Piano into kitchen island– designing drawers and storage. *video*
if you’re new to the piano, start here! This is part 6… here is: part one, two, three, four, five, seven
If you don’t want to read all of my precious words, skip to the video at the end. It explains this entire post in fifty seconds.
BUILDING DRAWERS / PROJECT OVERVIEW:
1. Considering the piano’s structure.
2. Designing the drawers.
3. Storage inside the piano.
4. Storage under the piano.
1. Considering the piano’s structure.
The piano is not just a flimsy shell… it has a thick, curved wood piece called the pinblock: it supported the harp and acted as an attachment for the strings.
In the photo below, in the left/back corner, (where the curve is most prominent,) we notched out one part to get the corner of a drawer a little bit further in.
Cutting the pinblock out entirely would give us more drawer space, but for what we want to do (top the piano with marble,) structurally, that curved piece is important.
We are going to make the marble-supports perfectly flush with the very top edge of the piano (we want the original piano sides to appear to support the marble because I’m not sure I’ll want an overhang). We will leave the elevated pinblock and notch the marble-supports to sit on top.
These boards will also act as drawer dividers/drawer slide holders.
2. Designing the drawers: STORAGE.
We are going to have two tiers of drawers, but only one drawer face for each tier.
Weighing out functionality vs. appearance, three drawer-faces will look better than six, and the upper drawers will hold what is related to the lower drawers – attachments, etc. So I will be opening the lower drawer anyway.
Because I am trying to make decisions based on preserving the furniture-ness of the piano, I considered simply keeping the original keyboard cover (now-drawer-face) intact, and having the entire piece hinge up, or out, or somewhere, but every configuration I considered seemed like a lot of extra steps simply to open a drawer.
2. Designing the drawers: HARDWARE.
You can see that our drawers still need finished drawer fronts, which cannot be installed until I get handles, which I cannot buy until I find something I like.
I have been looking on eBay, and did the rounds of the salvage places, but anything I like is only a set of two. And I need at least three. (Or five, if we do the two drawers underneath, but I think I prefer just using the lower lip of the drawer.)
If I do reproduction, I have more options, but I’m undecided about bin pull, vs drop pull, vs expected-handle-type-thing, and I’d be happier to let the right set of antique hardware make the decision for me… Either way, it needs to be right, because once we drill, it’s final.
2. Designing the drawers: DRAWER SLIDES.
Obviously, we are doing full extension, soft close… If we didn’t, the AKDCCE (Appropriate-Kitchen-Design-and-Correct-Cooking-Evaluators,) would have me forever banished to kitchen purgatory.
I might be doomed anyway, because we did not use Blum!
Blum is under-mount… which could have worked for the bottom drawers, but not the top, (without extra nonsense). So in the interest of keeping everything uniform, we did side-mounted drawer slides.
I tried to install some of the slide hardware myself so that I could explain the process to you… but sadly fortunately, I was unable to comprehend all 57,000 steps, so we can just skip this part.
I thought it would be fairly straightforward. But it is not. Just when you think it would be impossible to have any more steps… there are way more steps. And it turns out that you have to pay attention for longer than 15 seconds to gain proficiency.
If you haven’t already, go watch the piano deconstruction… it will give you an idea of how/why the front is accessible like this.
3. Storage inside the piano: DRAWERS.
— Tall lower drawers (photo above).
The lower drawers are all the same height, but different depths– to accommodate the curved support at the back of the piano.
— Shallow upper drawers (photo below).
Because the height of the upper drawer dictates the usable-height of the lower drawer, Paul measured everything I plan to store in the lower drawers, and then allowed those measurements to determine the height of the upper drawers, so they are of varying heights.
2. Storage inside the piano: FOOD PROCESSOR.
The thing I am most excited about is a place to store the food processor that does not make me crazy.
The food processor is awkward and has a base that will not slide, no matter what… so getting it on a shelf or into a cabinet is such a giant pain that I am more likely to just leave it out.
UNTIL NOW.
This part I can take no credit for; it is entirely Paul’s design.
The drawer above the food processor is actually the same size as the other top-tier drawers. But Paul recessed it back a few inches to accommodate the food processor’s center post and minimize wasted space.
4. Drawers under the piano.
Paul built the entire under piece and installed it as one solid unit. The video explains this in about three seconds, so I’m skipping the written description.
The under-piano drawers are recessed on all four sides: more at the sides and back, less at the front. If your line of sight is up by your head, the three, non-operable sides are pretty much invisible.
If I lower the camera to waist level, you can see the drawers, especially at the front where they are closer to the front/edge/where you access them.
I think this is acceptable because even if you were super petite, you still wouldn’t see the front when you enter the kitchen. Plus, the distance you need to see the front from this particular angle isn’t happening once the island is aligned with wall cabinets.
You can see the drawers at the front, but not at the side, see?
These drawers still need to be covered.
Paul will use the piano top to camouflage the new wood once I am ready to let him cut into it… I haven’t yet had enough time to be certain I am not overlooking something.
This is an extra step necessitated by my own paranoia and indecision and general fear of commitment… It is a testament to the strength of these personality traits that Paul has adapted to them, rather than continue to fight a war he cannot win.
Now, video! This is the second half of putting drawers in the piano… the video of making the actual drawers is here.
May 27, 2015 @ 6:41 pm
Either no pulls (push to pop out or grab recess at bottom of drawer) or those dangly ones with the ebony. This is beyond fabulous!!! We’re in the process of adding full extension slides to an 1860s (or earlier) Eastlake dresser for our kitchen remodel. But I can’t touch this!!! Love/Fl!p
May 27, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
I was fortunate enough to find this on eBay and I know it will be invaluable once Kingdom Kitchen is completely installed and ready for soirees,champagne tastings- with Caviar of course -and you in diamond dangle ear bobs, and Silk Pajamas suitable for serious Dancing! Paul in Armani Tux, Miss Elvis of course always impeccably attired for any occasion. Wish we all could be there………….if you need any of our addresses you need only ask –
Square Dances for Piano and Violin: Together with Calls, Explanations and Illust
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May 27, 2015 @ 8:34 pm
GENIUS! I am loving the food processor drawer!
May 27, 2015 @ 9:06 pm
I came across one of these two weeks ago and I felt somewhat ill that you were butchering it. Paul’s work is beautiful, but so is the original object. Internal conflict! Blast!
May 27, 2015 @ 9:23 pm
Just stunning, and I am full of envy. Since I coordinate construction in my job, my changes would be what I would do if it were for me not what you need to change. I would not have the bottom drawers under the lip edge but if you need them, you need them. Then for that drawer over the food processor, you could make a center cut out in the drawer and frame the center to let the drawer come out fully but with the center “cut out” missing the pin of the food processor. I did that on an antique bathroom cabinet to get the drawer to fit around the plumbing pipes. You really can’t tell from the front now, they just look like two smaller width drawers than one drawer. It’s still one drawer, however.
May 27, 2015 @ 9:29 pm
Paying attention for more than 15 seconds is always a dealbreaker for me, too.
May 27, 2015 @ 9:32 pm
Very cool to watch the “process”. How is the drawer face going to work on the top tier..?
May 28, 2015 @ 12:13 am
Genius at work…that hubby of yours! I just can’t wait to see how you have a drawer front on that top recessed drawer on the right???? I’m sure it will be perfect….just can’t picture it. Amazing creation!
May 28, 2015 @ 8:05 am
I appreciate Paul’s idea of adjusting the drawer for the food processor but if it were me I’d buy a new food processor where the stem comes off instead.
May 28, 2015 @ 11:23 am
I’m anxiously awaiting to see how the drawer fronts work on all of the different size drawers, especially the recessed drawer for the food processer attachments. Reconsidering my thoughts on pulls. I DO love those drop pulls!
May 28, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
Dear Peeps-Her Graciousness of Ultimate Craigslist Finds and Most Beautimous ✨GFT✨ is going to do a drawer within a drawer, like the photo she had in this post. One drawer front for two drawers, less visual fussiness. Alas the ✨GFT✨ blinds a lot of us to the mundane.
http://victoriabarnes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/two-drawers-with-only-one-face.jpg
May 29, 2015 @ 3:50 pm
What about drawer pulls like these? https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1301000&categoryId=cat1512023
May 31, 2015 @ 3:46 pm
I am in such awe at your genius of transforming a piano into a kitchen island. This needs to happen so badly to my life.
In relation to the drawer handles / pulls, may I suggest trying to get more of the same handles / pulls used elsewhere on your kitchen cupboards? That might unite and marry your grande piano island fabulousness with the rest of your kitchen, while still being very stand alone and, well, god damn fabulous.
Just a thought. I’ve done it with a couple of projects and it really tied the room together. xx
June 1, 2015 @ 1:23 am
Because I have nothing better to do with my time (who NEEDS to fold laundry anyway?) I’ve done some browsing for TFK (tiny fancy knobs.) While obviously looks are the most important, I think you should really keep comfort in mind when choosing the pulls because those drawers are going to be heavy when loaded with pots and appliances; you don’t want something that’s going to be a pain to open.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Three-Beautiful-Old-Vintage-Drawer-Pulls-Cabinet-Door-Pulls-Keeler-Brass-K3886/400926262855?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30426%26meid%3D9b407c49c7c84659b01fa704c45f1cf1%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D311369908870
https://www.etsy.com/listing/231297867/set-of-3-antique-drawer-pulls-vintage?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=victorian%20drawer%20pulls&ref=sr_gallery_42
https://www.etsy.com/listing/229560233/set-of-six-polished-filigree-victorian?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=victorian%20drawer%20pulls&ref=sr_gallery_40
Or these! Because nothing says Kingdom Island more than regal lions. (Obviously they’d all have to be stripped though.)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/222286264/set-of-6-matching-cast-brass-lion-head?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=victorian%20drawer%20pulls&ref=sr_gallery_32
Personally I think you should stick with something Victorian, but it looks like Pilar juxtaposed more modern drawer pulls with her cabinetry. Good luck in your search. We’re all waiting with baited breath to see the final creation. I’m sure it’ll be gorgeous.
June 11, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
I really love everything about this…except…
I don’t love the Cuisinart pole just sticking up there. I know you want to maximize storage, but it looks ugly, and after all that work for the sake of beauty…
Why not just one deep drawer without the little baby drawer above?
June 11, 2015 @ 6:36 pm
…or make the drawer face of the bottom drawer go all the way up to the top so it looks like one deep drawer from the outside and then you have the stealth recessed drawer hidden from view…along with the offending pole…
June 21, 2015 @ 11:54 pm
Aaaaaah, I could have a piano kitchen island just like yours!!! http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/zip/5080271179.html
June 28, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
Where have you gone? I love your blog!
July 6, 2015 @ 1:34 pm
Is there anyone in the Atlanta area who would like to try to imitate Victoria’s fantastic piano island?
If so, there is a person in Douglassville who is selling a similar piano on CraigsList for $100.00
No, it is NOT me!
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/atq/5078230892.html
July 6, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
*Douglasville— sorry for the incorrect spelling ;-(