Bruce & Melanie’s Steampunk Victorian

published Oct 5, 2010

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Name: Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum
Location: Sharon, Massachusetts
Size: 4 bedrooms, 5000 square feet
Years lived in: 10 — owned

Steampunk means different things to different people, but to Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum whose home is a perfect whimsical ode to the style, it means fusing a modern sensibility with industrial antiques from the Victorian period to create a space that showcases the couple’s passion for antiquing, history, art, and technology.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

What began as a hobby, blossomed into a full-blown passion when they renovated their kitchen and home office in a modern Victorian style, and eventually grew into a business — the couple now restore and modernize Victorian-era homes and Bruce is completing a collection of Steampunk workstations and curating an upcoming show of Steampunk design.

For the most part, Bruce and Melanie have tried to maintain the original function of the antique objects in their home while adding a modern twist — although they’ve given themselves plenty of room to play with the concept. A vintage stove was modernized to become a fully-functioning electric cook top and oven and a copper water heater now houses a water filtration system; gramophone horns are the speakers of Bruces tour de force computer workstation and a vintage camera holds the webcam. Over the years, they have enlisted the help of restorers, electricians, carpenters and programmers in their mission to modernize the Victorian and Victorianize the modern. Bruce concedes that they often don’t get the Steampunk aesthetic at first, but it’s easy to see why they are eventually won over — whether Steampunk is your style or not, it’s hard not to acknowledge how dang cool it all is. To see more of Bruce and Melanie’s house and Steampunk design, visit their websites www.modvic.com and www.steampuffin.com.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: ModVic (Modern Victorian or Steampunk)

Inspiration: The Victorian/Industrial period (Aesthetic and Eastlake styles), klockwerks by Roger Wood

Favorite Element: Steampunk office

What Friends Say: Wow — what is Steampunk?

Biggest Embarrassment: The basement — waiting to be a Steampunk Showroom and Workshop

Proudest DIY: Landscaping of front yard

Biggest Indulgence: Period antiques infused with modern technology

Best Advice: It’s not just about juxtaposition of old and new, it’s about infusion

Dream Sources: Brimfield Antique Show

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources of Note:

Appliances: Elmira Appliances

Hardware: House of Antique Hardware

Furniture: Paul Martin Antiques, Haverhill MA

Accessories: Nor’east Architectural Antiques, Exeter NH

Lighting: Rejuvenation

Tiles and Stone: Tile Showcase, Framingham MA

Window Treatments: The Shady Lady, Framingham MA

Artwork: Bud Koor, Great Road Gallery and Framing, Bedford MA

Paint: Babel’s Paint and Decorating, Norwood MA

Flooring: Nor’east Architectural Antiques

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks, Bruce & Melanie!

Images: Sarah Rainwater

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.