Novelty Shops for (Semi) Serious Home Decor

We don't usually think of novelty shops as go-to sources for home decor, but sometimes they have exactly what we're looking for, whether it's a gunmetal beaded curtain for a glam living room or a collection of laboratory glassware for a mod kitchen...

1) FredFlare.com: The home section of this website is like a toy store for adults and kids alike. Fred Flare offers colorful and kitschy accessories, from tech gear to tabletop (like the glass water bottles shown above).

2) ShopWildThings.com: This store markets themselves as "the number one online source for beaded curtains (shown above), chandeliers, and string curtains." Their site has a huge inventory of glitzy beaded decor, but you can also find simple drapes, patio lighting, and bed canopies.

3) Mathmos: This company invented the lava lamp, and they continue to create new mod novelty lighting to this day. The Airswitch Light (shown above) turns on or off with the wave of your hand. Headquartered in the UK, they have a global presence, including an online US shop.

4) GreatBigStuff.com: This store sells oversized items, and although most of their stuff definitely falls into the novelty camp, they have some pieces that could be cool in the right context, like giant Scrabble tiles that could double as wall art and stools shaped like computer keys (shown above).

5) American Science & Surplus: This Chicago shop sells lab supplies, glassware, and almost any kind of container you can imagine (including the Bottlemania collection shown above). You can shop their inventory online.

I love the computer key stools!

posted by idontdobeige on October 29th 2009 at 5:06pm
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Most stuff might be cheesy but anyone can definitely find "something" if looked at with the proper eyes... and with the right purpose....

posted by manu_pty on October 29th 2009 at 10:17pm
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another place for more kitschy stuff like "psycho" silhouette shower curtains, sushi shaped bath mats, wacky coasters & clocks is www.mcphee.com

posted by Kpaige13 on October 30th 2009 at 2:42pm
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i own one of those glass water bottles from fredflare, and i love it! it's the perfect vessel for bedside water. though i recommend only filling it about halfway, as too much and it gets pretty heavy!

posted by nevergirl on November 22nd 2009 at 6:05pm
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