Cork Blog

Incorporating Cork Into Your Home or Office

2017 is off to a running start! We have been having a banner year in the world of cork over here at AmCork. I know you all know how much we love our cork wall tiles, flooring, and more, but others are jumping on the cork bandwagon and incorporating it into decorating trends this year in a big way. This makes us so happy! Let’s explore a few of the trending cork board decorating ideas before we jump into our top selling AmCork products.                    

How fantastic are these barstools from gilt.com?! Bouchon Bar Stools in bronze, aluminum, and graphite currently on sale (as of blog posting) shaped like champagne corks with wire muselet cages add the perfect amount of sophisticated whimsy to your decorating scheme.

Check out these adorable and very stylish Cork Cord Wraps from Anthropologie. They are a steal at $12 for a set of two, and are much more appealing than the rat’s nest of cords you have to weed through in your handbag or your child’s backpack.

And lastly, we have this cork globe from cb2.com, a site touted as “Crate and Barrel’s hip little sister”. Millennials and more will love to mark the places to which they’ve travelled and the places they want to travel to on this lovely cork board globe affixed to a stainless steel base.

We have curated these trendy accessories for home office décor to be easily paired with three AmCork cork wall tile designs. This decorative cork selection represents our top sellers for 2017 to date. Each cork décor product is unique and beautiful in its own rite.

Blizzard is one of our most popular designs and has once again secured the rank of Top Seller for the year. This cork wall tile design is perfect in any modern or contemporary décor. It can easily transition from corporate to residential settings and opens up any space. Adding texture and design to an otherwise plain room is easy to do with our Blizzard cork wall tiles.

Next up is our Coral cork wall tile. This design truly shows the natural cork in a beautiful pattern and color tone and leaves no wonder as to why it is in our Top Seller category. These sustainable cork wall tiles for sale show a side view or lateral view of the 100% pure Portuguese cork after it has been harvested. The tone and markings are what many think of when they think of cork.

Finally, we give you our Stacked Stone cork wall tile as the third ranking top seller of the year. This is one of our newer designs and has quickly become a fan favorite for obvious reasons. The rustic air of this pattern is inviting and yet highly fashionable when installed in your home or office.

Furthermore, these accessories can also be a cork stepping stone to our long lasting cork flooring inventory in your decorating endeavors. The following represent our top sellers for 2017 YTD.

Oceano cork flooring, available in both parquet and plank tiles, is the epitome of sophistication. This top selling cork flooring contains knots of rich merlot set against a honeyed base. This showstopper would be amazing in both residential and commercial settings and is sure to catch the eye.

Iris Mocha cork flooring planks are modern with their linear design. This comfortable and renewable flooring material is produced by layering the inner and outer sections of the cork oak, creating a distinctive pattern that will leave all the neighbors talking.

Finally, we present our Sea cork flooring planks to round out our Top 3 Sellers for 2017 to date. This smooth textured pattern has a rustic feel and would work well in interiors. Sea cork flooring planks only get better with age and are backed by our 25 year warranty.

We are thrilled to see cork products taking more of a center stage in home office organization and decorating rather than something limited to mid-century design and wine bottles. This highly renewable resource supports a vibrant eco-system and brings countless health benefits into your life. Shop our Top Selling cork wall tile and flooring inventory today to begin your journey into the world of cork.

10 Ways to Live a More Sustainable Life

Happy New Year to all our loyal clients and eco-loving friends! We are so excited to be entering 2017 with you. A new year promises a fresh start; opportunity for growth and change seems to burst from the seams on January 1 each year. And as the days pass rapidly by, the promise and opportunity also passes by in swift fashion. So often at the start of a new year, we make resolutions that are unattainable. We want to, but we just can’t do it 100% the first time around, and so we give up. This begs the question – is it really us failing with each new year's resolution? Or could it possibly be the way we construct our resolutions and annual goals? I propose that we not run away from the large goal or resolution, but simply to break it down into much smaller, attainable goals that reflect back to us a feeling of success and completion with each small step.

This year, our goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle both in the office and at home. On the whole, this broad stroke goal can quickly become overwhelming because there are so many avenues to take and so many ways that convenience could easily trump sustainable goals. So we break it down into smaller, more attainable goals. First we need to define sustainability. By most definitions, this is the act of consciously reducing our carbon footprint by altering methods of energy consumption, natural insulation, transportation, and the foods we choose to consume. Big, lofty definition, yes. But let’s begin with eco-friendly baby steps and break it down.

Here are 10 ways you can begin living a more sustainable life today:

1. Recycling – We all know the old adage reduce, reuse, recycle. Seems easy, but it is far easier to ignore what this statement means. We must reduce. You can easily reduce unnecessary packaging. You can live a more minimalistic lifestyle to reduce clutter and waste. Reduce energy consumption. Reduce waste going to the landfill by composting particular kitchen waste or by recycling paper, plastic, and glass items. I plan to recycle at every opportunity by creating convenient collection areas throughout my home. Bathrooms, kitchen, and my home office will be the primary areas of collection. Lastly, let’s discuss how we can reuse. One way is discussed into more detail under #9. Additionally, you can use fabric grocery bags or buggy bags in most shopping situations. In Temecula, CA, grocers are being forced to convert to reusable bags or they will be charged $0.10 per plastic or paper bag in stores as regulated by Prop 67. You can buy particular foods in bulk and reuse storage containers at home. You can reuse other items by completely changing their use literally making treasure from trash.
2. Lighting - I have begun upgrading traditional light bulbs in my home to Phillips Hue LED bulbs, which are recognized for their energy efficiency through the Energy Star rating. These must carry a minimum 3-year warranty (sweet!) and have a really cool vibe with all the color combinations! I personally love “concentration” for when my puzzle craving strikes again and “relax” for that wind down to a perfect sunset lighting. A great and fun way, to reduce energy consumption.
3. Transportation – This can be a tricky one for many if public transportation isn’t an easily accessible option (think suburbs, small towns, and rural areas). However, this can also be an excuse. I am trying to optimize my driving routes when I run errands, and choosing to only go to the grocery store once a week. I began these practices in December and already see a change in my routine and my car mileage! If you want to be an overachiever, you may consider purchasing an electric hybrid vehicle, but that is not a baby step in my book and may not be an option for many.
4. Cleaning Products – I am transitioning to natural cleaners. Many I will be or already am mixing at home. Others, I leave up to sustainable home cleaning supply companies like Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, and Honest. I’ve also heard good things about Method. There is no need to take all the convenience out of life when trying to live more sustainably. Just make sure you are checking labels and making sure the companies stand behind what they purport through mission statements and marketing.
5. Unplug – I am trying to unplug devices and small appliances when not in use or charging. There is no need for them to continue drawing power, no matter how negligible an amount it is. There is an alternate definition here, too, where we should take the time as humans to unplug. We need to step back from our constant need to tweet, Instagram, and text so that we can see and experience the world we are trying to save.
6. Shipping – My best friend is a HUGE Amazon person. He orders gobs of things on the mega site each year simply because “it’s easier to do that than go to the store”. But while you’re paying pennies to have your paper towels delivered to your doorstep in two days or less, I have to question how much these practices will cost Mother Earth later down the road. Instead, I am currently working on converting him to shopping local. If you can’t bring yourself to break the Amazon habit, try using their Prime Pantry option. This allows you to shop for all the same items, but you have to wait until you fill the box before it ships. This would eliminate several unnecessary shipping adventures I dare say.
7. Grow a garden & plant some trees – Directly combat your carbon footprint with these blessed vegetation creations. Plus garden fresh food tastes so much better than store bought! You can even fertilize your planted babies with the composting you’ve been doing from #1’s recycling methods.
8. Water conservation – This one always ranks high on the list of ways to live a more sustainable life, but in developed countries, it seems to be a hard concept to master. Again, take baby steps. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth until it’s time to rinse. Run your dishwasher during low use times of day (typically after 11 p.m. but check with your local utility). Wash clothes only when you have a full load. Shorten shower times or move to an every other day schedule of bathing. These are small steps but they add up to hundreds of gallons of water weekly.
9. Quit Bottled Water – This one is important. Americans used approximately 50 billion plastic bottles of water last year. Less than 25% of these are recycled either because the user did not choose to recycle or because their local utility does not offer recycling options. Either way, over 38 billion water bottles go unrecycled each year. With the advent of insulated cups, there is no need to continue purchasing what really breaks down to glorified bottled tap water when you could stylishly keep your water handy in a reusable cup or thermos. Break the habit today. You’ll thank us later!
10. Community - Join an environmental group in your community. This is a great way to meet new people who can give you other ideas on how to live a more sustainable life. Beachside communities often clean up their shorelines and help local wildlife through their environmental efforts. In landlocked cities, environmental groups pick up litter, plant trees, give community lectures, work on community gardens, and more to impact their local areas. If your community doesn’t have an environmental group. Consider launching one yourself!

We encourage you to begin taking your own baby steps and living a more sustainable life today. Start by using sustainable flooring materials and cork materials for your next home improvement project. Let us know what sustainable living practices you are taking and we will walk this path together. Cheers to you and yours this happy New Year! May 2017 be amazing for each of you!

Note: Any products or brands mentioned here are not promoted by AmCork and used purely as examples for living a more sustainable life. We are not suggesting, selling, or promoting any particular sustainable products or brands.

Stacked Stone Cork Wall Tiles

Have you noticed our newest product, Stacked Stone cork sheets? Have you fallen in love with this product? I know I sure have! These completely textural cork stone wall panels are the newest offering from our cork wall tile inventory. Visually, this cork wall tile creates faux stone walls similar to a slate stacked stone accent wall or a stacked wood siding.

While the Stacked Stone cork sheets may look like stone or wood, it is actually made from recycled wine cork strips. The rugged depth and texture within each hand laid strip gives each faux stone tile sheet a natural feel. This stacked stone cork tile would be amazing as a faux stone interior wall around a fireplace or as a replacement for a headboard in the bedroom.

Cork is an amazing naturally occurring material that comes from Portugal in the SW Mediterranean eco-region. It comes from the cork oak, Quercus suber, which grows in abundance in this region. Only the outer bark of the tree is removed on a highly controlled harvesting schedule that allows the tree to produce cork over and over again for up to 250 years.

Cork is a natural thermal and acoustic insulator that will keep your tootsies warm and your ears from ringing. It is easy to clean and maintain and just as easy to install too! Cork is an effortless way to introduce a natural element to your home décor. It helps reduce airborne allergens and is mildew resistant.  

 Each cork bark product in our cork wall tile inventory is sold in a carton of two sheets covering approximately 12 square feet of wall space per carton. All of our cork products are backed by the GreenGuard certification that assures you that you are purchasing a low chemical emission product. Furthermore all cork tile sheets are guaranteed to last and be of good quality with our 25-year product warranty.   

Cork Flooring Focus: Floating Planks

AmCork offers two types of cork flooring tiles: parquet tiles and floating planks. Today, we will discuss the benefits of cork floor floating planks. This flooring choice is designed to float over most uneven substrates and has an easy to install clock-n-lock snapping system. Our cork flooring floating planks are fit with a built-in acoustical cork underlayment. This naturally absorbs sounds typically associated with heavy footfalls and high heels. It is also a natural thermal insulator and will provide a temperate walking environment year round. Furthermore, your footsteps will also be cushioned, as the cork flooring acts as a natural shock absorber, showcasing its honeycombed cellular nature.

We proudly present over 20 different color and design options with our floating tile floors. Shown here, from left to right are: Sea Bark Cork Flooring, Iris Cork Flooring, Tropical Brown Cork Flooring, and Summer Cream Cork Flooring.

Each of these unique options is shipped in cartons that will cover an average of 21 square feet. They contain 7 planks per carton. Use our handy calculator or peruse all of our floating cork flooring planks to find what suits your interior design style and what products you will need to complete your flooring upgrade. We have so many favorites; it’s hard to pick just one. Order a sample of your favorite cork flooring pattern or collection to see how this amazing flooring material will fit in your exiting décor.

Keeping your cork floating floor tile clean is a breeze! Our cork flooring choices are factory finished to the highest of standards so that little time will be spent on cleaning and maintenance. All that is required to maintain cork floor tile is a regular vacuuming and light cleaning with a damp mop. Ammonia-based cleaners or chemicals must not be used to clean the floor. A cork floor should be treated as any quality wood flooring. As durable as cork flooring is, it must be remembered that it is still a natural product. A well-maintained cork floor will last for decades. Depending on how much foot traffic the floor receives, you will need to reapply recommended polyurethane sealant approximately 7-10 years in average residential applications. This could be once every year or two in a busy retail location. Additionally, a quality doormat at the entrance should be used to help protect the cork floor from outside grit and sand. Cork, as a natural product, may change color when exposed to direct sunlight, so use blinds or curtains to minimize this effect.

Each of our cork products are backed by our 25-year warranty and are guaranteed as a low-emission product by our GreenGuard Certification. Contact our cork specialists with any questions you may have about our products or shop online 24/7. We just know that you will fall in love with this sustainable floating tile flooring material and will want to incorporate it into all rooms of your home!

Fall 2016 Decorating Trends

Fall is all about comfort, layering, and lots of home cooking in my house. The season brings back memories of football games in the bleachers, hot cocoa in my mom’s kitchen, and holding hands on crisp autumn evenings. As an adult, fall begins the busy downward slope to the holidays, where every day is busier than the previous one. When I get home, all I want to do is take my shoes off, open a nice bottle of wine, and relax in the sanctuary we’ve created at home. Part of the sanctuary is our cork products. The comfort of the cork flooring cushioning each and every step is without a doubt one of my favorite things. The warmth and natural feel where cork wall tiles have been installed Is like a hug from your room. It’s inviting and relaxing; a true sanctuary or oasis.

Our Pumpkin Cork Wall Tile is the epitome of fall décor in color palette, but can easily be married into your existing interior decorating trends year around. The rich, textured pattern is laced with an inky black that beautifully compliments the deeply spiced pumpkin color that makes for an eye-catching autumn home décor feature. It would be a handsome fall interior design accent in a library or study, as well as in your master bathroom or mudroom. Additionally, our Night Cork Wall Tile is another rich accompaniment to your home décor in the same rooms. A tri-tone color palette of varying shades of chocolate brown are meshed together in this unique cork wall tile. It also makes a nice inset in cabinet facing in your kitchen or bathroom. Either color of cork wall tile could be layered with a lovely cream or maroon in your home or office to complete the look.

In contrast to our selection of rich and unique color palette selections for the walls this fall, we foresee a lighter, more neutral choice for fall flooring trends. We love the Tropical White, Whitewater, and Snow cork flooring options. For a little flair, we suggest the Speckled Cork Tiles with a neutral color spattered with ebony granules throughout. Each of these options can be incorporated into your existing décor or be a launching pad for a complete room overhaul. Unsure how they would fit in your existing décor? Order a sample of your choice today and “try us on” at home for your interior decorating project.

We encourage you to reach out to us if you have questions about our products or about how to install cork. We offer support from beginning to end. With our online shopping, you can shop for your fall decorating projects at any time of the day or night. We won’t make fun of your fuzzy slippers – we promise! All of our cork products are back by our 25 year warranty and are GreenGuard certified as low emission products assuring you that what you are bringing into your home or office is good for you and good for the environment!

The Health of Your Home

The Harvard Gazette recently published an article concerning the health of our indoor environments citing studies that show many of us spend upwards of 90% of our time indoors. That seems like a staggering figure until you break down the numbers. We approximated 7 hours of sleeping time, at home, indoors. Though I’m sure we would all love 8-9 hours, this is the average. Another 9 hours minimum is spent indoors at work. Leaving the last 5.5 hours to be spent having dinner and relaxing. This may take place at home, in a restaurant, or numerous entertainment venues. The last 2.5 hours of the day are perhaps spent outside, though the more likely scenario is that these remaining hours are spent travelling to and from each of these areas of our day. Man… we really need to get outside more!

The article published by Harvard Gazette stated that there are over “80,000 chemicals in commercial use in the United States, [and that] less than 15% have health data available.” Another study released by the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health this past May, led by assistant professor Joe Allen, “found that women with elevated levels of common flame-retardant chemicals in their blood may be at a higher risk for thyroid disease, and that the risk may be significantly higher among postmenopausal women.” This is one example of how our bodies and our health are impacted by these chemicals. Yet, we have no idea how the additional 65,000 chemicals found in our indoor environments and construction affect our health. Friends, this is truly frightening.

At AmCork, we work hard to bring a product that in beneficial and does less harm than good for both the indoor and outdoor environments. We pride ourselves in leading the battle cry and being able to offer home health solutions when our hearts break over studies such as this.

Cork is a clean material that improves indoor environmental quality. It is naturally resistant to allergens and can help create a hypo-allergenic environment whenever installed. It is ideal in healthcare environments and provides the same benefits when installed in your home or office. Don’t think of a cold and sterile material when you hear the words "healthcare environment." No, cork is warm, comforting, and inviting, like a good hug. It literally cushions your steps when installed as a flooring material. Cork subfloor or wall panels can also be used as natural insulation. This can be achieved by installing cork wall or ceiling tiles, or as natural insulation in walls or as an underlayment when paired with other materials.

Furthermore, cork continues to outshine all other interior materials with regard to its environmental aspect. Just as it is good for interior environments wherever installed, it is also good for Mother Earth. Cork improves its carbon footprint rather than causing more harm to the environment. It is a naturally renewable resource that is harvested by hand without harming or cutting down the tree. In fact, cork can be harvested approximately 25 times over a 250 year lifespan of each tree. Cork forests also protect numerous endangered species in the Mediterranean region, which, without cork forests, would perish.

As you can see, we could (and will) go on and on about the benefits of cork. There is a reason we fell in love with this sustainable material decades ago. We would love to introduce you to the world of cork and its amazing advantages, especially considering you are probably one of the millions who spend at least 90% of your day indoors. Let us help you create an oasis that you know will be good for you and good for Mother Earth.

AmCork & LEED Certification

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building.

Over the past several years, “sustainability” has become an important attribute of many new buildings – commercial and residential.  The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in partnership with other organizations, has developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.  The LEED Green Building Rating will help professionals to improve the quality of buildings and their impact on the environment.  AmCork offers products that are functional, cost effective and have no harmful effects for humans or the environment.  We strive to make a difference by committing to environment sustainability.  

AmCork's sustainable products have the following product attributes that could contribute to a LEED building certification:

Cork Wall and Floor Tiles

contain between 84% and 93% (by weight) post-industrial recycled content in the form of granulated cork and/or broken cork

Cork Floating Floors

contain between 21% and 23% (by weight) post-industrial recycled content in the form of granulated cork and/or broken cork

Cork Underlayment

contain between 90% (by weight) post-industrial recycled content in the form of granulated cork. Cork is a sustainable building material because it is a rapidly renewable material (as defined by LEED, these materials have less than a 10 year growth cycle)

Agglomerated cork is certified FSC Controlled Wood – SA-CW-002408.

Cork Floating Floors are certified FSC Mixed Credit – SA-COC-002408.

LEEDS Credits:

Memorial Day Sale is ON!

Our super spectacular Memorial Day Sale is officially on and in full swing on our amazing cork wall tiles and ceiling tiles! Simply fill up your shopping basket with our cork products, then use coupon code DISCOUNT15 in the check out area. Pricing will be adjusted at that time. With all of these affordable floor and wall finish options, maybe you should add another cork project to your list... statement wall anyone? 

As if we haven't told you time and again, cork is good for you and good for the environment. Now you can say that cork wall tile is good for your pocketbook too with this great savings opportunity! Reach out to our cork experts with any questions you may have. Otherwise, what are you still doing here?! Get to shopping!

Summer Decorating Trends: Brighter is Better

We were recently asked to describe summer decorating trends with one word. Without a doubt that word would be COLOR. And again, I say COLOR. Welcome the sultry heat of the season with an umbrella drink in one hand and a paint brush soaked with an impassioned color in the other. Check out our Summer decorating ideas below!

Several fun summer color palettes we are completely crushing on this season are blushing rouge and cream, emerald green and obsidian black, and chartreuse and cork with a crisp white trim. This is not the time of year to be shy with your color choices. In fact, it’s the one time of year that anything goes so far as it is bright and bold.

To begin this summer decorating guide, let’s explore a room decorated in blushing rouge and cream. This is an elegant extension of the 2016 pantone family, which, as you remember, is Rose Quartz and Serenity; an effortless blending of two shades as the “color of the year”. The poignant pop of color in the room is then mellowed by the crisp and lively cream. The blush is best suited in heftier pieces like the armchairs pictured below, whereas the cream can be showcased on the walls or, better yet, with our Summer Cream Cork Flooring planks. Increase the luxuriousness of the room with simple gold accents.

Next up is the beautiful pairing of emerald green and obsidian black or linen white. We love the contemporary room shown below left on Houzz. This interior design trend is modern day preppy. Add a couple of vases with red roses or peonies to complete the look. We also love the indoor garden feeling invoked by the photo on the right. Two starkly different decorating motifs using similar emerald greens. No matter what you choose for summer decorating- express yourself.                    

Lastly, we pair another member of the green family, chartreuse, with the quintessential summer neutral, cork. The vibrancy of the chartreuse is tempered with the natural cork and a crisp white trim in your room of choice. Our suggestions would be either our Coral Cork Tiles for your flooring needs or our Rain Cork Wall Tiles to add texture and a focal point to the walls. These more permanent renovations can be easily paired with other color choices and materials as trends and tastes change in the future. We recommend mixed metals for your fixtures and accessories.

Whatever summer house décor you choose, be sure to bring natural elements into your home. We firmly stand behind our cork products. We feel that cork does more than decorate a room; it enriches it with boundless health benefits to both you and our planet. This renewable flooring material increases the value of your property while also meeting many requirements for eco-friendly certifications. Speak with one of our cork installation experts today or place your order now with our easy-to-use online shopping store.

Trend Alert: Patterned Floors

Patterned tile flooring is taking a trendy turn this spring and we have several pairing suggestions. We love the traditional checkerboard pattern as well as more intricate designs.

Summer Cream Cork Flooring and Summer Brown Cork Flooring – The small, granular texture of these flooring selections easily blend together and open up any room. The lovely, warm tones of the Summer Brown are cooled by the Summer Cream like delicious whipped cream.

Tropical White Cork Flooring and Tropical Brown Cork Flooring – These two flooring options lend to a more contemporary feel, and can resemble planks of hardwood flooring. Again, the patterns are meant to complement each other. The chocolate brown and winter white cork flooring brings warmth and luxury wherever it is installed. We love the idea of using these with a dramatic floor pattern design in a formal dining room, master bedroom, or formal living space where square footage is in your favor.

Summer Cork Tiles and Opal Cork Tiles – These flooring options are reminiscent of traditional cork flooring dating back to the early 1900’s; the kind of which Frank Lloyd Wright was so fond. If you are remodeling a historical home or want to bring back the authenticity of a turn of the century public library, we suggest this pairing. Granulated design and texture are showcased in this golden tan and creamy white selection.

Have you installed more than one selection of our cork floor tiles and successfully paired them together in a floor pattern? If so, we would love to know. As far as cork flooring ideas & pattern possibilities, the only limitations are the ones you put upon yourself. Good luck with all your cork floor tile pattern ideas! We look forward to hearing how you have integrated cork into your lives!