I am grateful that there is someone out there that is "bridging the gap" between students, teachers, professionals, and those (like me) trying to become a professional. Laura [McDonald] has provided a fun outlet for the expression of all the facets of interior design, and I would be honored to be a part of it [by writing for P&C]! - Whitney Garland
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.
Whatever you do, do not pronounce this word as fuh-KAYD. We have a friend who did so, felt like a complete idiot, and completely lost the respect of the clients he was with. See, that’s why we’re here to help you. Again, if you don’t know how to pronounce something or don’t know what it mean, admit it immediately and then make a point to learn it. It’s that simple. But we digress…
The term façade (which you will also see in print with a regular “c” and not the fancy French version with the tail on it) has two usages. First, and most commonly, it used to describe any face of (or specifically) the front of a building, which sets the tone for the building, especially when it comes to overall architectural style.
Secondly, the term can be used in the context of just the face – usually false – of a structure, especially when on a film set. Studio lots in Hollywood and major entertainment theme parks around the world are dominated by façades simulating Western towns, ancient villages, and urban streets – all of which hide simple, and even empty, structures. Furthermore, some retail establishments have incorporated elaborate façades, masking simple interiors in an effort to entertain and attract consumers.
Fascia is another one of those words that means a million different things in a wide variety of industries, including the medical, automotive, and design fields. Of course we’re focusing on the latter, so let’s try to sort it all out:
1. A very simple molding of a thin, blank band. This somewhat like a fillet, but it’s never rounded.
2. A decorative trim or panel projecting from the face of an interior or exterior wall. Face = Fascia.
3. The front of an object – usually a part that conceals some part of the object. Again, think Face = Fascia.
4. A flat piece that runs horizontally along the eaves of a roof, typically concealing the ends of roof rafters as to give the roof edge a more finished look. The fascia does double duty by providing a foundation for attaching gutters.
5. Also related to roofs…. It can be used to describe the flat, horizontal board enclosing the overhang under the eave, which covers the joint between the top of the exterior wall and the projecting eave.
6. Lastly, you can call out the nameplate / signage over the front of a retail establishment as fascia.
The fast track we’re talking about here is completely different from the fast track you’ll find at the Indy 500 or the Kentucky Derby. In fact, this fast track is really an adjective, not a noun, and it’s usually paired with the word “construction”; however, you will hear people in The Biz shorten the phrase simply to “fast track” when they mean “fast track construction.” It refers to the all-too-frequent practice of accelerating the construction process by overlapping the construction and design phases so that the project can be completed more quickly. As you might imagine, working on the fly like this usually causes mistakes to happen, problems to arise, and tempers to flare. Good times!
A French term meaning “fake wood.” You’ve probably heard the word “faux” plenty of times: faux pearls, faux fur, and faux finishing. Faux bois is a version of the latter: a trompe l’oeil effect where one paints something – usually with an advanced technique of specialized glazing and staining – to make it appear as if it is made out of wood or wood marquetry.
This multipurpose word has a few meanings in the design industry. First off, you can probably imagine that it means covering an object – a lampshade, a pillow, etc. – with decorative feathers. However, when it comes to paint application, it refers to delicately blending the edges of a painted area by carefully lifting the brush at the end of the stroke, which causes the edge to seem indefinite. Lastly, and similar in concept to the prior definition, it also describes sanding the outer edges of a dried applied material in order to taper and smooth it so that it appears to blend into the underlying material.
This is one big fancy word to designate windows and doors – more specifically, their design, layout, and proportioning on a building. It can also just mean a hole in a surface, such as an exterior or interior wall. It’s a very old word that you will encounter when studying architectural history; however, you will see it used in modern contexts as well, especially when talking about thermal performance and energy efficiency of windows and doors.
Just so you know, you might also hear the term pronounced fung-SHWAY. It’s an ancient Chinese term literally translated as “wind-water”. Now it’s used within (as well as outside of) the design world as a method of harmonizing a space with the spiritual forces that inhabit it – thereby balancing chi (flow of energy) – by auspicious orientation, placement, or arrangement as determined geomantic principles. You may scoff, but feng shui consultants now have multi-million corporations as clients.
Since the definition of festoon is a decorative chain or strip hanging between two points, it makes sense that festoon lighting is a series of lamps (a.k.a., bulbs) wired into a flexible cable that can be strung inside or out. These days one can find a wide variety of styles, durability and lamp types, such as ultra-efficient LEDs or low wattage xenon.
Just say the initials. They stand for Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment. Every design project must have a budget for FF&E, but what that budget covers and who specifies it varies. Depending on the scope of the project, sometimes it’s the client, sometimes a purchasing agent or a furniture dealer, and sometimes it’s the design team. FF&E schedules and records are usually extensive and must be meticulously kept, and they don’t stop with the specification. There are four general phases of FF&E: design / specification, purchasing / acquisition, transportation / shipping, and installation / set-up. Depending on the project, FF&E budgets can easily rival construction budgets.
Furniture is considered to be any movable item in an interior that makes it suitable for working or living, such as a file cabinet or table. Fixtures are articles that are attached to the interior as a permanent piece of the interior, such as a sconce or ceiling fan. Whether fixed or mobile, equipment is deemed as what is critical for the day-to-day operation of the interior, such as a bank’s safe (fixed) or a clinic’s defibrillator cart (mobile).
Also known as an AFI (Architect’s Field Instructions) and quite similar to an ASI (Architect’s Supplemental Instructions), an FI can be created when an architect or interior designer tours the construction site. An FI could result from some item or issue that the design professional believes should be clarified or corrected, or it could be a response to a question in the field by a contractor. Furthermore, a contractor may point out the need for a minor improvement or make a suggestion that the design professional should take under advisement. In any case, the design professional will issue the FI, which will include a written explanation and possibly a drawing or two for additional clarification.
Put simply, this term means going out to a space, measuring it and noting the location of any elements (electrical outlets, light fixtures & switches, heating & air conditioning diffusers, etc.) that are important to the scope of your project or that might affect your design. FYI: When someone (a client, a building manager, a real estate broker, etc.) gives you a floor plan or a set of drawings, automatically assume that they’re inaccurate because 95% of the time they are. Therefore, if at all possible, it is necessary to (at the very least) take some quick measurements to make sure all is copasetic. You’ll be glad you did. We’ve learned the hard way.
To bridge the gap between the student / educational community and the professional / manufacturer community of the interior design world, and not to die of boredom while we do it.
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Since Robert Allen | Beacon Hill (within the Dallas Design Center) will be renovating their showroom this summer, they're having a sample sale of all their furniture and accessories to get ready. The sale runs through the spring and features furniture, pillows, and other accessories, so spring forward fast to get a jump on some great deals!
Enough Said T-Shirts
Created by a couple of Milwaukee interior designers with a quirky sense of humor, a healthy dose of sarcasm and a heaping serving of caring. Check out Enough Said to find fun t-shirts with a message.
