Repurposed piano kitchen island. Part two.
if you’re new to the piano, start here! This is part 2… here is: part one, three, four, five, six, seven
The first square grand piano I saw was in an antique shop outside of NYC. They wanted $8,000 for it.
This is a price I now know is ridiculous, but at the time seemed a reasonable cost to fill the newly-discovered, piano-sized void in my soul.
I crawled up on top so that I could hug it properly… Then I chained myself to it, in protest of Paul’s refusal to be sensible, buy it immediately, and rush home to turn it into our kitchen island.
I wailed and rent my clothes as Paul dragged me out by my heels.
In last week’s post, I went right to the good part: GETTING THE PIANO. But I’ve been on this quest for a while.
Looking. Driving. Giving up. Finding something else that was old and giant but never quite as fancy. Returning to this idea. Reconsidering. Waffling. Deciding the whole thing was a terrible idea. Moving on. Coming back.
And ultimately deciding that all other options were unacceptably lacking when compared to a piano of gloriousness and impracticality.
If you are wondering why I did not share this epic quest before now, it’s because I was not at all sure that I would find what I was looking for… Even though these pianos show up frequently, finding the RIGHT one is more difficult than just going to pick it up.
Plus, the LAST thing I would ever do is give myself competition in the giant fancy instrument department… Sorry about that!
You should also know that on a desert island, I would be the one to eat all of the rations in the middle of the night and then claim it must have been bears.
Now. I do not know how to do the mathematical equation where you figure out how many possible combinations there are, dependent on five different elements… But let’s say it is close to 11 billion.
Out of those 11 billion:
I contacted 23 craigslist postings,
in a three-hour travel radius,
actually looked at seven pianos,
missed out on two other free ones,
passed over a free one that worked,
waffled on one too long and lost it to someone else,
agreed to buy one, only to have the guy call me right before to cancel, after Paul had spent 24 hours building sleds and special dollies and rounding up a crew.
The reason I looked at so many pianos is because there are five factors, and I have an opinion about all of them:
1. Wood/stain color
2. Body style
3. Leg style
4. Size
5. Whether the back is finished***
***Many of these have a flat back panel – intended to go up against a wall, unfinished and undecorated, and without rounded corners.
Then, you have to factor in:
Price.
Condition.
Location.*
*Meaning both the proximity to your house/travel time… AND how many stairs you have to navigate– I looked at one piano that was in the guy’s basement… You can imagine what THAT video would have been like!
Condition was a twofold concern: first, I did NOT want a working piano.
aside:
My last post got some questions/hopeful positing that perhaps we would restore the piano… I absolutely understand this concern, and I APPRECIATE your thoughts about it… I am not sure if I’ll need to write an entire post about our decision, (already titled: Y’all! I don’t hate music! Or alternately: Y’all! I have Google too!)
end aside
Condition part-two is the condition of the exterior: box and legs… Every single piano I looked at was missing at least two chunks: the flared bits on the end of the feet are the first to go.
Amazingly, the piano we ended up with is missing NOTHING and the veneer is in (mostly) excellent condition.
Trying to combine all possible factors into my one ideal piano was even more unlikely because budget was a factor… I wanted to spend about $500.
This was my wish list:
1. Finished exterior all the way around — since ours is going to be freestanding in the kitchen, I REALLY wanted four sides of fanciness.
2. Non operable.
3. Dark wood.
4. Simple body, flat bottom.
5. No dragon legs.
6. Largest size.
Liking the simpler version of these pianos has come as a surprise to me… More than just preferring the flat-bottom design, I actively do not like the scallop design.
I have no explanation for this, other than The Piano Troll finds them offensive. She cannot verbalize why. Also, she told me that this leg looks like a dragon… And once you see the dragon, ALL you see is dragon.
I got about half my wish list, but it was the important half… and the fact that the piano was FREE and in excellent exterior condition, AND has the rare-ish aspect of being finished on all sides, makes the half I didn’t get sort of tolerable.
The factor I was/am most uncertain about is the size. This is the smaller end of a spectrum that runs about 7’ long, by 4’ wide, depending on the manufacturer.
It goes against all of my personality to choose the smaller version of any giant fancy thing… even if we are only talking about mere inches that no one else will notice or know about… It’s just who I am: someone who wants the giantest of all the giant fancy things.
It maddens me, that I have somehow, involuntarily, accidentally, not gotten the giantest available giant fancy thing.
Although. It turns out that this one is plenty big enough.
HELLO!!
LOOK AT ME!!
I AM A PIANO IN THE KITCHEN!!
Personally, I like that sort of in-your-face greeting… But I also like a space to feel OPEN… so maybe less a few inches is fine for the room, if not for my mental health.
Plus we have been moving the piano a few inches this way and that way, and also moving some mock-cabinets, and it’s surprising just how much difference a few inches make— placing it right or left 6 inches does really change the feel of the aisle/space.
Why is this post so long? Why am I still writing? Why must I have SO MUCH TO SAY?
Anyway, between the scallops and the missing inches, I had a lot of anxiety that I was going to be disappointed… I actually wasn’t sure this was OUR piano: I’ve only looked at 23 pianos! MAYBE I SHOULD LOOK AT ANOTHER 23! Maybe I should widen my search radius to four hours. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
Once I start into the indecision forest, I can rarely find my way out and I will overthink myself into a decision-coma… a catatonic state of rigid adherence to the belief that a few inches are PARAMOUNT TO MY VERY EXISTENCE.
Reason and compromise mean nothing to me in the face of minute detail.
Paul was the one who made this specific piano happen… He said – look, let’s go and get it. It’s free. We will set it up and get a feel for the size and the space. If you’re not happy? We will get another piano… and we will not STOP getting pianos until you say so… I will keep all of the skids and the dollies and the blankets and everything else in the van at all times so that as soon as you find another piano, I will run right out and start up the car.
This sounded reasonable to me, so I was able to proceed.
If any of you think for one second that there is a remote possibility that I will NOT find another piano, I think you have not been paying attention.
Let’s hope for Paul’s sake, he is not one of those people.
all kitchen posts
all my craigslist treasures
April 21, 2015 @ 11:43 am
I just googled it for my area and one came up in rosewood, all finish removed (it’s absolutely gorgeous!!) for $900. However, I noticed that all the pianos have foot pedals, but I did not see them on yours. Did you remove them? Is that even possible? I suppose you will leave them off for use as an island? That way it doesn’t say “hey, I’m a piano, not an island” to whoever comes in.
April 21, 2015 @ 11:56 am
So…I showed my version of Paul (mine also wants to squash my quest for many fancy things) your first post about the piano kitchen island and said, “We could have gotten this if I was more vigilant on Craigslist!!” He said, “For what? We live in a rowhome. That thing will barely fit through the door, let alone in our kitchen.” (I’m paraphrasing, but it’s close to the actual dialogue.) To which I said, “Think about it…it could be our dining room table. It would be the centerpiece. Imagine it…” And he said, “Forget it. Finding chairs to fit it properly would be impossible.” To which I said, “That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard.” I could make it work. And, I just might. You’re my inspiration.
April 21, 2015 @ 1:22 pm
Did you show him the earlier post where the legs unscrew for easy getting through the doorways? However, I DO agree with him that finding chairs that would fit thighs under the top comfortably to be spot on. Good luck!
April 21, 2015 @ 11:59 am
“I will run right out and start up the car.”
Thanks for the laugh and I want a Paul!
April 21, 2015 @ 12:11 pm
so…..which piano is “the one?” Is it in the blog post?
April 21, 2015 @ 12:19 pm
First of all, congrats on your stroke of genius: I would NEVER have thought of a piano as a kitchen island! Secondly, congrats on acquiring said piano/kitchen island; I applaud your tenacity in the quest. But thirdly, I am wondering: is it high enough? Granted, this may only be because I am 6 feet tall, but I’m having a hard time imagining how one would comfortably stand at the island chopping veggies, or regaling your guests who are gathered round the pianoforteisland, sipping martinis, and hanging on your every work of GFT wisdom.
P.S. this is the first time I’ve ever commented on ANY blog, so you should feel immensely honored.
April 21, 2015 @ 12:42 pm
I can’t wait to see how y’all transform this amazing giant, fancy bit of beauty and history. I keep thinking that the keys themselves must be ivory, and will you somehow salvage them and use them for some cool inlay or something in the actual countertop, or maybe they can be sold to piano restoration people to generate more Craigslist moolah? Can’t wait for the next installment!
April 21, 2015 @ 1:21 pm
it looks FABULOUS in the kitchen!!! love you, love your writing!
April 21, 2015 @ 1:43 pm
VEB:
As always, I really enjoyed this post and your explanation of your thought process. What stands out about this one is Paul is on board. I imagine that the night before when he was sleeping, you softly sang Soul Makousa by Hugh Masakela in his ear to mesmerize him more than usual which is how he came to say, “I will run right out and start up the car.” Imagining the Piano Troll and the GFT Troll having a party, dancing at these words in your head is an image I refuse to release. It’s critical to my existence to believe it happened that way. It’s my flight of fancy, and I’m sticking to it. All this to say, you are a lovable crazy woman and Paul is a treasure. Please show us how you will top your piano island…I’m sure it will be glorious.
April 21, 2015 @ 1:57 pm
SWEET MARY SUNSHINE! Between reading your post and then, reading the comments, my sides hurt from laughing! You, sweetpea, area hoot and Paul is a wonder! I had to send my husband a link to this one so that he’d FINALLY understand my quest for the perfect breakfast room table! (Even after 45 years, the man forgets how obsessed I can be!) Anyway, I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter in “The Saga Of the Kitchen Island.” xo
April 21, 2015 @ 1:58 pm
Paul is right — when it’s free on Craigslist, it doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect. It just needs to be adequate for now, and then you can keep looking. I love free Craigslist!
April 21, 2015 @ 3:01 pm
Mr Paul is a kind genius and you are his crazy queen 🙂 Loved this post so much and also your reasoning. As a (bad but enthusiastic) classical musician & singer I could never agree to use a piano as a kitchen island but I also see the perfect reason why you’d want to use it as such. I love your dedication to the details and that it has to be ‘just so’…. And who knows; you might at one stage or other still find another one, even larger and better and then all you have to do is sell this one here – you literally can’t loose, as it was free. Love you tons – and PLEASE do ask your provider to send your stuff to the above address….. It still won’t work and I only get it on my less used mail address (and I am therefore loosing precious minutes!)
April 21, 2015 @ 3:32 pm
I think you should vacation and shop….
http://madison.craigslist.org/atq/4949082988.html
April 21, 2015 @ 4:22 pm
“Ya’ll I have google too” – hahahaha! I think this all the time! 🙂
April 21, 2015 @ 4:51 pm
I love everything about this, but the thing I love the most is its uniqueness. I think that’s a word. Who else on the planet will have this island? NO ONE! Others may copy, but yours is UNIQUE.
April 21, 2015 @ 5:24 pm
You have a rare husband. Keep him.
April 21, 2015 @ 6:19 pm
Please do not put carrera on top! That stuff is not really suitable as a counter top. Much too soft and porous to be practical in a kitchen!
April 22, 2015 @ 9:58 am
What role does ‘practical’ have in this quest? 😀
April 21, 2015 @ 6:58 pm
I can relate to your quest to see each and every piano on the eastern seaboard. Dogs like to sniff every bush before committing, too.
April 22, 2015 @ 7:38 am
Dogs like to sniff every bush before committing, too.
HOWLING!!! No pun intended!
April 22, 2015 @ 3:50 am
I’m just wondering what you’re going to do to top the piano/kitchen island idea.
April 22, 2015 @ 7:41 am
The very fact that you had other options BEFORE this free piano simply GOBSMACKS me. Not British, but this word seemed to really fit!
April 22, 2015 @ 9:57 am
Hey, I didn’t even know such a thing as a square grand piano existed! I’m pretty much a contemporary furniture Scan kinda gal but I love your blog and the way you write. And even though it isn’t my style by a long shot, I can still appreciate good design no matter what century it comes from (or goes to). As for Paul … hang on to that guy!