Interior Design Glossary: G

G

Gadroon Molding: A rounded molding with convex curves, often used along table or chair edges.

Gainsborough Chair: A deep armchair with upholstered seat and back, open padded arms, and carved details.

Gallery Rail: A slender brass railing typically found on sideboards or tables.

Gargoyle: A grotesque carved figure, originally used to direct rainwater from gutters.

Garland: Decorative architectural motif featuring plaited foliage, flowers, or fruits tied with ribbons.

Garnetting: A process of combing short cotton fibers into layers with a specific orientation.

Gateleg Table: A drop-leaf table with additional legs that swing out to support the leaves, popular during the Jacobean period and in Colonial America.

Gauge: The measure of wire thickness used in furniture and mattress springs; a lower gauge indicates thicker wire.

Geometric Panels: Decorative panels made with regular lines, curves, and angles.

Georgian Style: A design from the 1700s, heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne, featuring cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, and intricate carving.

Gesso: A bas-relief plaster decoration, often painted or gilded.

Gilding: Applying a thin layer of gold or a gold-like substance.

Gimp: A flat braid or round cord used for decorative trimming.

Gingham: A fabric with a checkered pattern, created by weaving two different colored yarns.

Girondole: A round convex mirror used as a wall decoration.

Glastonbury Chair: A Gothic-style chair with an X-frame and a sloping paneled back, often used by priests.

Glaze: A coloring technique used to enhance wood grain or give a glossy finish to leather.

Glyph: A short, vertical groove, common in Doric architecture.

Gobelin: A French tapestry, named after the Paris factory where it was produced.

Goblet Pleat: A pinch-pleated drapery heading, filled with batting or stiff paper for fullness.

Goose-Neck Arm: A chair with curved wooden arms resembling the neck of a goose.

Gothic Style: Large, straight-lined, and heavy furniture from the late 1100s to early 1500s, often adorned with religious carvings and made from pine or oak. The box chair, with paneled sides and under-seat storage, was a notable design.

Gothic Revival: A mid-1800s style inspired by Gothic and medieval designs, featuring pointed arches and flowing lines.

Gouache: An opaque, water-based paint with pigments bound by glue.

Grain: The direction of wood fibers. Flat grain is sawed perpendicular to growth rings, while edge grain is parallel.

Grand Rapids Style: Early 20th-century oak furniture from Grand Rapids, Michigan, known for its affordability and popularity, especially the light-stained oak pedestal table.

Grandfather Clock: A tall freestanding floor clock, usually between six and seven feet, with an internal pendulum.

Grasscloth: A natural fiber wallpaper.

Greek Style: A 9th-century B.C. style, with roots in Egypt, featuring bronze animal legs, gilding, and minimal decoration, often made from olive, yew, or cedar woods.

Griffin: A mythical beast used as decoration during the early Georgian period.

Grille: Metal latticework commonly found on 18th-century bookcases.

Grommet: A reinforced eyelet in fabric, typically with two affixed metal pieces.

Grosgrain: A strong, tightly woven corded fabric, usually made of silk or rayon.

Grout: A thin mortar used to fill spaces between tiles or bricks.

Gueridon: A small, round-topped table, often elaborately carved and used for holding candles or small items.

Guilloche: An ornamentation of intertwining bands or figure-eights, often enclosing rosettes or other details.

Guimpe: A round or flat braided trim used on upholstered furniture.