Luxe Living

It reduces the risk of heart disease, promotes the absorption of antioxidants in food, helps metabolize fat, and decreases the risk of osteoporosis and stroke.... plenty of reasons to enjoy a glass of wine daily, right? Well, not that you need any more convincing, but in recent years another benefit to drinking wine has surfaced! This one has nothing to do with your health, though. A company called Jelinek Cork Group offers a beautiful and Eco-friendly flooring product that is produced from recycled wine and champagne corks.



The corks are cut into 1/4" thick circular discs and glued to a paper net backing which is then applied to the floor using glue and grout. This type of flooring is great because it is water resistant (and not slippery) and anti bacterial which makes it a perfect solution for potentially wet areas such as saunas, showers, bathrooms and kitchens. It is also extremely durable which makes it a great solution for areas with high traffic like the restaurant shown below. On top of being a green product (it is 100% natural) cork is also loved for it's soundproofing and insulating qualities.



The cork can be stained any color and paired with colored grout as shown below.



James Velez of Habitus NYC (a retailer of Cork Mosaic) sums it up well, "It's un-tampered virgin cork; its features are the same as the bottle stopper; it seals in the liquid, making it water resistant. So you can use Cork Mosaic on your shower floor, for instance. I actually know of someone who used Cork Mosaic on the deck of a yacht."

Photos courtesy of The Cork House, Domino, Habitus NYC, and CorkStore.

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style." ~Billy Baldwin