n

The Painted Piano

by Lisa on June 1, 2010

After a year of mulling it over, I finally did it.

I painted the piano.

It wasn’t easy, fast or fun.  But I am so, SO thrilled with the results.

Sadly, my “before” pictures were accidentally deleted.  That’s what I get for letting the kids borrow my camera before I got the pictures out of it.  I did find an image of the same piano online.

See?  It wasn’t anything to write home about.  Plain, ugly brown and it didn’t help the room, which I am trying to lighten and cheer up.

At least you can see a little bit of the corner the piano was in.

Try to imagine these two pictures put together…..

Oh dear, maybe not.  Well I can show you the work in progress….

OK, before you start to hyperventilate, here it is now…..Ta Da!

I’m swooning, someone please fan me before faint from the gorgeousness.

Or it could be the heat.  We had to leave the windows open for ventilation and it is pretty hot in here.  Or it could be my smokin’ hot piano.  You decide.

I’m sure you’re dying for a closer look……

I did some sanding along the edges.  Shaunna, do you approve?

I just love how it turned out.  No more big, ugly brown thing in the corner.

The platter was $5 from Home Goods.  I used my Cricut to add the “&”.  Gotta love those never-used-anymore scrapbook tools.

My boys gave me the “P” from Anthropologie for Mother’s Day.  I guess all those subtle hints, leaving out the catalog with the pages tagged and dragging the kids in there every time we’re at the mall works!  Now how do I get them to clean their room?

Since most of you would never, ever, EVER paint a piano, I am going to skip the tutorial.  Even though I am sure many of you were grateful I taught you how to make Useless Giant Legos.

I just love how it turned out.  Did I say that already?   Sorry, but it was such a big job that I think it deserves a second mention.

OK, a change in plans.  I had so many questions about how I did it that I did write a post about it.  If you really want to know….here’s what I did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will be linking this to these blog parties:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays @ Coastal Charm

Trash to Treasure Tuesday @ Reinvented

Toot Your Horn Tuesday @ A Silly Little Sparrow

Anti-Procrastination Tuesday@ New Nostalgia

Spotlight Yourself @ It’s So Very Cheri

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Frugalicious Fridays @ Finding Fabulous

Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tater Tots and Jello

Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sundae Scoop @ i heart naptime

Metaporphasis Monday @ Between Naps on the Front Porch

{ 2 trackbacks }

A Splash of Color for an Old Piano - Somewhat Simple
April 12, 2011 at 10:17 am
Sundae Scoop Link party/Giveaway!
April 16, 2011 at 12:26 am

{ 90 comments… read them below or add one }

Terry June 5, 2010 at 6:45 am

What a great color and the piano is now a great focal point!

Bec June 5, 2010 at 8:28 am

So pretty! Way to be brave ;)

Ellie g June 5, 2010 at 8:55 am

I almost passed out when I saw this on Tatertots and Jello! I cannot believe how awesome this is! WOW! I hope you have good ears, cause I am clapping so loud right now!! Congrats!
.-= Ellie g´s last blog ..I’m So Glad When Daddy Comes Home =-.

Jamielyn June 5, 2010 at 9:49 am

Wow that looks amazing! I love the blue! Hope you link it up http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/

Katie June 5, 2010 at 10:33 am

I came across your blog via tatertots and LOVE that. If I could find a cheap piano (that worked) and I played I would definitely do this! Did you say what color you used?

Sydney June 5, 2010 at 12:24 pm

I saw this last night and it totally made me want to paint our old piano from my childhood too! I am not sure if when I move out of the basement my mom will say go ahead! take it with you! or not over my dead body!

amy@newnostalgia June 5, 2010 at 2:06 pm

just wanted to let you know i featured this post today. thanks again for linking up to “AP Tuesdays!”
.-= amy@newnostalgia´s last blog ..Feature Posts From Anti-Procrastination Tuesday =-.

Char June 5, 2010 at 5:25 pm

I painted my piano pretty much that exact same color last summer and it makes me happy every single time I walk past it.

Elizabeth Ann June 5, 2010 at 7:57 pm

I came over from Mustard Seeds and I am definately painting my piano. It is an antique, that is so old it can’t be tuned but still love the shape but hate the color. Thanks for the inspiration!

aubrey June 5, 2010 at 9:11 pm

Awesome color! LOVE it !!! :D

Melissa Howard June 5, 2010 at 9:20 pm

I swear that aquaish robin egg blue is my newest favorite color!! It looks gorgeous – and so much more interesting than brown…
.-= Melissa Howard´s last blog ..Photo Blog =-.

Char June 5, 2010 at 9:40 pm

The search thingy doesn’t work on my blog right now on account of switching over to a .com this week. Here’s a link to a pic of mine: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_APIzELg524s/SsEAPbXz3bI/AAAAAAAAD90/e_XtgBHEAE0/s1600-h/DSC_1290.JPG

I think our pianos are definitely related…
.-= Char´s last blog ..Flickr Feature Friday =-.

Cinnibonbon June 5, 2010 at 10:21 pm

STUNNING!!!!! really–I’m in awe.

Alysa Whitlock June 5, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Hope you don’t mind that I wrote about your piano on our creative blog – atticgals.blogspot.com. You did a super job. Can’t wait to explore your blog more. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Alysa Whitlock´s last blog ..Painted Pianos =-.

Cindy~ June 6, 2010 at 1:47 am

Wow… My blog post for ‘Show and Tell Friday’ was all about my wanting to paint my 1912 upright piano. What a blessing to find you. You have given me the inspiration to forge ahead with my crazy desire. Thanks!

Great job, by the way…It looks spectacular!
.-= Cindy~´s last blog ..MY WHITE ELEPHANT… =-.

Risa June 6, 2010 at 11:25 pm

This is so fresh and unexpected! I am in LOVE! Well done!!!

<3

Risa

Autumn Beck June 7, 2010 at 6:51 am

How did I miss this post??!! I was eagerly awaiting it.

IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL! But, you really didn’t need one more person to tell you the obvious…or maybe you did ;)

I’m thinking you have too much time on your hands, Lisa. You may want to look into having another kid or something lol
.-= Autumn Beck´s last blog ..Books, Books and More Books =-.

Debbie June 7, 2010 at 8:09 am

I absolutely love this! It’s the same color I added in my dining room recently.I hated painting the chairs, because it took forever, but love the way it looks. Great job!!!!
Sure brightens up that corner, doesn’t it?
LOVE IT!!!!
Debbie@houseatthelake

Dana Stern June 7, 2010 at 8:15 am

I LOVE this as much as you do! It’s gorgeous!! Congratulations.
.-= Dana Stern´s last blog ..A Completed Project! =-.

Laura Ingalls Gunn June 7, 2010 at 8:26 am

I am fanning myself too from the beauty! Well done. I am sure you are now asking yourself “What took me so long?” :)
.-= Laura Ingalls Gunn´s last blog ..Birds Nest & Burlap Wreath Tutorial =-.

Heather @ Sugar 'N Spice & Mostly Nice June 7, 2010 at 10:58 am

I dropping by from Tatertots and Jello. I had to stop by since my maiden name is Pennington! I LOOOOOVE the piano! It looks so fresh!!
.-= Heather @ Sugar ‘N Spice & Mostly Nice´s last blog ..Mandevilla =-.

Heather @ Sugar 'N Spice & Mostly Nice June 7, 2010 at 10:59 am

I’m dropping by from Tatertots and Jello. I had to stop by since my maiden name is Pennington! I LOOOOOVE the piano! It looks so fresh!!
.-= Heather @ Sugar ‘N Spice & Mostly Nice´s last blog ..Mandevilla =-.

Heather June 7, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Ha! Love it! Wish I’d found your blog earlier, it’s lovely.

I was tickled because I also recently painted my piano {a more pale} blue and have gray walls very similar to yours! You’re a woman after my own heart!
http://larkandlola.blogspot.com/2010/03/piano-before-after.html
.-= Heather´s last blog ..{New for 2010} =-.

Vanessa@decorhappy June 7, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Wow – congratulations on a makeover well done! Love, love, love it!
.-= Vanessa@decorhappy´s last blog ..Cottage Envy =-.

donna ellis June 7, 2010 at 9:56 pm

i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the color, the sanding, the mirrors, the letter, the shell!!!!!!!!! just beautiful. i never would have thought to paint a piano! but, i am glad you did!! thank you, you have inspired me!
all the best,
donna

ldydyinspired June 8, 2010 at 3:06 am

Awesome job! It turned out beautiful! I am promptly showing your blog to my daughter. (Well later in the morning, it’s 2 a.m. right now) She is moving into her new home and wants to paint her upright piano. It is very similar to what yours looked like. We have been contemplating the work involved into doing something so drastic to a piano. But after reading your post… I have been inspired and I know she will be too! Congrats on a great job!
.-= ldydyinspired´s last blog ..The Guilded Teacups …. =-.

Marge Utley June 9, 2010 at 6:53 am

Gorgeous!! Very courageous, too!
.-= Marge Utley´s last blog ..My first Cricut creation =-.

Chelsey Hall June 10, 2010 at 9:14 am

This is gorgeous! I wish I had the guts to do this to my mother’s old piano.
.-= Chelsey Hall´s last blog ..The Breakfast Nook =-.

Nancy Reid June 11, 2010 at 12:01 am

OMG …my jaw just hit the ground. I found your link on amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com and I about fell on the floor. I have had that EXACT same FISCHER maple piano since I was 8 years old and THAT was a very long time ago. I have never liked maple and have always thought someday I would paint it. I may have to ask you how you did it. Was it hard? It looks fantastic. I would love to do mine. It’s a great piano with an excellent soundboard and even though we also have a grand piano and a harpsichord I don’t want to ever get rid of it. Thanks for sharing!

jamielyn June 11, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Loved this, it will be featured tomorrow! Hope to see you at Sundae Scoop again!

Kacey June 14, 2010 at 5:35 pm

Fabulous! LOVE!

Kacey
.-= Kacey´s last blog ..Paint color… =-.

JennJenn June 15, 2010 at 9:16 pm

Oh, please don’t skip the tutorial!!! I totally want to paint my piano! I love the look!!

Maria June 19, 2010 at 9:01 pm

Lisa,
Does that sign that says “Forgive” have any special meaning? Is that the piano talking lol

It looks cute but but a painted piano, doesn’t that mess with the sound or somethig?

Maria

Yanet July 20, 2010 at 11:09 pm

That’s just sexy!!! Love the color.

Stephanie February 28, 2011 at 9:39 pm

Hey Lisa-
I’ve been saving this to feature forever now and I just wanted to let you know I am going to publish this tomorrow (Tuesday) on Crazy Domestic.com. Thanks for the fun inspiration!
-Stephanie

Nicole March 27, 2011 at 10:45 pm

Oh my gosh, STUNNING! It looks amazing! You are so brave, but look how well it paid off! I LOVE IT!!!!

Jess March 28, 2011 at 8:14 am

i LOVE this. I suddenly have the urge to buy an old piano and paint it. *sigh* I would have never thought of that…you did a great job!

catherine April 27, 2011 at 12:09 pm

i have been DYING to paint my ugly brown piano. it looks almost identical, except the bench doesnt have a cushion. you may have just given my the courage….yours looks great.

catherine May 2, 2011 at 5:17 pm

well, i did it….ughhh. looks like a giant white elephant in my living room. got to figure out how to accessorize it.

bridget {bake at 350} May 10, 2011 at 7:23 am

Love your blue piano!!! (I found you through Melissa’s blog….that’s my yellow piano in the post!) :)

Thank you for your comments. We appreciate hearing from you.

If this is your first time commenting, your comment will appear after approval. We will notify you when your comment has been approved.

CommentLuv badge

Previous post:

Next post: