EcoDomo Recycled Leather tiles in a Kitchen
I am a gal who loves great design. Add a little green’ess to it and I get all Jerry McGuire choked up. Well, EcoDomo’s recycled leather tiles are one of those products that fits this description. Amazingly beautiful and so green. Several years ago. I saw the tiles in the carriage house of the Twin Maple showhouse. (Remember, the old historic house that got a green dolled-up makeover?) Show stopping.
What Are Recycled Leather Tiles?
EcoDomo’s product are sourced from remnants of hides from tanneries such as ones who manufacturers seats for BMW car seats. In fact, a representative of the company told me that the Company is also sourcing seat leather from damaged BMW cars as well. The Company further states:
“The recycling process uses 99.8% of the products input in the manufacturing process in a closed-loop water filtration system. In addition, the waste we generate is sufficiently clean to be used in residential landfills. All of our products have been tested to be low-VOC -either by Greenguard, California Section 01350, or ISO methods.”
To get an upclose and personal view of how the tiles are recycled into floor tile, see here. The adhesive that binds the leather scraps together is made of natural rubber and bark from arcadia wood, a rapidly renewable tree.
Tell Me More About What They Offer.
Store with Leather Wall
EcoDomo sells two different recycled leather tiles collections, the Rainforest and the Echelon. Both are suitable for walls and floors. The Echelon collection is suitable for furniture applications as well. In addition, the collections can be installed in either residential or commercial settings.
The standard Rainforest collection is a tile or plank floating form option. The collection features 12 different colors and comes in either a 15 by 15 inch tile or 7.5 by 45 inch plank. The substrate of the floating floor is high-density fiberboard, which provides extra density and stability. Installation is similar to installing a cork floating floor. The tile costs $12.80 per square foot and the planks costs $13.87 per square foot. Note, that you can also order a custom glue down tile from the Rainforest collection.
The Echelon collection is a glue down tile. The standard tiles are 12 by 12 inches at $16.87 a square foot, and 18 by 18 inches at $23.87 per square foot. In addition, a sheet size of 39 by 55 inches is available. Various custom sizes are also available.
Not only does the glue down tiles have extraordinary looks, their easy of installation makes them very appealing. The Company states,
“[o]ur Recycled Leather can come pre-glued with our exclusive EasyContact™ Technology. Our EasyContact adhesive application allows our tiles to install directly over drywall, primed concrete, or plywood with no further adhesive application. You simply remove the liner and apply the tiles directly to your substrate. Installation is hassle-free and completed in minutes.”
Where Can I Use Recycled Leather Tiles?
Honestly, the thought of using recycled leather tiles with my four caveman petrify me. They can ruin anything. Really. Anything. I kid you not. (*Sign*) So, I drilled the Company’s Customer Service Director. She explained how durable these little beauties are. They don’t scratch she explained. In fact, she was rolling her chair across them as we spoke.
Then I said, what about water? Even water melted the Wicked Witch of the West. Leather and water. No way. It can’t mix. She said, no problem. Then I remembered, cows stands out in the rain. How can water hurt leather? Note, however, the Company does not recommend that the tiles or planks be used in a bathroom application.
How tough is tough? The Company states
“All our Echelon Recycled Leather Tiles have been manufactured specifically to be used as a flooring. The Recycled Leather Floors will wear in a manner similar to a linoleum floor and will have indentations comparable to cork. Our tiles are practical while being of uncompromising beauty. Our tiles have been used successfully for entire executive hotel floors, board rooms, hundreds of residences, including in residential staircases & kitchens.”
Custom Applications
Custom EcoDomo Leather Wall Application
If you love leather, you will love the Company’s custom applications. How about leather trim or top stitched leather walls? Or how about my favorite, leather and hardwood floor? FSC and bamboo flooring options are available.
Where Can I order?
There are a series of dealers on the website throughout the United States and Canada. In the UK, there was a dealer in London. Online stores such as South Cypress, Webgot by Amazon, and InstallerStoreflooring.com to name a few carry the EcoDomo product. Prices may vary from the amounts listed above.
Join the Conversation:
- Would you install a recycled leather floor tile? If you have, tell us about it.
- Would you install a leather wall? If you have, tell us about it.
- If you are a designer, what type of client would install EcoDomo products?
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Maureen Calamia says
September 26, 2011 at 11:56 amLove the look, Anna! Thanks for bringing to my attention.
Two questions:
– glad to hear they are low-VOC, but what about the adhesives. Adhesives are usually the worst for floor applications. Perhaps they can be applied with non-toxic adhesives?
– care and maintenance – ok, they say no bathroom applications but kitchen is okay? What about cleaning?
Anna@Green Talk says
October 25, 2011 at 2:05 amMaureen,
I emailed the company but they didn’t respond. What I gleamed from their website is maintenance is similar to taking care of a wood floor. The site says, ” Normal maintenance includes, vacuuming with a soft brush, damp mopping with a very well wrung out mop.”
They show a kitchen with the tiles but to be honest, I wouldn’t want them in my kitchen. I would be too frightened of a leak.
As for the VOCs with their adhesives, I can’t find anything on the site except the following
“All of our products have been tested to be low-VOC -either by Greenguard, California Section 01350, or ISO methods.” Anna
Maureen Calamia says
October 28, 2011 at 4:16 pmThanks Anna – I would agree about using in the kitchen. I guess it depends on which adhesives you use, unless they recommend a specific type. Thanks for checking into this!