Cork: A Trend to Embrace for Home & Fashion

*Be sure to read through this post as there is a 25% off coupon code for a great Cork bag just for StyleBlueprint readers!

Cork:  it’s natural, environmentally friendly, durable and just plain cool. It’s everywhere now and promises to continue to grow in popularity as the green movement has become mainstream.

Ten years ago, when I was actively looking for cork floors in the midst of my remodel, no one I talked to knew how to handle the request and I was finally told that cork was simply too much trouble.  This is absolutely not true but I didn’t know any better so I took their word for it.  Nowadays, you see cork floors everywhere and I’m loving cork so much that I keep daydreaming of a corked “wallpapered” room.

Cork for the Home

Here is a photo from Thibaut featuring their cork wallpaper in gold:

And check out this Jelinek Cork Mosaic flooring.  This makes me want to redo a kitchen or bath simply to use this product.  Imagine how warm it would feel on your feet in a bathroom?  Much better than my tile, albeit beautiful tile, that I have in my bath right now.  Available through www.corkstore.com

This cork mosaic tile can be used in traditional dry places, but also in bathrooms and saunas as it must be sealed when installing.

Picture via Domino with a white grout. The cork can also be stained to create patterns or simply different colors. Are you dreaming of a remodel now as well?

No post on cork would be complete without a new take on how to use wine corks.  I snapped this picture when I ate at Bottega, one of Frank Stitt’s restaurants in Birmingham this past March.

I think I may need to start collecting wine corks again as I love this idea.

Cork Fashion

And, oh my gosh the cork shoes and bags   If you have been having the same cork love affair that I have been, check out these finds:

To start with, check out this London Desert Dune bag by PYKNYK as StyleBlueprint has secured a 25% off coupon code good through May 15th!  With a cork front, water resistant lining and canvas bottom & back, this bag has all sorts of pockets, so it can be a either diaper bag or simply a highly organized bucket bag.  It comes in black, brown and red.  They just added yellow although it’s not on the site yet.  Normally just $75, for you it’s $56.25!  Makes a great baby shower gift as well.  Enter code 832f4e66 at www.pyknyk.com by Saturday the 15th to receive your discount on this bag.  And yes, they do sell wholesale for all you store owners who are drooling over this bag at this price point.

An inside view of the London Desert Dune bag.

This cork bag is simply gorgeous, By Jean Cristoff, for a pricier $315.  See the entire collection at one of the finest cork stores on the web, www.corkstore.com.

Jean Cristoff Bag

And check out this cool clutch from Cork and Cotton.  Available through 1000 markets (a kindred spirit to etsy), this designer is making some irresistible bags.  Click here to see her flickr photo-stream.

$45 from Cork and Cotton.

And the SHOES.  Goodness the cork shoes this season.  I actually fell in love with some Donald Pliner (shocker, I know) cork shoes in Spring 2009.  I didn’t buy them and I was kicking myself.  Well, look what’s on my favorite shoes discount site, www.6pm.com right now?

They were $250 last year and just $62.50 right now. Available in size 7, 7.5 and 8.5. For you 9.5 girls, 6pm has my favorite pair of cork high heeled gladiators from this same collection.

By Johnston and Murphy, I just bought these shoes last week and I’ve already worn them three times.  I love them:

Johnston and Murphy. Was $158, now $109.99. Check out the other two cork shoe options as well J&M has online as well.

Nine West has tons of great cork shoes from which to choose:

the Bonfire pump at Nine West: reg $89, but half off right now

And, while I love cork, here is proof that there is someone who loves it far more than I do….

wow.