Ed's Office Tour

Ed Skoudis is an information security geek with a good sense of humor. He's recently completed his office, and is sharing it with us:

I've long been a reader of your Steampunk Home blog, and it has greatly inspired me. You've posted amazing articles over the years, and have really helped me refine my sense of fun and style. Inspired by your work, I conducted a massive office redesign and implementation for my workplace, which is located above my garage. The whole project took about 6 months... I got so many ideas for items in my office from your blog. I'm sure you'll see various things you've linked to over the years throughout the office.

I'm so glad The Steampunk Home helped Ed "refine his sense of fun and style," because that's exactly what I try to do here. Style shouldn't be pretentious, it should be fun. It isn't just for designers or cool kids -- you can apply the same otaku and analysis to your abode as you do to coding, or gaming, or whatever your passion is.

He sets the tone from the first approach, up a darkened set of stairs (complete with a runner and stair rods), to a Van De Graaff generator on the landing.


I've recently come to the realization that most of the steampunk style lies in accessories and light fixtures (layered on top of an old fashioned background), and I think you can see that from Ed's room.

Lumen disk with some of the security books Ed has written.

Meters and robots and Dr. Who references, oh my!

The main light fixture is all pipes

What Ed describes as "a science experiment from the 1880's gone wrong"

What I didn't realize was that secret rooms are becoming a mainstay of steampunk design. (Although it doesn't surprise me -- what good mad scientist doesn't hide her laboratory?) First, Holly Black's Library, now Ed's office.




The Secret Room is where Ed hides his minions -- and if you are going to have minions, wouldn't you get better work out of them if you provide them with a workspace as resplendent as this one?


Did I say "secret room"? I'm sorry I meant to say "secret rooms", because this office features not one, but two secret rooms!


There are many more delightful details in this office. You can see the full tour, with many more pictures, even more secrets (just what one would expect of a sneaky hacker information security specialist), sources, and Ed's amusing commentary, at his web site.

Thanks for sharing, Ed!

TOPP's Globular Office

Yesterday's lights by Rejuvenation reminded me of this office I ran across on Design*Sponge.


this space houses the offices of the open planning project (topp) – a nonprofit founded by mark gorton, which develops tech tools for mapping and geospacial applications.

I love the use of globes and globe shapes to echo the function of the organization!





The designers, Ashley DeVries and Christine Dalsass, say:
We used a globe/mapping theme throughout the office, since it relates so closely to Topp's work. Almost all of the globes we used are vintage and each one is different. There are about 500 globes in the office, and we are always buying more!


Read more at Design*Sponge.

Poke Acupuncture!?!

Poke Acupuncture is a very non-traditional acupuncturist office -- just take a look!






Acupuncturist Russell Brown says:

What I am, and what I want my office to reflect, is an eclectic and stylish mix of fine and creative arts, and culture, and knowledge and music. I love birds, and vintage medical equipment. I like paint-by-numbers and photographs that tell stories. All my good friends know that I love the smell of old books and holding them always makes me cry. I want to showcase the tremendous talents of some of the great artists who have donated pieces to my “gallery” and I much prefer the sound of a great melancholy band to the tinkle of a mechanical fountain that just makes me have to pee. I think most of us feel better when we’re cozied up in our living rooms than in a cold medical office and I want that for my patients when they come here.

To that end, I have created this office for my patients, to relax in, to let go of their day, and to be transported into another world where they might be nourished not just by alternative healthcare, but an alternative environment to receive that care.

Via Apartment Therapy, thanks to Jesse Hayes.

Blend Studios Office

Blend Studios is a "creative collective" in Milwaukee, Wisconsin specializing in 2D, 3D, and sound media. I suspect they should also consider interior design gigs -- their offices are unique and very personalized.

The office that has the most steampunk vibe is Nick's -- largely due to the mix of industrial salvage and antique wood used by his brother Jordan to make the desk and shelving.

Design notes:

• fabric curtains to soften the industrial edges
• damask wallpapers
• dark colors -- especially grey
• Edison bulbs
• leather furniture
• soft throws

(One of the challenges I'm finding to using a lot of harder materials like metal and stone is keeping it soft enough to be comfortable. Office space perhaps doesn't have to be as comfortable as a home, but I like how they use fabric drapes, upholstered furniture, throws, and wallpapers to soften the feel.)




See more pictures and read more about it at Apartment Therapy and the Blend Studios website.

A Fast Desk...

Awesome desk -- designed by Bugatti of car fame -- sent to me by Art Donovan.

Strikingly original, Carlo Bugatti's furniture combines the picturesque asymmetry of Art Nouveau with the exoticism of Moorish and Japanese influences.

The writing surface of this desk is covered in vellum, held in place with punched copper strapping; the walnut legs are inlaid with pewter imitating calligraphic brush painting. The unusual profile of the desk suggests the jaws and teeth of an alligator.

Source: Carlo Bugatti: Desk (1970.181.3) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The ModVic House

Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum -- also known as ModVic -- have not only created the most steampunked house ever, they are also opening it up for tours as part of the Sharon, Massachusetts Old House Tour on May 2nd.

Here's a sneak peak of the house -- there are many more images, projects, and how-tos at the online property showcase and the ModVic site.

The Kitchen

The Stove -- but wait!

The stove is modernized with a drop-in Miele stovetop!

The office

The Media Room -- I love the stained glass windows as wall art and the muted browns and greens.

The workroom (yes, there's a workroom & an office!)

ModVic is also sponsoring a Steapunk Form and Function Design Competition, with entrants exhibited at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham MA from October 22, 2010 to May 10, 2011. Pretty neat!

Study in Black

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.

Mayfair Steamer Secretary Trunk

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.

Gearhead Desk

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

Super Traditional, yet still Steampunk

This is from House Beautiful, September 2007. It was one of the most traditional rooms I've ever seen -- check out the molding and wingback chair, not to mention the painting and prints -- but see how it's also steampunk? First, the always perfect checkboard floor -- this time done in a rug. Second, the English architect desk (adjustable, with a glass top). And, of course, the adjustable brass "implement" sitting atop it -- a clock on the right, a thermometer in the middle, and I'm guessing a barometer on the left.

Like the look? There are a number of architect desks available online. You'll have to hunt down the appropriate weather station, and probably age a black and white checkerboard rug, but I don't think any of it would be that difficult.