Reveal

A reveal is a deliberate, intentional gap left between two elements of a design -- a cabinet door set slightly proud or recessed from its face frame, a consistent shadow line left between shiplapped boards -- planned and sized as part of the design rather than a fit that simply came up short. Because a reveal is deliberate, it's built with the same precision as any other dimension: a consistent 1/8" reveal around a cabinet door reads as intentional and clean, while an inconsistent, wandering gap reads as a fit problem, even though both technically involve "a gap."