Steampunk Decor

Even ultramodern condos can benefit from this trend, which adds a whimsical edge

The thing with steampunk is it’s so different, so unique, plus it’s made from recycled parts and we’re in the era of recycling, so I think people are very attracted to it.
FRANCK AZAN

From page H1 What, exactly, is steampunk? Depending on whom you ask, you’ll be given a variety of answers about the trend that essentially started as a genre of science fiction in the early 1980s, one that featured steam-powered machinery instead of advanced technology and transformed into a visual style popular in art, fashion and, more recently, interior design.

PHOTO BY RENÉE-AUBE CHAMBERLAND, COURTESY OF JACK LUX Jack Lux, at 3678 St-Denis St., is just one of the retail outlets in Montreal that carries steampunk decor items which blend industrial elements of the Victorian age with modern design and technology for a one-of-a-kind look.“It’s a style that revolves around recycling stuff — a mix of pumps and pipes and turbines, or everything that has to do with steam, and refurbishing it into something new, like a lamp, a wall hanging or furniture,” said Daniel Dahan, the owner of Un Monde de M…, a furniture and accessories store on St-Laurent Blvd. that specializes in steampunk. Dahan is also the main supplier of various steampunk retail outlets in Montreal, including Jack Lux, ABC and Usine Nord.

A visual style that mixes old and new, steampunk blends industrial elements of the Victorian age with modern design and technology for a one-of-a-kind look.

“Customers are attracted by the style because of its uniqueness; rarely are there two of the same made,” said Eric Azoulay, the owner of ABC on St-Laurent Blvd., which sells custom steampunk furniture and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Azoulay describes steampunk as “a style from the British era which is made up of raw elements such as old pipes, reclaimed wood, and recycled metals which are transformed into new eclectic furniture.”

Franck Azan, the manager at Jack Lux, agrees.

“The thing with steampunk is it’s so different, so unique, plus it’s made from recycled parts and we’re in the era of recycling, so I think people are very attracted to it,” Azan said.

“Everybody knows that if they buy an object made from recycled wood, for example, they are extending the life of something that would otherwise be destroyed.”

While there is definitely an environmental aspect to it, Dahan maintains that, bottom line, the popularity of steampunk has to do with how it looks.

“It’s a beautiful, different trend and people — whether they know what steampunk is or not; whether it’s recycled or not — will buy it just because they like it, because it’s pretty and will look good in a home.”

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So how, exactly, does one go about decorating with steampunk, especially in a new home or condo?

“You can have just one piece, a masterpiece like an amazing bar or a counter, and the effect is incredible,” Azan said, adding, somewhat wistfully: “I heard of one guy who worked with Fellini and everything in his house was steampunk. But he’s an artist. For most people, it’s not going to be everything.”

According to Azan, steampunk lamps are a must for steampunk admirers, and Azoulay agrees.

“I would definitely decorate a modern or contemporary space with steampunk lighting and vintage industrial accessories,” Azoulay said.

“The vintage industrial feel, combined with steampunk, definitely adds warmth to a modern space.” Case in point: the hugely popular Edison light.

Edison lights are known for the warm and intimate glow they impart, and they pair really well with an industrial look. Their distinctive shape and design also makes them unique.

Interestingly enough, Dahan’s foray into the world of steampunk started with a lamp.

“In the beginning, when we started, I had these helmets and the bottom part of a lamp, because I had sold the lampshade,” Dahan said. “I put one of the helmets on the lamp and it was popular — so I made more of them.”

And what of the future of steampunk? “The future looks great due to the innovation and unlimited design potential, with no rules,” Azoulay said.

For Dahan, the future revolves around airplanes.

“The highest level of steampunk right now involves recycled plane parts, because when they get rid of a plane they have to destroy it — turn it into scrap,” he said. “Planes are hot and hard to get. They make for works of art.”

Montreal Science Fiction and Fantasy Association