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
July 17, 2015 @ 12:56 am
Love the idea. Someday hope to do a kitchen remodel. I happen to have the square grand. Unless someone wants to save it?
October 7, 2015 @ 1:19 am
Woah.. okay, I was another poor soul who assumed you would leave the piano intact. Sad to see it go!
December 14, 2015 @ 7:58 pm
Please spare us people who think they are “Designers” and “Clever” ruining historical instruments. Have you seen what these pianos are selling for restored? Guess not. Tacky, simply tacky!
September 11, 2016 @ 2:07 am
Hi! I’m a professional piano technician, and I just wanted to say – OMG I LOVE THAT YOU DID THIS!! From a professional standpoint, I can tell you what you probably already know, because you know how to google: piano restoration is expensive and (something many people don’t realize), if someone actually DOES want to have a piano rebuilt, chances are more likely than not that they’ll get shafted by a “rebuilder” who likes to cut corners, isn’t as competent as they should be for their line of work, or who simply doesn’t care about after-service of their product. Piano rebuilds are usually nightmares, and the cost vs value is usually about the same as buying a new instrument, unless you’re talking about a Steinway or similar.
People who clutch their chests and cry over every defunct piano that gets trashed make my eyes roll hard. Just because it has 88 keys and is old, does not mean it’s worth saving. Sometimes you just have to put it out of its misery and bury it.
Re-PURPOSING, however, is just – BRILLIANT. Especially with these funky old square grands. It makes me smile. It makes the pianist in me heart-happy and giddy.
KUDOS, SO MUCH KUDOS. Yay!
January 17, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
Unbelievable ! What an amazing idea and craftsmanship! I have one of these piano’s and as a classical piano player I could never let this happen to mine. You are right when you said to stop! But I had to see it. I will never be able to do this to my dear old friend, however I could use it as an island and lift the top up whenever I feel the urge to play a piece. I am not much on functionality as my current island has a glass top with a wine fridge at one end and a bookshelf in the other! But I really like the look. I love the idea of using it as something else just not gutting it. And since I have an open concept home it gives me a reason to have another piano in my space. I love it! Thanks for the idea! I am sure my husband will the idea . Nothing he likes better than moving piano’s around! Not! He is a retired contractor and professional furniture maker and the word remodel is like a four letter word in my home! So thanks for showing me away I can just reuse it! Looking forward to seeing your future posts.