Home and Garden: Cork Floors

Hello All!

With getting ready to move apartments and I obviously do not get to fix up the new apartment like I might a house someday, it has put me in day dream mode. When I'm at the gym I like to watch the HGTV channel, home makeovers and such. I always seem to learn something. My lesson from a couple weeks ago was about cork floors. 

Now, for some reason I had never heard of cork flooring before then, probably because until this year I haven't really thought about the idea of creating/remaking a home, but now that I'm married and we're constantly talking about houses it's got me thinking about these different things. According to Dan McLeister's Article From Carpeting to Cork on HGTV's website,

Cork. Cork flooring has become very popular with environmentalists and designers alike. Cork can be harvested every nine years from the same tree—a much faster rate of renewal than waiting for a seedling to grow large enough to replace another. It's tough, too, according to BuildingGreen's Alex. "I have been in a home where a cork floor was installed in 1950 and was still in good condition. The cork floor is comfortable for walking and cushions sound."

When I was watching HGTV they were saying that cork is great for when you have animals and children because it does not beat up easily. I think it'd also be great in a space that has a lot of traffic, like the kitchen. When looking through HGTV's and Google Images pictures, I've seen them using cork in all sorts of rooms because you can purchase it in a variety of textures/looks. I definitely like the look of the cork mimicking wood that you can also purchase in a variety of colors/shades. 

homemadewebsite.com

Another thing that I like about the cork floor is that it is supposed to soften sound. I think that would be great in a kitchen when you're banging pans around, telling your dog or cat to get away from the trash can, "Kids please get out of the kitchen!", and your husbands large steal toed boots thunking through. :)

So, to wrap things up, I think it would be ideal to use cork in our home someday throughout the house (where ever that may be someday).

Now, I cannot end this blog without a big SHOUT OUT for the Indiana State University Sycamore Men's Basketball team playing today! Trees vs. Shockers! Go State Go!

I'll brag just a little bit, here is a photo from my senior year (my 4th trip to St. Louis with the band) when the men won the tournament. It was always an honor to play with an amazing group of musicians and sport lovers! Annnd if I say so myself, we were a pretty good look'n group! :)

Sycamore Basketball Band at Men's Tournament in St. Louis 2011
Picture from: Courtney Leonhardt