We created a glossary of terms we use to assist your communication with us when sending or receiving estimate requests.
Arm Styles
Armless
- A sofa or chair with a seat and back but no arms
- Usually smaller in scale
Bolster Arm
- Cylindrical pillow-shaped arm resembling a bolster
- These arms are generally bolted onto the frame of the sofa and not seen on chairs
Closed Arm or Bergere
English Arm or Bridgewater Arm
- Rounded, pullover arm where the fabric is pulled over toward the outside, creating pleats across the width
- The arm dips in the center and has an English edge on the outside
Exposed Arm
- Exposed wooden or metal arm extending from the upholstered base to the back
- Smaller in scale and visually light in feeling
- Both modern and historical styles
- Often has arm pads
Fitted Arm
- Fitted with pieces of fabric, cut to the shape
- Contains a seam or welt defining the edge of the arm shape
Open Arm or Fauteuil
Panel Arm
- Wood panel covered in fabric and applied to the front of the arm
- “Inset” if the panel is recessed, and “raised” if the panel protrudes from the front face
Pleated with Button
- A round arm in which the fabric is pleated on the front face of the arm
- The pleats meet at the center where a button or rosette can cover the tacks
- Fabric cut ends in the middle
Pullover Arm
- Typically a Scroll Arm or English Arm
- Fabric is pulled to the outside
- Almost always requiring pleats
Roll Arm
- General term for any rounded arm shape
Scroll Arm
- Pullover arm with distinct scrolled shape
- Fabric is pulled to the outside following the curve of the scroll
- Almost always requiring pleats, unless fitted
Sloping Arm
- An arm that slopes downward, starting at the top of the back and curving down to the front of the arm
Splay Arm
- An arm that flares or splays outward from the body
Square Arm
- Squared off arm — flat top and sides
- Can vary in dimensions and proportions
Wing Arm
- Upholstered panel or “wing” projecting forward from the sides of the back, curving down to meet the arm
Exterior Back Shapes
Barrel Back Chair
- Curved-back chair with a continuous “U” curve from arm front to arm front
Camel Back
- Classic style of shaped back
- Symmetrical shaped back resembling the hump on a camel; curving down from a higher center
- Usually associated with a historic sofa style
Curved Back
- Back with continuous outward curve from arm front to arm front
- Can be symmetrical or asymmetrical
- Doesn’t always have corresponding curve in front
Curved Sofa
- Curved back and matching concave curve in the front
Rolled or Scrolled Back
- Rounded roll or “C” shaped scroll on the top of the back, rolling outward
Shaped Back
- Free-form shape
- Usually symmetrical
Splay Back
- Vertical slant of the back, sloping outward from the base to the top of the back
Interior Back and Seat Styles
Biscuit Tufting
- Tufting with indentations in a square pattern
Button Tufting
- Buttons sewn into a back, seat, or cushion causing slight indentations, creating a pattern
Channeling
- Vertical or horizontal padded sections usually seen on backs
- Usually of equal width and evenly spaced across the piece
Diamond Tufting
- Tufting with indentations in a diamond pattern
En Plateau Back
- Tight back with upholstered detail
- Padding ends ¾” to 1″ from the top and sides of frame with nail heads or gimp covering the edge of the fabric
En Tableau Back
- Tight back with faceted and mitered raise
- Upholstered border on the interior off the back
Fitted Back and Seat
- Tight seat or back where the fabric is cut to fit the area that is being covered
- Requiring stitches to create the simple shape
Pullover Back and Seat
- Tight seat or back where the fabric is pulled over the front seat edge or the top of the back
Leg and Foot Styles
Block Foot
- Thick rectangular foot with straight or tapered sides
- Modern
Bun Foot
- A squat, turned, round foot with a flattened top and bottom
Cabriole (or S-Shaped) Leg
- Double curved
- The upper part has a pronounced outward curve (often with carved detail) that continues down to the tapered lower part that flares outward, ending in a foot
Fluted Leg
- Cylindrical or square leg with ornamental carving of shallow vertical, concave grooves, often rounded in section
Inset Panel
- Round, square, or rectangular detail that starts ¼” to 1″ from the perimeter edge of the leg or foot
- Leg or foot is carved to create a framework in relief around the recessed face of the leg or foot
Round Leg
- Cylindrical from top to bottom
Saber Leg
- Flares out, tapering slightly towards the bottom
Sabot
- Fitted metal cup placed at the base of the leg or foot
Straight Leg
- Same shape and width from top to bottom
- Round or rectangular
Tapered Leg
- Gradually narrows from top to bottom
Turned Leg
- Turned on a woodworking lathe to create various shaped details
Twisted (or Spiral) Leg
- Tapered leg incorporating spiral tuning
Upholstered Foot or Leg
- A foot or leg fully covered in fabric or leather
Wheel or Caster
- Metal mechanism (wheel) placed at the bottom of each leg or foot (or only in the front)
Pillows and Cushion Styles
Box Bordered Edge
- Front and back faces with 4 sides seamed together
- Usually covered by a welt or cord
Knife Edge
- Without sides; the front and back fabric panels are sewn directly to one another, creating a “knife edge”
- Less formal than a box-edge cushion
Turkish Corners
- Variation of the knife edge used on back cushions with shirred or gathered corners
- Welting or cord is often sewn into the seam
Seat or Deck Styles
Curved or Bow Front
- A seat deck that curves outward from the arms
- The curve can start from either the outside or inside of the arm
English Edge
- A rounded, padded detail that protrudes outward from the body
- Often seen on the front deck of a sofa, under the seat cushion or on the outside of an arm or back
Saddle Seat
- A dining chair seat with a slightly concave curve from side to side
- The seat deck bows slightly outward
Scalloped Deck
- A front deck with a scalloped shape
Straight Front
- A seat deck with a straight front containing no angles or curves
T-Shaped
- Fully set back, or recessed arms
- Tight and loose seats are frequently T-shaped; if the piece of furniture has a loose seat, the sides of the cushion extend in front of the set-back arms, creating a “T” shape; with a three-seat sofa, only the end cushions extend; together, the two end cushions form the “T”
- The deck can either be curved or straight
Skirt Styles
Box Pleat Skirt
- Regularly spaced inverted pleats and panels that encircle the entire body
- The skirt starts from below the seat deck
- Usually 6 to 10 inches high
Bullion Fringe Skirt
- A decorative trim of densely twisted threads that vary in size from 1/8″ to 3/4″ in diameter
- It is sewn tightly together at the top to create a heading
- Mounted below the seat deck
- Usually 5 to 10 inches high
Kick Pleat Skirt
- Single, double, or multiple inverted pleats
- Usually placed at divisions created by seat cushions or arms
- Typically 6 to 10 inches high
- The fabric is mounted below the seat deck
- This is the most commons skirt style
Shirred or Gathered Skirt
- Randomly gathered fabric forming a fuller or flaring skirt
- Mounted below the seat deck
- Usually for more feminine pieces
Skirt with Double Inverted Corner Pleats
- All kick-pleat and waterfall skirts have inverted pleats at the corners of a piece
Waterfall Skirt
- A continuous downward flow of fabric, mounted from under the seat cushion or under the arm
- Inverted pleats at the corners from panels that fit close to the frame
- If the piece has a tight seat the fabric simply continues downward from the top of the seat
- Can also be called a dropover skirt
Trimmings and Passementerie
Braid
- Flat decorative trim with finished edges and a width varying from ¾ to 3½ inches or larger
- Gimp is narrower
Brush Fringe
- Decorative trim of densely packed cut thread lengths
- Single or multicolored
- Sewn tightly together at the top to create a heading
Bullion Fringe
- Decorative trim of densely twisted threads that vary from 1/8 to 3/4 inches in diameter
- Woven tightly together at the top to create a heading
- Single or multicolored
Cord and Cod on Tape
- A cord alone is 1/8″ to 3/4″ in diameter and hand sewn onto a piece
- Cords are usually twisted
- Single or multicolored
Fan Edge or Scalloped Fringe
- Similar to loop fringe but with regularly spaced, shaped edge
Gimp
- Narrow, flat tape-like trim ¼ to ½ inch wide
Loop Fringe
- Decorative trim of densely packed uncut threads that loop down on themselves
- Sewn tightly together at the top to create a heading
- Single or multicolored
Nail Heads
- Evenly spaced upholstery nails
- Side by side
- Usually of brass
- Sometimes placed over tape trim
Tassel Fringe
- Typically used on decorative pillows
Welt, Contrast Welt, or Self-Welt
- Small cotton core covered with a bias-cut fabric with approximately ½ inch of fabric on each side, creating a fabric flange