jterriynn, the steampunk fashion stuff definitely has a sexual edginess. As for the steampunk decorating stuff, I've decided that it's not for me. ____ I really did try to take up this challenge but I've given up. Just thought I'd record a little of my journey and why I am going to quit. Surely a better thinker than I am will conjure a fabulous kitchen from the ashes of my fabulous ideas. First, I looked hard at the Metropole subway entrance and tried to channel it into a design. Didn't get anywhere. Without a grand high ceiling and skylight, this aesthetic is tough. Sure, I could have invented a high-ceilinged room with amazing glass and spidery separations between glass, but that's an architectural feature of the house or apartment that would be the impetus, not the muse itself. So then I got to thinking about Madame Curie and her cohort--now there were visionary scientists of the period! I asked my DH what he can recall of the huge science classroom that he worked in for roughly 30 years, in a c. 1900 building. He says "Hard maple floors. Oak cabinets--a whole wall of them. Long lab tables with a few sinks and bunsen burners. Tall curved faucets. Tall windows and window shades (the latter were removed when they got tacky looking. Not sure when this equipment was installed." I started working on a Marie Curie's lab theme for the kitchen olioboard--canisters lettered in that art nouveau Metropolitan typeface (see photo above) with "radium" and "pitchblende" stenciled on them and gaslight fixtures in ceiling and a steam radiator painted in an outlandish color but decided the whole thing was not worth my time. This was reinforced when I located a photo of Curie's lab, which made me recall that she had been allocated space in a "shed" outside of the physics dept, a silly woman working outside the mainstream. How's this for a setting for real-life science fiction? To quote her: "Its glass roof did not afford complete shelter against rain; the heat was suffocating in summer, and the bitter cold of winter was only a little lessened by the iron stove, except in its immediate vicinity. There was no question of obtaining the needed proper apparatus in common use by chemists. We simply had some old pine-wood tables with furnaces and gas burners. We had to use the adjoining yard for those of our chemical operations that involved producing irritating gases; even then the gas often filled our shed. With this equipment we entered on our exhausting work." All this just made me mad on behalf of Curie and did nothing for my peaceful kitchen. Besides, she was working with radium so the radioactivity might be hard on the family life and the cuisine. Here's another Curie laboratory image, I would assume for her later work== perhaps inspiring for another GW'er? a 40 x 30 print of this can be had for $200 Gotta admit: Science and cooking aren't in the same department. In fact, people make fun of modern "operating room" white kitchens--they are antimatter for a relaxing, gentle room. Then I tried to work up wallpaper based on Steiglitz's photo of a train yard...plenty of steam there! But I couldn't find a source of a blown-up version of the photo and I became afraid that the photo would be taken as being about trains--not a peaceful kitchen for me either! Then there's Joe Stella, a painter of 1920s who did numerous Brooklyn Bridge stylized paintings. I messed with his arches and colors. But this got me nowhere either. The truth: TNT explosiveness and edgy are not me and decorating with a steampunk science muse doesn't connect me to any worthwhile kitchen design. Sorry to be cranky, but I'm done here I think. I know it's fun but not the fun I can really enjoy. I look forward to somebody else's fun stuff on the postings Steampunk thread. Have fun stormin' the castle, visionaries! Here is a link that might be useful: Marie Curie lab poster from All Posters

Watch out for trying to mix cool grays with warm oak. Small amounts work OK. A gray backsplash would have gone with my countertops - but would have been drab with my warm wood. Warm wood tones and cool grays do not bring out the best in each other which is why the gray is usually paired with white. Gray is a bit overused right now which means it risks being labeled "dated" in the next 10 years though it will always be an important neutral - like cream and beige. Go ahead and try it in wall color that can be easily changed but be careful of using too much in more permanent surfaces. The grays in your countertop read warm which is why it is working with your cabinets. Consider your wall color last as it is the least permanent surface and easy to change.

Thanks for all your input! To clarify when I said darker I meant darker than white, Bruxton white BM is darker than White Dove, its the darker shade I painted on back splash as sample. The color for the island is not blue, bad photo. Paint swatch is KendalL Charcoal HC-166, Amherst Gray HC-167 and Chelsea Gray-HC-168. I am currently leaning toward BM Stone Harbor 2111-50 or Gray Huskie AC-26 for perimeter cabinets, light subway backsplash and dark gray of one listed on island. Agree , no gray floor, Jacobean or walnut I need weight in room, as cabinets surround entire kitchen. I attached some inspiration photos. Not concerned about trendy as long as I am happy, its paint. Here is current kitchen status post rib fest mess, and paint swatches everywhere. It is basically a U shape open to family room. Obviously all walls are being repainted and light fixtures will get changed out.

Everdebz - I don't like beiges or tans. I use to, until I learned NOT to be afraid of color. Whatever style the following is, I have to say that it is what I am now. lol This one is my favorite! You asked me about why I painted the outside of my door teal? That is where it all began. I saw a door painted that color and I loved it. My door leads from the kitchen to a large sundeck. I have an old wicker set that I am going to paint a very light teal color to coordinate with the door color. I already purchased material to re-cover the chairs. My son is an upholsterer so he is going to do them for me. (lucky me) Here is the pattern. The solid color for the seat, the floral for the backs and cushions. My patio sat is very similar to this brown set ( this is just a pic I found someplace) Here are the patterns for the cushions. The are all made now and ready for spring! I will also use Tidewater in my kitchen (someplace) with a darker subway tile. Still haven't selected the tile as yet but it will have to work with Tidewater. I want the colors on my deck to go with my kitchen. There is no entry into the kitchen. When you open the door, you're in my kitchen. lol Patio Set (patterns) Seat Cushions Back Cushions I hope this explains a little better why I painted my doors Really Teal. This is the tile that I picked. I love this one. What do you think with Really Teal and Tidewater? The walls will be painted Oxford White.