Cork floors

When I visited a magnificent James Means designed home last fall,  in preparation for writing up the home profiles for the Cathedral Tour of Homes, I was quite taken with the cork floors that were in the laundry room.  I had never seen cork floors, and I thought they were unique and beautiful.  The owners of the home selected them for their antibacterial quality, their ‘green’ character, and the softness and sound dampening quality that they provide.

When looking into a floor for the craft room, I kept thinking about cork.  It is a flooring surface that has been used for over 100 years, and is considered very green because it does not require the cork tree to be cut; cork is the outer material of the tree.  The quiet and soft feel of the cork, with its sound dampening qualities, is perfect for the space.  Cork has a consistent and springy texture, a great middle ground for a space that will partially be used for crafts, partially for playing.  The cork has a natural shock absorbing quality, which means that vibrations and noise will be absorbed effectively.  Cork is naturally moisture, mold, and insect repellant, and does not off gas.

Although cork is more expensive than other flooring options, I found a reasonable source at a local flooring retailer, and a full color spectrum including a lighter option that will work perfectly in the space.   According to the sales rep, cork has a very good ‘memory’ and wears very well – as well as hardwood floors.

One cork floor supplier that I found online has a wide variety of colors, and the cork tiles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing for many design possibilities.  Source: www.corkfloor.com.  Alas, I am on a strict budget (and this is a simple space), so I am looking at standard 12”x36” planks.

Given that cork can be cut in an infinite variety of shapes, there are many interesting patterns seen on the internet. 

Cork tiles in a diamond pattern.

It seems that the pattern options are unlimited! Another cork floor using contrasting colors and shapes.

Cork planks in a casual dining area – the size and shape of these planks resemble a wood floor.

 

A cork floor pictured in a loft like art studio. Many cork plank or tile products already have a protective sealer on them, but additional layers of a sealer can be added to protect the cork or give the floor different levels of sheen. 

Light colored cork used in an exercise room.  A designer friend of mine said that he recently installed cork as the flooring in the basement of a beautiful home he just worked on, and said it looks and feels wonderful.

There are quite a few pictures of cork floors in kitchens, interestingly enough. The shock absorbing quality of cork apparently makes it a very comfortable surface to stand on for long stretches of time.

I am leaning towards getting a light bleached looking cork for the space (I prefer it over the standard honey brown).  Details are being worked on today – no final decisions have been made.  Cork definitely has a more contemporary look than other floor options, but since this room is on its own, I am intrigued with the thought of using it – it won’t define the decor of the home, after all, like the floors in the public areas of the house.  I would be very interested to hear any comments or feedback on those of you who have ever installed or experienced a cork floor.

To visit my store, Quatrefoil Design, click here – come see the brand new art and scupture items in the store!
To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog
To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.