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92 Comments

  1. Victoria Seeber
    July 7, 2015 @ 3:36 pm

    Are no longer posting? Haven’t seen anything in over a month

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  2. judy
    July 22, 2015 @ 7:34 pm

    does anyone know VEB and if she isn’t posting just because they are going to finish the whole kitchen and then do a big reveal or they are vacationing or something very not good has occurred and thus the end of posting. I don’t even know this couple and I feel as though a great neighbor, funny, talented, creative just moved away in the night and left everyone wondering Why? I sincerely hope they are both well and Miss Elvis too. I know she is very important to Virginia.

    Reply

  3. Lori
    July 25, 2015 @ 3:02 am

    Saw this and thought of you. too bad it is across the country. Granted, Paul is probable please about that!

    http://charlesphillipsantiques.com/

    Reply

  4. Jen
    July 30, 2015 @ 12:54 pm

    I stumbled on your blog from a pin, and then of course set out to read the entire thing from the beginning. Go ahead and consider me DEVASTATED to have caught up. I have to wait for things in REAL TIME now? I now question my very existence.

    Reply

  5. Dolores
    August 5, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

    Hello, I hope you are well. I am missing your blog and your updates. I love your humor and witty writing. I am looking forward to the time when you can come back.

    Reply

  6. Dux
    August 8, 2015 @ 6:46 pm

    I am serendipitously brand new to you but what providence for me as a sneak-away-messing-around-on-the-computer treat. One of the pieces we have in our foyer (really an entry but I am embracing my pretensions) is a m-u-c-h wee-er version of your piano island: my maternal great-grandfather evidently converted a bijou piano into his desk. After his death it lived in my maternal grandmother’s summer house, and when she died in the 1990s went into storage in my aunt’s winter house. I was the only of the cousins who wanted it, along with some hideously uncomfortable but fabulously over the top Brazilian dining chairs. I believe the chairs are for looking only, but my husband believes they are the perfect staging place for his empty reusable grocery bags … charming, but as he loves grocery shopping mum is the word. The piano desk has cubbies and a few drawers; needless to say the drawers aren’t fancy like yours. In all fairness, it was converted in the 1910s or 1920s. The children know it is as “the piano desk,” so even though they are young and small (though getting older and bigger) I know this piano desk will continue to be a family piece, and that makes me happy. So happy. And it makes me happy that you are doing something for your kitchen which will make you happy.

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  7. Liz Thomas
    August 11, 2015 @ 8:09 am

    So missing you!! Please tell us you, Paul and Elvis are just fantastically fine and enjoying the summer, and so hoping your kitchen and piano are still in progress, or did you find something so overly exciting that the piano has taken second place!!! Looking forward to your next post!!

    Reply

  8. Cindy
    August 13, 2015 @ 1:06 am

    I am missing your posts as well–hoping you are enjoying a bit of a summer vacation and that we will see you soon!

    Reply

  9. jamie
    August 18, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

    have you checked with liz’s antique hardware? it’s not that hard to find sets of 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 of antique hardware (bin pulls, drop pulls, bail pulls, knobs, you name it) that have been very carefully stripped of any paint in a way that doesn’t damage the patina. you can either make a trip to los angeles, and you will be in heaven (or bankrupt) when you visit (i promise you), or you can email them. they have well over a million pieces of antique hardware. if you’re going to go, plan to spend 4-6 hrs there each day for 3 or 4 consecutive days, and have a list and measurements and templates on hand. you will leave the happiest person alive b/c of what you will find! if you email, it’s best if you can narrow down the realm of styles you might be interested in by providing them a few pictures and say, hey, i’m looking for something in this vicinity. i’d email robert. he’s super knowledgeable about historic styles and eras and he’ll be able to sense the vibe you’re going for. you might also include a photo of the piano so he sees what it’ll be paired with. i’m sure he’ll be able to email you back with photos of about 3 or 4 options, easily, for 5 matching pieces (or, if you only need 3, he can very likely find you a very specific thing if you know exactly what you want). you might call and ask to speak to robert, so that you will endear him to you, and then you’re not just an anonymous emailer, and then you can correspond in part by email and in part by phone. you might want to mention to him what an enormous dork you are for all things old and historic and he will totally appreciate your enthusiasm. and trust me, robert is the one you want to speak to. aside from the owner (liz, who doesn’t take phone calls, she’s too busy running around the country buying up ALL the antique hardware that’s left to be found), robert is the most knowledgable. and he’s second to none of the employees in genuine sweetness. i used to work there, so i know these things. 😉

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  10. Gary Peters
    August 27, 2015 @ 11:28 am

    Wow…what an interesting idea. Never would have thought to take a piece of furniture, especially a piano, and turn it into a kitchen island, with drawers no less. Great pictures showing the process. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  11. Judy
    October 30, 2015 @ 12:53 am

    Being pianists, my daughter and I, at first were appalled at this. It seemed macabre or something. Watching your progress, I have warmed to the project and now have a suggestion.
    You should devise some way for piano music to play when the drawers open. Maybe your favorite songs or songs with food/cooking references?
    Looking forward to the finished kitchen!

    Reply

  12. Michelle
    November 28, 2015 @ 1:17 pm

    I love this idea. I have a purchased, freestanding kitchen island, but actually own a smaller piano case of the same type that belonged to my great great grandparents and was made into a desk years ago (did you know that making these pianos into other things actually has a history of it’s own!). Now I’m thinking one of these days I’ll repurpose this repurposed family piano into a kitchen island for my 1890 Victorian! One suggestion – when I saw the photo of the original piano top back on the case after the installation of the drawers, I realized how cool it would be to cut and finish a piece of dark marble or granite exactly like that original top (minus the hinge). It would beautifully mimic the original appearance while giving you more functionality. So if you haven’t already thought of that, I just had to leave the comment. Would look fantastic with light marble as countertops! Keep up the terrific work and inspiration! Thanks!

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  13. Sandra
    April 7, 2016 @ 12:01 pm

    Love the piano island…very clever idea! Any pics of the completed island?

    Reply

  14. Alicia
    April 18, 2016 @ 5:56 pm

    My mother has a Knabe grand piano just like this that her mother received as a wedding gift. I love, love, love your idea to make this an island. Do you have any pics of the completed project?

    Reply

  15. Ronda Petrasek
    April 24, 2016 @ 5:39 pm

    Victoria, I read one of your posts early this morning via a Facebook post… and I’m pretty sure I will never be the same! I laughed until I thought I would pee my pants! I too have a love for craigslist, yardsales, and antique stores…. and SARCASM!!! So I immediately tagged all of my girlfriends, so they could enjoy your post too… then went on to read post after post! I am only stopping now… because I have a family to cook for… laundry that needs folding… etc… but I will be back new friend!!!

    Reply

  16. Derek
    May 22, 2016 @ 10:54 pm

    Have you considered using the piano keys as the pulls?!

    Reply

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