Small objects such as vases, plants, books, lamps, and decorative pieces.

Piece of furniture, art, decorative objects made before 1900.

A floor covering that covers only part of the floor.

Here are some design tips that you may wish to consider when arranging your accessories:

* When creating wall displays, place the heaviest objects at the bottom of your display. To ensure that these items appear visually related, keep space between objects to a minimum.
* Keep the center of your wall grouping at eye level. This will allow your grouping to be enjoyed and also ensure that it works well with your furnishings.
* When creating tabletop displays, compose your display so that one item is dominant. Use accessories in odd-numbered groups. Odd numbers such as three or five work better than even-numbered groupings of four or six.
* To unify a collection of small items, place them on a book or tray.

A piece of molding placed about thirty inches above the floor to protect the wall from being marred by chair backs.

A combination of colors designated for use throughout a room or house.

A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. Some of the specialty contractor's licenses involve extensive training, testing or insurance requirements. There are many types of contractors including general contractors, remodeling contractors and sub contractors.

Once you've purchased a home, formulate an overall design plan. By thinking things through in advance, you can avoid many common design and decorating mistakes.

Deliberate aging and weathering techniques to give character to woodwork, paintwork and metal.

Right-of-way granted to a person or company authorizing access to the owner's land. (Example: A utility company may be granted an easement to install pipes.)

The exterior face of a home.

A simulation of something else. An example of this would be faux marble, which is a marble-like surface painted onto walls or other surfaces.

The decorative ornament at the top of an object or on ends of curtain rods.

A painted or gilded bas-relief plaster decoration.

A coating with thin layer of gold or gold-like substance.

Thin coats of transparent or semi-transparent paint which can be layered or used to provide a top surface for a paint effect.

The direction of the fibers in wood. Flat grain wood is sawed perpendicular to the growth rings. Edge grain wood has been sawed parallel to the growth rings.

A color-removal technique in the finishing process, which is used to highlight natural grain.

An association that is formed to enforce the rules and regulations of a community, and provide for general upkeep of common areas. Home owners pay a monthly fee to the Homeowners Association.

A color, such as red, yellow, blue or green.

A portion of a large piece of property that is divided into individual lots or homesites.

A charge paid by the buyer for a specific lot because the lot (or home site) is larger, or in some other way, more desirable than other lots.

A large community that features homes constructed by several different builders in a wide variety of price ranges. Community centers, community swimming pools and many other recreational facilities are generally included in a master planned community.

Decorative strips of wood used to conceal joints and give a more decorative finished look.

A decorative theme, component or element.

A transparent finish that doesn't seriously alter the original grain or color of the natural wood. Natural finishes are usually applied with oils, varnishes, and or similar materials.

A color, such as white, black, gray, or tan, that blends well with other colors.

A recess in a wall often used to display sculpture or special artwork.

An item in a home that is not a standard feature. Options can be purchased to personalize your home. A vast array of options are available to home buyers.

A decorative trim piece applied to a flat surface.

One half of a pair of draperies or curtains.

Wood flooring that's usually laid in blocks with boards at angles to each other to form decorative patterns.

A luster or sheen that develops with use over time, usually associated with fine antiques, vintage furniture and leather.

Supporting base for a table; a stand for a vase or sculpture.

An ornamental crest running across the top of tall piece such as a highboy, curio, grandfather clock, etc.

Because your home is a reflection of your personal style, take the time to develop your own unique design ideas. If you're uncertain of your preferences, study photos in magazines and determine what your favorite ones have in common.

A formal list of items which need to be repaired or replaced prior to actually moving into a home.

Colors that make a wall or surface appear to be further away than it actually is - usually pale colors, especially from the "cooler" end of the spectrum, such as blues, grays, and blue-greens.

A non-binding agreement between a buyer and a homebuilder to purchase a home at a future date. A reservation usually requires a deposit.

The relationship of an object to another object; the relationship of the size of a drawing to the size of the actual object.

A wall-mounted light fixture.

Color produced by mixing two of the primary colors: orange, green and violet are the secondary colors.

An easily removable fabric cover for a chair or couch.

An item that is automatically included when you purchase a new home. Example: Wood flooring, a fireplace, ceiling fans.

Patterns created by masking the area of a surface and applying color to the exposed parts.

The decorative design of an object or room.

Formal, mirror-image balance.

Painting done on a flat surface to resemble a realistic, three-dimensional scene.

To upgrade an item is to increase its quality. For example, a home buyer can upgrade from formica cabinets to granite countertops. Upgrades are available at additional costs.

Thin sheets of wood applied to a surface to create a more attractive or decorative finish.

A greenish blue patina that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces.

An application of wood molding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.

A buyer's formal introduction of the home prior to move-in.

A guarantee to repair any damage to specific items of your home. All items covered by the warranty are reviewed with the homeowner at the time of the walk-through.

A governmental process and specification which limits the use of a property. (Example: single family use, high-rise residential use, industrial use.)