Glossary

A

  • "Above Finish Floor" (AFF) refers to the measurement from the finished floor surface to a specific point higher up on a wall or object.

    For instance, if a sconce has an AFF of 5 feet, it means the sconce is installed 5 feet above the finished floor level, ensuring consistent placement height throughout a room or building.

C

  • Customer’s Own Material (COM) allows customers to supply their own fabric for furniture upholstery, offering a personalized choice in texture and design to complement their specific aesthetic and decor preferences.

    Variation is COL: Customer’s Own Leather

  • "Cutting for Approval" (CFA) is a sample of the actual fabric, trim, or wallpaper, sent to customers for approval before proceeding with the order. It ensures the color and texture meet the client's expectations, minimizing risks of dissatisfaction.

L

  • What is the lead time? It is a common question/phrase interior designers ask/say. Lead time is the duration between initiating and completing a process, such as order placement and delivery, indicating the time taken to fulfill a customer's order.

N

  • "Not to scale" (NTS) means the sizes and proportions in a drawing aren't accurate.

    For example, you can’t use your architectural scale ruler to take measurements from the printed drawing because it’s NTS.

P

  • A partition erected on a property boundary, partly on the land of one owner and partly on the land of another, to provide common support to the structures on both sides of the boundary.

    In New York City, a party wall is a shared wall that serves as the division between two adjacent buildings. It is commonly found in brownstones, row houses, and other multi-unit dwellings. The NYC Building Code regulates the construction and renovation of party walls, ensuring they meet fire safety and structural requirements. Property owners who share a party wall must often negotiate a party wall agreement that outlines the rights and responsibilities for maintenance and repair.

  • Popcorn ceilings, characterized by their bumpy, dimpled texture resembling popcorn kernels, have a varied history in their composition. From the 1930s to the 1980s, a mixture of vermiculite and asbestos was sprayed on ceilings to achieve this effect. However, the use of asbestos, a known carcinogen, was banned with The Clean Air Act of 1978. Since the 1980s, safer alternatives have been adopted to create the popcorn texture, utilizing paint mixed with materials like polystyrene or cardboard and paper, eliminating the health risks associated with asbestos.

  • Patina refers to a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of copper, brass, bronze, and similar metals (tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes), or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure. On historical artifacts and antiques, a patina can be an important feature that shows authenticity and age and is often valued by collectors for its aesthetic qualities.

    For example, the Statue of Liberty is made of copper and has a distinctive green patina that formed over many years due to the oxidation of its copper skin.

    In metalwork and jewelry, a patina is sometimes intentionally applied by artists to add colors and textures to a piece. This can be achieved through various methods, including chemical treatments, heat, or exposure to the elements.

S

  • An understanding of how the size of one object in a space relates to the size of the other objects in the space.

  • Skim coating is a great way to make ugly walls and ceilings new again! A skim coat, also known as a level-five drywall finish, is a thin coat of diluted joint compound that can be applied by hand, paint roller or spray rig. Then it’s smoothed out by using a drywall knife or trowel. It’s an easy way to create flat and uniform surfaces on walls and ceilings so they can be painted or re-textured.

    Read more about Skim Coat here: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-skim-coat-a-wall

T

  • A technique used to trick the eye into thinking that something flat, like a wall, is actually three-dimensional. This is often achieved through photorealistic painting.