FULL STEAMPUNK AHEAD!
How do you spell that?
That’s the first question I get when I tell people I’m into ‘Steampunk’. It was a phrase first coined in the 1980s that describes, in essence, an alternate reality where the Victorian period (late 1800s or early 1900s) coincides with the modern technology era. The term can refer to a subculture (think ‘renaissance’) or fashion (think ‘goth’) or design aesthetic (think Jules Verne 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or H.G. Wells Time Machine).
For me – I love the idea of combining the best of both worlds of Victorian high design and craftsmanship with modern functionality and usefulness. When Melanie and I started ModVic – that was exactly our goal.
And Steampunk can go both ways: (1) We can take authentic Victorian items or homes and modernize them for today’s use or (2) Take modern items and “Victorianize” them to appear they are original from the period. Either way – you get an amazingly beautiful, well crafted piece that fits into today’s lifestyle and use.
The following ModVic projects are a classic Steampunk aesthetic. I'm just getting all my Steampunk projects on my web site now. Please be patient for more to come...If you are interested in any of the projects or would like for us to custom design or ModVic an item, room or house for you – please call or email to let us know. Enjoy!
Modern Victorian Kitchen in Sharon MA
Trying to create a modern Victorian kitchen is a stretch from the outset because there were not a lot of modern appliances and conveniences in the Victorian period. However, we wanted to do our ModVic creative thing to our own home kitchen. Below are some photos (photography by Franklin and Esther Schmidt) and a partial list of what we did.
- Antique Kitchen Island – restored an 1800s printers desk to use as kitchen island. Added brass kickplates. Restored a hollow walnut pedestal base (attached to main kitchen island) and created a pull out drawer for storage of dog food.
- New Period Fixtures – installed double 10” deep copper sink, Elmira period French door refrigerator and microwave oven. Installed high end gooseneck Rohle single handle faucet, extended hose/faucet and soap dispenser.
- Restored Stoves – installed a restored 1800s Buck’s parlor wood stove for heating kitchen. Installed an 1800s restored Mott’s Defiance Cooking stove/ovens – outfitted with a Miele cooktop and built in a brand new stainless steel/insulated double ovens. Added copper kickplate. Also added period style range hood and commercial quality venting system.
- Copper Water Tank – restored an original copper water tank and converted it to use for delivery of filtered water for family and dogs.
- Refaced Existing Cabinets – used existing cabinet boxes and refaced with black stained (cherry) bead board doors/drawers. Installed top cabinets with wavy glass fronts. Made new diamond pattern leaded glass windows for coffee center cabinets.
- Counter tops – installed Cambria Quartz Engineered Stone for all countertops and Island surfaces.
- Cultured Stone – installed Cultured Stone in hearth area and added bluestone ledge. Installed stamped concrete for hearth floor with sun design and latin words. Created “granite-like” (stamped concrete) backsplash for stove with sun design and the No 18. Framed with copper.
- Stained Glass – restored stained glass (was originally used for front door window sides), turned them horizontal, made light boxes and installed stained glass above hearth ledge.
- New Period Lighting – added period tiffany style lighting fixtures on ceiling (above eating table, kitchen island and above the sink). Used recessed low voltage lighting and dimmers throughout the kitchen. Also added puck lights to glass cabinets and under counter lighting below cabinets.
- Banquette Seating Area – custom built wraparound seating area (can fit 8 people).
- Home Theater – installed brand new Home Theater system with LCD TV. Hid controls in original Eastlake Secretary desk cabine