Faux: A simulation of something else. An example of this would be faux marble, which is a marble-like surface painted onto walls or other surfaces (see trompe l'oeil).
Feather Banding: Two narrow bands of veneer laid in opposite diagonals.
Feather Bed: A quilted mattress topper stuffed with feathers or goose down.
Federal: Design period following the American Revolution and running roughly through the early 1800’s. Federal styles incorporate the neo-classical influences of Sheraton and Hepplewhite including straight and delicate lines, tapered legs, and contrasting veneers.
Felt: A cotton material commonly used for cushioning or lining the inside of a piece of furniture such as a jewelry armoire or the drawers of a buffet.
Feng Shui: Literally translated as wind and water, it's an ancient Chinese scientific practice based on selecting or configuring a site, structure or interior so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it.
Ferrule: Normally a metal cap attached to the end of a slender shaft for strength or to prevent splitting.
Festoon Blind: Similar to an Austrian blind, but with gathered scallops throughout the length of the blind.
Fiber: A natural or synthetic substance such as cotton or polyester that can be separated into thread-like filaments and be spun, woven or matted.
Fiberboard: A board made of compressed wood fibers and glue.
Fiddleback: A backsplat in the shape of a violin (fiddle) that is typically seen on Queen Anne chairs.
Figuring: A pattern made by the natural grain of wood.
Filament Lighting: Light that's produced by heating a small filament inside a bulb, as with a common light bulb.
File Cabinet: A piece of office furniture used for storing files. File cabinets normally consist of one to four drawers.
Filigree: A decorative ornamentation that's often produced with fine wires of gold or silver.
Fill (or Weft): Visible yarns in a fabric that are woven through the less visible foundation of the warp yarns. The term "fill" can also apply to how an item is stuffed such as a 100% down-fill pillow.
Filling: A step in the manufacturing finishing process where the filling of natural pores in wood allows the surface to become smoother and more reflective.
Film with finish - effect (Finischfolie) - the Single-layered material made of a textural paper, impregnated карбамидной pitch and covered during manufacture is delicious (up to 60 г/м кв).
Finger Joint: A joint in which two pieces of wood are cut in an elongated zigzag pattern and joined together with glue.
Finger Plates: Narrow rectangular panels, often made in the same material as the door knob, which are fixed to the door to protect against dirty finger marks.
Finial: A decorative detail that’s carved or shaped to ornament the top of an upright piece such as a bedpost. Finials are commonly found in the opening of a broken pediment or on the topping a lamp. Common motifs include flames, urns, and pineapples.
Finish: The surface coating of an item, which can include paints, stains, varnishes, fabric treatments, etc. Wood, metal, fabric, stone and many other materials require a finish for reasons such as coloring, texture, and protection from moisture.
Finnish Style: Finnish furniture designers used bent and laminated (layers of solid wood) woods to create organic, humanistic forms and lightweight open shapes. These designers were also the first to experiment with tubular steel in furniture design.
Firmness: A sought after quality by many in upholstered furniture and mattresses, which is usually interpreted to mean support. Firmness for some is a comfort term synonymous with hardness, and for others it is a structural term associated with support.
Flame Stitch: A wavy angular pattern that looks like the shape of a flickering flame, normally found on brocade fabrics.
Flare: The outward concave curve of a furniture leg.
Flax: A plant from which linen is derived.
Flemish: Flemish furniture was a product from master craftsmen of Flanders (Belgium). Flemish is usually included in Dutch Renaissance furniture and is not necessarily defined as a period of furniture, but more as an influence in design. Flemish furniture is famous for its distinct and careful carving and the Flemish foot. Flemish furniture is a product of French influence.
Flock - The successor of centuries-old tradition. The first mention of the fabrics created without application of a weaving loom, concerns approximately to the first century up to AD. Art to paste finely cut pile (it and refers to as a flock) on a dense textile basis was born in China and only in the late Middle Ages it was distributed in Europe. Creating флоковую a fabric, during those far times for connection of a basis and pile used pitch glue. Our days the flock is made by a method of sputtering in an electrostatic field of a microfibre on a glutinous layer. Beforehand weaved basis goes on the machine tool, thus on it(her) the thin layer renders glutinous structure. From the bunker located above the machine tool the flock acts - parts of a pile in regular intervals pour out on a basis. Above the basis create a constant electrostatic field therefore electrified частички pile are built strictly vertically and closely to each other. Due to it flatness of a nap covering also is achieved and the sensation of softness is created further at a touch to a fabric. The manufacturing techniques флоковых fabrics are known for a long time, and many are able to make this fabric.
Flock Wallpaper: Wallpaper that has a raised fabric pattern.
Floor Lamp: A tall lamp with a base that stands on the floor.
Flow: A smooth continuity achieved by design and decor elements being arranged harmoniously with some sense of shape, style and color.
Fluting: A series of carved out semicircular grooves usually found on columns, molding or wooden legs.
Foam: Padding material used in upholstered furniture and mattresses. Common types of foam include polyurethane, latex, and Viscoelastic ("Visco" or "Memory Foam").
Foam Core: A cardboard-like material with a foam center available in varying thickness; commonly used to mount photographs and display materials.
Focal Point: An area to which the eye is drawn. This could be a part of a room, a view, landscaping, etc.
Footboard: The piece at the foot of a bed of a headboard and footboard set.
Foundation: The bottom part of a mattress set that gives the mattress its support and durability.
Four Poster: A bed with posts that are tall enough to hold a canopy.
Frame: The wooden framework of an upholstered piece of furniture.
French Classic: French Classic design was largely base on a complete avoidance of the curved line in furniture. This type of furniture is usually quite straight and simplistic in design. French Classic is considered an influence rather than a defined style and was influenced by an Italian flavor of styling. Decoration depends on fluted and grooved accents, geometric patterns and marquetry. Mahogany is the favored wood of French Classic designs, however rosewood, tulipwood, and ebony were used though less frequently. Most popular during the later 1700's.
French Empire: Style of the early 1800’s that expressed the imperial ambitions of Napoleon and was created at his command. Greek and Roman influence is apparent and though somewhat ostentatious, many pieces are considered quite exquisite even today. French Empire has simple construction with a deep rich varnish. Empire-wreaths. Roman eagles, lions, sphinx, and the letter "N" (for Napoleon himself of course) are the emblems that are familiar to this design. This style of furniture has mostly straight lines and often will have metal feet. Tabletops have marble tops. The most commonly used woods were mahogany, rosewood, and ebony.
French Polishing: Treating a wooden surface with French polish to give it a highly reflective, smooth finish.
French Provincial: Rustic versions of formal French furnishings of the 1600’s and 1700’s, such as the Louis XIV and Louis XV styles. Early French Provincial pieces were considered as peasant furniture.
French Regence: Popular in Europe during the early 1700’s. French Regence' furniture designs have many similarities of Louis XIV furniture but definitely had its own styling. Rococo decoration is familiar in this style. Pieces from this era are very curvy and are intensely decorated. Many pieces from this period are somewhat whimsical and different. French Regence' also introduced commodes, secretaries, and chiffoniers.
French Renaissance: Style dating from the mid 1400’s to the early 1600’s. French Renaissance spans through many rulers, Francis I, Henry II, and the most noted Henry IV. French Renaissance was mostly inspired by Italian taste but the pieces are much smaller in scale. This period is famous for its exquisite woodcarving. French Renaissance is also noted for its betterment in tapestry weaving. Early pieces are mostly manufactured of oak. Later pieces are made of walnut. Later pieces are also known to be a bit more elaborate in decoration.
Fresco: A durable painting technique for walls and ceilings, created by blending water-colors directly into wet plaster.
Fretwork: An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence, primarily used as a decorative element in Chippendale-style furniture.
Frieze: A decorated horizontal band attached or painted along the top of a wall.
Full Bed (or Double Size): Refers to a bed for a mattress that measures 54"x75". Was once the standard or most popular size bed. Sometimes referred to as a double, full or standard.
Full Extra Long (or Double Extra Long): A full/double mattress that measures 54"x80".
Full-Forward Arm: An arm extending continuously from the back to the front of a piece of furniture.
