The Steampunk Home

Empire State Building's Mural

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:07:00 +0000

To continue on the mural theme, David sent me a link to an article about the restoration of the Empire State Building's lobby at ShelterPop. It's mostly about the ceiling mural, which depicts a 1920s spin on a celestial sky with sunbursts and stars that resemble the industrial gears, cogs and wheels of the Machine Age.

Why haven't I ever been to the Empire State Building?

Is That an Octopus in your Garage?

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Decorative Painter Lynne Rutter created this mural of a steampunk aquarium

It's.. sort of unusual for me to paint a mural on a garage door , but actually that's a great place for a mural. My client is a friend, who shares my interest in Victoriana and curiosities... She's also a scuba diver, and wanted for a giant purple octopus. So I came up with a Jules Verne-inspired "aquarium" to house this giant creature!

You don't realize what an incredible job this was until you see the "before" picture:

I love how Lynn incorporated the building, the decorative corners, and the crossbars into her design.

See more details on Lynn's blog, The Ornamentalist.

The Creekmore's Dining Room

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:46:00 +0000

This is David Creekmore's dining room. The centerpiece is the Edison Chandelier from Pottery Barn.

David says of the light:
Installation was tricky, but fun. They don't supply you with a pattern for placing the the cords and lights. It takes some trial-and-effort work to make it look balanced, but not symmetrical. You might end up with a few holes in the ceiling that need to be patched.

There's lots more information in his blog post on the room, but this is the highlight to me:

In the end, we have a dramatic, attention-getting space that excites people when they enter the house. Every evening, when I pass by on my way to bed, the lights glow softly and I smile. It was definitely worth it.

Shouldn't your home make you smile?

Back in Black

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I'm trying to get it back together. In the meantime, here's a great round up of black rooms via Habitually Chic.

Devices & Contraptions Extraordinaire

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:18:00 +0000

Art Donovan is at it again -- no, not a new steampunk light, but another Steampunk Exhibit. This one is at Oxford, at the Museum of the History of Science, and is happening October 13th through February 21, 2010.

From the press release:
This exhibition marks the very first time that the new genre of Steampunk art is to be featured in a major museum. Located in the original Oxford Ashmolean building (the oldest museum building in the Western World), the MHS houses the most comprehensive collection of important, historic scientific objects in the academic world.

For this special museum exhibition, Mr. Donovan brings together the twelve most world-renown artists of the Steampunk genre-representing The United States, The United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands and Australia. These artists will be displaying never-before–seen sculptural art and inventions inspired by the evocative creations of the historic Victorian scientists and authors. Many works in this show were created exclusively for this special exhibition and it is arguably the most ambitious collection of Steampunk Art assembled in one venue.

The Museum Director, Dr. Jim Bennett states: “The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford is delighted to be hosting the Steampunk exhibition. We have many of the kinds of object that inspire the Steampunk artists and excite the Steampunk enthusiasts of today, so it is exciting to see characteristics and qualities of the original designs reformed into objects for living in the 21st century.”

What is is going to include? Many, many of the makers and creators of our quirky little world, from all around the world... it's a truly impressive list.

Stephane Halleux- Belgium

Tom Banwell- U.S.

Molly "Porkshanks" Friedrich- U.S.

Datamancer- U.S.

Doctor Grymm- U.S.

Daniel Proulx- Canada

Eric Freitas- U.S.

Haruo Suekichi- Japan

Herr Doktor- U.K.

Thomas D. Willeford- U.S.

Amanda Scrivener- U.K.

James Richardson Brown- U.K.

Jesse Newhouse- U.S.

Jos De Vink- Netherlands

Kris Kuksi- U.S.

Mad Uncle Cliff- Australia

Vianney Halter- Switzerland

Art Donovan- U.S.

So -- if you are in the vicinity, definitely go see it. If you aren't in the vicinity -- well, I'd try to get yourself there--you've got four months to make your travel arrangements.

Win it! Art was kind enough to send me the last two t-shirts from the first Steampunk Exhibit (sizes M & L). Tell me your favorite steampunk artist (part of the exhibit or not) and which one you'd prefer, and I'll randomly pick a winner for each size on Saturday morning.

New! Steampunk Home Image Stream

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I've been playing with a new visual bookmarking tool called vi.sualize.us, and I think it's going to be a great complement to the more formal content here at The Steampunk Home.

When I run across a picture I think might appeal to Steampunk Home readers, I can simply add it to my vi.sualize.us stream with a tag of "steampunkhome." You can view the pictures by following this link, viewing the badge on the left at The Steampunk Home, or subscribing using this rss feed.

I won't promise everything will be straight up steampunk (whatever that is), but whatever I find worthwhile -- inspiring pictures with ideas you might, or might not, like to adopt. Some of those pictures may get reworked into full posts, but many won't.

Let me know what you think!

More Penny Tiles

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:58:00 +0000

You liked the floor of the Standard enough that I have to do a follow up post...

Amanda pointed out this Apartment Therapy post with instruction on how to do it yourself. This particular floor used about $35 worth of pennies -- cheap from a materials point of view, if not for labor. Scroll down to a long comment by "teeze" for the how-to.

And Cheetah Velour sent this from the New York Times of a bar covered completely in pennies.

Surprises at CB2

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:29:00 +0000

I'm always surprised at the vintage industrial style pieces CB2 -- purveyor of extremely modern style -- offers. Their most recent catalog had a couple that piqued my fancy:

Gear Tealights, $6.95 each

Firefly Pendant Lamp, $199 (But only with Edison bulbs!)

Miner Side Table-Stool, $149
A bit too modern for my taste, but could be used to add some edge to a traditional room with a lot of wood and leather.

A bamboo model of the Chrysler Building in New York, $29.95
I love the idea of architectural models, but the bamboo seems to make this a bit too "light"--both in color and visual weight--for most of my rooms. I'm tempted to get this and spray paint it black.

Killer Robot Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Killer Robot Designs makes custom furniture and lighting from reclaimed materials.

The Cluster Bomb Hanging Light, assembled from 16 old lamp fixtures.

Coffee Table from Vintage Samsonite Luggage.

Faux Bookshelves

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:01:00 +0000

Love the "walls of books" look, but don't have enough books (or enough room) to pull it off? Here's a clever idea -- paper one or more of your library walls with bookshelf wallpaper.

The owner and designer (Lynda Gardner) says: these photos are from the library which was once a horrible tiny bedroom which barely fit a single bed……it now has a wall filled with real books alongside a wall of Deborah Bowness wallpaper,…this room also has a couple of leather 1930s chairs, a star light handed down as a family heirloom and a cow skin hide….a cosy place to sit opposite an open fire on the opposite wall.

This is from Design*Sponge, and I strongly recommend the entire post featuring the house of Lynda Gardner -- it is incredible in every way.

(quick tip: Do a google search for "bookcase wallpaper" "book wallpaper" and "bookshelf wallpaper" for lots of different styles and price points.)

Etsy Finds: Airship Lamps

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:53:00 +0000

RiverOtterWidet is an etsy seller with some inspired lamps. They come with backstories on their use on the Royal Fleet's Airships (or submersibles...)

Glowing Liquid Airship Relic

Blue Airship Tracking Light

The squidbot lamp.

Child Development Lab

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:43:00 +0000

This is an awesome concept for a nursery -- the execution is a bit too modern for my taste, but I love all the science. Parents Paul and Pam Costa created it for their son Edison (!!).

Backlit lab galssware, exposed edison bulb, and a "formulaic" blackboard.

And a vintage Cray supercomputer for seating!

via Coochicoos

Copper Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Can you tell what this floor is made of?

That's right. Pennies!

How awesome is that? This is the floor of the Standard Grill, in the Standard Hotel in New York. And why does it not surprise me that it's by my favorite designers in the world Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch at Roman and Williams?

via NotCot

Study in Black

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:48:00 +0000

Here's a striking black study, courtesy of Apartment Therapy and From House to Home UK. I'm surprised at how good the lighter colored woods look against the dark background. I also suspect that the great natural light is part of what keeps this from feeling oppresive.

Black (and other dark colors) are great choices for rooms that are glimpsed from other rooms -- the dark color draws the eye in, making the whole space look deeper and more layered.

Pressed Ferns

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:42:00 +0000

When was the last time you've pressed plants? Me, that would be 7th grade. Here's a great "how-to" for botanical specimens my sister found on Design*Sponge that made me want to rectify that. The instructions are super easy -- and they would make a great gift. Used "aged" paper, like the example above, for the steampunk naturalist look.

The Hook Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:01:00 +0000

Curly Brass Plant Hook

Kelley was kind enough to share this find with me -- The Hook Lady, a store selling (mostly) hooks, of various kinds, styles, and sizes, all at affordable prices.

I'm not sure what you'd do with it (display it on a mantel?), but I liked this Victorian hand.

These are shelf brackets, repurposed to frame a window --- what a clever idea. You could do this to define and separate spaces in the same room, too. (Say an entryway and a dining room.)

Amusing, if a bit risque, signs!

The best finds are the hooks, however. Big ones, little ones, ones that swivel, brass ones, horse ones, mermaid ones.... There are so many, you'd surely be able to find something that suits. I'm contemplating using some for towel hooks in the new upstairs bathroom.

Brass School Hook

Brass Arts and Crafts Coat and Hat Hook

Brass Folding Hat and Coat Rack

Shipwrecked Submarine; aka Den

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:52:00 +0000

I don't know what it is, but media rooms and submarines seem to go together. Here's one from New Zealand, sent to me by Paul and featured in stuff.co.nz.

In the rusting interior of the submarine, which appears to have beached on a deserted island, Eyre has all the creature comforts reclining chairs, a three-metre big-screen TV and a top-notch surround-sound system.

Customwood has been sprayed with concrete and painted to resemble rusting steel beams, while plastic sheets have been melted to give the impression of bent steel ripped apart when the submarine hit an island. Speakers emit sonar and ocean sounds throughout the 12-metre by 5.5m room.

There's also a video tour!

Mayfair Steamer Secretary Trunk

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:37:00 +0000

As a child, I always loved those antique trunks you'd run across that had drawers, places to hang clothes, and even a hatbox. They conjured up glamorous transatlantic cruises...

We may not be able to pack as much (or as inefficiently) anymore, but this Mayfair Steamer Secretary Trunk at Restoration Hardware pushes the same buttons for me.

Perfect for an office in a tight place that has to do double duty -- just fold it up when company comes over, and everyone will wonder what purloined treasures you're having shipped to you.

Hmm. Reminds me of this one I featured in 2007.

A Challenge: Steampunk Zombies for Twin Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:36:00 +0000

To keep you busy while I'm gone, here's a challenge from a reader in California named Heather:

We got turned on to Steampunk and then your blog via a friend's wedding. They had a Victorian wedding (I made the wedding dress and my maid of honor dress) while another friend hosted the bachelor party at the CA steampunk convention. We went over the top excited about steampunk. Here's a pick of my guys trying on the garb I made them for the bachelor party....

The boys on either side are 15 year old twins.

Here is my challenge for your readers. The boys have never had a decorated room. We moved into our house when they were in 4th grade and I had all the rooms painted a bland off white to be able to change at a later date. We are at a later date. With nothing further done. One twin is a cross country runner for high school, the other one is #3 in the USA for Tumbling and Trampoline. Needless to say, we spend more time away from home than in it.

The boys are very artistic and love games of all forms. They would really like their room decorated steampunk with zombies as an additional theme. How would Victorians react to a zombie invasion? How would you decorate a room in that environment? What would your readers recommend?

15 year old athletic geeks who'll wear damask and velvet (and look good doing it)? I think this could be fun! Enjoy!

Triangular Smith Tower

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I'm off on vacation, to the city that is the home of this find by reader Pica Maloria: Smith Tower.

See the little pyramid at the top? Someone lives there!

It's not quite as cool as a clock tower, but it sure has character, with the pyramid shape echoed by the triangular windows.

According to the architect's website, it was a caretaker’s suite and an old water tower enclosure

Find out more at Seattlest or at Castanes Architects.

I'll post again in a week! See you then!

Brooklyn Clock Loft

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Brian pointed out another clock face living space (it rhymes!). I wonder how many more of these are out there? (and you'll help me figure it out, won't you?) This pushes so many of my buttons -- Turkish rugs, wood floors, old brick, and not a bit of modern furniture in the place.

From architect Michael R Davis' website: The The Clock on Old Fulton Street in Brooklyn Heights is a 1,200 square foot loft located in an Italianate storage building built in 1892 on the site of the Brooklyn Eagle Newspaper once edited by Walt Whitman. The most obviously striking feature in the apartment is the 10-foot glass and iron clock face, which serves as the living room window.

From a Time Out NY article: With the original scale and proportions restored, the sprinkler pipes, valves, and clockface, along with it's motor and steel strapping, fully exposed, the result was a return to a true loft space.

Townhome in a former Sanitorium

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:22:00 +0000

While we're browinsg the NY Times' crazy real estate features, how about a home in a former sanatorium?

This is the former Holloway Sanitorium, a rambling red-brick hospital built in 1877 in the English village of Virginia Water.

The clover shaped windows are original design.

Swimming pool in the former dining room.

Clock Tower Apartment

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:18:00 +0000

Laurie sent me this NY Times slideshow about an apartment at the top of a clock tower. Yes, those are working clocks.

Don't you wish you had an extra $25 million lying around?

"Slice of Life" China

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:19:00 +0000

You may think I write this blog to entertain and inform all of you -- or because of the accolades that come with being the world's foremost authority on steampunk home decor (cough _none_ cough) -- when really, I write it for my own pleasure and research into how I'd like my home to be. (Your feedback, ideas, and compliments don't hurt, however!)

Take for instance, this post I wrote over two years ago, on Steampunk Furnishings that don't exist but should, suggesting a line of plates with steampunk gadgets or machines on them. Thaumata was browsing the archives (and that far back shows some real dedication), and commented thus:

I have a crazy china set that I think you'd like. It was made by a company called 222 fifth and the series is called Slice of Life. Each plate, salad plate and mug has a different illustration on them of any number of oddities. Unfortunately, they don't make them anymore so it can be kind of hard to get your hands on them. There was an airship mug I never did get my hands on.

I frequently found them still at places like Marshall's and the like, being sold off from the expensive department stores who were clearing them out.

I always envision a red, black and white kitchen that has them on prominent display.

Aren't they wonderful? From the pyramids to a futuristic city, with an airsteam on the moon in between?

find 222 FIFTH SLICE OF LIFE at Replacements, Ltd

More Bathrooms from the Cabinet of Curiosities

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Rebecca just sent me this link to some (more!) bathrooms decoupaged from Albertus Seba's Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.

Stone and his team prep the walls as if hanging wallpaper. They attach the pages with wallpaper paste and let them dry for a couple of days before applying a polyurethane coat, preferably in a matte finish.

from the Houston Chronicle: Papering walls with pages from the past