Broke Ass Porn: The Selby

Once a week we present Broke-Ass Porn.  It’s visually stimulating material for the financially impaired.  If this shit doesn’t get you going, you’re not as broke as you thought:

Being broke can be a real drag, especially when it comes to decorating your apartment. I’ve resorted to tearing out spreads in art magazines, grabbing suspect objects off the street, and spray painting everything gold. Let’s just say the results aren’t very feng shui.  When I’m looking for inspiration, you won’t find me flipping through Elle decor. For some serious eye candy, my go-to source is The Selby.

It’s like getting a private tour of of art stars, rock stars, and creative jet setters, minus Robin Leach and MC Hammer’s glided toilet. The creator, Todd Selby, was a fashion photographer for eight years and started the blog as a personal project exploring the home environments of famous creatives. His shoots also include scribbled interviews with his subjects.  It’s like falling down the rabbit hole every time you hit refresh. It’s no surprise that the homes of his subjects are just as crazy and colorful as their professional work.

The Selby travels all over the world, peeking into the lives of others but the majority of his shoots are in New York, particularly Manhattan.  Want to see the dapper domain of Tom Wolfe, or Vogue’s Sally Singer’s hipper than thou Chelsea Hotel apartment? Who needs to party crash when you can scope out every nook and cranny with the just the click of a button.  Being a pack rat myself, I’m obsessed with other people’s collections and the personal significance these objects take on. I’m not a snoop but I love visiting people’s homes that are filled with weird knick knacks and various ephemera. I blame being left along at my grandparents house with the only source of entertainment being trunks full of old Cadillac parts, Ukrainian dolls and Linda Ronstadt tapes.

While most creative types find inspiration outside of the home, The Selby proves that you can find plenty of inspiration instead your own home, that is if you have the closet space for it.