Map Cabinet

My husband Ben collects antique maps. Since no one would ever call us minimalists, this means we have a *lot* of maps. For years we've been browsing eBay and antique stores, looking for a map cabinet to store all of these maps in. We haven't had much luck. Nice looking wood antique ones tend to be very expensive (and often not in functional enough shape). Metal ones are a bit too modern industrial looking. Nothing is "just right."

Eight Drawer Flat File Cabinet

Recently, however, I stumbled across these two pieces and thought they might do. They are part of the "Martha Stewart Living Craft Space" collection at a site called Home Decorator's.

Three Drawer Flat File Cabinet

I worry about the "scratch resistant coating" on the top (just what does that mean???) and would like to see the quality first, but these might be an option.

How would you make them more steampunk? Paint? New hardware? (I like the idea of black paint and bin pulls with labels.)

Goodies from One King's Lane

If you're not shopped out from Christmas, One King's Lane (another of those "registered users only 3 day sales" places) has a surprising number of cool things right now (ending Friday through Sunday).

Modern Alchemy Candles

Map Antiquities

Petit Coterie Pillows

Hudson Valley Lighting

Decorative Leather Books

APF Munn Mirrors

Disclaimer: I get a $25 referral if you actually buy anything...

For the Steampunklets

I can't believe I'm recommending one of those online sale sites that specializes in *kids* stuff to y'all, but if you have steampunklets of your own you know how hard it is to find things that appeal to both them and you. (We succeed with fossils and models, but the only steampunk thing in the elder steampunklets room is a iron bed...) Take a look at what Zulily has for sale from Design Legacy (for the next 24 hours or so only, and you need an account to see it, sorry!).

The coolest storage bin, ever.

Personalized, vintage circus art, anyone?

Carnival wheel pillow.

Resto in the Fall

A number of you asked if I'd seen the fall Restoration Hardware Catalog. I had! I just took me a while to get this post together. Here's my favorite rooms from the catalog, and some of my favorite pieces.

I love the cast iron trolley lights. I actually have two tractor seats like these on my front porch (a thrift shopping score!) -- as cool as they look, Ben hates them because they aren't that comfortable.

Setting the coffee table on a wood pallet is a neat trick -- I love the interplay of materials: wood, stone, leather.

I've liked armillary sphere chandeliers for a long time, and this one is no exception. Don't miss the brass hour glasses. All this room needs is a telescope in the corner by the window to be the very comfortable lair of an amateur astronomer.

For my specific picks, I've put together another Kaboodle list:

by saracarl

Finds from Pottery Barn

It's that time of year again -- all the fall catalogs are coming in the mail. Here's what Pottery Barn has this season that is steampunk influenced or appropriate to a steampunk home.

First, the best two styling ideas from the fall catalog.


The gold, browns, and greys in this gallery wall really appealed to me. (I've been searching out well done gallery walls for ideas for my house, and this one has the eclectic mix of framed art and more tactile items, united by a good color scheme, that I like.)

Halloween-y, but I liked the idea of stacking books under a glass cloche.


Lastly, a kaboodle list with my choices -- some new, some have been around a while.

by saracarl

Rejuvenation Gas Style Industrial Lights -- to win!

Rejuvenation is giving away one of their new industrial gas light style fixtures.



I like how they both have an industrial vibe, and the spherical shape echoes globes, one of my favorite decorating themes...

Enter here until September 7th.

Thanks, Richard!

Octopodes II

We've been tracking the "Octopus in Home Decor" trend since 2008, and our friends on etsy have been delivering it for even longer, but I was amused and delighted by these (expensive, handmade) octopus options at Anthropologie.

Octopus Garden Wallpaper, $198 a roll.

Amelie Sofa, Fathoms, $3498.

I love the saturated blues used in both of these.

p.s. If you like the octopus style, you may want to peruse the Everything Octopus blog.

Campaign Furniture, Globes, Bookcases at One King's Lane

Wow, One King's Lane does it again -- this time a sale on Globes, Furniture, and Accessories from Authentic Models. I've ogled their furniture for a long time, and with much of this 50% off, I think I may get a side table for the new playroom, am thinking about a pair of bedside tables, and who wouldn't need another bookcase?











You'll have to sign up to browse the wares, but you may find it worthwhile.

Octopus Table on Etsy

Yesterday's post solicited a comment by Tammyo about this Octopus Coffee Table, in the same vein as the one pictured, that she has (had!) for sale on Etsy. By the time I read the comment, it was already sold, and I can see why -- it's awesome.

I don't mean to tease, but I think we should encourage Tammy to make more in this vein.

Biological Things at the Evolution Store

I stumbled across The Evolution Store, a source of reasonably priced biological items, and though you might be interested. Here's a sample of what they have...


Pretty botanical prints.
Ben's from rice growing country, so this one appealed to me -- not to mention the colors are great.
The colors here are so great -- I'd order the poster, and then build a room around it.
Cherries -- these could work for so many different types of rooms -- kitchens, rooms with a lot of red and black, even for a different twist on cherry blossoms in a room with a lot of Asian elements.


Lots of interesting marble coasters.






Skeletons!



And last but not least, fossils!

Scissor Arm Lamps at Pottery Barn

It was just a matter of time -- remember my search for scissor arm lamps (a year and a half ago?). I eventually found mine on eBay. You can walk into a Pottery Barn for yours. The Bristol Accordian Sconce, $179.

There's actually 5 different models -- sconces, table lamps, floor lamps of various sizes.

My New Ceiling Fan

I'm moving to my master bedroom in my home renovation, and I knew I wanted a ceiling fan. Luckily, ceiling fans can be very steampunk (are they originally Victorian, or do they all just look like they are?), as is evidenced by the posts I've done on ceiling fans in the past. The trick for my room was finding something that wasn't too big or too expensive, and that combined the ceiling fan with lights. Oh, yes, it also couldn't be too big or too low, as it was going in the bedroom of a 1960s era house.

Todd came to my rescue by spotting this one at his local Home Depot. It's the Hampton Bay 13 In. Berre Walnut Depalm Ceiling Fan -- 20 inches high and $299. It was out of stock for a while, but now it's back in and I just ordered it.

Goods from One Kings Lane

One Kings Lane is a site with "invitation only" 3 day long home decor sales. I subscribed, not expecting much that would be appropriate for The Steampunk Home. Surprisingly, right now -- through the 28th -- they are running two sales I think would appeal to Steampunk Home readers.

First, quotes by Natural Curiosities, $69 each:


Each letter was manually created on a 1924 vintage Underwood typewriter, silkscreened on delicate Bhutanese paper by Fernando Bohr, Natural Curiosities' resident silkscreen artist, then beautifully framed in walnut.

Second, Timeworks Vintage style clocks, $49-$129:
Timeworks clocks are made individually, by hand, most of them at the company's factory in Berkeley, California. All are made of the finest components available - solid, hand-antiqued brass for cases and pendulums, die-cut steel hands with time-worn patinas, beautifully finished frames and high-quality quartz clock movements.



You'll have to sign up to browse the wares, but you may find it worthwhile.

The Christmas List

Welcome to the Steampunk Home Christmas List, Edition 2009. There's a section of my personal selections, one chock full of Etsy finds, some things for the steampunklets in your life, and some Christmas things.

I tried to keep it relatively economical, so very few things here will be more than $100.

If your recommendation didn't make this list, I tried to add it to the Kaboodle list or bookmark the larger sites for a future post of their own.

My Favorites
This section is my personal gift list -- the things I really want for Christmas!

I can't afford an Eric Freitas clock, but this print of his Mechanical Clock Number 6 fascinates me. $20.











Think Geek's Molecular Gastronomy Kit. Not very Victorian, but these edible chemical experiments in the kitchen would be a lot of fun. $59.99










Dark Nostalgia I cannot wait to read this design book. $29.70 at Amazon.












Zeppelin Tin Toy, $10.98. My zeppelin obsessed steampunklet is *so* getting this. Tin Toy Arcade actually has 4 different zeppelin designs.










The Private House is the prettiest home book I've read all year -- full of antiques, natural materials, and simple yet elegant rooms. Nothing explicitly steampunk here, but if you like my taste you will probably like this book too. $37.50.






Etsy Finds

Behold the Machine Giclee Print by ettadiem, $110.










Bird Skull Drawer Pulls (he has bat skull pulls, too!). $16.












These Anatomical Soaps by the Steam Bath Factory would make a great hostess gift, assuming your hostess has a taste for the odd. $15










Reading Lamp by WardenClyffe Wares, $60.











Winona Cookie has a large selection on Etsy -- but I also like getting twelve different works with this calendar compedium of her collages she's made available on Zazzle, $24.50.









Steam Pipes Audio Speakers by Ikyaudio Studio. $275.







Red Pumpkin Studio's Journal/Sketchbook, $30










This small magnet by Libby Bulloff would make a great stocking stuffer. $4.







For the Steampunklets

World of Inventors: Alexander Graham Bell. Build your own intercom system! $21.95












World of Inventors: Thomas Edison. (sorry, no Tesla!) Build your own Kinetoscope model. $21.95











Just for Christmas

Holiday Cards by Mercantile Home, $6 for 5.













Clockwork Robin Christmas Print by by Hazel Fisher, $9.50.












Mad Hatter Copper Ornament, by Jewel Street. $32.












The cutest Cthulhu Santa, by Pirates Alibi. $25.













Disclaimer: Since someone seems to be worried that bloggers are making too much money flogging products (Ha! I don't think I've ever broken three figures), I need to let you know that no one is paying me for recommending any of these things, but that the Amazon links do provide a small referral fee.