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Steampunk Style In Your Home
Steampunk style has been up and coming in design and décor for the past few years. Many people have never heard of it, and those that have often assume it’s just another word for industrial style. However, there’s more to it than that, which we will explain in this article and also offer suggestions to get the look. Steampunk is described as a genre of science fiction, in a world in which the Victorians might have imagined the future to be. So you may recognise the style from time travel films and sci-fi television shows. Featuring retro-futuristic designs, it looks to the past and the future at the same time, combining the best of Victorian craftsmanship with modern practicality. Steam-power was at the forefront of technology in the 19th century, so this style often includes pieces inspired by steam-powered machinery, hence steam-punk. But it also keeps the ornate and exquisite details you typically associate with the Victorian Era. Where Did Steampunk Come From? The term steampunk actually originated in the 1980’s. American writer K. W. Jeter invented the word to describe his science fiction stories, which were set in an idealised version of Victorian London. Science fiction stories dating back to the 50’s and 60’s have since been characterised as steampunk. In the past decade the term and the themes within its fictional world have risen in popularity and now extend into fashion, culture, art, film, architectural style, and décor. What Makes a Steampunk Interior? Contrasting designs and textures are a distinctive characteristic, as elaborate Victorian style meets rustic industrial. Think plush velvet curtains and an ornately carved mirror hung against a bare brick wall with exposed incandescent bulb lighting. Focus on vintage metals, like gold, brass, and copper, in the kitchen this might be shining copper cookware or brass taps and cabinet handles. You could choose a dark wood dining table with elaborate turned legs and pair it with robust cast iron stools, or vice versa with a textured light wood table and grand velvet or real leather chairs. The key is to create a juxtaposed setting but maintain a common vintage feel throughout. Here are some suggestions to get the look in your interior: Whimsical Interior Accessories Focus on themes and ideas that Victorians were interested in, this includes invention and discovery, but also travel and exploration. Maps are an obvious choice, you could cover an entire wall with a sepia map, or go simple with an antiqued globe. Vintage-style suitcases can also make a great focal point, stack them up to create a statement on their own or choose a large one that can double as a coffee table. Use other navigational equipment, like an old-fashioned compass, telescope, or pair of binoculars, as extra whimsical details. Aviation and flying-machines were also a fascination in the 19th century, moving on from hot air balloons to airships and later even the concept of the airplane began to take off (no pun intended). So with that in mind, you could display a model air balloon or some vintage aviator goggles, or even use a model airship as a lampshade. As demonstrated in the image below, even the plainest of rooms can become steampunk with the right accessories and furnishings. With a strong emphasis on gadgets and mechanisms, you can’t go wrong by featuring gears, pipes, spools, and cogs in your décor. Steampunk relies on the recycled look, with enthusiasts choosing to create their own items. But if you’re not into DIY, readymade pieces are becoming readily available on the high street. This includes shelving made from industrial piping and metal gears turned into clocks – remember timepieces are a great reference to retro-futurism and time travel. Moody Colour Scheme Given the era it revolves around, a steampunk colour scheme tends to be made up of darker and richer shades. With a heavy emphasis on worn metals, there should be plenty of warm orange colours from the copper and brass. Black and grey are also prominent, along with dark browns coming through in the wood and leather elements. Sepia will work well to tie in any old photographs or maps on display, but if you’re looking for more variety in colour deep reds and greens are ideal. Below, you can see a great example of these shades in a real steampunk setting. The image above looks as though the piping spans an entire wall, but it actually occupies the space beneath a bar – as seen in the image below. This goes to show that you can create a steampunk aesthetic even in the most unexpected of places, just use a little imagination. One alteration that would enhance this bar is swapping those wooden leather stools for some with more of a steampunk theme. Repurposed Or Regal Furniture For your furniture, you can opt for the repurposed look with warehouse-style pieces, or you can go for lavish and luxurious designs – but you’ll get the best results if you mix and match! Wood and metal designs are ideal for factory-style, especially models with a quirky recycled look like our Vintage Swivel Stool Light Wood. Our Hydrant Stool (below) is also a fantastic play on the steampunk idea, as its four legs are fashioned to look like pipes. Plus, these unique designs keep with the whimsical theme too. Take a look at our steampunk style stools below, or check out our entire industrial bar stool collection. Pedal Hydrant Tractor You can add some refinement and comfort by choosing classic Victorian-inspired dining chairs. Opt for grand dark wood pieces with velvet upholstery and button detail – the more imposing the better. Or, if you’re not a fan of velvet, leather chairs like the Kara Real Leather Dining Chair Black will have an equally impressive effect. We have picked out our most ideal dining chairs below, two of which also have matching bar stools. Kensington Knightsbridge Ascot Steampunk is a really unique décor trend that has a striking impact. It’s ideal for those who love the quirky industrial look, but also appreciate luxury and detail. Why not give it a go in your interior?
Introducing Our New Vintage Industrial Stools
New to Atlantic Shopping for 2015 was our Vintage Industrial Collection. A striking range of stools, the collection takes inspiration from the warehouse apartments of 1970s Manhattan. With their concrete floors, exposed pipework and red-brick walls, they inspired a style of interior design that has grown in popularity ever since. The industrial look has seen a huge revival, with interior designers embracing everything from wood and metal to steel and copper. It’s all about combining contrasting textures and vintage-style pieces for a dramatic finish. Unfussy, uncluttered and practical, this look is relatively easy to recreate in your own home. Whether you choose to contrast statement pieces with a bright contemporary interior or go all out with an entirely factory-inspired look, these striking designs are perfect for lending an authentic industrial edge to any space. Read on for four simple ways to get the look, or jump straight in and shop all industrial stools. 1. Go for a Repurposed-Style Design The good news is that you don’t have to hunt through antique shops and spend hundreds to achieve this look. Carefully designed pieces like the Pedal, Hydrant and Vintage Tractor Stool authentically replicate vintage designs while offering the practicality of more contemporary models. With pedal-style footrests, bicycle-chain detailing and a gunmetal finish, the Pedal Stool is full of industrial character. Practical features such as a height-adjustment screw thread and locking wheel are cleverly incorporated into the design. The Vintage Tractor Stool is another statement piece, with a classic tractor-style seat that gives the impression of being constructed from reclaimed industrial parts. These distinctive designs work particularly well in vintage-themed bars and restaurants, or as accent pieces in more contemporary interiors. Pedal Hydrant Tractor 2. Pair Wood and Metal for True Industrial Style To really nail the industrial look, choose a piece that combines contrasting wood and metal textures, with a design inspired by the stools once found in old factories and warehouses. Hardwearing, practical models like the Vintage Swivel Stool, Trio Stool and Twist Stool are ideal for introducing just a hint of warehouse style into your home. Inspired by old factory machinist stools, also known as drafting stools, the Swivel Stool features a bold antique-style metal frame with a dark wooden seat and backrest for an organic edge. With a screw-thread height adjustment and handy circular footrest, it’s incredibly practical too. For a rustic twist on a classic four-legged design, the commercial-height Trio Stool is another great choice. Rustic metal seat supports and bracing bars contrast with its solid mango wood frame, making it suitable for traditional, contemporary and industrial interiors alike. Trio Swivel Twist 3. Pick a Classic Vintage-Style Piece for a Softer Look Of course, you may prefer something a little subtler. Fixed-height models based on classic designs offer a softer look, combining different materials for added texture. The Freedom Stool was available with either a solid mango wood seat or a wooden seat clad with genuine copper. The Freedom Wooden Stool brought a natural contrast to the dark steel frame, while the Freedom Zinc Top introduced a cooler metallic feel. The Freedom Copper Top, meanwhile, offered a softer finish that worked particularly well in industrial interiors. Freedom Wooden Freedom Zinc Freedom Copper 4. Choose an Edgy Vintage-Style Design For those looking for something a little different, there are several more characterful vintage-inspired designs. The Industrial Turner Stool, Bucket Stool and Vintage Revolution Stool all bring their own take on the industrial trend. Ideally suited to those who want a little more support, the Bucket Stool boasts an encompassing chair-style seat upholstered in antique brown faux leather with zig-zag stitched edging. Alternatively, the Industrial Turner Stool and Vintage Revolution Stool are adjustable models with antiqued metal frames, screw-thread mechanisms and solid wooden seats. Turner Bucket Revolution We think you’ll love the quirky character of industrial furniture. For more vintage-style inspiration, why not take a look at our Industrial Interiors Pinterest Board? Pinterest Industrial Interiors Or browse our full range of industrial bar stools to find the ideal addition to your home, bar or commercial space.