked, and finished. Finally, a roof system is installed and interior work can begin.

tongue & groove / T&G

(pronounced tung & gruv)

So many jokes, so little time… Anyway, tongue & groove is a type of wood joinery that is very strong. The concept is brilliant in its simplicity. A piece of wood has a ridge (a.k.a., the “tongue”) along one of its edges and a slot (a.k.a., the “groove”) along its opposite edge. The tongue from one piece fits into the groove of the piece beside it. Put ‘em together and what have you got? Flooring, a ceiling, wall paneling, wainscoting, walls for log cabins… basically any kind of flat surface. Glue is not normally used on these hidden joints because contraction of wood could cause the tongues to rip off. Ouch!

torchère

(pronounced tor-SHARE)

A very sensual word originating from the French expression for torch. Quite appropriate seeing that we now use it either to mean a light fixture that sits on the floor and emanates indirect light up towards the ceiling, or a tall, decorative stand for candles. That’s one huge candelabra.

transgenerational design

(pronounced tranz-jeh-nuh-RAY-shu-nehl dih-ZYNE)

When you break down the words, this term makes total sense. “Trans” means to span or cross, so “transgenerational” means to encompass several age groups. Thus, transgenerational design is the deliberate practice of creating interiors, exterior environments and products that are user-friendly to the young, the elderly, and everyone in between. If you plan for young users, who might have height and dexterity issues, as well as the elderly, who might have vision, auditory and mobility issues, then everyone should be able to go about the activities of day-to-day living without major hindrances.

See also: Design For All, universal design

transmittal

(pronounced trans-MIH-tuhl)

In the modern digital age, we send so many things electronically that we’re used to automatically producing a record of the transaction. However, there is still a need to send items related to the design industry – such as construction documents, specifications, samples, cuttings, etc. – physically via courier, post or shipping service. When this need arises, one uses a written document called a transmittal. This document is used to identify who is sending the item, all parties receiving it, the reason why it’s being sent, and whom to contact for questions regarding the items being sent. It’s simply a method of communication and recordkeeping.

transom

(pronounced TRAN-sum)

It’s amazing that such a concise little word can have so many meanings. First, let’s address the design related ones 1) First and foremost, you’ll hear people refer to the window above a door or opening referred to as a transom or transom window. Historically, these windows were hinged to allow for air flow (pre-central air and heat, you see). 2) A transom can also just be a horizontal crosspiece – like a lintel – that sits above a door, in a window, or between the door and the window above it. 3.) The term can also describe a piece of fixed wood or ornamental work mounted above a door.

Now on to the non-design related definitions… 4) Quite simply, the horizontal part of a cross. (You’re going to impress some Christians with this one.) 5) The collective horizontal planks that create the stern (a.k.a. the back) portion of a boat. (And you’re going to impress some pirates with this one.)

trash paper

(pronounced trash PA-per)

A rather lowbrow, yet common, term for the semi-translucent, lightweight sketching paper used by interior designers, architects, engineers, etc. Available in either yellow or white, it’s a great tool when developing ideas and collaborating with other team members, and communicating options with clients. An alternative term, which is really crass, is bumwad. Heh heh – we said bumwad.

tread

(pronounced TRED)
Besides being the integral word in one of the USA’s most famous historical phrases, as well as one of the methods investigators on “Forensic Files” use to identify criminals (shoe and tire treads are like fingerprints!), a tread is a very important design term. The tread is the portion of a stair that you step on – i.e., the flat, horizontal part. When treads are too shallow or too deep, they are difficult to navigate and become hazardous, as they don’t align with a human’s natural stride; therefore, local codes govern tread depth and design for all types of stairs. You will encounter stair treads made of wood, stone, concrete, rubber, vinyl, metal, fiberglass, and glass, and they can be smooth, textured (preventing slipping), perforated (draining water), heated (dissipating ice), worn (in historical structures), and even illuminated (as in movie theaters and exterior landscapes). Guess this gives new meaning to the term “tread lightly”…

trompe l’oeil

(pronounced tromp-LU-ih)

A French term literally translated as “deceive the eye,” it tricks the viewer into thinking he is looking at a 3-dimensional setting when what he is really seeing is a 2-dimensional surface. This type of technique is sometimes referred to as illusionism, and it started amongst the Renaissance painters. Now it is used often in interior applications. Artisans paint directly on walls, ceilings, columns, floors, millwork and furniture. Some wallcovering and textile manufacturers use the technique in the design of their mass produced goods as well.

trumeau

(pronounced tru-MOH)

Just to get it out of the way, trumeaux (pronounced the same) is the plural form of the word, which, of course, has several meanings. First and foremost, a trumeau is an old architectural term designating the central support of a medieval doorway. In the world of decorative arts, it has also come to commonly mean a mirror, fashioned in a 17^th- and 18^th-century French style, featuring oil paintings or decoratively carved wood panels within a framework above the mirror. Of course, there are true antique trumeaux, but now many current manufacturers make reproduction trumeaux.

tufted

(pronounced TUHF-tehd)

This fun little word – which always makes us think of Little Miss Muffet’s tuffet – actually designates the process of creating carpet. Instead of weaving yarns together, tufting allows hundreds of needles on special machines to stitch hundreds of rows of pile yarn tufts through a primary backing fabric. Depending on the manufacturing process, the end product can be cut-pile (what is often seen in the residential market) or loop-pile (more suitable for higher traffic applications) or a combination of both.

tulle

(pronounced tool)

Mention tulle, and images of billowing, diaphanous, feminine dresses probably come to mind. Yes, this fine, lightweight, sheer kind of lace, mesh or light netting is often used in the design and construction of ballerinas’ tutus, high school girls’ prom gowns, and blushing brides’ wedding veils. However, it can also be used in window treatments, event draping and decorating, and even gift-wrapping. This fabric – which is often starched – can be made of various fibers, including silk, nylon, and rayon.