Gutting the piano: repurposed kitchen island pt 3. *video*
if you’re new to the piano, start here! This is part 3… here is: part one, two, four, five, six, seven
While conducting my tri-state search for a piano-into-kitchen-island, I have been simultaneously having an ongoing philosophical dispute with Paul, over the very meaning of the English language:
Paul defines a kitchen island as a practical workspace with excellent storage.
VS.
My credo that storage and practicality should be secondary to general awesomeness.
And that actually, EVERYTHING IN LIFE should be secondary to general awesomeness. (Even if later it explodes in your face.)
If you want to know who is “right,” ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THIS PHOTO.
Of course, as with all sophisticated philosophical disputes, one’s self is forced to a place of deep thought and introspection… and while there, I have asked Self the eternal and existential question posed by philosophers since time immemorial:
Do I really want a kitchen island that lacks functionality?
I have examined the deepest darkest corners of my soul, and this is the answer that resonates from within: NOPE.
Self has plenty of ideas for how to complicate this… and they all involve the space inside the piano.
ALERT:
Any piano conservationists out there will want to stop right here… Avert your eyes from the carnage that is about to happen.
DO NOT WATCH THE VIDEO!
Allow our destruction to shed light on the plight of these pianos! Go forth and find one for yourself! Save it! Restore it! Send me photos!
For the rest of you, how about a fifth of Beethoven?
Video — putting drawers into piano.
index of all kitchen renovation posts
April 28, 2015 @ 10:07 am
You are brilliant and Paul is your perfect and equally talented accomplice!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:08 am
Gorgeous….so can I have the internals for repurposing???? Hmmmm???
April 28, 2015 @ 10:15 am
Gutting the piano! I do not know why I assumed you would just leave it and just put a marble slab on top of it… You are so smart! I cannot wait to see what you do with the top, post soon!!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:15 am
Meep! That poor piano! I can see your reasoning though. Precious storage is important.
April 28, 2015 @ 10:17 am
Your cat is very, very talented.
April 28, 2015 @ 10:19 am
I only refret that I won’t still be around when they canonize your husband!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:20 am
make that regret-fingers work faster than brain does
April 28, 2015 @ 10:21 am
Elvis has so many hidden talents — great choice of music!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:21 am
Who knew Elvis played the piano??
Adorable & talented….as are you and Paul.
Thanks for the smiles!!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:23 am
Oh Victoria, look at all that great wood! and … I want the keys! Oh man oh man do I want all the black and white keys…. I want them the way you want huge, fancy things! :))) And the piano wires!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:25 am
So what DID you do with the internals? Or do I have to wait for the next video to find out? Hmmm?
April 28, 2015 @ 10:35 am
they are sitting it the garage… I’m not quite ready to part with them, incase some unforeseen idea comes at three in the morning.
we won’t trash it, even if we don’t use it, I’ll find someone who will.
April 28, 2015 @ 11:04 pm
Since it’s too late to have this piano rebuilt for someone else to appreciate, 🙁 here’s someone who will probably buy its glorious entrails to use in the restoration of other antique pianos. [email protected]
April 30, 2015 @ 12:47 pm
It’s a shame you couldn’t leave the keys in, facing away from the kitchen,still on display somehow. Maybe some sort of plexiglass topper, that way that part could still serve as a breakfast bar? Hm…
April 28, 2015 @ 10:31 am
If this torment draws out much longer, I fear I shall not live to the reveal. My poor soul can’t bear the suspense of impending glory and gargantuan fanciness. Also, you are a genius. Paul can be canonized. You will be legend.
April 28, 2015 @ 10:31 am
…I hope you saved the good keys..they might be functional for another piano with broken keys? Call a Tuner. You may be able to redeem some cash for the next great awesome pice! You know..the account !
April 28, 2015 @ 10:38 am
I always wait with anticipation for your new posts! You bring smiles and joy to my day! Paul is a good egg! Not to mention Elvis! You are truly blessed! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:38 am
Cannot even tell you how EXCITED I am about your piano conversion! I cannot wait to see what you and Paul do with it 🙂
April 28, 2015 @ 10:47 am
Sigh…I have admired your finds and Paul’s willingness to help with them for ages. I SO picture you as in this video once Paul started really working on removing its inner workings, coaching him on with a song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlxJi9tm1BI
She looks so much like you on your wedding day – I hope other fans will watch and see the resemblance, especially with the beloved big earrings!
And for Paul’s help with the piano –
‘Just a kiss just a kiss, I have lived just for this…
I can’t explain why I’ve become
Miss CL insane…’ (apologies to K D Lang)
April 28, 2015 @ 11:51 am
I agree – it could be our very own VEB!!! What a gorgeous video!
What a gorgeous island this is turning out to be. How could anyone have any doubts! Waiting for the next installment…
April 28, 2015 @ 12:31 pm
Amazing video. I can just imagine VEB floating around her house of beautiful things once it’s all done. Even Paul was in the video behind the scenes at the end making the magic happen.
April 28, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
WOW, I love this KL and the song, and it is SOOO VEB!!
April 28, 2015 @ 10:53 am
I am so excited about this! I cannot wait for your updates.
April 28, 2015 @ 11:08 am
I think the big hunk of piano innards that pulled out in the beginning needs to be hung on the wall as an ode. It’s really beautiful!
April 28, 2015 @ 11:13 am
Love! But since I cannot sit idly by and watch you miss an opportunity, I have to let you know that (IMHO) you aren’t finished until you find another giant, fancy piece of furniture (that was previously unrelated to music in any way), and install the guts of the piano into that. You should. You know you should. Or Paul should. And it should not be immediately obvious that the guts are hidden in there. And the guts must work, as in, produce lovely, lovely music. You probably won’t be truly happy until this happens, because Hulloooo! Repurposing! (You’re welcome. 🙂 )
April 28, 2015 @ 11:34 am
What an idea of total awesomeness! I agree! 🙂
April 28, 2015 @ 11:18 am
Also… on a more practical note: are the keys ivory? Because if they are, this brings up a whole new set of questions! Highly coveted by some, possibly valuable, but if memory serves there could be legal issues when selling. Unfortunately, returning it to the elephants is not an option. It bears looking into though.
April 28, 2015 @ 1:31 pm
as is always the case with pricing antiques, things aren’t pricey unless they’re rare enough. genuine ivory piano keys that are about a century old are not very rare and, thus, not very pricey. also, there is no legal hurdle to selling of antique piano keys. any piano tuner/repair-person can provide replacement ivory from any keys where it’s fallen off (the ivory is glued on top of wood) in a color that closely matches the color/aging of the keys on your existing piano. i learned this a few years ago when i had my 1907 piano fully restored. the 3 missing ivory pieces were the least of the cost!