decor8 reader Julia needs our help.

"OK, so I know linoleum isn't exactly the hottest thing going these days. But we have a storage room with a cement floor in our basement that I'd like to turn into an exercise room and after thinking about tile and laminate, I thought, "hey, what's up with linoleum these days?" I'm wondering if you or your readers have any ideas on a hip, modern take on linoleum. Or any suggestions of where to look."

Julia -- Try Forbo - Marmoleum (Dutch) a nice sturdy flooring that seems to be a big hit by various homeowners out there. There's also flooring giant, Armstrong, they have great linoleum that can give your space either a retro or a very modern look. It's quite enviro-friendly, long lasting (up to 40 years!), and it's very easy to clean. May work nicely in your basement gym. The saturated solids are fresh and lively, and you can mix and match colors to create a fun floor if you feel like getting a little creative.

In addition to linoleum, have you considered cork flooring as an option?

Anyone else have some suggestions for Ms. Julia????

[UPDATE 10/27: I was so excited to see a comment from reader Vanessa on this subject, complete with photos of her own DIY project. "My boyfriend and I recently installed a new linoleum floor in our kitchen. We based our pattern on an idea from "Domino" magazine; each piece was cut in two, and we alternated colors for a rectangular arrangement of blues, greens, tans and greys (see photo below). Overall, we're quite pleased with the 50's-yet-modern vibe, and it's nice to know that the linoleum was both cheap and earth-friendly. Not a combination you often find in home decorating! You can see pictures of our upgrade here."]

(image from armstrong)