The Jules Verne House

In France, in the town of Amiens in Picardy, is the home of Jules Verne. This house was occupied by Verne from 1882-1900.

The Winter Garden

I love the checkboard flooring in the winter garden.

Office and Writing Desk

Verne's office has great, rich green wallpaper and curtains. The furniture is pretty great too -- daybed, 2 part desk, globe and lamp.

The above photos are all part of this set. The one below is from this site. Both have many more, so go check it out.

The science fiction mural and the top of the observation tower are recent additions by François Schuiten.

You can also see 360 degree tours of rooms in the house on this website.

Index for the Jules Verne Week Extravaganza.

A Birthday Extravaganza: Jules Verne and 20,000 Leagues

It's my birthday!

To celebrate, I'm kicking off a week of Jules Verne and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea themed Steampunk Home posts! (My gift to you.)

I've got houses and rooms galore inspired by Verne's 20,000 Leagues (and the ensuing Disney movie and ride), shopping lists of things to build or buy to get that 20,000 Leagues look, and some links to other resources to inspire you.

To go along with our visual feast, here is the whole book, online.

What's that? What could you do to help celebrate? Why don't you drop a short note in the comments to this post -- tell me where you're reading from, perhaps -- to make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Jules Verne Extravaganza Posts (so far):
The Jules Verne House
Casa Battló
Interior of the Nautilus
Tom Scherman's Apartment
Three Ring's Nautilus Offices -- an update
Submarine Playroom
Get the Look

Steampunk Curtains with Embroidered Cogs

Jenbug has another steampunk home craft. She's embroidered curtains with gears. I assume this is based on Tinkergirl's cog embroidery how-to.

I like the combination of rough, natural fabric and the rusty color of the cogs.

More toothbrush holders, much more steampunk

In the comments to the Steampunk Toothbrush holder, Jenbug mentions that she has actually made some of these. A convenient link to her livejournal, and we see pictures of 2!:





I like how she expands on the whole "toothbrush holder" idea into a full blown "bathroom caddy", complete with q-tip holder and floss.

Jen says:
I bought the wooden base from the AC Moore completely plain and unpainted. I stained the wood Golden Oak, painted the outside in titanium gold, then decoupaged the red border with small red squares I cut from paper.

I affixed the test tubes with brass conduit purchased from Skycraft, the glass Qtip holder with copper hanger strap, and the floss with plain old copper wire. The test tubes aren't glued down, they're easily slid in and out from the top. Their rim is what holds them in, and they can easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. Unfortunately the power drill didn't properly fit throught the conduit so I just screwed everything down by hand, except where the hanger strap's connected.

I had the idea to put metallic green beads in the bottoms of the test tubes to create a vivid contrast and for drainage of toothbrush slime, but didn't do it because there was just so much red happening. I tried to decoupage green on the glass jar (which entered my house full of Allessi-brand sundried tomatoes) to create a counterpoint to the red accents and support the green, but I just don't care for how it came out.

Well done, Miss Jenbug.

For more details, go read the full description.

Steampunk Toothbrush Holder

Over on the steamfashion group at livejournal, someone pointed out this lovely craft project:



The how-to is on Instructables.

Paper Curtain Template

The Martha Stewart Halloween Special Issue (I know, I know -- I read these things so you don't have to....) has instructions for creating these elegant paper window curtains (along with a template).

I like this idea -- do it in a Victorian wallpaper or wrapping paper (maybe glue it to cardboard first) and you'd have a very inexpensive and very unique window covering.

Mr Watters' Steampunk Dorm Room

So you think your home is too modern to be steampunk -- no molding, no wood floors? (I know I often do...) How can you get that steampunk vibe when you're not starting with a Victorian house? Well, sure a Victorian infrastructure would help, but as this photo set by Mr. Sam Watters shows us, *any* room can become steampunk -- even a generic institutional dorm room.

The Study

The Cafe and Mantel

Sam says:

I wanted my room this year to take on a victorian/steampunk feel this year, and began to acquire various elements at flea markets and antique fairs. I was planning on a victorian filigree wall stencil, but the administration is cracking down on painting this year. The solution came in the form of some decorative, pre-stained moulding strips and a nice fabric for kind of a framed wallpaper effect.

I like the "necessity breeds invention" solution of framing Victorian fabric. It's a great way to get the rich feel of a Victorian home -- all molding and ornate wallpaper -- without it costing too much (or overwhelming a small room). The "zoning" of his room into a study, a cafe, and a bedroom is also quite clever.

There are 4 more pictures in the flickr photo set.

Now, I have to throw in a few of my ideas into the mix.

The Bedroom -- or it could it be the Parlor?

First, the part of the room with the bed in it, with it's great gold framed portrait, would make a great "parlor." With the addition of a couple of bolsters -- a long one across the length, one on the foot, one at the head, and a nice comforter (preferably red!) -- you'd have a day bed worthy of esteemed guests. (Links are to Target, but I've seen plenty of small pillows and comforters at thrift shops and stores like Ross that would suit a student's budget. Or make a duvet cover with the same fabric that is framed.)

Second, I'd like to see more "young scientist" influence. Victorian by itself is lovely, but I think steampunk is both broader (encompassing art deco and art nouveau) and more specific (focusing on science, technology and fantasy). Mr Watter may not need a pair of goggles hanging on a hook, or have a babbage engine in the corner, but a brass weather station would be a nice touch. Or he could expand on the explorer theme he's started with the maps and globe and add in an airship -- a model or a poster (print your own) -- and a compass (or raygun!). And don't forget a clock! How could it be steampunk without a clock? How about making one out of bike gears?

Thank you Mr Watters, for sharing. (Even if you didn't ask for the brainstorming.... please take no offense at my suggestions, I think your room is lovely as it is.)

(and thank you, Tinkergirl, for sending Sam this way)