Mr. Prof designer home

There's a nice article over at Hawksmoor's Bazaar featuring steampunk Christmas finds, like the one above.

Our Aesthetic is trickling down to some of the more affordable retailers -- Ingrid at GreyShade Estate pointed out the Aiden line at World Market, and while I was browsing there I also found their Campaign line.  Check out the finds below.

It's one of those weeks, so you're getting one-picture posts. Here's a find from Pottery Barn:


It's the Harvest Double Sink Console. I thought the french wire hamper was a nice option, too.

My husband Ben collects antique maps. Since no one would ever call us minimalists, this means we have a *lot* of maps. For years we've been browsing eBay and antique stores, looking for a map cabinet to store all of these maps in. We haven't had much luck. Nice looking wood antique ones tend to be very expensive (and often not in functional enough shape). Metal ones are a bit too modern industrial looking. Nothing is "just right."

Recently, however, I stumbled across these two pieces and thought they might do. They are part of the "Martha Stewart Living Craft Space" collection at a site called Home Decorator's.


I worry about the "scratch resistant coating" on the top (just what does that mean???) and would like to see the quality first, but these might be an option.

How would you make them more steampunk? Paint? New hardware? (I like the idea of black paint and bin pulls with labels.)

If you're not shopped out from Christmas, One King's Lane (another of those "registered users only 3 day sales" places) has a surprising number of cool things right now (ending Friday through Sunday).

Disclaimer: I get a $25 referral if you actually buy anything...

I can't believe I'm recommending one of those online sale sites that specializes in *kids* stuff to y'all, but if you have steampunklets of your own you know how hard it is to find things that appeal to both them and you. (We succeed with fossils and models, but the only steampunk thing in the elder steampunklets room is a iron bed...) Take a look at what Zulily has for sale from Design Legacy (for the next 24 hours or so only, and you need an account to see it, sorry!).

A number of you asked if I'd seen the fall Restoration Hardware Catalog. I had! I just took me a while to get this post together. Here's my favorite rooms from the catalog, and some of my favorite pieces.

I've liked armillary sphere chandeliers for a long time, and this one is no exception. Don't miss the brass hour glasses. All this room needs is a telescope in the corner by the window to be the very comfortable lair of an amateur astronomer.

For my specific picks, I've put together another Kaboodle list:

It's that time of year again -- all the fall catalogs are coming in the mail. Here's what Pottery Barn has this season that is steampunk influenced or appropriate to a steampunk home.

First, the best two styling ideas from the fall catalog.


The gold, browns, and greys in this gallery wall really appealed to me. (I've been searching out well done gallery walls for ideas for my house, and this one has the eclectic mix of framed art and more tactile items, united by a good color scheme, that I like.)

Halloween-y, but I liked the idea of stacking books under a glass cloche.


Lastly, a kaboodle list with my choices -- some new, some have been around a while.

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!

We've been tracking the "Octopus in Home Decor" trend since 2008, and our friends on etsy have been delivering it for even longer, but I was amused and delighted by these (expensive, handmade) octopus options at Anthropologie.

Octopus Garden Wallpaper, $198 a roll.

Amelie Sofa, Fathoms, $3498.

I love the saturated blues used in both of these.

p.s. If you like the octopus style, you may want to peruse the Everything Octopus blog.

Wow, One King's Lane does it again -- this time a sale on Globes, Furniture, and Accessories from Authentic Models. I've ogled their furniture for a long time, and with much of this 50% off, I think I may get a side table for the new playroom, am thinking about a pair of bedside tables, and who wouldn't need another bookcase?











You'll have to sign up to browse the wares, but you may find it worthwhile.

Yesterday's post solicited a comment by Tammyo about this Octopus Coffee Table, in the same vein as the one pictured, that she has (had!) for sale on Etsy. By the time I read the comment, it was already sold, and I can see why -- it's awesome.

I don't mean to tease, but I think we should encourage Tammy to make more in this vein.

I stumbled across The Evolution Store, a source of reasonably priced biological items, and though you might be interested. Here's a sample of what they have...


Pretty botanical prints.
Ben's from rice growing country, so this one appealed to me -- not to mention the colors are great.
The colors here are so great -- I'd order the poster, and then build a room around it.
Cherries -- these could work for so many different types of rooms -- kitchens, rooms with a lot of red and black, even for a different twist on cherry blossoms in a room with a lot of Asian elements.


Lots of interesting marble coasters.






Skeletons!



And last but not least, fossils!

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.