You may need two or three additional applications, depending on the manufacturer’s guidelines. Before applying more coats, remove any nibs or dust.

Neo's crocheted baskets are made of neoprene rubber, a material which is used frequently in plumbing and the motorcycle industries. $89 at Gretel Home.

NAC Architecture built the Rubber Fishy with cast-off items—including rubber-base samples, plywood scraps, and carpet tiles—found around its offices.

Gunnar Knechtel Photography, Italy, Sicily, Town: Syracuse, Island of Ortigia. The house of Francesco Moncada,. The second floor of Francescos house , kitchen area, Francesco preparing lunch . left the lamp is a design by Herzog de Meuron.photographed on the 27+28,12.2010 for Dwell Magazine

Plants are the perfect way to brighten up any room in your home in the warmer months. Transform a drab area with a simple orchid. “Orchids always look great because they are so sculptural and elegant,” Sarna says. Rubber vase, $34.95, available at the Dwell Store.

The Blade Twist Corkscrew from Menu makes opening your favorite bottle of red an easy and comfortable task. Coated in rubber, the corkscrew is pleasant to the touch and easy to grip. The corkscrew also features an ergonomic leaf shape that has slightly flared wings to hold the bottle securely while the Blade is being twisted. For added durability, the stainless steel spiral is coated in Teflon, ensuring that even the toughest corks will not elude the corkscrew.

Cranbrook Academy of Art graduate Matthew Plumstead made his debut at ICFF with his configurable wood and rubber Clip Tree Valet, kitted out with clip-on rubber hooks, shelves, and widgets for holding domestic detritus. $225 at McCartyQuinn.

A close up view of the rubber tubes in Anemone.

The cabins are constructed from structural, insulated paged-pine panels with an EDPM rubber membrane covering.

In the kitchen, a mini vertical garden provides fresh aromatic herbs thanks to a mix of direct sun and specialized artificial lighting. A vibrant rubber floor leads the eye forward.

The staircase acts as both room divider and main storage. The stair “carpet” is made from the same tough rubber that is used to make tires for semis.

A room divider by Extremis, made of sticks protruding from a rubber base, shields the bathroom.

A skylight illuminates the master bathroom, which is entirely outfitted with Arblu Tulip fixtures. The orange floor is Kenbrock K2 studded rubber. Note how the divisional wall stops short of the ceiling—a decision that the architects implemented to “create volume and height, which celebrate the curve of the ceiling.”

Add a dash of flair and color with Rubber floor coating. Some of the advantages include the low cost and resistance to mechanical and chemical damage. Rubber floors are non-slippery, resistant to extreme temperatures and are easily repaired.

A view of the connecting vestibule for which the house is named. The exterior is clad entirely in tiles made from recycled rubber and plastic—technically a roofing material—giving the eaveless home a tightly wrapped skin. “Although we used a traditional gabled form, we wanted to clean it up quite a bit,” says Bruns.

This shirt, which appears to show an unraveling ball of rubber bands is by artist Rosana Castrillo Díaz.

A matte black rubber exterior allows the structure to blend into its surroundings.

The sides of the orange Corian kitchen counter are clad in recycled rubber.

The multi-hued rubber floor echoes the color swatches that the owner, a fashion designer, interacts with.

The Havaianas dining chair is the result of Motta’s recent collaboration with the popular Brazilian flip-flop company, which commissioned the chair, in freijó wood covered in the same grippy rubber used for the shoes, with a rubber handle in the back. It makes its United States debut at the Espasso exhibition. Photo courtesy Espasso.

Guided by a sustainable design ethos, Koto created the Ilo playhouse using low-impact natural materials—from the timber envelope to the recycled rubber flooring.

Panlong Vase. Koji pottery, rubber. Designer: Chen-Hsu Liu, Craft Maker: Shi-ren Lu.

Hoogland Architecture designed the Rubber Ducky Trail House to capture desert views from every angle. An outdoor spa allows the residents to linger outdoors well into the evening.

Interlocking rubber tiles from HiddenLock provide a watertight seal for the floor. Primarily used in garages, the tough, spill-friendly tiles cost about $3.15 per square foot.

These hedgehog-like toys by Geldres Design are made of reclaimed rubber from tires.

The dining hall at Simmons is a common place to eat, gather, or just relax on one of these black rubber (read: bouncy!) chairs.

HotBox: Michaela MacLeod and Nicholas Croft (Toronto) A mysterious monolith on the landscape, this warming hut, a cubic room wrapped in rubber and egg shell crate foam, provides a space for socialization.

The dining table and the bench were custom-made for the home. Under the tabletop are drawers, a solution that conveniently provides additional storage space without adding visual clutter. The silicon rubber pendant light is by Muuto.

Low-maintenance, sustainable materials were favored throughout the house. Striking orange Pirelli studded rubber floors were chosen for the main bathroom. Clean white fixtures and black shower cladding complete the graphic space.

The Hanging Lamp, by Rodrigo Alegre and Carlos Acosta, is made from rubber cord and can be hung from a ceiling with an eye bolt.

Minnesota Rubber-dipped wood bowls by Wind & Willow Home, from $8 each The best kitchen products marry utility with elegance. Minneapolis-based Araya Jensen’s rubber-dipped wood bowls are no exception. The tactile bottoms in custom hues make the vessels slip-resistant and less prone to water damage (and look darn good while doing so).

The entryway is designed for gear management with hooks and a custom-made bench with storage baskets. The floors are made of durable, hospital-grade FLEXCO radial high-profile rubber. The colorful rug from Kat + Maouche softens up the stark interior.

I collected my plants in a rubber wheeled cart provided by the nursery, so you can pull it around as you study the plants.

Printer rolls are carved with a particular pattern and inked by being rolled against a woolly felt, rubber-backed pad that is constantly drenched with ink.

A small visitor tries out a non-toxic rubber Rody horse from Plastica.