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Nifty Thrifty:  Repurposing a Piano  |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 6:08:08 PM
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I just got an old piano, its not a valuable antique but it is made to look like a solid built piano. We looked at it and found that a bunch of the keys are actually broke off and it was taken apart, maybe to restore it or something.
Since its not worth fixing up to actually use as a piano (as I intended on doing in the first place) I don't want it sitting around as a decorative piece since I want a usable piano.
What are some projects I can do to repurpose it instead of just burning it or throwing it in the dump? Overall it is in decent shape, just the internal parts are messed up.
Does anyone have any neat idea's to repurpose an old piano to keep it out of the dump?
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 7:04:30 PM
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My ex inlaws turned an upright into a bar.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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CurlysQuilts
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Sarah
Northeast Kingdom
VT
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 2:34:24 PM
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You can paint it cute, take the top lid off (if it's an upright one) and put potted plants in the top. I've seen that done and it's nice.
Curly's Quilts
www.curlysquilts.etsy.com
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2011 : 10:51:30 AM
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Before I threw it away, I would put it out in a flower bed and plant flowers/herbs in and around it. It may not last but a few years but would sure be a neat conversation piece. Oh, now I want one too.
Belle |
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Littleredd
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Patty
Norwich
NY
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2011 : 12:08:27 PM
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When I'm trying to repurpose something, I try to look at each of its parts individually and see what they remind me of. There's so much great, solid lumber to be had with a piano. I'd take the whole thing to pieces and use the wood to make other things. A child's doll crib or a replacement door for a playhouse or maybe part of a headboard for a bed? I think the keys would make GREAT wind chimes! Take them all out and drill holes in them and hang them with fishing line at varying lengths so they move against one another. Maybe use a couple of the pedals lashed together for the center of the wind chime? Any wiring inside could be bent and used for floral arranging, hanging wreaths. Cut in to smaller pieces and used to hand ornaments on your tree etc. A piano's notes are made by a soft hand hitting the strings inside, I wonder if instead of taking out the wire (notes) you could convert it in to a lap instrument that you play with a pik? I'm not genius at the guts of a piano but that's what I remember from when I was much younger.
~`~`~`~`~`
A little Red, attempting to be The Fearless Farmgirl
www.fearlessfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Stimalano
Farmgirl Sister #2106 |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1480 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1480 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2011 : 5:35:57 PM
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I like Sara and Belle's suggestions for converting it to a planter box. Here's another idea. Are there any theatrical groups or vintage/antiques stores in your area that would be interested in it for display purposes? Years ago we gave an old unfunctional antique organ to a prop company that used it for background sets. They were thrilled to have it because they were able to take all of guts out and just have the frame to move around. I recently saw an old upright piano that an antique dealer had converted into a display shelf for small items. The front panel had been removed and cut to make two shelves above the keyboard. There were small books displayed on the music ledge. And they had installed a towel rack below the keyboard to display quilts. On the sides there were shelves, hooks and bars for smaller linen items and glassware. It was really neat.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2011 : 12:59:10 PM
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I have seen 'blanket storage boxes' that are made to look like a piano and have a tape player in the front part for music. You could take the guts out and use it for off-season clothing storage or blankets or such. You might even be able to find one of those shower or wall style cd radios that could be installed somewhere out of sight in the piano for some music.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Lindsay C
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Lindsay
Rogersville
AL
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Feb 14 2011 : 05:29:20 AM
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Krystle, did you look into having it fixed to be usable? If so, how much did they say it would cost? I inherited my grandmother's piano when she died, and I have it still in storage because the keys and strings are in pretty bad shape. But I've always dreamed of getting it fixed. I've never thought of using it for something else, but I certainly don't want to get rid of it.
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 09:55:51 AM
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Lindsay, I can not seem to locate any one local that will fix an old piano so I would have to do it myself. I want to look it up myself to see if it can be fixed up somewhat inexpensively. Otherwise I will figure out a way to re purpose it. Depending on what happens I might be able to get my great grandpa's old piano and let me tell ya, I would definitely be fixing that up no matter what the cost, that is a family heirloom! So for now I am getting idea's and pricing on fixing it up. I am trying to figure out what makes it so heavy. I wonder if it is all the inside parts or if it's the wood itself? I guess I have some more research to do! Thanks for the ideas!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 10:15:40 AM
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oh I love the idea of a flower pot for a piano...when my sister got rid of her very damaged piano she stripped off all the ivory & ebony keys for me since I use them as a silversmith in my jewelry I would have loved to have had some of the wood but she lives in Calif & I am in Massachusetts so she gave it up to the recycling man who at least could use the wood for something. I always thought with all its fun parts there could be things you could do with some of the insides...alot of times the metal sound board is so cool looking I think it would make a great sculpture in a garden,,,the wooden & felted pieces that help deaden the sound I think would be cool to pull out & screw to a piece of the old piano as maybe hat or coat hangers....there is always ton of things that can be done with the wire. the metal foot petal I would remove & use as a door stop for the front door....I think that would be a cool conversation piece. I could go on & on with this but I think you get the idea...If it can't be fixed there is so much you can do with it to keep enjoying it even in its smaller bits. someone gave me an old singer sewing machine that was trashed but I cleaned it up & it became a door stop for the backdoor during the summer.....it was heavy enough no one was going to knock it away plus it was easy to see so you didn't fall/trip over it like some of the smaller ones.....have a great weekend....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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Nifty Thrifty: Repurposing a Piano |
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Repurposing a Piano
