Best of 2008

Welcome to 2009! I thought I'd take a moment to recap the best of last year.

The best, by all counts -- page visits, comments, referrals -- was Holly Black's Hidden Library.

My favorite part of the year was discovering artists like Art Donovan and Eric Freitas.

"Minimalist Steampunk?" was thought provoking and picked up by a number of other bloggers.

Let's not forget the Lost New York Times Steampunk Feature, which, among other things made me blush.

What was your favorite post of 2008?

Garden of Decay

Garden of Decay is a self published book of industrial decay and abandoned buildings that is captivating.


Be sure to click through for a mosaic of their images (including an abandoned Gothic church...)

The Showtime House

Have you seen the Showtime House? Sponsored by Metropolitan Home, each room was designed with a different Showtime TV show in mind.

The most steampunk is The Tudors Living Room. The era isn't Victorian, but it has a lot of design elements in common with steampunk -- antiques, brass surrounding the fireplace, and industrial inspired lighting.

The Dexter Dining Room is not at all steampunk, but is incredibly creative and over the top, in a very macabre way.

Also, don't miss the book tower in the Californication Study.

Thomas Hamel

Reader Natália and I are both fans of Desire To Inspire. (In fact, this is my 2nd find from them this month! Oops!) DTI recently spotlighted Australian designer Thomas Hamel.

This is a designer who loves books --I think this is the only bedroom I've seen with glass fronted bookshelves in it. I love the medieval map (Ben guessed Canterbury) set into the wall and framed with molding.

I'm not sure what the framed print is here (anyone else?), but you could have fun Photoshopping an old Scientific American print to get a similar affect.


I love the symmetry here -- the bookcase is centered at the end of a long hall, with the light extending the vertical line -- and the touches of the exotic in the Chinese seat and wicker chest under the window.

Copper Kitchen

I ran across this kitchen at a Home Depot Expo in Fairfax County, Virginia a while back and was taken by all the shiny bright copper.

The copper really stands out against a black granite backsplash and counters.

The sink might be a bit much -- I think it would be impossible to keep this shiny. You can find some quite reasonably priced antiqued copper bathroom sinks, however.

The $6,000 copper hood by Abbaka Trading Company.

Closeup of the copper tile border.

The border and accent tiles featured old fashioned botanicals.

The entire kitchen might be a bit more than you would do in a "real" kitchen, but I think the idea of warm wood, copper accent tiles (You can find a variety of copper tiles with a quick Google search.), and black counters is really striking. A more "country" look would be to combine copper with white counters and backsplash.

Explorer's Bathroom

Since I seem to be on a bathroom kick, how about this one for the steampunk explorer? The key to this look is to use a large scale map print so it's not overwhelmingly busy.

via MyHomeIdeas.

Steampunk Tub

Perhaps you don't want a steampunk shower... how about a tub instead? This one is from the home of Liz Lambert, who I know as a cool-as-anything Texas hotelier (her first project is the Hotel San Jose here in Austin). The large exposed copper pipes, the rusty feet, the Victorian tub add up to a nice mix of steam and punk.

Picture from Marie Claire Maison.

(Sorry for the sparse posting recently -- Christmas and a sick steampunklet is about all I can manage right now!)

Steampunk Shower

I just came across this shower on Desire to Inspire. I don't know anything about it other than the picture was taken by Morris Moreno, but how incredible. First, you've got the Victorian/Industrial tension between the cement shower "box" and the claw foot tub. Add in copper piping, decorative gauges, and a porthole -- wonderful!

I'm making a list...

Image by CyborgNecromancer

It's that time of year again, when bloggers find themselves "Makin' a list, checking it twice..." I surely hope you've been both naughty and nice.

For the steampunklet in your life -- or just to display -- are "A Young Mad Scientist's First Alphabet Blocks." G is for goggles, of course. $40 by Xylocopa.

A perfect hostess gift is this "amber" soap, complete with bug. $6 by amandalouise at Etsy.


I also was charmed by steampunk correspondence cards by whatkatyhad, also at Etsy. The airship one is sold out, but the Fantastical Sea Adventure is still available.

You may remember Steve Thomas' Vintage Space travel posters -- he also has a calendar which would usher in the new year in a very stylish way.

I've got two more lists I'll post in the coming week... watch for a DIY list and a books list!