Lighting of the future, pretty enough for your antiques.

The only energy efficient lightbulb that I'm tempted to put in my home -- wouldn't this look great dangling from a Edison chandelier? 

By Switch Lighting, this LED bulb is supposed to put off the same yellow toned light as the incandescents we've grown up with.  It should be available in stores in October.

via Slate, thanks to Scot.

The Canale's Home on DesignSponge

I liked the home of Kimberly and John Canale over on DesignSponge.  Here's just the two most steampunkish bits.

Cephalopod in the a black and cream bathroom!

Light fixture by Roost.

Electrical Insulators turned lighting

Great light, made from repurposed antique telegraph and electrical insulators. At Napa Style.

Surprising Chandeliers from Bicycles

Carolina Fontoura Alzaga makes chandeliers out of recycled bicycle parts. These are not just your run of the mill recycled lighting (although we love those too!). These are grand statements fit for your entry hall or ballroom. I love how they mimic the look of traditional crystal chandeliers, but with a lot more edge.


From her artist's statement:

This body of work draws inspiration from Victorian chandeliers, DIY and bike culture, and the use of unartistic materials....

These subversive objects challenge the aesthetics of wealth by visually contrasting the classic elegance of the candelabrum with the newfound elegance of discarded, mechanical bicycle parts.


Don't have a ballroom or a grand staircase? How about some smaller scale sconces for a hallway?

Carolina emailed me, but I had already seen her work thanks to a feature on Treehugger that Michael pointed out to me.

Buzz Saw Blades....

My friend Rosa sent me this chandelier from 1st dibs it's an artisan crafted giant orb chandelier from buzz saw blades, machine parts and industrial salvage.

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!

Liquid Lights

One of the things I love about steampunk is that it blends opulence -- antiques, velvet, dark saturated colors -- with industrial roughness. These lights by Tanya Clarke are a good example -- she combines recycled plumbing pieces with hand sculpted glass drops and lights the whole thing with LEDs.




Whimsical and fun!

Find more at Liquid Light.

Art Donovan's Newest Creations

Art is a longtime favorite here at The Steampunk Home, and it's been a while since we've seen a new piece from him (he's been too busy curating the steampunk exhibit at Oxford, among other things...) Luckily for us that dry spell is over.

Pictured above is the Oxford Station Wall Lamp. It's my favorite of the new pieces -- I love how it combines Art Deco lines, an long Edison bulb with such a large glass shade that reminds me of early surgical operating rooms (for some reason...)

This is the Ferryman Reading + Research Lamp.

Art says: "Captain Nemo had a tremendous library on board his vessel, the "Nautilus".
What the good Captain didn't have was a proper reading lamp."


Like the one your grandmother uses with her sewing. Only much, much cooler.

This one has a neat "flame in globe" bulb -- as if you were an alchemist experimenting with catching fire. Eventually Edison would beat you to it, though...


Thanks for sharing, Art!

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.

Lucky 7 Lampwerks

Paul Cuthbert of Lucky 7 Lampwerks combines edison bulbs and industrial detritus to form lighting that is also art.


He says:

If you go into the engine room of a ship or the boiler room of a building, there is a beauty in the placement of common instruments. It lies in their relationship to the machinery around them. My objective was to bring to life a slice of a forbidden place... the restricted areas.

This last one reminds me of my father-the-mechanic's shop. Not a restricted area for me -- but the combination of heavy metal forms and thick orange extension cords, combined with the feel of dirt and dark in the photography pushes nostalgia buttons for me.

Rick's First Steampunk Lamp

Here's a nice lamp from a newcomer to the steampunk scene. Rick says: Coming from an electrical engineering background, I decided to add a flickering light to the "gas to electric converter" to suggest a chemical process was happening inside. He's also a woodworker, which accounts for the lovely cherry box surround.

He also has extensive notes on his design and manufacture at his website.

I think this is a very impressive first attempt, and I can't wait to see what he does next!

Killer Robot Designs

Killer Robot Designs makes custom furniture and lighting from reclaimed materials.

The Cluster Bomb Hanging Light, assembled from 16 old lamp fixtures.

Coffee Table from Vintage Samsonite Luggage.

Etsy Finds: Airship Lamps

RiverOtterWidet is an etsy seller with some inspired lamps. They come with backstories on their use on the Royal Fleet's Airships (or submersibles...)

Glowing Liquid Airship Relic

Blue Airship Tracking Light

The squidbot lamp.

Art Donovan's New Wall Lamp

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!

Kozo Lamps

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

Mason Jar Light

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...

Mason Jar Light

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...

via Design*Sponge.

Jam Jar Light

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.

Knob and Tube

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.

Some DIY Projects

A great round up of DIY interior projects, many with vintage or Victorian touches

decoupage ceiling

silver tray sconces

Thanks, Entwidomela!