You have started your renovations, you have met with a designer, maybe not. You might be doing the design on your own and just using a contractor. But one thing is for sure you have realized that design and renovations have their own language all together, so you are feeling totally lost especially since Hebrew is not your first language. I decided to make things easier for you. Here are some generally used words with a small explanation as well as the word in Hebrew.
A-
- A/C compressor מדחס
- Acrylic Paint צבעי אקרלי
A type of paint with high pigment levels and good color retention. Acrylic paint is made up of a synthetic resin and is similar to latex. It is fast-drying, and the end result can be compared to a watercolor or oil painting. - Accent lighting תאורת הדגש
Lighting that emphasizes displayed items, such as artwork or china cupboards. - Accessories אביזרים
Additional cabinetry items such as overlays, moldings, etc to enhance the appearance and quality of a project. Also includes towel bars, soap dishes, etc. - Aerator מכשיר שמסנן מים
The round screened screw-on tip of a sink spout. It mixes water and air for a smooth flow. - Aggregate אגרגטור
A mixture of sand and stone and a major component of concrete - Ambient lighting תאורה כללית
General lighting diffused within an entire room - Appliances מכשירים
Machines such as refrigerator, dishwasher, sinks and others used to perform household task. - Appliance Garage ארון תריס
A common name for a roll-up or single door unit placed under a wall cabinet typically for storage of small appliances.
B:
- Backsplash חיפוי קיר מטבח
- 1) The portion of the exposed area between the bottom of the wall cabinets and the top of the countertop. 2) Also, an elevated section of counter material approximately 10 cm high typically part of the countertop.
- Barn door דלת אסם
Hardware that allows the door to slide along a wall. Useful when a pocket door is too costly or not possible. - Base cabinets ארונות תחתונים
Cabinetry used on the floor to provide countertop support and typically is 88 cm tall and 60 cm deep. - Baseboard פנלים
Molding at the joining of the wall and floor - Beam קורה
Main horizontal structural - Bohemian בוהמייני
The style is defined as a lack of structure, there are no rules when it comes to this style. You can mix patterns and textures that you normally wouldn’t mix in other styles - Breakfront ויטרינה
A large cabinet or bookcase whose center section projects beyond the two end sections
C:
- Casement Window חלון פתיחת ציר
A window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door - Caulk חומרי איטום והדבקה
Putty-like material used to fill gaps between two hard surfaces e.g. between the corners in the tub. And for weather-proofing to prevent leaks or cosmetic reasons. Caulk is made of soft materials (typically silicone, acrylic with latex, butyl, neoprene, or oil-based compounds) that remain flexible - Chandelier נברשת
A lighting fixture hung from the ceiling containing several small lamps - Circuit מעגל חשמלי
The path of electrical flow from a power source through an outlet and back to ground. - Clearance space מרווח פינוי
The space required for a safe and clear use of an appliance, cabinet doors and safe passage. - Crown molding/moldings קרניז
Strip of wood or of plaster used for finish or decorative purposes. A molding has regular channels or projections, and it may be flat, curved, or both. Moldings are used as transitions from one surface to another and for visual appeal. - Concealed Mixer Valve אינטרפוץ
- Concrete בטון
A common construction material often used for foundations, ground level floors, and sidewalks. Most concrete is made out of Portland cement, sand, and gravel or aggregate. It is commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh). - Concrete Block בלוקים
A hollow concrete ‘brick’. Used in commercial and residential construction.
D:
- Decorative Lighting תאורה דקורטיבית
Lighting that adds character to the room. Usually they are not as bright so you will need to add other lighting for a well lit space - Dekton דקטון
Countertop material that is made of a combination of quartz, porcelain and glass - Dimensions מידות
Measurements of wall and objects - Dishwasher מדיח
- Dry wall. גבס
Also called gypsum board or Gypsum Wallboard (GWB), Sheet rock or Plasterboard
A manufactured panel consisting of gypsum plaster and sandwiched in a thin cardboard’. ‘Green board’ type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other “wet areas”. - Doorjamb משקוף הדלת
The surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two upright pieces, called side jambs, and a horizontal head jamb. These 3 jambs have the “door stop” installed on them
E:
- Eclectic אקלקטי
Is a style that tastefully mixes elements of different designs in one space. - Electrical Fixture,מתקן חשמלי
Any device permanently, or “hard-wired” to the home wiring system. - Elevation פריסות/חתחים
Architectural drawing that indicates the two-dimensional appearance of completed interior or exterior wall. They are drawn as if they person is standing and looking at the space. Drawings are prepared to scale showing the width and height of one wall of a room. An exterior elevation shows the design, architectural style, and height of the exterior of the proposed building as viewed from any side of the building.
F:
- Feng Shui פנג שוואי
Is an ancient Chinese art of arrange objects in a space to create harmony and balance - Fixture אביזרים
A term which is used to describe many items within the home, typically in bathrooms and kitchens. Examples include sinks, faucets, bathtubs Any fixed part of the structural design, such as tubs, bidets, toilets, and lavatories. Any fixed plumbing feature that is part of the structural design, such as the primary and auxiliary sinks. - Floor plan/blue print תוכניות/שירטוטים
Architectural drawing that shows the location of the rooms in a structure, drawn from a bird’s-eye-view. Separate floor plans for each story of the building indicate outside walls, interior room configurations, wall openings (windows and doors), appliance and plumbing fixture locations, and other details. - Foundation יסודות
- Frame משקוף
The enclosure in which window sash or door panels are mounted. - French Hinged Door דלתות בלגי
Hinged doors with multiple glass panes that extend for most of the door’s lengths. - Fridge מקרר
G:
- General Lighting תאורה כללית
Also called ambient lighting- for description see ambient lighting - Granite גרניט
- Grout רובה או מלט
- A thin, coarse mortar used to seal the spaces between floor or wall tiles.
H:
- Handle ידית
- Hardware פרזול
- Home-Styling הום סטיילינג
I:
- Indirect lighting תאורה נסתרת
- Insulation בידוד
Materials used in walls, ceilings, and floors to prevent heat transmission - Infrastructure תשתיות
K:
- Knob ידית
Round part of door handle that you hold with your hand - Kickplate צוקל (סוקל)
L:
- Laminate למינציה
- Lamp מנורה
A device that produces light for giving light, either one consisting of an electric bulb together with its holder and shade or cover, or one burning gas or a liquid fuel and consisting of a wick or mantle and a glass shade. - Landing פודסט
A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction - Lightbulb נורה
A device that produces light from electricity - Light Fixture גוף תאורה
The assembly that includes the mounting base, or socket, and any features that reflect or disperse the light from a lamp fitted into the fixture. Any light-producing device permanently, or “hard-wired” to the home wiring system - Light switch מתג
Used to operate electrical lights within a room
M:
- Mediterranean Design עיצוב ים-תיכוני
This style is warm, full of character that blend indoor and outdoor, lots of natural light, natural materials and fabrics
N:
- Niche נישה
A recess in a wall, usually designed to contain ornamental statues or other decorations - Nordic/Scandinavian Design נורדי
This style is a minimalistic that favours natural materials and clean lines
O:
- Oven תנור
P:
- Particle Board סיבית
Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. Often used for closet shelving. - Plug תקע
- Plumbing Fixture,אביזרי אינסטלטור
A sink, toilet, bathtub, spa, shower, and bidet. - Porcelain Granite גרניט פורצלן
R:
- Rise and run. רום ושלח
The terms used to indicate the degree of incline (the rise is the vertical measure, the run is horizontal) in laying out stairs.
S:
- Socket שקע
- Solar water heater דוד שמש
Heat from the sun is absorbed by collectors and mechanically transferred by pumps or fans for storage for heating, cooling, or making electricity. - Sealant איטום
A material used to prevent fluids from entering gaps in the materials - Sketch סקיצה
- Switch מתג
A device which looks like a switch and is usually located inside the electrical breaker panel or circuit breaker box. It is designed to (1) shut of the power to portions or all of the house and (2) to limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes).
T:
- Tap ברז
Usually refers to a single tap i.e. a hot tap or a cold tap - Task Lighting תאורה עבודה
Lighting that illuminates specific areas to help you complete daily tasks - Tilt and Turn Window (Dry-Kip) דריי קיפ
- Tempered glass זכוכית מחוסמת
will not shatter nor create shards, but will “pelletize” like an automobile window. Required in tub and shower enclosures
U:
V:
- Vanity ארון אמבטיה
A type of storage cabinet for bathrooms that sits under the sink/counter. - Veneers פורניר
Thin sheets of wood used for finished surfaces in furniture - Vintage ‘וינטאגט
