Design Tips

Ten-Minute Tricks to Freshen Your Space

Ten Things You Can Just Quit Cleaning

General Cleaning Guidelines

Are you battling a blob of sticky stuff? Try these tips

Colors and Their Common Associations

Color Wheel

Putting “U” in the conversation
When arranging your seating, a U-shaped conversation area is ideal, while an L-shaped area is always uncomfortable. A sofa and a matching pair of chairs easily establish a comfortable U-shaped configuration that allows everyone who is seated to have an intimate chat facing
everyone else. A sectional sofa or a sofa and loveseat that form an L-shape, on the other hand, make everyone "twist and shout" when trying to have a conversation.

What’s the point?
Almost every living room has at least one natural focal point. If yours has a fireplace, that will no doubt be it. Other focal points might be a picture window with a wonderful view or a pair of French doors. Whatever the focal point of your room, be sure you arrange your furniture to take advantage of it -- since everyone's eyes will naturally be drawn to it in any case.

Two is better than one
To create a beautiful room, think in pairs. If you have a good piece without a mate, find it a
partner. End tables will complement each other if they are of similar size and finish. Two different upholstered chairs can be slip-covered in the same fabric to create a pair, so long as they are of similar height and scale. Fit two lamps of similar height and style with new, matching shades.

Small works
Is your entrance foyer or vestibule too small to accommodate a commode or table? Try a narrow bench instead. It will be handy for setting down packages and sitting on to remove wet boots.

Keep it together
When you walk around your home, are you comfortable, or do you feel as if you were navigating an obstacle course? If your furniture is creating obstacles to your comfort, here are a couple of problem areas to watch for:

Be sure you living room chairs and sofa are grouped close together. Otherwise, anyone walking through the living room will be forced to cross between those who are seated and interrupt their conversation. If possible, avoid having the traffic pattern cross in front of the television. To keep from blocking anyone's view, try to reconfigure the seating so that someone "passing through" will be walking behind the sofa instead of in front of it.

Balance it out
In small rooms, use armless upholstered chairs such as slipper style, which will allow more space than chairs with arms but will provide a more comfortable, small-scale alternative to wooden chairs. If your budget won't allow you to buy a pair of matching chairs, purchase one chair and a matching ottoman. Until you can afford the second chair, use the ottoman as a "second" seat by placing the chair on one side of your coffee table and the ottoman on the other side. You'll have two places to sit with the effect of a matching pair.

Home Furnishings "Jargon" and descriptions

Abrasion wear: Distress or erosion marks on fabrics, wood or metal. Created when a surface experiences friction in use or handling.

Acanthus leaf: A plant with a beautiful leaf of scrolling points and pinnate lobes. Often found in objects from Greek and classical antiquity as a decorative motif. Still popular in fabrics, art, accessories and carvings

Acetate: A synthetic fiber made from cellulose, a common material in the cell walls of many plants. Its desirable properties are elegance and versatility; and it is usually combined with other fibers to add a luxurious hand and appearance.

Acrylic: A synthetic fiber derived from plant or chemical resin. Acrylic's desirable properties are moderate strength and its acceptance of brilliant color dyes. Acrylic also has a soft, plush loft that does not flatten.

Antique finish: A patina of age created by the application of paint, stain or other surface treatments.

Arm caps: Coverings, mostly crafted from fabric, designed to protect the top surface of chair and sofa arms.

Armoire: A cabinet or wardrobe, usually made of wood and originally built to store linens, clothing or other household items. Now often used as media centers. Derived from Latin word for chest.

Art Deco style: A style of art, decoration and architecture, generally popular from 1925-1940. Often used geometric designs, bold colors, wood, metal, glass, stone and plastic either singly or in mixed media application.

Art Nouveau style: A style of art, decoration and architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that depicted flowing leaves, flowers and natural elements. Typical materials used were wood, metal and glass.

Arts & Crafts style: A style of art, decoration and architecture made popular during the first half of the 20th century. Often associated with simple, clean-lined pieces that have a handcrafted look and feel. Also referred to as Mission style.

Balance: A harmonious or satisfying arrangement and proportion of the components of a product or environment.

Ball and claw foot: A decorative feature on traditional wood furniture. The foot imitates a carved ball held by a talon of a bird of prey, usually an eagle.

Beadboard: An architectural design element in wood. Paneling is routed vertically so that parallel lines span the height of the board. Often used as wall material, wainscoting and cabinet doors. The beadboard is then painted or stained.

Bergere: A chair of French design with carved wood framing, upholstered body and sumptuous seating. Popularized in the reigns of Louis XIV and XV.

Bench seat: An upholstery feature in which the seat of a sofa, loveseat or settee is made of only one cushion rather than two or more. The complete seating space is a single unit.

Bias: The cutting and sewing of a fabric at a diagonal or 45 degree angle in relationship to the pattern.

Block foot: A square or tapered leg of a chair or sofa. Usually made of wood, plastic or metal.

Bombe: A French design silhouette common in chests, cabinets and armoires. Features a convex or outward curving of the dimensions in the lower portion of the piece.

Boxpleat skirt: The treatment of a skirt using alternating high/low folds of fabric to create a dentil pattern.

Brocade: A heavy fabric woven with a rich, raised design or pattern.

Buffet: 1-A piece of furniture designed for serving food. 2-The lower portion of a two-piece china cabinet.

Bullion trim: A trim made of lengths of yarn twisted into a rope or braid. Applied to thebase of upholstery, draperies, pillows and lampshades. Available in many colors, sizes and lengths. Originated in France inlacework made with gold or silver threads.

Bun foot: A base style – usually made of wood – for upholstered products crafted in the shape of a spherical or flat bun.

Burl: The beautiful, swirling grain pattern in wood usually harvested from roots or knots.

Button tufted: An upholstery surface technique that uses buttons to create a pattern. Can mimic the look of pieces of fabric and/or leather sewn together.

Cabriole: A shape given to a furniture feature, usually a leg, with a gentle hip or bow near the top, then curving and tapering into a smaller foot.

 

Camelback: The name referring to a style of furniture in which the back swells into a higher dimension at the center point and declines to a lower dimension at either side.

Cane: 1- Material usually derived from the soft, outer bark of rattan and woven into the seat or back surface of chairs. 2- Material created from wood or wicker and made to resemble the segmented growth pattern of bamboo, water or ribbon canes. Often used as motif in the leg or base of furniture pieces.

Case goods: Furniture items that are generally used for storage and have a case as the primary component of construction. The case space is then filled with drawers, shelves and/or doors. Examples are dressers, armoires, cabinets and chests.

Casters: Round or tire-shaped wheels attached by a swivel to furniture pieces for mobility; generally constructed of metal or plastic.

Chaise: A chair with an elongated seat that allows the occupant's legs to be raised. From an old French word for chair.

Channel back: A patterning technique in upholstered goods using vertical seams to create definition and separation in back materials.

Charles of London arm: A style of arm construction, also known as English, that is lower near the back and swells into a graceful, sinuous curve at its front. Padding is usually rolled over the side of the arm to create a fuller dimension above a flat side panel.

Chasen pads - A quilted, thicker insulator pad that can be used in place of foam.

Chenille: A tufting technique of yarn making which allows the fibers to blossom, creating a soft and plush fabric. >From an old French word for caterpillar.

Chesterfield: A name for a silhouette of upholstery, usually overstuffed and more masculine in attitude. Many Chesterfield pieces have a tight back, rounded corners and large, rounded or semi-rounded arms. Named after the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, an 18th century writer.

Chintz: Fabric that has been printed and then glazed to have a high sheen. Usually cotton and floral, occasionally in solids, plaids or stripes. From the Hindu word for shiny or spotted.

Chippendale: A traditional style of furniture with flowing lines and Rococo ornamentation. Named for an early 17th century British cabinetmaker.

Club foot: Refers to a simple turned foot modeled after a club, much like that used in the early days of golf. Usually paired with Cabriole and Queen Anne style legs.

Colonial style: A traditional style of furniture popularized during the American Revolution. Pieces were often gracefully carved and featured moderate to heavy ornamentation. Also used to reference furniture crafted by settlers in colonial areas around the globe using local materials exhibiting Old World designs in New World materials.

Color transfer: 1- The process of applying color from one material onto another by moisture or heat. 2- The accidental seepage of color from one material to another.

Colorway: The variety of color choices in which a product is constructed.

Contemporary style: A name given to a broad style range of designs from the 20th century. Generally, designs are simple and pure in concept and crafted from woods, metals, polymer products or glass.

Contrasting welt: The welting or piping at seams that is covered in fabric contrasting or different from the main body cloth of an upholstered piece. This technique creates a highlighting of the components in the piece. Applies to pillows, linens, seating pieces, draperies, etc.

Conventional center: The pattern in a fabric where the center parallels the selvages or edges and runs the length of the roll of yardage rather than across it. Certain centered patterns require centering and balancing on the back, seat cushions, and other areas of a piece of upholstery, thus requiring more yardage. See Selvage.

Conventional match: The pattern in a fabric where the center parallels the selvages or edges and runs the length of the roll of yardage rather than across it. For instance, certain florals, plaids or large checks might require that the pattern be matched at seams in critical focal points, and possibly other visible areas. See Selvage

Conventional random: The pattern in a fabric where the center parallels the selvages or edges and runs the length of the roll of yardage rather than across it. The pattern of the fabric is small enough or indistinct enough that matching and centering are not required.

Cottage: 1- A small, usually one-floor house often bearing some details of rural inspiration. 2- An interior design plan or style of furnishings that uses cottage influences. Cottage as a trend generally refers to romantic colors, simple lines and natural materials.

Cotton: 1- A green, leafy plant with showy, white fibrous flowers. 2- The fiber derived from the blossoms of the cotton plant. 3- Textiles made from cotton fibers. Admirable qualities: abrasion resistance, excellent hand and pilling resistance, offers an elegant and stylish appearance.

Damask: A rich, flatly woven textile that features a pattern that is created with slightly varying shades of one color.

Dentil molding: An architectural detail featuring equally spaced wood blocks. Often found in traditional furniture and architecture.

Design: 1- To conceptualize the appearance of an object or space. 2- A style, fashion, appearance or characteristic.

Dinette: A small dining set consisting of a table and coordinating chairs. Used for casual or in-the-kitchen serving.

Distressed: The marring, damaging or finishing of an object or material to create an aged, used or rustic appearance.

Down: The very soft, fine and luxurious feathers from the breasts of waterfowl.

Eclectic: A design aesthetic that mixes objects from various style categories or historical periods. From the Latin for "to gather."

Eight-way hand tied: A method of seating construction using coil springs that are tied or looped with strong cord at the eight compass points to the surrounding coils and frame.

Enclosed Coil Unit - An 8" tall unit in which each coil is individually pocketed and works independently. It is also foam encased.

Escutcheon: The decorative plate around a keyhole.

Fauteuil: An armchair, usually covered in fabric, with open sides.

Fill/weft: The visible yarns in a textile that are woven through the less visible foundation of warp yarns. Weft yarns run perpendicular to selvage. See Selvage.

Finial: The decorative ornament cap of a post – as in a fence or chair frame – or the decorative topsecuring a lampshade.

Finish: 1- The surface coating of an item. Some finishes provide protection, some color, others both. 2- To apply an agent to the surface of an object. Fabrics, woods, metals, stone and many other materials require finishing for a variety of reasons: color, texture, moisture or stain protection.

Flame stitch: A pattern created in the weaving of a textile that resembles the arching and ebbing of flames.

Flax: The plant with pale blue flowers and slender stems from which linen is derived.

Flow: To run smoothly in unbroken continuity as in: 1- Flow-matching fabrics where the pattern is matched from top to bottom on a piece of upholstery; 2- The designing of a space so that the elements are harmoniously arranged by shape, style and color.

Fluting: The carving of parallel grooves into wood or other solid materials.

Frame: The mostly unseen materials used to craft the supporting structure of a piece of upholsteredfurniture. Wood, metal and plastic are common frame materials.

French Classic style: Designs popularized during the reigns of Louis XIV and XV.

French Provincial style: Designs inspired in the countryside and small cities of the south of France during the 17th and 18th centuries. Elements were pure, materials natural, and colors drawn from the earth and sky.

Foam Encased Unit - The innerspring unit is completely enclosed with foam. This gives edge to edge comfort.

Focal point: 1- The area in a room or a design piece to which the eye is drawn. 2- The center of interest or activity.

Full grain leather: The complete, uncorrected hide of an animal. The grain side refers to the side from which the hair or fur has been removed.

Gallery edge: The raised outer portion of an object such as a table or buffet.

Georgian style: Architecture or objects bearing characteristics from the period of the reigns of the four King Georges of Britain from 1714 to 1830. The design aesthetic might be described as less ornamentation to create a more masculine appearance.

Gilding: Applying gold or a gold-like substance to the surface of an object.

Glaze: A finishing technique used to highlight or add depth to the surface.

Grain: The pattern inherent in the fibers of wood or leather or other natural materials reflecting growth or expansion.

Hand: The reaction to the sense of touch when fabric or leathers are held in the hand.

Hutch: 1-A cabinet usually used for the storage of serving pieces. 2- The top half of a two-piece cabinet.

Inlay: The fitting together of wood, shell, bone or stone pieces into a surface area to create a desired pattern.

 

Insulator Pads - Creates a barrier between innerspring unit and foam. Also, distributes weight evenly.

Jacobean style: From the period of the early 1600s in England. Ornamentation tended to be heavily carved or spindled and finished in dark stains. Woven or printed patterns feature a "Tree of Life" motif.

Jacquard: 1- An intricately woven textile. 2- The loom developed by Frenchman Joseph Jacquard in 1801 that first allowed for a mechanical weaving of complex patterns.

Kickpleat skirt: A straight skirt that is often divided in the center of width and on the corners where another smaller skirt is placed in the back of the opening left by the division or vents.

Kickpleat with shirred corners: A straight skirt that is often divided or vented in the center of width and on the corners where another smaller, gathered or shirred skirt is placed in the back of the opening left by the division or vents.

Lacquer: The hard and shiny cellulose-based finish applied to furniture surfaces.

Ladder-back: The back of a piece of furniture, typically a chair, resembling the steps of a ladder.

Latex - Not a foam product. It is an all natural rubber product.

Lattice: A crisscross pattern often found in wood products or textiles. The pattern can be squared or on the diagonal.

Linen: 1-The fine and durable fiber of the flax plant. 2- A handsome, crisp textile woven from the fiber of the flax plant.

Lodge: 1- A rustic house or inn usually located in a remote area. 2- A trend of furnishings modeled after rustic elements and objects found in lodges.

Loose-back pillow: An unattached pillow providing support for the back of an upholstered piece.

Loose pillow back: The back of an upholstered piece created by a series of unattached pillows.

Louis XIII, XIV, XV, XVI: The four kings of France from 1610 to 1792. These kings were responsible for a period of magnificent contributions to the arts, sciences and agriculture. Many of the aesthetics that have influenced Western world design originated during this time.

Luggage stitching: A sewing technique that creates seams featuring the two parallel rows of stitching often found on fine luggage.

Lurex: Fibers created from finely slit aluminum film, then covered in plastic. Often used in mid-century objects. The luster of the yarn imitates gold and silver threads. Admirable characteristics: strength and sheen.

Lyre arm: A bow-shaped section of a piece of furniture modeled after the musical instrument of ancient Greece.

Marquetry: The craft of inlaying wood or other natural materials into a surface area to create a distinctive pattern; usually indicating a more elaborate and fine artistry than inlay.

Married cover: The specifying of a particular fabric's use with a particular frame style in repetitive production.

Matelasse: A textile weaving technique using two layers of fabric held together by stitches sewn into a pattern. The pattern could be botanical, such as leaves; geometric such as diamonds or squares; or abstract shapes. The space between the layers of fabric creates pockets between the stitches. Matelasse fabrics are heavy, sumptuous and durable.

Mattress-tufted: A method of cushion or pillow construction featuring symmetrical tufting usually with buttons. Mimics the appearance of a mattress surface.

Mission: A design style reflective of objects from the early 20th Century. Items were typically plain, solidly built and of dark finish.

Moiré: A textile pattern that mimics the marks left by water having evaporated from paper or silk. There is a distinct and recognizable pattern to moiré and it is modeled after silk that has dried.

Molding: The decorative embellishment or trim around the walls of a room or a piece of furniture.

Motion furniture: Items that have multiple positioning capabilities or allow for movement, such as a recliner, incliner, swivel or glider.

Nailhead trim: The use of decorative nail heads around the edges of upholstery pieces.

Nap: The pile or surface texture created by the yarns of a textile. Generally used to refer to a soft or fuzzy characteristic.

Nubuck: Leather created with a slight nap by abrading the top layer of hide. More serviceable and durable than suede, though similar in appearance.

Nylon: 1- A synthetic yarn derived from polymers usually petrochemical in origin. 2- The textile made from nylon yarns. Admirable characteristics: excellent abrasion resistance, dyes well, lightweight and lustrous.

Occasional table: Generally refers to a table used with a sofa or chair. Could also refer to an accent table used independently and intermittently.

Olefin: A man-made fiber from a hydrocarbon source. Admirable qualities are strength and stain resistance.

Omalon Foam - A precompressed, densified foam. It can be used in place of an innerspring unit.

Ottoman: 1-A piece of furniture designed to support the feet. From the ancient Eastern empires where such pieces were easily portable and used for seating. 2- An upholstered piece with no arms or back. 3- A cloth with a small and tight cording construction.

Padding: The soft materials used between the frame and cover of an upholstered piece to create comfort and shape. Foam, fabric and fiber are common elements of padding.

Parsons leg: A simple, straight, square leg that is the same dimension from top to bottom. From the Parsons School of Design.

Patina: The surface appearance of an object that is the result of age or use.

Pigment: A substance used to provide or carry color.

Pilling: The small balls of yarn on the surface of a fabric resulting from use or abrasion.

Piping/welting: A cord of paper, fiber or plastic, wrapped in fabric or leather and used to trim upholstered items and/or to secure a seam. Many Norwalk upholstered pieces feature piping/welting.

Polyester: 1- A synthetic resin, polymer-derived fiber often used in a blend with wool, cotton or rayon. Admirable characteristics: lightweight, strong, soft hand, durable and wrinkle resistant. 2- Fabric woven from polyester fibers.

Printed warp: The threads or yarns that run perpendicular to the weft or fill yarns in woven goods and provide the foundation for the fabric. A printed warp provides more color options and enhancement to a textile. See Weft.

Provincial: 1- Generally, relating to the countryside, rural, pastoral, simple and unsophisticated. 2- Often used to refer to rustic and hand-crafted furnishings and design from the French provinces outside of Paris and particularly from the southern region of Province.

Queen Anne style: Furniture and architectural styles developed during the reign of Queen Anne, often exhibiting curved legs and simple ornamentation.

Railroad center: Term for fabric pattern direction in which the design is oriented across the width, and runs perpendicular to the selvage or edges. See Selvage.

Railroad match: Term for fabric pattern direction in which the design is oriented across the width, runs perpendicular to the selvages or edges and would require matching. For instance, a plaid or large check would be laid out across the roll, not down the length. See Selvage.

Railroad random: Term for fabric pattern direction in which the design is oriented across the width, runs perpendicular to the selvages or edges and is indistinct enough to not require matching. See Selvage.

Rattan: 1- Plants of the climbing palm family. 2- The material harvested from the rattan plant. 3- Products made from the rattan material.

Rayon: A man-made fiber derived from the cell wall of plants. Admirable characteristics: luster, soft hand, pilling resistance and absorption of dyes.

Reeding: Parallel grooves carved into wood, stone or metal to resemble the slender stems of water plants.

Retro style: A reference to designs inspired by objects from the period and movements of the first 60 years of the 20th century: Bauhaus, Deco, Jazz, Internationalism, Cubism, Modernism, etc.

Revival: The reintroduction of designs from an earlier period, for instance, Renaissance revival or Greek revival.

Ribbon band: A narrow trim of fabric around the edge or base of a sofa, chair or table skirt, a pillow or drapery.

Rococo style: A design style originated in France in the 1700s using heavy ornamentation of leaves, animals and scrolling. Seen in architecture and objects.

Rolled arm: Refers to the shape of an upholstered arm in which the top portion is rounded and larger than the supporting post underneath. Padding and fabric are then pulled over the top, then attached, creating a rolled profile. Sateen: A textile, usually of cotton, with a polished finish resembling the luster of satin.

Seating: General term for furniture crafted for the purpose of providing a sitting position for the body. Not specific to size or style.

Seam strength: The durability of the binding that joins one piece of fabric to another.

Sectional: A sofa created by a group of pieces or units rather than of a single frame construction.

Seersucker: A lightweight textile with a puckered surface and a striped pattern.

Self-deck: To cover the frame area of an upholstered piece beneath the seat cushions with a body or cover cloth as opposed to muslin or other neutral fabric.

Selvage: The end(s), sides or edges of a textile that are tightly woven to prevent unraveling or fraying.

Semi-attached back: Loose back pillows or cushions attached with a zipper or seam to the inside back of an upholstered item.

Settee: A seating piece of narrow length with a full height back similar to a small sofa.

 

Shabby chic style: A design that uses a slipcover in light neutrals or colors. Occasionally, used to describe light-colored patchwork fabrics on loose-fitting slipcovers.

Shaker style: A style of furniture and objects originated by the Christian sect of Shakers. Items were finely crafted of quality materials, simply styled for function and free of ornamentation.

Shirred skirt: A skirt in which the fabric is gathered or ruffled.

Side chair: A chair with no arms. Typically referring to a dining chair.

 

 

Silhouette: The shape of a piece of furniture.

Silk: A natural fiber derived from the silk worm. Admirable characteristics: soft, smooth hand, lustrous, color-fast and somewhat abrasion resistant.

Slipcover/slipcover look: An upholstery cover sewn complete or in parts and then pulled over the frame of a piece of furniture without fastening. Usually loose and drapery-like. Original slipcovers were designed to protect upholstered furniture during periods of storage or lack of use.

Slipper chair: A fully upholstered chair without arms and usually skirted.

Spiral welt: Decorative welt trim featuring one or multiple colors of yarn, arranged in a spiral pattern.

 

Splat: The vertical back support(s) of a chair or bench.

Split leather: Leather that has been created by separating the layers of the animal hide. The layer under the top layer.

Spring and down: A seat cushion combining feathers and enclosed springs. A number of Norwalk products can be made with spring and down cushions.

Square leg: A post supporting a piece of furniture with no change in dimension from top to bottom and equal dimensions on all sides.

Stain: 1- To apply color to a surface. 2- The pigmented material applied to a surface to provide a semi-transparent color.

Stretcher: The joinery between legs of a table or seating piece. Provides stability.

Suspension: The components in an upholstered piece that provide the support and comfort for the seating and back areas. Coils, sinuous springs, webbing and foam are common components.

Swivel chair: A seating piece that allows for rotation or spinning in position.

Tapered leg: A post of a piece of furniture with dimensions that are wider at the topthan the base and typically reduce in a uniform rate.

Tapestry: 1-A heavy textile usually depicting scenes or landscapes withhigh yarn pile and often multi-colored. Much of the coloration in the design comes from multi-colored warp yarns. See Warp. 2- An art piece crafted by the weaving of colored yarns.

T-cushion: The back or seat cushions of an upholstered item that have square extensions on one corner.

Tight back: An upholstered style in which the cover is pulled tight over the inside back frame and padding of the piece, then attached. Pillows or back cushions are not required for use.

Tight seat: An upholstered style in which the cover is pulled tight over the seat frame and padding, and then attached. No seat cushion is required for use.

Toile: A lightweight textile that is usually printed with domestic or pastoral scenes in one or two colors.

Top grain leather: Leather created from hides that need some correcting of blemishes, scars or discoloration.

Traffic patterns: The direction in which people move through a room.

Transitional style: A generic label given to styles that combine elements of traditional and contemporary design.

Trim: An embellishment added for decoration or functional purpose. Examples: fringe on a skirt or pillow, moldings on an armoire.

Turned feet, legs, posts: Elements of a piece of furniture that have been processed through a lathe or otherwise shaped to create balls, buns, spirals, ropes or clubs, etc. The name is derived from a craftsman holding and turning a piece of wood against the lathe till the desired form is achieved.

Tuxedo style: A style of upholstery with straight lines, higher back and arms. Usually, the arms are the same height as the back.

Two-over-two: A reference to seat and back cushion configurations: two back cushions over two seat cushions. Three-over-three is also a common combination. A number of Norwalk styles can be ordered with two or three seat options.

Ultra-soft: A cushion option created from a blend of fiber and feathers.

Upholstery: Products combining frame, suspension and cover to provide seating.

Vegetable dye: Colors derived from the pigments of plants and botanical products.

Victorian style: Reference to characteristics of design during the latter half of the reign of Queen Victoria of England, 1837 to1901. Objects were massive in scale and heavily ornamented. Elaborate and delicate carvings and turnings were also popular.

Voile: A lightweight, simply woven textile that is semi-translucent.

Warp: The yarns that run vertically with the roll of goods or parallel to the selvage. See Selvage.

Waterfall skirt: A skirt style cascades over the seat and front of a piece.

Webbing: A type of seating suspension that uses bands of interlaced flexible materials.

Weft/fill: The visible yarns in a textile that are woven through the less visible foundation of warp yarns. Weft yarns run perpendicular to selvage. See Selvage.

Welting/piping: A cord of paper, fiber or plastic, wrapped in fabric or leather and used to trim upholstered items and/or to secure a seam. Almost all Norwalk upholstered pieces feature welting/piping.

William & Mary style: A style of architecture and furnishings, sometime referred to as early Queen Anne, and made popular during the late 1600s. Dutch, Spanish, French and Oriental motifs were introduced into English design at this time.

Williamsburg style: Inspired by the 1632 colonial settlement of Williamsburg, Virginia. Many early American and primitive designs originated here. Many 18th century reproductions are modeled after items from this region and period.

Wingback chair: A chair, usually fully upholstered, with wings rising up from the arm and joining the back at a 90-degree or wider angle. The original purpose for the wings were assumed to be to prevent drafts in old houses from reaching the upper body or to protect the delicate skin of gentrified ladies from the heat of a roaring fireplace.

Zone foam - Contoured foam that is firmer in the center and softens as it goes toward the head and foot.

Zigzag: Refers to a method of stitching. A movement or shape of alternating stitching or threads usually indicated by sharp changes in direction.

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