From flooring to functional decor, cork is stealing the spotlight again — proving this retro material is cooler, smarter, and more versatile than you remember.

Cork oak, Quercus suber, is an evergreen oak native to parts of Europe and Africa. This oak is known for its bark, which is used for wine bottle corks as well as flooring, insulation and soundproofing ...

Why are wine bottles tall and narrow? That distinctive shape contributes to the happy marriage between cork and a bottle made tall enough to lie on its side so the wine can “breathe” through the cork ...

If you’re looking for warm, cushiony flooring, think cork. Soft like suede, it has the insulating qualities and resiliency of carpet; the easy-to-clean surface of wood or tile; plus luxurious appeal ...

A person sees many countries on a European tour—and I don’t necessarily mean those divided by political boundaries and languages. I mean truffle country, sweet wine country, bear country, bike country ...