Star Light, Star Bright

08 Jan Star Light, Star Bright

Custom design in cork gives light and warmth to dark kitchen

Laura wasn’t kidding when she said her new kitchen floor had to create a warmer, brighter space than the brown vinyl that once covered the floor in this room with very little natural light.

Something natural that was indoor-air friendly would also be a plus, Laura thought as she began to research different floors.  Tile was her first choice. But the cement board  required as an underlayment would have raised the kitchen floor much higher than the adjoining rooms of carpet, hardwood and slate.

She found a design – in cork flooring tiles – that she liked online, and selected colors for her own custom look. 

“This is not something that everyone would like, but it is exactly what I wanted for this space,” Laura says.

As she goes from room to room planning updates, it is easy to see how she might choose the burned yellow color from the kitchen floor when she decides to get new carpet in the family room. That color already is repeated by the hardwood in the dining room, and the turquoise color can also be seen in the slate throughout the foyer.

But even without any more updates, the kitchen is bright and the flooring, unlike tile, is warm and offers schock absorption. You can read her blog and see her before pictures here.

Cork also is antistatic, repels dust and resists stains and moisture.  The brand Laura chose is Globus Cork, which advertises patterns not found elsewhere.

The tiles were precut and already coated with the company’s proprietary water-based adhesive. It was installed over an underlayment. Because of attention to the design, in addition to the floor needing a topcoat once it was installed, installation took about a day longer than a standard installation.

Among the other latest trends in cork flooring  are digitally embossed styles that look like stone and hardwood. Natural Interiors affiliate Wicanders cork carries these styles along with traditional cork patterns. You might also be interested in previous Natural Interiors articles comparing the different brands.©