For years I’ve raved about Restoration Timber, a Bay Area flooring company that reclaims wood from old buildings. Now, I’m all about another luxurious reuse of materials that will whip your floor into a more sustainable shape. With two small offices in London and Los Angeles, word of designer Inghua Ting’s Vintage Leather Belt Floor Tiles and her company Ting London is spreading like wildfire. They’ve come out with sleek leather luggage, belts, wallets and other home accessories made from seatbelts and other salvaged materials.

Vintage Leather Belt Floor Tiles. Designed by Inghua Ting.

Each tile is made from carefully chosen belts that are selected in-house by specialized artisans. On average, they use only one of every four belts they sift through in order to maintain the highest quality in appearance. A common question they receive is how well the tiles will hold up over time after the daily wear-and-tear as compared to wood flooring. In a recent article written by Wendy Cole of the Chicago Tribune, Ting assured readers that “it is pretty much the same – because as time passes and feet pass over the leather, it develops its own rich patina.”

When caring for a floor that costs about $75 per square foot, all advice is welcome. So in addition to Ting’s statement about longevity, she stated, “If you choose to wax the leather flooring it will look as good as new, as new as it was when we got it.” Since the tortoiseshell brown or glossy black tiles are chemical-free and durable, they are easily cleaned with a damp mop.

The perfect vintage leather effect offers a glamorous but subtle look that is as chiseling to your interior design reputation as it is to your waistline.