WALLANDER HOUSE DICTIONARY
HERITAGE, ARCHITECTURE AND THE DOMESTIC ARTS
A compilation of terms for the home by Studio Wallander
A
Abacus. The flat slab forming the uppermost part of a capital, supporting the architrave or entablature above. Common in classical and Georgian joinery.
Acanthus. Stylised leaf motif used in Corinthian capitals and plaster ornament throughout eighteenth- and nineteenth-century interiors.
Alcove. Recessed wall space for a bed, cupboard, or display; characteristic of Georgian and early Victorian rooms.
Angle. The meeting of two lines or surfaces; also a way to describe how furniture or light enters a room.
Anteroom. A small room leading to a larger one, often used as a waiting area or buffer space in Georgian houses.
Apse. Semi-circular or polygonal recess, often at the end of a room or passage, inspired by ecclesiastical architecture.
Apron. The panel beneath a window sill or below a projecting element such as a console table; used for visual balance.
Arch. Curved structural opening that spans an opening; forms the basis of many period doorways and fireplaces.
Architrave. The moulded frame surrounding a door or window opening; part of the classical order and still used in modern joinery.
Arrangement. The considered placement of furniture or objects within a room to maintain proportion and flow.
Arris. The sharp edge where two surfaces meet, such as on mouldings or stone blocks.
Ashlar. Finely cut stonework laid in even courses; typical of high-status façades and internal masonry.
Aspect. The orientation of a building or room in relation to the sun; key to natural light and comfort.
Astragal. Small convex moulding, often used between glazing bars or as a decorative bead on doors and panels.
Attic. The uppermost floor or space within a roof, sometimes concealed behind a parapet; often converted in later periods.
Axis. The central line around which a plan or composition is arranged; a key principle in Georgian and neoclassical design.
Baluster. A short turned or carved upright supporting a handrail, usually forming part of a balustrade on stairs or balconies.
Balustrade. A row of balusters with a rail on top; used around staircases, landings, or terraces.
Bargeboard. Decorative board fixed to the projecting edge of a gable; often carved or fret-cut in Victorian houses.
Baseboard. Another term for skirting board; the protective and decorative board running along the base of an internal wall.
Bay. A space projecting from the main wall of a building, usually containing windows that admit more light.
Beam. A horizontal structural member supporting loads from above, visible in many period ceilings.
Bevel. A surface meeting another at an angle other than a right angle; common on edges of stone, glass, or timber.
Blind. A window covering that can be rolled, folded, or drawn to control light and privacy.
Blockwork. Masonry built from concrete or stone blocks, often hidden behind plaster in domestic interiors.
Bond. The pattern in which bricks are laid to ensure strength and visual order; common types include English and Flemish.
Bookcase. A piece of furniture with shelves for holding books; fitted examples are typical of Georgian and Victorian studies.
Bracket. A projecting support used to carry shelves, mantels, or other features; may be structural or purely decorative.
Brass. A copper-zinc alloy widely used for door handles, hinges, and light fittings.
Brickwork. Construction using bricks; valued for texture, colour, and craftsmanship in traditional houses.
Broadloom. Carpet woven in wide rolls to minimise joins; common in mid-twentieth-century interiors.
Buff. A pale yellow-brown colour frequently found in brick, stone, and heritage paint ranges.
Butt hinge. A simple two-leaf hinge recessed into the edge of a door and frame, allowing it to open smoothly.
Buttress. A projecting mass of masonry built to strengthen or support a wall; decorative in some Gothic revival houses.
B
C
Canopy. A fixed or fabric covering projecting over a bed, doorway, or fireplace, used for shelter or decoration.
Capital. The sculpted head of a column or pilaster, forming the transition between shaft and entablature.
Carpet. Woven floor covering fitted wall to wall or laid as a bordered rug; central to domestic comfort since the eighteenth century.
Casement. A window with hinged sashes that open outwards or inwards, common in cottages and later suburban houses.
Ceiling rose. Ornamental plaster centrepiece from which a light fitting is suspended; widespread in Victorian and Edwardian houses.
Chair rail. Timber moulding fixed horizontally to protect walls from chair backs; also called a dado rail in Britain.
Chandelier. Decorative suspended light fitting with multiple branches; originally for candles, later for gas and electricity.
Chimneypiece. The architectural frame surrounding a fireplace opening, often combining stone, timber, or marble.
Cladding. External or internal covering applied to a surface for protection or appearance; can be timber, stone, or metal.
Clerestory. Upper row of windows above eye level admitting light into a tall space; borrowed from church architecture.
Coffer. A recessed panel, often square or octagonal, in a ceiling or vault for visual depth and ornament.
Column. Vertical support element, cylindrical in form, used structurally or decoratively in classical interiors.
Console. Curved or scrolled bracket, or a narrow table fixed to a wall; elegant detail of Georgian and Regency interiors.
Cornice. The projecting moulded feature at the junction of wall and ceiling; hides cracks and defines proportion.
Coving. Concave transition between wall and ceiling, simpler than a cornice and characteristic of modest rooms.
Cupboard. Enclosed storage unit built into or against a wall; the ancestor of fitted joinery.
Curtain. Hanging fabric for windows or beds providing privacy, warmth, and decoration; not to be confused with the American ‘drapes’.
Cut string. Stair design where the side of the stringer is cut to show the ends of the treads; a feature of fine joinery.
D
Dado. The lower portion of an internal wall, traditionally defined by a moulding or rail; often painted or panelled to resist scuffs.
Damp-proof course. A horizontal barrier in a wall designed to prevent rising damp; essential in heritage property maintenance.
Decorative plasterwork. Ornamental mouldings and ceiling roses formed in plaster; a hallmark of Georgian and Victorian craftsmanship.
Dentil. Small, evenly spaced rectangular blocks forming part of a classical cornice or entablature.
Door case. The complete decorative surround of a doorway, including architrave and sometimes a pediment.
Door furniture. Collective term for handles, knobs, hinges, and locks; polished brass remains the traditional British finish.
Dormer. A window projecting from a sloping roof, bringing light and headroom to attic conversions.
Double glazing. Two panes of glass separated by a sealed air space; improves insulation in period homes when fitted sensitively.
Drawing room. The principal reception room in larger houses; modern equivalent of the living room but historically more formal.
Dresser. Freestanding or built-in piece combining shelves and cupboards, originally for displaying crockery in kitchens or parlours.
Dressed stone. Masonry that has been neatly worked or smoothed on the face; contrasts with rubble or rough-hewn stone.
Drip mould. Projecting moulding above a door or window to throw off rainwater; also called a hood mould in church architecture.
Dutch gable. Decorative gable with curved outlines popular in seventeenth-century and later revival buildings.
Door sweep. A flexible strip fitted to the bottom of a door to reduce draughts — more common in American usage.
Dust moulding. Fine beaded detail used along joinery edges to soften transitions and disguise small gaps.
Dye bath. Container used in textile colouring; occasionally found in historic laundries or workshops.
Drawing pin. Small metal pin with a flat head used for fixing paper or fabric temporarily to walls or boards.
E
Eaves. The lower edge of a roof that projects beyond the wall, directing rainwater into gutters and protecting masonry below.
Ebony. Dense dark hardwood prized for inlay, handles, and decorative detailing in fine furniture.
Egg-and-dart. Classical moulding pattern alternating oval and arrow shapes; common on Victorian cornices and plasterwork.
Elevation. A scaled drawing or external face of a building showing vertical proportions; essential in architectural design.
Emulsion paint. Water-based wall paint widely used in modern interiors; compatible with heritage plaster when breathable varieties are chosen.
Enfilade. Sequence of rooms aligned so that their doors form a visual axis; grand spatial feature of Georgian houses.
Engaged column. Column partly embedded in a wall, providing visual rhythm without full structural function.
Entablature. The horizontal structure supported by columns, divided into architrave, frieze, and cornice.
Entrance hall. The first internal space of a house, setting its tone; also called a hallway in domestic British usage.
Ephemeral decoration. Temporary adornment such as festive greenery or banners; adds life without altering structure.
Escutcheon. Decorative plate surrounding a keyhole or handle; often of brass or iron in period doors.
Etagère. Open-shelved stand or wall unit for displaying ornaments; popular in nineteenth-century parlours.
Extension. Addition built to increase floor area; should respect original proportions and materials in conservation settings.
Exterior joinery. Timber elements exposed to weather — doors, window frames, bargeboards — requiring durable finishes.
Eyebrow dormer. Low-arched dormer projecting smoothly from a roof’s surface; characteristic of Arts and Crafts architecture.
Ewer. A decorative jug used historically for washing or display; often paired with a basin on washstands.
F
Facade. The principal front or outward face of a building; its symmetry and detailing define much of a house’s architectural character.
Fanlight. Semi-circular or rectangular glazed panel above a door, designed to admit daylight into the hallway.
Fascia. Horizontal board fixed along the edge of a roof, carrying the gutter and protecting the rafter ends.
Feather edge. Tapered boarding used for external cladding or garden fencing; overlaps to shed water efficiently.
Fenestration. The arrangement of windows within an elevation; balanced spacing is vital in Georgian and Regency design.
Finial. Decorative ornament placed at the peak of a gable, canopy, or newel post; adds a finishing flourish.
Fire surround. The complete framework of a fireplace, including mantelshelf and side legs, often in timber, stone, or marble.
Flashing. Thin lead or zinc sheet fitted to seal roof joints and prevent water ingress around chimneys or dormers.
Floorboard. Timber board forming the visible floor surface; wide planks suggest earlier construction, narrow boards later repair.
Fluting. Series of shallow vertical grooves on a column or pilaster; classical detail revived across Georgian and Victorian interiors.
Folly. Decorative garden building constructed for pleasure rather than function; hallmark of eighteenth-century landscape design.
Fretwork. Ornamental open pattern cut in wood or metal, used for screens, fanlights, and stair brackets.
Frieze. Horizontal band of ornament below a cornice; can be painted, plastered, or carved.
Front door. The architectural focus of a facade and threshold of the home; its design strongly influences a building’s first impression
G
Gable. The triangular upper portion of a wall at the end of a pitched roof; a defining feature of many British vernacular styles.
Gallery. Long, narrow room or passage used for display or circulation; common in large Georgian and Victorian houses.
Gargoyle. Carved water spout projecting from a parapet to throw rain clear of a wall; both functional and decorative.
Gateleg table. Folding table with hinged leaves supported by swinging legs; popular in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century homes.
Georgian. Relating to the architectural and decorative style of Britain between 1714 and 1830, noted for proportion and restraint.
Gesso. Fine plaster or chalk preparation used to coat wood before gilding or painting; common in frame and furniture work.
Gilding. Application of thin gold leaf or metallic powder to wood, plaster, or metal surfaces for decorative effect.
Glazing bar. Narrow wooden or metal member dividing panes within a sash or casement window; characteristic of period fenestration.
Gothic Revival. Nineteenth-century architectural movement reinterpreting medieval forms for churches and domestic buildings alike.
Graining. Painted imitation of wood grain on doors or panelling; a skilled decorative finish revived in heritage restoration.
Granite. Hard, durable stone used for steps, plinths, and external details where weather resistance is essential.
Greenhouse. Glazed garden structure for cultivating plants; historically known as a conservatory when attached to the house.
Grille. Decorative metal screen or openwork panel used for ventilation or ornament.
Groin vault. Ceiling structure formed by the intersection of two barrel vaults; adapted in grand halls and staircases.
Ground floor. The main level of a British house, equivalent to the American “first floor.”
Gutter. Channel fixed at the eaves to collect and direct rainwater; proper maintenance prevents damp in heritage walls.
H
Half landing. Intermediate platform between flights of stairs, used to change direction and reduce steepness.
Hallway. The main passage or entrance area of a house; its width and proportion set the tone for the interior.
Hammer beam. Short timber projecting from a wall to support a roof truss; hallmark of medieval and revival carpentry.
Handrail. The continuous rail along a staircase, designed for safety and tactile comfort.
Hardwood. Timber from broad-leaved trees such as oak or mahogany; valued for strength and fine grain.
Hearth. The floor of a fireplace, traditionally of stone or tile; focal point of the domestic interior.
Heritage paint. Modern paint formulated to reproduce historical colours while allowing traditional substrates to breathe.
Herringbone. Pattern of alternating diagonal units used in brickwork, flooring, and parquet; a sign of skilled craftsmanship.
Hip roof. Roof with slopes on all sides meeting at a ridge; strong against wind and common in late Victorian design.
Hopper head. Box-shaped fitting collecting rainwater from a gutter before it enters a downpipe; often cast in decorated lead.
Horn. Small projection at the top of a sash window stile, strengthening the joint between frame and meeting rail.
House style. The consistent design language or aesthetic applied across a property or a designer’s body of work.
Housekeeper’s room. Service space in large period houses used for administrative and domestic management.
Hutch. Storage cupboard with open shelves above; common in kitchens and pantries.
Hydraulic lime. Form of lime that sets through chemical reaction with water, suitable for damp or exposed heritage masonry.
Hypocaust. Ancient underfloor heating system using hot air flues; occasionally referenced in conservation or archaeological reports.
Hygge. Danish concept of warmth and contentment; now used more broadly in interior design language to describe domestic comfort.
Hall stand. Piece of hallway furniture combining hooks, mirror, and umbrella storage; a staple of Victorian entrance halls.
Haunch. The angled or curved part of a structural member such as an arch or beam where stress is greatest.
Half-timbered. Construction method where timber framing is exposed with panels of brick or plaster infill; typical of Tudor and later revival styles.
I
I-beam. Steel beam with a cross-section shaped like a capital I; used in structural work and sometimes exposed in loft conversions.
Ionic. One of the classical orders of architecture, recognised by its spiral volutes and slender proportions.
Inglenook. Recessed space surrounding a fireplace, often containing benches; evokes the intimacy of early hearth design.
Inset cupboard. Storage unit built within the wall thickness, leaving the face flush with the plaster line.
Insulation. Material that slows heat transfer; crucial in upgrading period homes without damaging breathability.
Ironmongery. Collective term for metal fittings such as hinges, latches, and bolts; traditional finishes include brass, iron, and bronze.
Ivory paint. Warm off-white tone often chosen for trim and panelling in heritage interiors.
Ivy. Climbing plant that can soften masonry visually but requires careful control to avoid damage to pointing or stonework.
Infill. Material used to fill spaces between structural elements, as in half-timbered or framed construction.
Interior design. The practice of shaping internal spaces through colour, furniture, and proportion; guided by the Parlour Principle in Studio Wallander’s ethos.
Inverness cape. Traditional outer garment with shoulder drape; sometimes used metaphorically to describe enveloping architectural forms.
Ironstone. Hard, reddish-brown sedimentary rock used for rustic building in parts of England
J
Jack arch. Shallow brick arch constructed with a flat soffit; often used above window openings in Victorian houses.
Jack plane. Medium-sized carpenter’s plane used for smoothing and levelling timber surfaces.
Jamb. The vertical side of a door or window opening, frequently finished with an architrave.
Joinery. Skilled carpentry involving the fitting of doors, windows, and built-in furniture; central to period restoration work.
Joist. Horizontal timber or steel member supporting a floor or ceiling; its spacing determines board width and load capacity.
Jointer. Tool used to smooth the mortar joints in brickwork, giving a neat weather-resistant finish.
Jubilee clip. Metal band with screw fastener for securing pipes or ducts; a twentieth-century invention still in use.
Junction box. Enclosure protecting electrical connections; modern safety requirement in heritage upgrades.
Juliet balcony. Shallow guarding in front of a French window, allowing full-height openings without external projection.
Jute. Strong vegetable fibre spun into coarse fabric or twine; historically used for carpet backing and wall coverings.
Jetty. Upper storey of a timber-framed building projecting beyond the one below; common in medieval and Tudor architecture.
K
Keystone. The central wedge-shaped stone at the apex of an arch; locks the structure and often carries decorative carving.
Key pattern. Continuous geometric motif used on plaster friezes, tiling, or metalwork; derived from classical ornament.
Kiln. Furnace or oven for firing clay, brick, or lime; integral to traditional building-material production.
King post. Central vertical post in a roof truss connecting the ridge to the tie beam below.
Kitchen range. Combined cooking and heating appliance; focal point of nineteenth-century domestic life.
Knob. Rounded door or drawer handle, typically of brass, porcelain, or glass in period houses.
Knocker. Metal fitting fixed to a front door for announcing visitors; a small but characterful architectural detail.
Knot. Natural irregularity in timber where a branch once grew; may bleed resin through modern paints if not sealed.
Knurling. Decorative ridged pattern on metal surfaces, providing grip on handles or fittings.
Kyanising. Early nineteenth-century timber preservation process using mercuric chloride; now obsolete but often cited in restoration reports.
Kickplate. Protective plate fixed to the lower part of a door to prevent scuffing; modern addition compatible with period joinery.
Kitchen dresser. Piece of furniture with shelves above and cupboards below, used for display and storage in traditional kitchens.
Knee wall. Short supporting wall under a roof slope, creating usable space within attic rooms.
Key block. Decorative enlargement of a keystone at the head of a doorway or arch, emphasising symmetry.
L
Ladderback chair. Timber chair with horizontal back slats resembling a ladder; simple vernacular design found in cottages and farmhouses.
Lamb’s tongue. Rounded moulding profile with a shallow curve ending in a fine edge; used on skirtings, rails, and architraves.
Lantern light. Glazed structure on a roof or ceiling to admit daylight; characteristic of Victorian stairwells and galleries.
Lath and plaster. Traditional wall and ceiling construction using timber strips coated with plaster; flexible and breathable.
Lattice window. Window with small diamond or square panes held by lead or timber glazing bars; decorative and historically domestic.
Ledger. Horizontal board or timber supporting steps or panels; also a structural term for beams within floors.
Limestone. Sedimentary stone widely used in British building; varies regionally from honey buff to pale grey.
Lintel. Horizontal beam spanning an opening above a door or window, carrying the weight of the wall above.
Linseed oil paint. Natural oil-based coating suitable for timber and metal; breathable and durable for heritage restoration.
Loft. Space directly under a roof, used for storage or converted to living accommodation in later alterations.
Louvre. Slatted opening that admits air while excluding rain; found in bell towers, roofs, and cupboard doors.
Lychgate. Roofed gateway at the entrance to a churchyard; sometimes adapted in domestic architecture as a garden feature.
Lead flashing. Sheet lead fitted to roof junctions and chimneys to prevent water penetration; key element of weathering detail.
Lightwell. Vertical shaft or open court bringing daylight into basements or interior rooms.
Lintel beam. Structural term emphasising the supporting role of the lintel; often expressed externally in stone or concrete.
Longcase clock. Tall freestanding clock, commonly known as a grandfather clock; iconic feature in eighteenth-century halls and parlours.
Louvre door. Door fitted with angled slats for ventilation; used in cupboards and utility spaces.
Lunette. Small semicircular window or wall panel, frequently above a doorway or within a vaulted ceiling.
M
Mansion block. Late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century urban apartment building, usually of brick with decorative stone details.
Mantel. The shelf above a fireplace opening, forming part of the chimneypiece; sometimes spelled mantelpiece.
Marble. Metamorphic stone valued for its polish and veining; used for hearths, floors, and decorative surfaces.
Margin glazing. Window design where small panes border a larger central light, characteristic of Edwardian joinery.
Masonry. Work constructed from stone, brick, or concrete blocks; the craft itself as well as the finished fabric.
Mastic. Flexible sealant applied to close small joints between materials, such as around window frames.
Matwell. Recessed area at a doorway containing a fitted mat; practical feature for protecting interior flooring.
Mezzanine. Intermediate floor inserted between two main storeys, often open to the room below.
Mirror glass. Plate glass with a silvered backing; a mark of prosperity in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century interiors.
Moulding. Shaped strip of wood, plaster, or stone used to create visual transitions and shadow lines.
Mortar. Mixture of lime or cement with sand and water for bonding masonry units together.
Mosaic. Surface decoration made from small pieces of stone, tile, or glass forming geometric or pictorial designs.
Moulded plaster. Decorative plasterwork formed in moulds rather than run in situ; allows repetition of complex motifs.
Mullion. Vertical stone or timber element dividing the lights of a window; typical in Gothic and Tudor architecture.
Muntin. Secondary vertical framing member within a door or panel; distinct from a mullion in windows.
Metalwork. Decorative or functional use of iron, brass, or bronze in railings, handles, and architectural fittings.
Modernism. Twentieth-century movement favouring simplicity and honest expression of materials; contrasts with revivalist styles yet influences sympathetic contemporary heritage design.
Modillion. Ornamental bracket or block beneath a cornice, often carved and regularly spaced in classical architecture