Cassandra’s Painted Piano

Do you remember Cassandra? She contacted me a few months back because she needed some ideas on decorating her huge dining room. I did a Virtual Room (re)Design for her, and over the past few months she’s been working on the room whenever she can find time away from her busy schedule.

Well, I got to see the room yesterday, and it’s almost finished. I can’t wait to show you how it turned out!! But for now, I’ll give you a little preview.

This was her dining room in its “before” state. See that piano on the far wall?

Oh, I know, I know. It was a perfectly fine piano…a pretty wood. But the thing is, it just really didn’t fit in with Cassandra’s style, so I gave her a challenge.

Fair warning…if you’re part of the “never paint wood” crowd, you might want to avert your eyes!!

My challenge to Cassandra was to paint her piano…TURQUOISE! Ready to see how it turned out?! Are you on the edge of your seat?  Hold on tight!

Isn’t that amazing!?  I absolutely love it.  I mean, seriously…how could anyone look at that piano and not bust out with a big ‘ole uncontrollable smile?  And how about that freeform plate wall?  I think it complements the piano perfectly!  She’s been picking up plates here and there as she sees ones that she likes, so the plate wall is sure to grow as time goes on.

I’m pretty sure I could post pictures of this turquoise piano all day and never get bored.

So what do you think? Could you ever paint a piano? Or would you feel guilty putting paint on a perfectly fine piano?

By the way…I know some of you are going to have questions. How did she do it? What primer did she use? Did she spray it or brush it? What paint did she use? Check out the details here.

 

 

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56 Comments

  1. It's wonderful!! Looking forward to the details!

    (here's a question in addition to the ones you've listed…. is the piano name/brand on a plaque that she removed or did she just paint around it? I'm wondering what to do about that when we paint our piano.)

  2. Anne, she painted around it. But we actually talked about other options, and I think she might take a photo of the piano company name and take it to an engraver to see of they can engrave a little metal piece in the same font. I think it'll give it a much more finished look.

  3. When you first told me what you had suggested I thought you had really blown it this time. In fact, I felt panic coming on. 🙂 But I absolutely love it! Glad you posted the picture. Now I can't wait to see the room finished.

  4. You want me to be quite honest?
    I do not care for a turquoise painted piano.
    I wished you could have posted a few images what her entire room and other furnishings look like including this turquoise piano. Does it stick out like a sore thumb or is it blending in well?
    I hope you will post a few more pictures of the entire remodeled room.
    Paula Jo

  5. No, PJ, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. It sticks out like a turquoise piano! The type of person who paints a piano turquoise generally isn't the type of person who wants the piano to "blend" into anything.

    As I said, the room isn't finished yet, but I'll post pictures as soon as it's finished. Cassandra likes bold, colorful, and funky. To each their own!

  6. I absolutely ADORE it. Now I wish I had a piano that I could paint!! I also love the way she arranged (per your suggestion??) the plates above it. How they skew off to the right. It reminds me of blowing bubbles. I think it is fun, spunky and full of personality. LOVE it! 🙂

  7. Love love love it!! If I was a better painter I would totally paint a piano. That is gorgeous. You have different taste than I do, but I love to see (and copy) your tutorials. I also love to see projects like this one where you have made another persons taste/style come alive. You are brilliant, please keep it up.

  8. Now I'm thinking this would be great for my daughters piano since it's way warn. I don't think I could of painted over this one though w/ all that beautiful wood. Great job though! I'm showing this one to my DD for sure!!!!!!!! Oh and don't forget those details for those of us who are thinking of doing the same, please.

  9. Fantastic! It really helped that her piano has a somewhat Victorian vibe to it to begin with, so a fun, eye-catching color is almost expected of it. Why on earth anyone would want such a fun piece to "blend in" is beyond me. Showcase it! Good call, Kristi. Now the real thing I can't wait to see is if she actually went with the uber-expensive trellis fabric for draperies. With the massive amount of window she needs to cover, I don't even want to think about the price tag on that!

  10. Erin, I gave her two examples for plate walls. The first was a freeform with colorful plates. The second was the Kelly Wearstler all-white plate wall. I think either one would have been great, but I think this freeform colorful one really goes great with the piano.

  11. Deb, she went for it. 🙂 And it really paid off. That fabric is a showstopper, and is the perfect backdrop for her new rustic farmhouse table and aluminum side chairs. She just needs to order the colorful side chairs, and the table area will be finished!! I can't wait to show y'all!!

  12. Kristi , did she do the painting herself? What kind of paint? Automotive? Great shine to it! I saw your post about this a long time ago and it is going to be a funky, fun room to dine in.

    Dee

  13. I wish I had seen this before I gave away my old piano! I LOVE it! Now I may have to go buy an old piano so I can paint it! I'll wait for your details, tho. Love your blog and ideas!

  14. That painted piano looks awesome. I do like wood, but sometimes you just have to roll with it and I definitely think this transformation was for the better.

  15. Love the painted piano…so fun!! Can't wait to see the finished rooms – her light coming in the room from those fabulous windows is amazing!!

  16. Know what I thought of first? My mom would have LOVED the turquoise piano. She once bought a beautiful antique hutch, very simple lines with a narrow mirror running along a small piece at the top. Solid oak. She took it home, cleaned it up, and painted it…turquoise!

    I love the transformation, Kristi, and I also like the plates and the way they're strung across the wall like a moonbeam. I have small decorative plates in my cranberry kitchen and love the look.

  17. Sorry, but I'm going to be the one that says, "Aghhhhhhhhhhhh!" Move the piano somewhere different and paint some other item a funky colour to make that space of wall look fantastic! Don't wreck a piano. (Sorry, I'm a musician!) – Jeanette

  18. Speechless. Totally speechless here. This piano colour is so unexpected and amazing! Love the detail on the piano itself too. And then let's talk about that crazy plate vignette… cool sensory overload here. 🙂

    Featured you on SNS 27's sidebar this weekend.

    Donna
    http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

  19. Love this Kristi, you have absolutely transformed a boring looking musical instrument and made it into something that looks as though it has life. Amazing!!!!!
    Carolyn
    Tasmania

  20. My friend, traveling the world from each city brings a plate as a souvenir. In his collection of more than 300 pieces! Interesting tradition.

  21. I am a big fan of wood so I think it's a shame to paint over it – particularly if it is an old piano which it looks to be.I prefer the idea of a large, brilliant painting on the wall for color.

    I have a feeling someday someone will end up with that piano and say : "God – what were they thinking painting over this beautiful wood piano?"
    And they will put a tremendous amount of time stripping and re-finishing it.

    Do you know what type of wood the piano is/was?

  22. Kristi, I had to return to eavesdrop on this continuing conversation. I'm not a musician so the turquoise piano is eye candy to me. (You did add a disclaimer re. this blog post, though…) :::smile:::

  23. Well, I AM a musician (although I haven't played piano in years because I have no access to one), and I still love the piano! 🙂 The paint doesn't affect how the piano works. In fact, it was recently tuned, and sounds beautiful.

    And cjy's comment about future owners reminds me of a post that I wrote about painting wood cabinets. My opinion is…who cares what future owners might think? If it's mine, and I don't like it in its current state, then I'm going to paint it! I encourage everyone else to do the same. Why keep something "as is" because of what some possible future owner may or may not want? That makes no sense.

    Here's my rant on painting cabinets and making your home yours, and I encourage everyone to apply this same reasoning to everything they decorate their home with:

    http://blog.addicted2decorating.com/2010/04/painted-cabinets-so-fresh-so-beautiful.html

  24. Kristi – I think I might just be in love with you! hehe, maybe it is because we (our parents) spell our name the same! Or because we have the same opinion on painting "good wood", but you have the balls to say what you think about it!! Whatever – I just have to say again, thank you and keep it up!

  25. I think it is simply GRAND! I would LOVE to paint my piano, but my husband might have a heart attack. He gets nervous when I try to paint picture frames, the piano would send him over the edge. For now, I'll just admire yours!

  26. Get out!!!! This is sooo cute! Turquoise always looks so great with black and white, so of course this is spectacular! A million times more fun than just a regular old piano. It makes me want to drag a piano home from the thrift store and paint!

  27. This is super art. I appreciate your think and that painted piano looks beautiful. Color is very nice and I have no words about its beauty. I like such type of art so thanks for this article.

  28. Love the painted piano! I could probably paint an old piano – what I've never been able to bring myself to paint is wood floors. I've seen many painted wood floors that I love – just nervous about the commitment!

    Love your blog!
    Kathleen@Amenities Design

  29. Love the painted piano! I could probably paint an old piano – what I've never been able to bring myself to paint is wood floors. I've seen many painted wood floors that I love – just nervous about the commitment!

    Love your blog!
    Kathleen@Amenities Design

  30. This is super art. I appreciate your think and that painted piano looks beautiful. Color is very nice and I have no words about its beauty. I like such type of art so thanks for this article.

  31. Well, I AM a musician (although I haven't played piano in years because I have no access to one), and I still love the piano! 🙂 The paint doesn't affect how the piano works. In fact, it was recently tuned, and sounds beautiful.

    And cjy's comment about future owners reminds me of a post that I wrote about painting wood cabinets. My opinion is…who cares what future owners might think? If it's mine, and I don't like it in its current state, then I'm going to paint it! I encourage everyone else to do the same. Why keep something "as is" because of what some possible future owner may or may not want? That makes no sense.

    Here's my rant on painting cabinets and making your home yours, and I encourage everyone to apply this same reasoning to everything they decorate their home with:

    http://blog.addicted2decorating.com/2010/04/painted-cabinets-so-fresh-so-beautiful.html

  32. Kristi, I had to return to eavesdrop on this continuing conversation. I'm not a musician so the turquoise piano is eye candy to me. (You did add a disclaimer re. this blog post, though…) :::smile:::

  33. Have you typed up the directions yet? Thinking about my old ugly piano and the turquoise paint I just happen to have leftover…

  34. I plan on doing the same exact thing to my piano…but i need to ask…I love the style bench you have with it….how do I do that with my bench?

  35. Oh I just love this piano. I am getting my husbands piano the one he learned to play on and want to paint it. I am terrifed of oil base paint…. I used oil base for my tiny side porch and it was a nightmare. There has to be an easier way:) What about milk paint?? Great post.

    1. Hi Tina~
      I’m so sorry that you had a nightmare experience with oil-based paint. It’s my favorite paint! For some reason, I find it very easy to use.

      I wonder if you could use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I’ve never used it, but people who have sing its praises. Evidently, it requires no priming prior to painting. It’s expensive, but it might be worth the price if you don’t have to prime and you can clean up with water!

  36. I would never ever paint my piano. My dad spent months restoring my great-grandmother’s quarter sawn oak upright and it is gorgeous. To each his own.