Tuesday, March 12, 2013

My Painted Piano With Subway Art Bench


It all started when my grandpa gave us Christmas money shortly after we were married with the instructions that it was to be used for a piano.  I had taken years of lessons and I guess he didn't want to see that go to waste.  Well uhhh.... possibly too late for that! : /
And now we know who to thank for my whopping height of 4'10"!!
Thanks, Grandpa.  Good things are supposed to come in small packages, so we'll just hold to that.
So I've toyed for a few years with painting the piano, but several people really frowned on the idea when I brought it up.  Not that that's ever stopped me before.  But then it was just so tempting for my little boys to start peeling and picking at the loose veneer on the bench and soon you couldn't sit on it without getting a sliver where the sun don't shine.

So I gave Tobin the job of removing the rest of the veneer.  It was some stubborn stuff, and even I couldn't get it all without doing some big time gouging.  

My quick-fix was to recover a big ole' piano bench cushion, but I never did finish that project...
 as you can see:
Yes that's a sriped sweater with flannel checked pants.
 Don't judge my amazing fashion statements.

In January, my parents were down in Texas doing some missionary work.  She called me just hours after I told her I wanted to paint my piano a deep muddy turquoise and said she was in a flea market and found a mistint of paint for super cheap in what she was pretty sure the exact color I described.  
Well whaddya know! 
 Then, just a few days ago, my super delightful friend Sarah came to visit with her darling little Jailyn.  We had about an hour before she had to go pick her other daughter up from school when she says "Hey, got any projects I could help you on?"  Well shucks, I've got some paint sitting upstairs just waiting to go on the piano... and in typical Sarah fashion, she jumps up and says "let's do it!"  
Having three little ones may have been a bit of a mistake,
 but actually paint comes off of laminate flooring very easily.  Even after it's dry.
So now I can't put off the dratted piano bench any longer.

I ran a cloth diaper under hot water and wrung it out well.
Then I laid it over top the stubborn veneer and ironed it on high heat.  
Check it!  It came off like a charm.  Woot woot!!!!
 So next on the agenda was to paint the top of the bench in a herringbone pattern.  Wow.  That looked like it might actually take some skill.  I ain't got time for skill.  Let's stencil some typography!  Musical words are fun.  I starting stenciling them as they came to my mind.



These are all the letter stencils I used.
  Four different sizes, all bought at Wal Mart, I believe.


If you can find the word I accidentally put on there twice, 
you win the prize! ;)



Of course I had to take some sand paper to the edges for a little distressing.  My hubby thinks pretty soon every piece of furniture is going to be "shabby chic" in our house.  He might be right...


This little label was a slight concern, I didn't want to paint over it of course, and it looked really ridiculous when I just taped it off.  I dug through my stencils and found this little border from a "thank you" stencil.  I love how it turned out!!


Pin It




Follow Kammy's Korner on:




Like what you see?  Check these posts out!




54 comments:

  1. It's always important to have lots of 'tempo' don't worry! This is beautiful, my husband really wants a piano when we have our own home, and I really want to paint that piano!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love it! I think painting the piano is a wonderful idea! I don't know why so many people freak out about it! The color is perfect.
    Susan
    SunflowerHugs

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh wow, your piano is stunning and I love what you did with the bench!

    ReplyDelete
  4. OMG Kammy - that is absolutely stunning - what a beautiful statement piece!!!
    And the subway art on the bench is just genious
    ( is your head growing yet? be careful - at 4 foot 10 you'll look completely out of proportion with a gigantic head )
    XOX

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks beautiful! I love the color.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I too noticed tempo but can give you an out as i'm pretty sure that the 2 tempos can be part of the word before/after it as a musical direction. No need to point out a mistake but make it look like it is exactly as you planned it! Talking of which I'm amazed you didn't plan the words on the stool precisely. I mean I probably wouldn't either but fear my attempt would not be so successful!

    Well done it all looks lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You rocked it! I love how this turned out and the color is awesome.

    Vanessa

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love painted pianos!!!! And this blue is so beautiful. But I gotta tell you, you have way more patience then to complete that bench!

    Kim@reposhture.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is one of the best projects I've ever seen in blogland!!! No lie!! I really do love it. My grandmother had an old upright piano like yours, but it went to the granddaughter-in-law who doesn't even play! (no resentment in my voice, right?) We love her anyway. Ahem.

    Great job, and now I will be a new follower. (always sounds so Biblical)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like it..and tempo is the word

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love it!! And such a pretty color. What a great idea to stencil on music words!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That border around the label= genious. It looks beautiful. I know some people hate the idea of painting over wood, but I think its all great, and it really updated the piano.

    Britt @ Creating Space for Five

    ReplyDelete
  13. My piano bench doesn't match my piano - so now I've got some ideas whirling around in my brain!!! It looks awesome!!! And of course I had to spend five minutes searching for tempo!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. WOW this is just beautiful and LOVE the color and your stenciled bench is fabulous!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. The piano looks amazing!! I have an old piano that I've been wanting to try this on but haven't gotten the nerve yet!!! Your post just may be that little push I needed. Thanks--great job!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It is absolutely beautiful, Kammy! And I LOVE the bench!!!! Gorgeous!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I wish I had a piano and bench like this to paint!!!

    -andi

    ReplyDelete
  18. I don't even play but I want yours! LOVE it!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love your piano and bench! Your helpers are pretty cute too!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  20. I just found your blog and love love love this makeover. The blue is gorgeous and the piano stool is an amazing idea. I have always wanted a piano and have also wanted to play, but can't play either. great job, will be a regular follower. Tobey

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very brave. I also have an old Fisher upright. It sounds beautiful but looks hideous in it's dark walnut. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very brave. I also have an old Fisher upright. It sounds beautiful but looks hideous in it's dark walnut. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow!Wow!Wow! That's all I can say!
    Cute little helper!

    Have a nice weekend, Dina

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow! Your piano looks awesome! I love the color and the bench is super cute.

    ReplyDelete
  25. That piano bench is so cool Kammy! I'm featuring it this week in the PoPP Spotlight. Thanks for linking up!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Such a great idea. Love the bench! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've been dying to paint my piano...thanks for the , push, I love your color :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Did you say there was an hour to spare and you started the piano painting project? You didn't paint it in an hour, did you? It looks great! My daughter has a piano she's talked about painting and I'm going to send her a link to your post for more inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What I'd you use the plaster for? Nice!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Kammy!! I love the color! oh my, it's perfect! great job on the bench. catching you!
    gail

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is probably the best remake of a bench I have ever seen. It is so cool. I love the painted piano as well. Great project!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Simply Gorgeous! I am pinning this awesome stool.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love the color you chose! I hope one day I'll have the courage to paint mine.
    I understand about all the objections! With all those sweet little helpers, though, who could object?
    It's wonderful.
    Happy Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  34. This looks so perfect for your home. LOve the subway art, really makes it your own!

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is gorgeous. I love how your kids helped out! My boys love helping too. I love the color and the piano bench came out great too. Looks perfect in your home. I'd love you to share it at my link party if you get a chance: http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2013/03/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party_31.html

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi there Kammy! This piano is fabulous, you did such a great job on it and what a sweetie and kiddos helping you out. I am looking for some project inspiration of my own and would love it if you could link this up to my Tuesday Bluesday Link Party over at Curb Alert! It would be a great kickstart to my party. Thanks for the inspiration! http://tamicurbalert.blogspot.com/2013/04/bluesday-tuesday-link-party-starting.html
    Tami @ Curb Alert!

    ReplyDelete
  37. The piano and bench turned out beautiful! I love the colors in the room. I featured this post at Simply creations link party tonight! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Oh my goodness! It looks amazing!! I so need to paint my piano. It's so sad. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. It goes live at 8am CDT on Monday. Here's the link if you want to check it out. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    ReplyDelete
  39. Do I get a prize for the word that is misspelled? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Do I get a prize for the word that is misspelled? :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Came here from Better After. GORGEOUS! I also have a dark piano in dire need of painting, and am just wondering -- did you sand first? Take it apart at all? I've been too nervous to paint; it just seemed daunting, especially with sanding and worrying about the dust getting into the keys, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Very lovely. You may have a few Mozarts in the making with such an inviting piano.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Tempo is listed twice...i love it all the same though!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Kammy you are so stinkin cute! I LOVE the color you painted the piano it looks amazing! And the bench is so awesome! I can't believe you stenciled all those words and kept them so straight! Mine would have been so crooked! It is awesome! And thanks for your sweet comment on my blog too! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Kammy, your piano looks AMAZZING!!! I've done subway stenciling and I know that crap is not easy. You did a great job, girl!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. What color did you use? Would love to paint my piano this color! It came out great!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi. Great job on your piano. Could you please share which color you used? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So can you believe my mom picked up a gallon of paint at a flea market for $1 I believe, it was a mistint and even the label had been peeled off so not only don't I know the color, but I don't even know the brand! Whatever it is, I'm still using it 5 years later on projects as it seems to be the paint that never ends!! :)

      Delete

Comments - Next best thing to chocolate! :) Please let me know you visited!