If I have anything to share in regards to our new adventures in inhabitance, it is that loft ownership and compromise are constant companions. Because of the open concept and the endless bare surfaces, every addition to our home has to perform with maximum function, in a minimalist aesthetic. In order to keep to this, one must be consistently resourceful especially when accommodating a spouse's potentially destructive hobby of throwing darts.
In order for my boyfriend, his hobby and I to all co-habitate in harmony, I had to create a functional dart-throwing station that gelled perfectly with our loft.
But where to put it? He needs room to throw, you see, and aside from sacrificing the feature wall, there were few places it could go (one entire side of the space is dedicated to windows, and the other to the kitchen, front entry and laundry room.) The only area that was suitable was a tiny slice of wall (only 3 ft wide) between the kitchen and the feature living room wall.
Choosing the wall was step one; step two was to solve the destruction issue -- what if he misses the board all together (and he does)? Yes, the wall needed protection, and after toying with several ideas, cork emerged as the only solution.
With all of our loft improvements we have been making an effort to use natural materials and support eco-conscious, LEED-certified, Canadian-owned companies whenever possible. An internet search led us to the “Corkhouse”, the showroom for Jelinek Cork Group which occupies a completely restored heritage property in Oakville, Ontario. Since 1885, this family business has been passed down through five generations which means they really know their cork.
The Corkhouse presented us with a variety of options, but we decided on cork tiles for ease of application. They come in a variety of thicknesses, finishes and styles, and are easier to cut and maneuver when covering a small space.
In the end, I am thrilled. The cork not only looks great, fits perfectly with our minimalist aesthetic, prevents damage to the wall, and makes my boyfriend happy, it gives me a place to pin reminders, recipe cards, family photos and so on -- A+ on hitting all the requirements! To boot, the cork tiles work as a sound barrier, helping to dampen the annoying thud sound the darts make when they hit the wall, no doubt audible to our next-door neighbours...
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(see Step-by-Step, below)
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Here's what we did:
1. Removed the tiles from the package and laid them on the floor. They need to adapt to the temperature and humidity of the room.
2. Measured the area and determined the pattern/stagger we wanted to use. Use a measuring tape / level to mark out the pattern on the wall with pencil.
3. For tiles that needed to be cut to fit, we used an exacto knife to score along one side, then flip and score along the other, the simply broke the tiles along the seam. To fit over electrical outlets or phone jacks, we simply cut out the holes.
4. Using a clean brush, we coated the backside of the tile with contact cement. READ product instructions. We let set for 30 min.
5. Very carefully place the first tile: start in either the top corner if staggering, or dead centre if utilizing a pattern. Be careful. Once the tile touches the wall it is in place. You can chip the tile off but it will come off in bits. Have a backup to spare (we learned this the hard way).
6. After covering the wall, we left it to set for 24 hours.
7. Upon inspection, any “gaps” were filled with a small sliver of cork sliced off the tile scraps. Use a blunt object to wedge it in.
Could you use a cork wall? What do you think of the look?
By Jennifer Myers
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