[waygil]

We're trying to decide between using a slate laminate click or cork click floor in our new kitchen. We're hesitant to make a decision because of both astethics and durability.

Asthetics:

Our Kitchen will have Ulriksdal Oak Cabinets, laminate counters in a grey soapstone type finish, and ss appliances. The house is an 1840's Victorian. Other rooms in the house are hardwoods. We're afraid that the kitchen will look too modern for the style house we have and wonder if the slate laminate will tone things down a little. Anyone have cork floors in an older house? What shade? Does it make your space look really modern?

Durability:

We have three main issues with using cork.
(1) Water: is it a poor choice for a wet room like the kitchen.
(2) Fading: if we go with a darker shade of cork that it will fade over time. We won't be using curtains in the kitchen.
(3) Cleaning: will it be hard to clean bacause you can't use a really wet cleaning system for it.

Has any cork users had problems with any of these issues? Has anyone attempted to use cork for a mudroom/laundry room?

We really like the feel of cork and the fact that it is a eco friendly product. It is much easier on your joints too. But we're trying to get our heads around whether it's a good long term choice for our kitchen and whether we would be able to decorate with it rather than around it.

Thanks for your opinion!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Hi there!

Your kitchen sounds very much like our breakfast room, although we chose Stat White cabinets. We have stainless appliances, soapstone counters, and we went with a floating click-lock floor by Natural Cork in "Moreno". It's a beautiful, rich dark reddish brown with lots of figure to it--looks to me like highly figured wood. I love it! It's hard to see in this picture, but I'll post it anyway...



We have only had it in for a couple of months, but we have a sink, dishwasher and 2 small people 4 and under in our house, and so far....no trouble. I use a dry swiffer for daily pick-ups of fur, dust and schmootz, anda damp microfiber (miracle cloth) to pick up any drips or spills. You don't want to wet mop it, but we've spilled on it and we were able to clean it up with no ill effects.

It IS a lot easier on the feet/legs, not to mention any dropped dishes, and I understand it's warm in the winter. I can't comment about any fading, but get back to me in a year or so...ours is in a southfacing room with a big bay window with just a slip of a window-covering up at the top.

Our house is a 1930 Dutch Colonial style Sears Catalog house, and I wouldn't have wanted anything too modern looking either, which is one of the reasons I couldn't get my mind around alot of the slick surfaces or porcelain/ceramic tiles that I like so much (for other people's homes). I couldn't sell my husband on a black/white tile thing and until we saw the cork on display in a showroom, we were set on slate. I don't think it makes it look modern, but then I've also got some more contemporary touches throughout my room that I don't think look out of keeping. You be the judge.



Also, I don't know about a laundry room/mudroom--I guess it would depend on the kind of use it would see. Rough? Relatively gentle? What's your climate/environment? Is it going to be wet bathing suits and sandy feet in the summers and snowy/icy boots and coats in the winter, or just your average "we shake off in the garage" kinda household?

I can't wait to see pictures of your Ulriksdal cabinets! (Here's a shameless request for permission to post when you get it done....Please?)

Susan

[Tigratrus]

What Susan said. ::grin::

I do know that themanufacturer does not recommend cork flooring for bathrooms as it's too wet, though the cork has natural anti mold and mildew properties. I wish we had had ours longer so we could offer some longevity info, we have read that it's pretty durable and CAN be overcoated with various high quality sealants to improve the moisture proofing and durability, though the manufacturer states that this is not needed as the modern protective coatings (5 layers?)they apply are more than sufficient.

I can say that it's absolutely gorgeous, and feels wonderful. Looks like a crossection from burl wood all over a floor. Take a look at this link: http://www.naturalcork.com/floating_styles.htmltop right under Earth Series, "Moreno"though the top two and the Oviedo on the right below them are all representative of the pattern we have, only the color is different. As Susan said above, cleaning is a snap.

While it's not indestructible it HAS stood up to 2 toddlers, 2 cats, and minor construction without noticable wear or damage... So far...

[waygil]

Thanks for the great information! Of course you can have pictures of our kitchen when it's done!! We had such trouble trying to find anyone that has used Ulriksdal cabinets let alone online pictures of them.

We're still trying to decide between the cork and the slate, but will hopefully have a decision by the end of the weekend. Here's a link to our flooring choices:

http://www.waygil.org/gallery/album26

I think we're down to these three choices. We were leaning towards the more brown and reddish cork floors before but felt that it would make the kitchen too dark.

Opinions are welcome!!

-Wayne

p.s. IKEA cabinets get delivered tomorrow morning. Got our checklist ready. Wish us luck!!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Ok, I have to admit, I'm biased toward the cork. I think either one of your selections would look great, it's more a matter of taste and what other elements/colors you have going on in your room and adjacent rooms. Ours (Moreno) has the same figuring as yours and I just love it!

When we were making our decision, I vetoed one of the colors because it was very orangey, (but then I have a thing about orange),and we havepale sagey green walls.I told him Ithought it would look horrificand Ifelt thatI might vomit every time I went in the room. My husband acquiesced, admitting that his opinion was less strongly held than mine.

Either of your choices looks nice with the Ulriksdal and the hardware. Is the paint color one of those greens on the fandeck? Can you give a brand and name? Or are you still thinking about paint? That might make the biggest difference, because I think they both look good with the cabs and counter choices.

Susan

[GardenOfDarwin]

Oh, and Good Luck! Let us know what you decide!

Susan

[waygil]

Paint? We have to paint?!?!? :shock:

If we do the cork we're leaning towards the Santiago which is greenish in color. We're still concerned it might make the room too dark. We would like to paint the kitchen walls in a green but aren't married to it. People we've polled so far think the slate and the stainless steel will make the kitchen look cold. But we're still trying to wrap our heads around how to decorate the kitchen with the cork.

Decision coming soon.....

Thanks again for all the help!

[chriscook]

Well it's been a year, are the cork floors still standing up to the test of time? Has the cork faded any?

[Tigratrus]

Our's (mine and Susan's shown in the pictures above) still looks great! No fading at all. One small scar where somone dropped something heavy and shrp But otherwise it has held up wonderfully!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Hi Chriscook! Welcome to the forums! (Hard to believe it's been a year...)

Yes, the cork is holding up. Yes, it's still beautiful. Yes, I'm still happy with our choice.

No, it hasn't faded. No, it's not scratched and dented. No, the children haven't ruined it.

It's still a wonderful choice for us -- one that we may make again if (when) we ever get around to doing the main kitchen! Hope that helps!

Susan