DESIGN
STUDIO
Arrow Foot: A cylindrical foot which is tapered and separated from the leg by a turned ring.
Attached Back Pillow: A pillow treatment which cannot be removed from the upholstered piece.
Ball Foot: The rounded end of a turned leg which has a hooded effect.
Kiln Dried: Kiln drying reduces the moisture content of the lumber, a process which inhibits checking, splitting and strengthens the finished product.
Ladder Back: A chair back which has horizontal cross rails or slats that resemble a ladder.
Barrel Back: A chair or sofa with the arms and back forming a continuous curve.
Loose Pillow Back: A pillow treatment which can be removed from an upholstered piece.
Bow Back: A chair back formed by a bent piece of wood fitted with vertical spindles (as in a Windsor chair). The bow or hoop is continuous down to the arms or the seat.
Marlborough Legs: A heavy straight leg used by Chippendale and others.
Miter Joint: A joint made by fastening two pieces cut at an angle (usually 90 degrees).
Bun Foot: A flattened ball foot.
Mortise: A hole, groove or slot in wood into which a tenon or tongue fits to form a secure joint.
Button Tufted: Fabric covered buttons are sewn through the upholstery surface and tied down. The placement of buttons and the resulting folds produce geometric patterns.
Parsons Leg: A relatively long, fully upholstered leg.
Pediment: The usually triangular or rounded structure above the cornice often seen in tall case pieces.
Cabriole: A furniture leg that curves outward from the structure which it supports and then descends in a tapering reverse curve terminating in an ornamental foot. Often used in Queen Anne and Chippendale dining chairs.
Piping (fluting): Used on barrel back, fan back, kidney shaped and hollow backed upholstered pieces. Individual upholstered pockets (pipes) are stuffed separately to give a comfortable soft curve i the back.
Camel Back: Double curved back, shield shaped; characteristic Hepplewhite style.
Chaise Lounge: A type of sofa or daybed designed for reclining and resembling an elongated chair.
Plinth Base: A squared base (sometimes other shapes) which sits on the floor and is usually recessed from the outermost outlines of the case piece.
Claw and Ball Foot: The terminal portion of a furniture leg (often cabriole) consisting of a carved animal or bird claw clutching a sphere.
Coil Springs: Wire coils used in quality upholstery to give a desired resiliency and firmness to the seat and back. These are often "tied" or incorporated in a "marshall unit".
Rolled Arms: Arms which flare out, then down and return to meet the sides of a chair or sofa - appearing to have been rolled.
Self Storing Leaves: Leaves that store within an extension table.
Slat Back: Often used in American colonial styled chairs. This treatment uses horizontal rails across the back and looks similar to a ladder back.
Comb Back: A Windsor chair having an extension of the back above the arm rail that consists of five or more spindles and a curved top rail that resembles a comb.
Sleigh Bed: The sleigh bed has a high, scrolled headboard and footboard resembling the front of a sleigh.
Dentil Molding: Ornamental cornice molding consisting of rectangular blocks spaced at regular intervals resembling teeth.
Diamond Tufting: A method of tufting buttons to create a diamond shaped pattern on the back of an upholstered piece.
Table Pad: Dining table pads are pads or covers that are used for protection of a dining table. On one side they are covered in felt so they don't scratch the table. On the other side, they're covered in a heat resistant vinyl. Table pads are made with seams to allow folding for easy storage when not in use. They can be ordered custom made to fit any style or shape of table and with a selection of colors.
Finger Joint: A joint made with interlocking finger-like projections in two boards.
Tapered Leg: A chair leg whose thickness is reduced as it approaches the bottom.
Finials: The curved cast, turned or stamped decorative piece that adorns the top of bed posts.
Hand Tied: Single coil springs that are attached to the webbing with links and then "hand tied" to each other and the frame with twine to achieve differing amounts of elasticity in the seat. Two, four and eight way hand ties are commonly used. The more ways the spring is tied, the harder the seat.
Veneer: A thin decorative layer of wood which is applied to underlying wood solids. Veneers are used to match and balance grain or to create inlay and banding effects.
Welting: Cord wrapped in fabric which is used to trim upholstery seams and places where the fabric meets exposed wood.
Hock Leg: A cabriole leg having a broken curve on the inner side of the knee.
Hoop Back: A chair back formed by a bent piece of wood fitted with vertical spindles. In Windsor chairs a bow back.
Inlay: Wood or other materials which are set into corresponding carved out recesses often producing a pattern.