Wine cork apron. Kitchen apron made of unconventional materials

The topic was helped by the message: 1. Konstantinich - Khazanovsky parrot;

2. Lieutenant Dub - a character created by Jaroslav Hasek;

3. Seryoga is a Belarusian individual entrepreneur (crook).

Lieutenant: Tell us Seryoga, can I use a cork instead of an apron in the kitchen, on the work wall?

Konstantinich: Look at his entrepreneurial face, he’s not like a cork apron, but a cork floor for the kitchen will bungle. If only to cut the dough.

Lieutenant: Yes Konstantinich, entrepreneurs do not think about the people. So hands and itch, give one of them in the face.

Seryoga: Guys, let's look at the photos, and at the same time, we will discuss this topic. For example, I will present pictures of my relatives' kitchen, and the life of this plug is more than 13 years.

Seryoga: Shown here is Hawai Green (Wicanders) cork, waxed as delivered.

Lieutenant: Well, did you cut the dough off your relatives?

Seryoga: The most interesting thing is that when they pasted this cork, I had not yet dealt with this material. There are customers who specifically buy a wall plug for a work wall in the kitchen every three to five years. In this situation, she withstood three times more. But they also have a chateau cork floor, under acrylic varnish withstood the same, although usually in the kitchen, it does not withstand more than 5 years (if you do not reinforce it with varnish).

Konstantinich: Well, Lieutenant, what did I tell you? Steam, you also have a cork floor to the apron.

Lieutenant: Look at how honest your eyes are. And he wrapped it up, so inadvertently, about the floor. Can still give this swindler in the face.

Konstantinich: Well, then what? You read a lot of the Internet, and if something goes wrong, you won't clean up a virtual nickname. There is at least someone to ask. Seryoga, do you have a working wall, not made of cork? Learn Lieutenant as I do him.

Seryoga: I had a plug on the working wall, but temporarily. We glued the cork adhesive floor in the kitchen, in the hallway and in the toilet. We pasted the wallpaper, knocked down the old tiles from the working area, putty, primed, and the money ran out. Not enough for the kitchen itself. Therefore, we temporarily left the old disgrace, and glued the cork in the working area. Which stood for 4 years. Look here.

Lieutenant: Well, how does she wash?

Seryoga: this version of the cork is called Stone Art Pearl (Wicanders), finished in tinted lacquer as delivered. I specifically chose this option, because after gluing, you can varnish the surface.

Lieutenant: Or maybe somewhere there is already varnished. Stick it on and that's enough.

Seryoga: Finish on varnish, only glued cork floor (cork parquet). The same can be done on the wall, but I believe that only design can play a role in this situation. For example, light squares from a cork floor (see the last photo) would be nicely combined with those on the work wall. And to varnish, it is better after gluing the cork. We get a one-piece varnish film, and moisture, steam does not get into the seam. So this cork was treated with LOBADUR WS Easy Finish matt varnish, which was left from the varnishing of the floor. The only thing, on a vertical wall, you will not be able to put the same amount of varnish as on damp cork parquet. Therefore, we roll it up with varnish until we remove the porosity. And it is easier to wash, although this cork has never been washed, nothing was visible on such a combination of structure and color.

Konstantinich: I get the impression that the cork on the apron is a cheap, economical substitute for normal materials. Moreover, they sell up to a sheet, the dimensions thereof are 600x300mm, and the height of the working wall is just 600mm.

Lieutenant: economical, that's just fine.

Konstantinich: I hope the economical economy does not concern cognac, otherwise the cork will inadvertently fall off.

Lieutenant: Well, this is sacred.

Seryoga: If you stick on my glue, it won't fall off. Let's see the next photo.

Seryoga: Wall stopper - Bamboo Artica (Wicanders), varnished. It doesn't remind me of an economy class. Here is another photo of the same cork, but with glass.

Konstantinich: Seryoga, is it too hard to make the kitchen out of cork?

Sergei: Cork is not a structural element, so it can be used in combination with other materials. They also bought a cork for facades from me.

Sergei: The edging of the facades is made of Harmony cork parquet, and the dark inserts are made of cork materials from the defunct Robinson factory.

Konstantinich: Are the walls in the kitchen made of cork completely?

Seryoga: Well, how is the lieutenant? Fine?

Lieutenant: You know, Konstantinich, it looks like a cognac with an earring stopper money may not be enough.

Konstantinich: Why do you need to cover all the walls with cork? She is not easily soiled, warm, can make a dining area. We sat down at the table and leaned back against the wall covered with cork, warm and soft. You can even give the Lieutenant a bull, you have nothing there anyway.

Seryoga: It's always like this, they come with their families, quarrel, there are a lot of options for traffic jams and in the end they won't buy anything. Here's an example of a dining area.

Seryoga: First - Fiord Natural, second - Alabacter Cream. By the way, Lieutenant, look at the floor in the last photo.

I have been looking closely at a selection of ideas for decorating corks for a long time. Inspired, I decided (the author says) not to waste money on small accessories, but to decorate the kitchen apron with corks. And now one of the objects has such an opportunity!
In this master class I will tell you what came of it.

So, we need the following materials:
- wine corks;
- construction glue;
- stationery knife;
- tempered glass, cut to fit the apron;
- drill, glass fasteners;
- and also one man with hands. :)


How many traffic jams do you need? We had about 1200 pieces for a kitchen apron with a length of 240 cm! The corks collected by us, friends and relatives came in handy ... And still it was not enough! When you see plugs in a bag, it seems there are a lot of them, but it turns out that this is a drop in the ocean (in an apron). Had to rob a friendly bar! Have you seen such huge glasses in which bartenders put corks? From there! :)
The pattern lined with corks in a checkerboard pattern looks very nice. But for the pattern, plugs of the same size are required. From a large volume, you can pick up the same ones for a small decor niche or rug. In our case, the surface is large, so we place the plugs vertically with lines.
For better grip and to save on hard-to-get plugs, we cut them in half lengthwise.
All plugs are of different sizes. To prevent the white wall from showing through the small cracks from a loose fit, we painted it in a dark color with ordinary water-based paint. If the interior is in light colors, then the wall may not be darkened.
Before gluing the plugs, we install the lower kitchen cabinets and mount the countertop on them, while without a side. Here is an artificial stone countertop. We remove mechanisms and frames from electrical outlets. We remove the upper cabinets, having previously outlined the line of the apron.
Here is such a gloomy picture of poor quality, since all the work took place at night ...


We have patience and start gluing :) We grease each half with glue and gently press it against the wall. We do not touch all the pieces that go beyond the marked line, at the end of the work they can be trimmed.


When gluing the plugs, we go around the sockets located on the apron, do not glue them!


This is what happened when all the plugs were glued on and neatly trimmed.


To protect the plugs from water and dirt, cover the apron with glass. We ordered cut-to-size glass for the apron with mounting holes. We mount the glass, firmly bolting it to the wall.


On top of the glass, we put the mechanisms and frames of the electrical outlets back in place.


We glue the side of the countertop:




We return the upper cabinets.
Everything! Nice, practical and unusual :) You can invite guests!








Later we painted the wall above the kitchen black, in these photos it is still gray.
A piece of the wall can be seen here:




According to the same principle, depending on the interior conceived, the surface under the glass can be decorated with a variety of materials: leaves, branch cuts, wallpapers, photographs, recipes, whatever your imagination tells you!

Those who are engaged in the repair and renovation of furniture in their apartment have probably already learned that although the kitchen is not the largest room, it is the most expensive for repairs and furniture. Indeed, furniture, countertops, built-in appliances are all very expensive and costly. In fact, despite the main costs, you should always remember about the little things, because without them, the main investment may not appear in all its glory, which means your efforts will not be in vain, but so to speak, not entirely effective ... Let's say an apron over the work surface of the countertop on the kitchen set. You can make it using a plastic panel, tiles, or something else. Our version will be just about something else, or rather about how to decorate the panel (apron) with wine and cognac corks.

The process of decorating a panel (apron) of wine corks above the work surface in the kitchen

The most expensive "item" of our expenses will be the presence of a large number of corks from wine and cognac. Where to get them is up to you to decide. He can master all alcohol with his family and friends, which is not safe for your health for a long time, or he can simply turn to friends or to a nearby bar, where corks are often simply thrown away, ending up in the trash ...
The number of traffic jams should be really impressive. It is not difficult to calculate that for 1 sq. meter of surface, a significant amount of plugs will be required. 10,000 cm (square meter) / 8 cm (cork area) = 1250 corks. Here you need to take a correction factor for seams and gaps, which will somewhat reduce their number, but in any case, you need a lot of traffic jams. So, before you start, be sure to assess your options. If everything is all right with you, then we continue.
For the panel, we also need tempered glass, usually such glass can be ordered in furniture studios that manufacture kitchen sets. For glass, you will need to purchase fasteners, as well as accurately mark the dimensions for sockets and communications. The thing is that tempered glass is made immediately to order. Then cutting and drilling the glass will not work, since it will simply burst.
You will also need tools and materials. Sealant and utility knife.
Before you start gluing the cork to the wall, it must be painted with a dark color. This is necessary so that the seams between the plugs are not "conspicuous".
It is also necessary to dismantle wall cabinets, built-in sockets, switches. If you have additional outlets planned, then here is the time to provide a place for them.

So, we take our corks and with a half clerical knife, lengthwise into two parts.

As a result, we get two parts, each of which can be attached to the wall. We begin to glue the corks to the wall. It is better to glue them in a checkerboard pattern. So the overall background picture of corks will be much more attractive than corks glued one opposite the other.

The process of gluing the corks is long and painstaking, but the picture that will "emerge" is fascinating. We glue the upper plugs, and then cut them off with a straight line.

As a result, after gluing the halves of the corks, they have to be protected from dust and similar manifestations of a hostile kitchen environment. As we already mentioned, for this we will install the glass. The glass is fixed to the wall with anchor bolts. Next, we install sockets, switches, etc.

(glass fastener is visible at the top left)

(sockets in place)

(General view. It remains to put the equipment in place)

(Final result)

That's basically it. Such wall decoration above the work surface of the kitchen set will be unusual, attractive, practical and appropriate.

We continue to deal with

We continue to figure out how best to arrange the kitchen. Today we will talk about unusual materials for aprons: he talks about six types of non-standard materials for their design interior designer Evgeniya Topilskaya.

Kitchen apron - one of the most important elements after the headset in the kitchen. Now there are many options for decorating an apron, and everyone can find something for themselves, but at the same time, an unsuccessful choice can even ruinthe most beautiful kitchen... I would not like to talk about the standard ways of decorating aprons, there are many articles on this topic. I will mark only the most popular ones and tell you about original and non-traditional options.

The most common and old design technique is ceramic tile ... This option is good because the market offers a huge selection of tiles of all imaginable colors, formats and textures, and, importantly, for any wallet. Ceramic tiles are quite simple to care for, but you have to pay attention to the seams. Epoxy grout can be used, it is less porous and more resistant to dirt.

The second way to design an apron is glass ... Usually they use matte, plain or decorated with a pattern or ornament. In my opinion, the most interesting options are obtained using transparent glass, behind which, ifyou are a proud owner of a second home with a history,you can leave the old brickwork or the worn wall This technique is suitable for apartments in loft, vintage or Provence styles.

Another original way is not to press the glass against the wall, but to leave a gap between them. This space can be filled with a panel with coffee and linen cloth, pebbles, real stones, sublimated moss, a three-dimensional panel made of dried or artificial flowers ... Anything!

The third design option for an apron is natural stone or brick ... In the previous method, we covered the brick with glass, but you can leave it as it is. True, you will have to varnish it and pay more attention to care so that the masonry looks neat. It's the same with natural stone. If you decide to use porous rocks, then it is better to additionally protect them with varnish. If you are using polished stone - marble or granite - then this is not required.

There are many options for laying stone. You can put it on the apron in one or several large layers, order a mosaic of several types of stone ... In any case, the apron will look very impressive due to the beauty of the natural material.

The fourth way to decorate your apron is suitable for creative people: this is a homemade mosaic from fragments of tiles and utensils. This is a budget option, but the effect can be overwhelming! The main thing is to clearly think over the drawing and choose the colors. There are no ready-made options here, it will always be exclusive. You can spread the apron with the whole family, especially this process is pleasant children.

The fifth way to decorate the kitchen wall in an unusual way is an apron made of wine corks and lemonade lids. He suitable for young people or atmospheric kitchens in loft and vintage style... Such an apron can be easily made by yourself, the main thing is to collect a sufficient amount of material. This does not mean that you urgently need to start absorbing any liquid in liters, you can go to a nearby cafe or restaurant and ask them to keep the plugs and lids they do not need. The lids can be laid out in a circle or in strict rows - such an apron will never be boring! You can complicate the task and try to collect caps of certain colors to achieve gradient transitions. Wine corks can also be laid out in several directions or assembled into an interesting ornament. Like brickwork, it is better to protect such an apron from dirt and moisture with glass.

Finally, natural wood is gaining popularity in the decoration of aprons. To decorate the wall, they use old boards, lining and even cuts of trunks of different diameters. The latter look best, especially after varnishing, when all the annual rings of the tree begin to appear more clearly. Care for such an apron will require considerable, periodically it will be necessary to update the varnish coating, but adherents of natural materials will like this solution. But remember: it is better not to use such an apron with a gas stove or protect it with glass, behind which you can carry out the backlight.

When it so happens that you want to change something in the kitchen, and there are no funds for a new headset, you can turn your gaze to the kitchen apron. This element of the interior fulfills not only a practical, but also an aesthetic function.

This review contains 17 topical design ideas for a kitchen apron that will perfectly diversify the interior and cheer you up.
1. Apron in patchwork style

An apron made of variegated ceramic tiles with bright patterns and drawings will enliven the interior and become a highlight of any space.
2. Slate board

A slate board or a sticker in the apron area is a stylish and modern solution that will allow you to change the interior of your kitchen every day, decorating the space with drawings or encouraging inscriptions.
3. Boards

Finishing the kitchen backsplash with boards.
Another interesting idea for decorating the kitchen backsplash area is finishing with wooden planks. This design will perfectly fit into the interior of a kitchen decorated in a Scandinavian, country or rustic style.
4. Putty

Using putty.
Brown ceramic tiles, casually trowelled with putty, will help create the illusion of masonry in the backsplash area.
5. Small tiles

Small ceramic tiles in similar shades are a great way to highlight the backsplash area and make it a prominent part of the kitchen interior.
6. Ceramic mosaic

Apron decor with ceramic mosaic.
The use of fragments of old ceramic dishes in combination with decorative plaster is an original way to create your own exclusive design for a kitchen apron.
7. Plugs

Wine cork apron.
Wine corks are a very original and affordable material for creating a stylish kitchen apron, which will undoubtedly become a dignity of a modern interior.
8. Small pebbles

A kitchen apron decorated with small river pebbles looks very original and atmospheric. Such a decorative technique will bring notes of freshness to the kitchen interior and create an atmosphere of unity with nature.
9. Mirror tiles

Mirror tiles in the apron area.
Another effective technique is the use of mirror tiles for facing a kitchen backsplash. Using this technique will give the room a gloss and fill the kitchen with magical highlights.
10. Glass

Glass apron.
A glass backsplash is one of the hottest trends in design. Any image can be placed behind the glass, thus adding volume and versatility to it.
11. Brick

Brickwork or its imitation in the area of ​​the kitchen backsplash looks very non-trivial and fresh. This solution will harmoniously fit into a kitchen decorated in an industrial, rustic or country style.
12. Oilcloth

Kitchen apron decorated with oilcloth.
Oilcloth neatly glued in the area of ​​the kitchen apron is a penny way that can transform the interior of the kitchen.
13. Shiny tiles

Finishing the apron with shiny tiles.
A kitchen apron lined with narrow shiny tiles will accentuate and complement the interior of any modern kitchen.
14. Map of the world

World map in the interior of the kitchen.
A map of the world will help you design a kitchen apron in an original way. The only thing that needs to be taken care of is a good water-repellent coating.
15. Foam panels

Styrofoam panels painted in a stylish metallic shade are an original and budget solution for finishing a kitchen backsplash.
16. Buttons