The Steampunk Home

More Nixie Tube Clocks

2009-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

A great post about nixie tube clocks, with a very discerning eye for fabulous designs.

Thanks, Tangelia!

211 Elizabeth Condos

2009-07-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

Roman and Williams (previously featured in the post on the Practical Magic House) are so incredible I may have to do a series of posts of them. Here's some shots from a project called 211 Elizabeth -- a built from the ground up set of brownstone condos in Nolita.

A dramatic wall of 9 foot high glass doors—with true divided lights and transoms—intersects the living room and dining room. Every living room has a large wood-burning fireplace. The floors are walnut herringbone parquet, and the baseboards, casings, windows and doors are trimmed in Roman & Williams’ favorite high gloss black oil paint by Fine Paints of Europe.

Although transom lights and herringbone parquet may be more than you can swing for your house, high gloss black paint on the trim is an easy update. (I'm using this approach in my addition -- we'll see how it looks....)

...vanities are painted a high gloss cream and feature double mirrors, double sinks and patinated brass fixtures. Walls, floors, and vanity tops are fashioned from slabs of Calacatta Gold marble detailed by acorn topped brass headbolts.

This is a lot of marble, but white vanities topped with marble are easily found. Antiqued brass fixtures aren't common yet, but I found a couple of options through the big box retailer's special order programs for my bathrooms.

...all shelves with glass fronts are framed in walnut and painted by hand with high gloss black oil paint. Counters are rendered in Danish oiled wood.

I don't actually like these cabinets, but check out the floors. Walnut herringbone! Gorgeous. And the squared off lighting adds another geometric touch.

These are just renderings, but I'd love to see some real life pictures of these homes.

What do you think?

Art Donovan's New Wall Lamp

2009-07-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

Art Donovan has a new wall sconce:

It's hard to see here, but the interior of medallion on the left rotates, with some fancy blue light phasing in and out.

What I want to know is what material Art used for the gold mesh caging -- remember, this is the man who has used slinkies in his designs before.

Nice work!

Tonight: Steampunk Gadgets in Warehouse 13

2009-07-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

This just in...

SyFy (formerly SciFi) Network's new show Warehouse 13 -- X-Files crossed with a warehouse full of antique supernatural gadgets -- premieres tonight (and Datamancer has a keyboard featured!).

Read about it here. See more gadgetry pictures here. There seems to be a nice Victorian house involved, too.

If you watch it, let me know what you think. And if you figure out how to watch it without cable, please let me know!

9 The Movie

2009-07-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Automata (or golems -- it's hard to tell if it's magic or science that created them), mad scientist creator, the obligatory airship, post apocalyptic. It's nicely dark and grungy. It's 9 The Movie.

There's some good mad scientist bits here:
http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/9

I'm looking forward to more of the sets.

Kozo Lamps

2009-07-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

David sent me this find -- some wonderful, industrial, lamps by kozo lamp. (And we love lighting, don't we? Sometimes I worry that I post *too* many lighting options, but then decide, "nah, stylish electricity is the easiest way to steampunk a house.")

The Kozo 3.

Here's what the makers have to say about the lamps: “With a bit of humor and a certain audacity, KOZO lamps stand as alien lighting figures, telling a new story”

The Kozo 2.

KOZO lamps are made out of galvanized iron plumbing tubes, hand picked and collected from different manufacturers. each bares the trademarks of its origin.

Kozo 1

The materials are left as authentic as possible with a little rust at the joints and some marks from hand tools that were used in the assembly process.

Kozina

Practical Magic's Victorian Apothecary

2009-07-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

Did the phrase "Victorian Apothecary" get your attention? (Or maybe just the fact that I'm posting after so long a hiatus while working on the renovations to my house?)

This is the kitchen from the 1998 witchy-fun movie, designed by the duo of Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, who went on to create wonderful real houses under the umbrella of their design firm Roman and Williams.

From the Practical Magic website: The New England-style home also features a roomy kitchen -- the heart of the house -- which centers around a British aga-gas stove.

"The aga is almost like a shrine," elaborates Standefer. "This is the place where they do their work; it's where they place the caldron."

The pantry features shelves of home-canned foods -- the kind of thing past generations of women used to spend their days filling which now fell to members of the prop department, who had to fill hundreds of jars.

Standefer sees the house as being a very real character in the story. "The house itself has a certain magic to it. There is a whole world in this house and garden. These women are outcasts and this place is their sanctuary; it almost feels as though all the emotion of the generations is caught up in its walls."

Although the wonderful transom windows above the doors would be challenging, approximating this look wouldn't be hard. Stick to a palette of whites and woods, use a mixture of dark and white glass fronted cabinets (Ikea's LIDINGÖ and LILJESTAD would work) and accessorize with glass cloches and apothecary jars.

Hat tip to Barefoot in the Orchard and Endless Inspiration.

The Morning Star Cafe

2009-05-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

I just got an email from J.D. Ray with pictures of his cafe in Portland, which has recently reopened in a new space with a steampunk inspired decor. (My plans for world domination march forward, as J.D. says "the pictures, projects, and general ideas on things that you've posted on your blog were instrumental in us developing the decor for our cafe.")

The cafe features warm coloring, fabulous light fixtures, and a lovely gear laden mural.

Thanks for sharing, J.D. -- I know I'll be visiting next time I'm in Portland!

India by Rail

2009-05-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

By the photographer Steve McCurry. This was featured on a cover of National Geographic on "India by Rail."

The steam engine, with the Taj Mahal in the background, makes for one of the most romantic steampunk images I've ever seen.

Wokingham Town Hall

2009-04-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

I ran across this fine example of Victorian Gothic style on the website of Ridge Property Consultants in the UK. Love the rafters!

Mason Jar Light

2009-04-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

If french jam jars aren't quite your style, how about a Mason jar light instead? I like how these have a country feel.

Don't think Mason jars are steampunk enough? You've obviously never seen the alchemical and mechanical ingenuity it takes to make moonshine...

Gearhead Desk

2009-04-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

via Gizmodo, a $21,000 desk by Dale Mathis with gears that actually move. Really. Go watch the video.

Mason Jar Light

2009-04-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Jam Jar Light

2009-04-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

I saw this lamp, and thought it would be easy for a steampunk to reproduce. I see it outside, around a picnic table.

Or it's at Dee Puddy for £34.00.

2009-04-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

And now for something complete different... a steampunk contraption cake!

Eclectic Traditional

2009-04-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

I ran across this room setting on The Rug Company's website, and thought you would like it for it's traditional gothic feel, but also for it's not-so-strict interpretations -- the 40s style couch and arts and crafts style rug mix wonderfully with the more gothic and traditional elements. And it uses blue, which we don't see enough of in steampunk settings.

Steampunk at Restoration Hardware

2009-04-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

This has been mentioned before, but Jon McDougal just mentioned the Steampunk finds currently on offer at Restoration Hardware again, and I thought it merited a post of it's own. One of the neat things about this line is that RH is spotlighting the artisans who design or make these pieces.

Royal Marine Tripod Floor Lamp $1250

Royal Marine Tripod Table Lamp $395

Half Mile Ray Searchlight Lamp $695

Furniture Factory Cart $910

Mayfair Steamer Trunk $1695

Mayfair Steamer Chest $2295

Mayfair Steamer Cube in Brushed Steel $995

London Rail Clock $229-$299

Happy Birthday, Steampunk Home

2009-04-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

Can you believe I've "been at" The Steampunk Home for two years today?

From my very first posts in April of 2007, and thanks to all of your wonderful suggestions, I've never lacked for material, only for time.

This blog is a labor of love -- it brings me such joy to find fun things, and to make friends in the process.

Ok, enough romantic sentimentality. I thought it might be fun to take a look at some stats about the last two years to go along with it:

316 posts over the last 2 years: 30 this year, 129 in 2007, and 157 in 2008.

We've gone from 100 daily website visitors in August of 2007 (when I started counting) to 1000 daily visitors on a regulary basis

2500 of you subscribe via RSS

There are ~720 (yikes!) items on The Steampunk Home Kaboodle list -- more added regularly!

Thank you all, for taking the time to read and share your finds.

What's been your favorite part of the last two years?

Winner: London Particulars

2009-04-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

The winner of the London Particulars giveaway is Mikki who recommended Edinburgh as the most steampunk city.

Thank you all for the creative and enlightening answers to the question of what is the most steampunk city -- from the major Victorian cities around the world to many others that I didn't realize had that "vintage industrial" feel -- I enjoyed reading each and every one, and hope you all did too.

Mikki, if you would email me (saracarl at gmail dot com) your shipping information, Derrick of London Particulars will send you your print and ring.

Kunstformen der Natur

2009-04-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Ben just pointed me to a fabulous collection of scientific prints at WikiMedia Commons. 100 plates of Ernst Haeckel's Artforms of Nature
from 1904.

Are they not the most beautiful, vibrant scientific plates? I love the symmetry of each print.

These are on the Wikimedia Commons, which means they can be freely reused without permission. In other words? Go crazy. I want to see these printed and framed around someone's office. What about using them for a bathroom? (Something about having scientific prints up to study while taking care of life's necessities appeals to me... )

What about using them for fabrics? Printed on pillows? Screened onto plates? Someone more crafty than I should do *something* with them -- and then send me pictures and links to share...

Go see the whole collection -- one is sure to appeal.

Giveaway: London Particulars

2009-04-11T05:09:00.000-07:00

After I featured his artwork on The Steampunk Home earlier this year, Derrick of London Particulars contacted me and offered a print as a giveaway to you, my dear readers! So we're having a contest to see who wins The Professor and the House of Lords, a moody 8"x12" Photographic Artwork:

But wait, there's more. London Particulars has also thrown in one genuine adjustable steampunk ring.

Like all of London Particular's work, part of its charm is in the Professor Thistlequick narrative that places it in the same world as the print:

Professor Aubrey Thistlequick's niece, Fiona Stickclick was a very curious girl.
Not curious as in strange or unusual, but curious like a particularly inquisitive cat.
Once, on a Sunday afternoon visit, the Professor found her sat before a trunk in his hidden study rifling through one of his most secret collections.
"What are all these?" she asked, holding up a small keyhole.
"Ah, well that escutcheon contains the lock that secures one of the many hidden secrets of the universe" replied the Professor.
"Oh my! Are they all secrets Uncle?" cried Fiona.
"Yes, my dear" said the Professor "and I've been collecting them for many years".
"Can I have the keys please Uncle?" asked Fiona.
"Well no, because no-one should be given the keys to the universe, my dear, besides, everyone needs an element of mystery in their lives!"
"But I only want to see just one of the universes deepest secrets!" protested Fiona petulantly.
"Ah, well the other thing is that I've lost the keys. It's a bit of a bind really as I never even got to use them." said the Professor "With all the people searching for the keys to the universe, the thing which has always perplexed me is...what on Earth were they planning to do with them if they could not find the keyholes?" the Professor exclaimed with a heavy sigh and then he gave an excited squeak "There it is! I've been looking for this jar of blackberry jam for weeks!"
"Is it magical?" asked Fiona.
"No, I'm afraid it’s not. But it's pretty dashed tasty, and just in time for tea!"

Win it! Comment below and answer the question "What's the most steampunk city you know of, and why?" and Monday evening I'll pick the winner using a true random number generator.

Bonus: Derrick has also offered the readers of The Steampunk Home a 10% discount on purchases from his shop. Just mention "Steampunk Home" in the "Messages to Seller" section when making a purchase and he'll refund 10% via PayPal.

update: the contest is finished, but you are welcome to continue to add your favorite steampunk cities in the comments below.

M & Co's Tips for an Eclectic Interior

2009-04-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

The web is wonderful for serendipitous discoveries. Today's is a blog called M & Co, which had a nice set of tips on creating an eclectic interior. The author is lucky enough to live in her grandparents' house, with an attic full of stuff to explore. (This is my fantasy. Really.) I'm going to paraphrase her here, but go read it.

Use your color scheme as a canvas to unify disparate elements. Hers is white, grey, and black, and dark wood. Mine is cream, dark wood, white, and gold.
It's about layering/choose an accent color. (I think this is 2 tips....) I think layering is the "stuff" you carefully find an add to your home, always a big challenge to get right. My accent color is red.
Furniture gives structure to interiors so pay attention to scale, balance, and quality. (I learned this from the book Use What You Have Decorating.)
Keep the principles of design in mind.
Source from everywhere and anywhere. (I'm a fan of thrift shops and have been known to scavenge from my dad's or father in law's workshops...)
Take your time.
Make a list. (in other words, don't buy needlessly.)
Use humor and surprise. (Isn't this what steampunk is, to most people?)
Trust your taste. (This is always hard for me, but I find the more effort you put in, the better it gets.)

Pics from the M&Co blog.

T.C. Donobedian's Paris Flea

2009-04-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

T. C. Donobedian's Paris Flea occupies the penthouse of an ultramodern building in San Francisco's Jordan Park. Inside, however, it's a different story, full of taxidermy, antiques, obscure decorative pieces and and gorgeous antique lights.

Look familiar?

University library cabinet juxtaposed against a French wrought iron table.

Eclectic? Bohemian? I'm not sure, but I like it, especially the French etched glass doors.

Donobedian has a an online storefront at 1stdibs. The photos and everything I could find about the shop and it's owner was in this article on 1stdibs as well.

Linden Street at JCPenney

2009-04-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

It always surprises me where you can find furniture appropriate to a steampunk home. Case in point? JC Penney. Their Linden Street line has a surprising number of industrial, scientific, or just plain neat pieces that would suit at very affordable prices.

Apothecary Chest $349

Telescope $63.99

Birdcage Table Lamp $69.99

Lab Stool Table $119.99

Knob and Tube

2009-04-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting kitchen lighting by Parisian designer Columbe Stevens. It reminds me a bit of knob and tube wiring.

via Desire to Inspire.