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.
In the world of fashion, this oh-so-French word refers to a ruffle of lace or fabric attached down the center front of a blouse or garment. (Think 18th Century men about town.) In the interior design / decorating world, it’s quite similar, but instead of on a frock, it shows up on a traditionally styled window treatment or bed canopy. Specifically, it’s the cascading, pleated, (usually) tapered fabric on the sides of a fabric swag that makes it more dramatic. The pleats allow for exposure of both sides of the fabric, which provides more decorative options. There are variations on the jabot, of course, but just remember it as always being the vertical textile piece of a window treatment.
Not be mistaken with what most Westerners enjoy spreading on their breakfast toast, this jamb (note the silent “b” on the end) has a variety of meanings in the design world:
1. Most commonly, a jamb refers to the surrounding vertical element of a doorway or window frame. The door or window jamb acts as a stabilizing and finishing piece.
2. Similarly, the vertical element surrounding said door or window could be figurative, like a trumeau. In this case, they are referred to as jamb figures.
3. Lastly, a jamb hook is a very traditional support hook for a single firetool poker.
When you “join” something, you bring two or more things together and form them into a cohesive single unit. In the design biz, to “join” something usually refers to putting pieces of wood together – in a very careful, artistic manner – to form a piece of furniture or cabinetry. The skilled craftsmen who do this work are called joiners, and what they produce is joinery. To do this work, they utilize a vast array of types of joints, some more complicated than others: dovetail, finger, mitre, butt, half-lap, rabbet, biscuit, tongue & groove, mortise & tenon, dowel, etc. P&C will cover these in future DESIGN SPEAK entries…
Also known as drywall compound, as well as the more slangish “mud,” joint compound is a water-soluble, gypsum binder material designed as a filler for drywall that seals joints between panels of sheetrock. This white-ish substance comes in both dry powder form to mix with water and as a pre-mixed paste. FYI: In the plumbing trade, the material applied to threaded connections to help prevent leaks is also called joint compound.
Composed of either steel, wood or concrete, a joist is a horizontal supporting member that, along with other joists, runs from beam-to-beam, wall-to-wall, or beam-to-wall in order to support a floor, ceiling, or roof.
An electrical term that any A&D professional should know. Though it doesn’t have to be rectangular, it’s a container that is used for electrical connections. Whether in the wall, under a raised floor or in the ceiling, they are intended to conceal the connections from sight, deter tampering and comply with codes and regulations for the safety of the building’s inhabitants – i.e., prevent the spread of fire. The term can also be used for electrical connections in cars, as well as audio/visual and cable connections. Some specialty J-boxes are built to withstand explosions or the harsh conditions of marine applications.
Jute is both the non-scientific term used to describe either of two Asian plants that produce a multi-use vegetable fiber and the fiber itself. Produced mostly in India and Bangladesh, the shiny, soft, long fiber can be spun into coarse, strong threads and is one of the most affordable natural fibers. For these reasons, jute is used both alone and with other fibers to make twine and burlap sacks, as well as durable carpets, curtain fabrics, and upholstery fabrics.
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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Benjamin Moore is pleased to announce their Annual HUE Awards, which honor interior designers and architects who masterfully and innovatively use color consistently throughout their work. Each of the honorees in the four categories will receive a HUEY sculpture plus a $5,000 cash prize. There is no fee to enter, and submissions will be accepted between April 15, 2013 - Friday, July 12, 2013. GO HERE to learn more and to enter.
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