The Minister's Treehouse

Deborah sent me a note saying this oddity called the Minister's Treehouse -- an understatement if I've ever heard one -- is about as Steampunk as you can get using only wood. (For the record, I have no problem with "only wood steampunk.")


It's like a haunted Victorian manse.... only built around a tree. Maybe it's the tree that haunts it?


If you want to visit, it's in Crossville, Tennessee.

Pics via Oddity Central.

Mechanical Iris Peephole

Maker Chris Schaie has created this wonderful irising peephole for his workshop -- and yours too!

Chris says "It was created via a long discussion thread on brassgoggles (Due credit goes to Robo Von Bismark on said forum for the design inspiration) and a lot of trial and error." He's also working to "create a full sized door incorporating this design for [Bruce Rosenbaum's] upcoming 20,000 leagues exhibition in Foxboro."

It's available at Maker's Market for $385.

Jen's Steamy DIY Dining Room

Allison sent me to this dining room about an hour before Jen (of the infamous Cake Wrecks), the creator, dropped me a line.



I love the details the most:

These are handmade buttons -- from pennies! Jen has a whole post about how she made them. I love how they look.

She steampunked a gumball machine with bronze and aged copper paint, and filled it with ceramic number balls (I have the corresponding letter balls, but no place nearly as neat to put them...).

Do you like how the light reflects through the glass onto the ceiling? I sure do.

I had to laugh at these drawer pulls -- I've been searching around for a "bin pull + label" handle for a while, and have only found one, which wasn't quite right. Jen just used her existing bin pulls and added label holders meant for scrapbooking -- 5 for $3! The labels themselves with their spidery writing are with a free font called Schoon.

Good job, Jen. Definitely send us an update if you ever settle on the perfect chandelier...

Alchemist's Chamber at the Baltimore Symphony Decorator's Showhouse

My friend Kara sent me this link from Pigtown Design -- it looks like steampunk has made another showhouse fundraiser -- this on in Baltimore. (By my count that's 3 -- San Francisco and Philadephia.)

This one is by McLain Wiesand, a custom furniture builder and restorer.

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!

Lenard does not refer to any figures connected with a branch called art

Lenard's Ferronneria is full of fantastic pieces. My Polish is lacking, so we'll rely on what he says about his work:

La Ferronneria that is Machinecreating. This is a third generation of retransformed machineries known from somewhere else. These subjects have a fictitious function and their author endows them with a compulsive-obsessive syndrome. These mechanisms are made of nobly ageing metal with a discreet contribution of mirrors, electric current, and with intangible participation of models stylized in a retro way.

The whole art is influenced by Hertz formulas, Brewster angle, Kardan shafts, Oldham clutch, Junghans watches and other great creators. Spiritual patronage is exercised by rabbi Löwa ben Becalel. However, the author does not refer to any figures connected with a branch called art.

Cranked-up Comfort -- can you get any more mainstream than this?

My in-laws pointed me to the article "Cranked-up comfort" in the Houston Chronicle this weekend:

We’ll take our wood unvarnished, finished only by time and years of hard use. We’ll take our metal unpolished, its strength trumping shine. Giant gears of metal or wood become wall art or table tops. Factory carts roll into family rooms as coffee tables.

The look wears many names — industrial chic, rough luxe, Belgian modern — for the rugged materials that pair with refined natural materials such as linen and leather on comfy, inviting sofas and chairs.

It's about mass retailers and designers adopting what we call steampunk:

Sarah Kammlah of Fredericksburg, a designer with the Carol Hicks Bolton collection for E.J. Victor (www.ejvictor.com), calls her twist on the look “steam punk.” “It’s like you took Matrix and Age of Innocence and mashed them together.” Her recipe for a post-industrial look: mix one part Victorian, one part industrial and a twist of punk.


(If you call it that, you must be reading this blog, right? So dish, Sarah Kammlah, and send us some pictures!)