Interior Design Glossary: D

D

Dcron: A registered trademark of DuPont for polyester fibers in continuous filament yarns, staple, tow, and fiberfill.

Dado Joint: A rectangular groove across a board where another piece of wood fits.

Dado Rail: A wooden molding fixed horizontally on a wall, typically one-third up from the floor.

Damask: A heavy, reversible fabric with a pattern distinguished by contrasting luster.

Davenport: Originally named after a Boston upholsterer’s popular overstuffed couches, now commonly referred to as a sofa.

Daventry: A small chest of drawers with a sloped writing surface.

Daybed: A seating piece that can also be used as a bed.

Deboss: The process of pressing a design into leather, paper, or board.

Decoupage: A technique of decorating surfaces with paper cutouts.

Denim: A heavy cotton twill woven from coarse yarns.

Density: Typically measures weight per cubic volume, used to assess foam quality and durability in furniture. It also refers to the number of coils per area in a mattress.

Denim: A rugged cotton cloth, first brought to America by Columbus, recognized for its indigo-blue color and used primarily for blue jeans.

Dentils: Rectangular, tooth-like blocks spaced evenly along a cornice molding.

Design: The art of conceptualizing the appearance or style of an object or space.

DeStijl: A 20th-century Dutch furniture style known for simplicity and clean lines.

Dhurrie Rug: A flat-woven wool or cotton rug featuring intricate designs.

Diamond Tufting: A button-tufted pattern that forms a diamond shape on upholstered furniture.

Diaper-Work: A surface decoration featuring reticulated patterns containing ornamental units like flowers or leaves.

Dinette: A small dining set, often used in the kitchen.

Dining Room: A formal room traditionally dedicated to serving meals.

Direct Printing: A process where colors are printed directly onto fabric, similar to wallpaper printing.

Directoire: A furniture style from late 18th-century France, marked by Greek, Egyptian, and Roman influences with simple, elegant designs.

Disc Foot: A flat, disc-shaped foot used on tables and chairs, popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

Distemper: Paint made by mixing pigment with water and binding with glue, casein, or egg.

Distressed: A furniture style where pieces are purposely aged to give an antique or rustic look.

Dormer: A vertical window projecting through a sloping roof.

Double Bed: A bed that fits a 54"x75" mattress, once the standard size.

Double Extra Long: A bed size for a 54"x80" mattress.

Dover Chest: An early American hope chest made of maple or oak.

Dovetail: A joint construction with interlocking pins, often used in drawers.

Dowel: A headless wooden pin used in furniture construction.

Down: Soft feathers from ducks or geese, used as stuffing.

Dowry Chest: A chest made to hold a bride's personal belongings, examples include Hadley and Pennsylvania-German chests.

Dragging: A painting technique that creates fine stripes by dragging a dry brush.

Drapery: Fabric used as a window treatment.

Draught Chair: The English equivalent of a wingback chair.

Draw Draperies: Curtains mounted on a rod that can be opened or closed with a pull cord.

Drawer Guides: Tracks or runners that allow drawers to open and close smoothly.

Dresser: A long chest of drawers for clothing. Originally referred to a sideboard for serving food.

Drop Front: A hinged desk front that drops down to create a writing surface.

Drop Handle: A pear-shaped handle popular in the late 17th century.

Drop-In Seat: An upholstered seat frame that fits into a chair’s framework.

Drop-In Spring Unit: A coil spring assembly used in upholstery to simulate the feel of hand-tied springs.

Drop Leaf: A table with hinged leaves that can be lowered.

Drop Lid Desk: A desk with a hinged front that covers internal compartments.

Drop Seat: A concave seat where the middle is lower than the sides.

Drum Dyeing: A dyeing process where leather is tumbled in a drum for maximum penetration.

Drum Table: A round table on a tripod base with a deep skirt, often with drawers.

Dry Brushing: A painting technique where a dry brush is worked over a glaze for a cloudy effect.

Duck: A heavy, durable, closely woven material.

Duck Foot: A webbed foot attached to a table leg that curves outward.

Dumb Waiter: A dining room stand with rotating trays or a pulley elevator to bring food from the kitchen.

Duncan Phyfe: A late 18th-century furniture style known for outwardly curved feet and lyre-shaped back chairs.

Dupioni: A lustrous silk woven from two colors of thread, creating a shimmering effect.

Dust Cover (or Cambrick): A cloth covering the bottom of upholstered furniture.

Dust Ruffle: Fabric placed under a mattress to decorate the space to the floor.

Dustboard: A panel between drawers to prevent dust in dressers.

Dutch Dresser: A cabinet with shelves above and drawers or cupboards below.

Dutch Foot: A simple pad foot used on a cabriole leg, similar to a duck foot.

Dutch Renaissance: A heavy, straight-lined furniture style from the 1500s-1600s, often decorated with carvings of leaves and scrolls.

Dutch Style: 17th-century Flemish Baroque furniture, characterized by solid, unpretentious pieces.

Duvet Cover: A removable cover for a down-filled comforter.

Dye Lot: Refers to variations in color from one fabric batch to another.

Dyeing: The process of applying color to fibers, yarn, or fabric.