VALANCE - shallow drapery treatment placed at the heading of a window, concealing hardware i.e. box-pleat, stage coach, shaped, shirred-balloon, etc.
VAULTED CEILING - ceiling forming an arched canopy. See DOME
VANE - single slat of a vertical blind
VARNISH - a liquid coating applied to wood forming a protective barrier
VELOUR - soft, velvety cut-pile textured fabric
VELVET WEAVE - two cloths are woven at the same time, face to face, and cut apart by a shuttle knife from the loom to create a short, dense warp pile, i.e. figured velvet with cut and uncut loops creating a motif in the weave
VENEER - paper-thin wood sheets applied to the outer surface of furniture, which are often inlaid or matched to create intricate, decorative patterns
VENEER MATCH - patterns created by placing thin slices of wood together featuring the grain in various combinations, i.e. slip, diamond, checkerboard, reverse diamond, book, running, center, balanced match
VERDIGRIS - greenish patina found on aged brass, bronze or copper
VERMICELLI - random pattern of curving, squiggly lines
VERTICAL BLIND - window treatment with headrail housing a track to operate rotating fabric or vinyl vertical vanes or louvers
VILLA - originally a large country estate in ancient Rome including land, living quarters and farm buildings, is also used to describe luxurious, Italian-styled mansions with sweeping grounds, stucco exterior, clay tile roof and eye-brow arched openings. See ABODE, APARTMENT, BUNGALOW, COTTAGE, DOMICILE, DWELLING, FARMHOUSE, HOME, HOUSE, LOFT, MANOR, MANSION, RANCH HOUSE, STUDIO
VINTAGE FABRIC - fabrics distinguished by age, color, pattern, weave and patina
VINYL - fiber made with a manufactured compound polymer
VIRTUAL ARCHITECTURE - life-like, 3-dimensional experience of a real or imagined buildings and spaces, which will be used in the future as a teaching tool to experience places we might not otherwise be able to see, including those which no longer exist, present-day structures or imaginary places
VISCOSE - rayon fiber of superior quality used in many decorative fabrics, often used to imitate silk
VISION - the ability to perceive something that does not yet exist; mental image, keen foresight, interpretation
VITRINE - glass-sided display cabinet with glass shelves designed to highlight special collections of china or unique artifacts
VOILE - thin, translucent fabric with tightly, twisted yarns
VOLUME - space required by a 3-dimensional object, cubic capacity
VOLUMETRIC - measurement by volume
VOLUTE - Greek Ionic Order capital design featuring large, over scaled scrolls facing one another, used to decorate the top of a slender, fluted column