glossary Archives - Simply Trini Cooking

Parquet Flooring

June 19, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

Parquet flooring is a wide variety of hardwood flooring that is has a uniqueness in that it comes in the size similar to ceramic tiles (9×9, 12×12, and 19×19). The thickness of parquet flooring are 5/16 in. or 3/4 in. Each tile has a pattern. The sides and end matches to fit tightly together and and can be nailed down to the subfloor. Parquet flooring tiles are sold individually.They are best placed in dining rooms or living rooms

Parquet wood can be used to create elaborate designs and create interesting floors for the kitchen.

Plank Flooring

June 19, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

Plank flooring is a wide variety of hardwood flooring that comes in 4-in. to 7-in. widths. The thickness of the planks range from 3/16 in. to 1 1/2 in. The sides and end matches to fit tightly together and are screwed to a subfloor. Wooden plugs cover the screws. The best grades of plank flooring are free of character marks and wild grain. The finished strips of plank wood are more homogenous than strip wood flooring in the same species.

Planks are most often laid in ranch and colonial homes. Planks have an informal look.

Strip Flooring

June 19, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

Strip flooring is a wide variety of hardwood (usually oak) flooring that comes in 2 1/4 in wide and are sold in bundles of various lengths. The thickness of the strips vary from 3/36 in to 3/4 in. The sides and end matches to fit tightly together and are nailed firmly to a subfloor (a plywood or plank subfloor, or over a concrete slab).

Strip flooring has a formal effect that could be charming.
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Hardwood and Softwood floors

June 19, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

There are two types of wood flooring: hardwood and softwood.

Hardwood floors

Hardwood floors usually comes in strips or planks and are the most common floor coverings in temperate climates. Hardwood floors make great flooring because they are beautiful, tough, flexible, easy to work with, repairable , and refinishable. They also complement the rest of the deco in the room. Some examples of hardwood floors are oak, maple, birch, mahogany, pecan, and tropical species. Hardwood is placed in straight rows through out whole room; when placed in a herringbone or parquet pattern these floors look distinctive. Hardwood further strengthened when installed properly on a subfloor.

Softwood floors

Softwood flooring is less dense than hardwood flooring. However, the term softwood refers to the tree from which the wood comes from which is coniferous rather than deciduous. They are therefore lighter, softer, and less durable than hardwood flooring. Examples of softwood are: yellow pine. and eastern white pine, fir and hemlock. Softwood flooring is more prone to denting and wear than hardwood flooring. However, they are a cheaper alternative to hardwood. If you choose softwood flooring you should keep in mind that the floor will need refinishing every two years. Also, these floor are more likely to shrink (reasons for the 1/4 in. cracks in the board appearing after a while).

Wabi-sabi

June 18, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept derived from the Taoist and Zen idea of aesthetics which has influence on a persons moral and spiritual philosophy of living. It therefore influence all thoughts in art and craft where balance and proportion is concerned. Its focus is on simplicity, naturalness, and acceptance of reality. Therefore, all things wabi-sabi are made of materials that are visibly vulnerable by the effects of weather and human use. Things that are wabi-sabi have a tendency to draw us closer to it and involve our senses. Things wabi-sabi are inspiring. In the kitchen, things wabi-sabi can be our countertops of concrete.

Focal Point

June 18, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

The focal point is a concept where each room should have a central point of interest or emphasis, in a kitchen it could be a large hood over a range or over a sink.

The contrast of pattern and depth around the stove in both pictures indicate that this area is the focal point.

Craze

June 18, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

Craze refers to the network of small hairline cracks on the surface of the concrete – much like the
intersecting cracks on an antique pot, or on the surface of an old oil painting. Crazing usually occurs when the surface of the concrete dries rapidly. Crazing does not affect the concrete’s strength or durability; but has aesthetic appeal to some people. It should be noted that any grinding and polishing done to concrete surfaces will likely remove most crazing.

Interior Window Shutters

June 18, 2011 by Felix 1 Comment

Interior window shutter is a solid, stable window covering that has a louvers, panel, or fabric set within a frame of vertical stiles or horizontal rails. Shutters can give a room privacy, protection from the weather, control the amount of light in a room, and even add aesthetic appeal to a room. Interior shutters are hinge on either side of a window opening.

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Valance

June 18, 2011 by Felix Leave a Comment

A valance is a form of window treatment that covers the top of the window. Generally, a valance should be one-fifth the length of the overall treatment or window height. It can be casual or formal, and simple or elaborate. There are four types of valance: the Balloon valances, the Swag valances, the Ascot valances, and the Italian valance.