Put a Cork in It

By Milena Damjanov
October 28, 2011

Cork as a material is nothing new: ancient Greeks used it for fishing buoys and sandals, and these days, those of us at The Inside Source tend to think of it as the only thing between us and a bottle of wine. Yet cork has been cropping up more and more of late as a design material in forward-thinking homes and retailers. “Designers are rediscovering cork, and using new technologies to expand the uses for this amazing natural resource,” says Paul Donald of the San Francisco-based online store Branch, who cites as examples pliable cork-fabric bowls and kids’ chairs made from cork composite. On eBay, sales for "cork" items in the past month are up 37 percent compared to the same period approximately one year prior.

Branch

Urbana Design Cork Tray; Round "Adjust-a-Bowl" Soft Cork Bowls (photos courtesy of Branch)

Brand

Cortiça Chaise Lounge by Daniel Michalik (photo courtesy of Branch)

The fact that it is an eco-friendly substance—it's extracted from the cork oak tree without doing any damage to the plant—makes cork especially sought-after by sustainably-minded stores like Branch and others. “The growing popularity of cork is a response to the eco-chic movement,” says Catherine Lazure of Canadian blog Nordic Design, who has given nods to the material in previous posts. “It is a great way to embrace green alternatives in home decorating without sacrificing on aesthetics.”

One of the most widespread uses for cork in homes is in flooring and wall paneling. The Portuguese brand Wicanders offers some of the most chic cork coverings around, while online tile shop Modwalls.com sells CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Tiles that customers have been snapping up for use in kitchens and bathrooms.

Wicanders

Examples of Wicanders' cork flooring (photos courtesy of Wicanders)

Photos of CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Tiles (photos courtesy of Modwalls.com)

And the trend comes in many more surprising forms. Scroll through the offerings at Branch and you’ll find a plethora of cork-made products, from simple bowls and appetizer trays from Bambu to high-design stools and chaise lounges from Brooklyn-based Daniel Michalik. At Velocity Art & Design in Seattle, there’s also a range of choices, from understated to high-design. You can spring for a cork coaster from Ferm Living that resembles a necklace of large beads, or invest in one of the many furniture pieces from Iannone Design, including walnut sideboards whose doors are inlaid with a variety of cork textures to create striking graphics.

Velocity Art & Design

Vitra Cork Family Side Table Stool; Ferm Living Cork Coaster; Iannone Design Cork Mosaic Forest Long Sideboard (photos courtesy of Velocity Art & Design)

Even the fashion world is showing interest. Check out Lady Gaga’s edgy “You and I” video and you’ll find the pop star wearing two separate outfits made with cork by Dutch designer Jan Taminaiau.

Lady Gaga "You and I" Video (via YouTube)

To bring the trend home, check out eBay’s latest cork offerings, from vintage to shiny and new:

IKEA Cork Coasters

(starting bid, $.99)

CORK 3 Light Pendant w/ Drum Shade

(buy it now price, $250.80)

Cork Ice Bucket

(buy it now price, $29.99)

Cork Bottle Box Tube

(buy it now price, $10.99 )

Cork Glass Candle Holder

(buy it now price, $7.95 )

Vtg Pair Mid Century Modern Cork Walnut Retro Lamps

(buy it now price, $158.68 )

Vintage Wood & Cork Coaster Set

(buy it now price, $20)

Cork Hot Plate Trivets Set

(buy it now price, $7.39)

2 Vtg Henry & Miller Kraftware Cork Insulated Glasses

(buy it now price, $16.99 )

Natural Cork Almada Nevoa Series Cork Flooring

(buy it now price, $4.39)

Vintage Wooden Serving Cork Trays

(buy it now price, $19.95)

Cork Bottle Box Tube

(buy it now price, $10.99 )

Cork Ice Bucket

(buy it now price, $29.99)

Cork Glass Candle Holder

(buy it now price, $7.95 )

Brown Table Lamp with Cork Veneer Drum

(buy it now price, $144.90 )