In a word association exercise, most people, upon hearing Cork, would burst out with words like wine bottle, coaster, or bulletin board. But here’s a new one: My new kitchen floor!

Cork floors are rapidly gaining in popularity. Perhaps the biggest reason for that is the eco-friendly nature of cork products. Cork trees are prominent in Spain, Portugal, and Tunisia and can live up to 800 years. Cork comes from the bark of the tree only. The bark is harvested about every nine years and then grows back, doing no harm to the tree itself.

(more…)

Invented nearly 150 years ago, linoleum flagged in popularity when cheaper vinyl came into the market in the 1950s. In the past decade, though, linoleum’s come back with a whole new wardrobe of colors. While vinyl’s patterns are merely printed on the surface, linoleum’s colors go all the way through the material. Once considered drab and muddy in appearance, linoleum’s updated selection of shades and patterns are also protected with stronger sealants against dirt and stains.

For the most part, however, linoleum hasn’t changed much from its original form. Here are some of the reasons why this resilient flooring material has survived the persnickety standards of generations of homeowners.

(more…)