This is my piano. Many of you have seen it before on this blog. It was my grandmother’s piano. It’s a Chickering and it has a wonderful sound. It used to have ivory keys until they became chipped and cracked. When I had it moved to San Diego, I had the keyboard replaced.
My grandmother, my mom, my brother, sisters and various aunts and uncles played on this piano. It has a wonderful history that makes it priceless to me.
So why do I have crazy desire to paint it? (My grandmother rolled over in her grave as I typed those words.) It’s mahogany. The grain of the wood is pretty, but it is so dark. My grandmother had mahogany furniture, my mom had a mahogany dining room set – I grew up with dark wood. I’m not a big fan. Our living room is fairly light and airy. And then there is the piano.
But when I see photos like these (from Pinterest):
I keep hearing the words of my grandmother and mother in my head. And they are not pretty.
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Linda Carole Bloom says
I have my great grandmother’s pump organ. My father refinished it many years ago. It is mahogany. And dark. And I would NEVER repaint it . . . or would I?? I love that last photo with the cream-colored paint! (I could never tell my father though).
A Vintage Green says
So tempting to paint. I wonder if Annie Sloan paint can be removed by scraping/wiping if a person changes their mind weeks/years later and how much work would be involved. The cream coloured paint on the last piano picture looked very calm.
– Joy
Joanne says
Oh I wouldn’t paint it at all. The last picture makes it very tempting though, but no I wouldn’t paint it…wait maybe….ugh!
Blessings, Joanne
Deb says
Only if it looks like the fourth photo. I understand the dilemma though.
BEACH BUNGALOW says
I say go for it; you only live once!
S
xo
Debbie says
The piano is yours Claudia. Your love for this inheritance is obvious. If you would enjoy it even more in a different color, then change it. After looking at the pictures you posted of painted pianos, I’d paint mine in a flash!
:D
Crystal Rose Cottage says
That’s a hard one Claudia. They look great painted too. Only you know what you should do. Good luck!~Hugs, Patti
Snappy Di says
I’d be scared to death to paint a piano myself, but I would consider having a professional do it for me.
Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness says
Go for it, you are just giving it a freah coat of paint like you would do other pieces of furniture. The memories will always be there, just brighter.
Caseymini says
Claudia, the piano will sound the same, no matter the color. The turquoise one is scary, but I like the rest. That last one looks like it is out of a fairy tale. Very pretty and I can see it in your house. One question… What does Don think?
Debbie B says
Guess this is one where you have to make that decision for yourself. My mom painted our old upright piano green with one of those ‘antiqueing kits’ that were so popular back in the 70’s. When we donated it to our church someone repainted it blue to match the decor in the fellowship hall. It was pretty both ways. I now have a walnut Baldwin console and even though I love lighter oak furniture, I wouldn’t dream of painting it. To each his (or her) own! :)
Mona Kay at Blissfully Refurbished says
DO IT!!! It will be gorgeous!!
….this from a girl who paints anything that doesn’t move…but I say go for it!!
the fishermans cottage says
I would say do it, it would look wonderful, especially white, you will walk past it everyday with a smile on your face thinking why didn’t I do this before.. :)
p.s. yes your right it is Pyrex, here in the UK we call it that too so the Dutch must call it Pyrosil x
The Garden Bell says
This is going to be a really hard call for you. I love it both ways. I just having a hard time painting really really nice antique wood like that, but the teal… oh, my.
Wait you are on Pinterest now… Off to make sure I’m a follower. Isn’t it totally fun.
Angela says
DO IT!! I would love to run across an upright, cheap piano to paint a creamy white. My husband loves to pick out tunes…
Bluebirds and Butterflies says
Hi Claudia,
I have mixed feelings on the piano… I do love the painted ones and can see where you would be drawn to them! At the same time though, I have an old rocker that belonged to me as a child… it was an off white color and had a beautiful little gold painted fruit design on the top of the front of the rocker. I have thought many times about painting it and having someone stencil in a new gold fruit design…but something stops me…I don’t know why. It is almost like if I put paint on it, I am taking away the history of it and a piece of me. I know this sounds crazy… So I just leave it as it is…worn paint and almost worn off design. I love the piano you have. What a wonderful memory for you! I know you will make the right choice…follow your heart! Love ya and thanks for the visit to my blog, too! xoxo Kim
Lucille says
Do what you feel is right for you, Claudia. I think it would lend itself well to being painted. The first piano is similar to yours and looks really nice painted. I think either white or off white would complement your present colour scheme.
On another note, how is your dollhouse? Perhaps you could use some of your free time to build a few little kits and paint them. I’m so looking forward to seeing what you do with that little house.
zooperson says
Don’t do it. My mother painted our upright much like the one in the last photo–sort of antique ivory, but shortly thereafter she (and I) wished she had never done it. It lost its stately being and looked more like a toy. It was an excellent paint job but it seemed to magnify the size and every redecorating effort we made in that room thereafter was hampered by that painted piano. It was a Baldwin as I recall and had a wonderful sound.
Kim says
I know there are plenty out there that would strongly disagree with me- but I think there is more value in being in love with something than in “preserving” it. If your heart longs to paint it and you know you would love your piano painted- then I say go for it. I’ve seen lots of posts on the chalk paint too and it does create some amazing finishes. In the end it’s your decision and you have to do what you feel is right in your heart :)
Dorthe says
Oh yes Claudia– you should paint, when you so desire– we all do things our foremothers would take for a violation in there mind…..
the examples looks so beautiful,all- but the white creamy one- is real lovely.
xox,Dorthe
GardenofDaisies says
I would not paint the piano. But that is me. You have to make your own decision.
My piano used to belong to my parents. When they retired they passed it on to me and I re-covered the bench.
The Boston Lady says
I have a mahogany one as well and the thought has crossed my mind many a day, especially after seeing some of the painting successes out there. However, mine is not a family piano with history, so I don’t know how I would feel about that if I had that to think about. Tough call. You will do what’s right for you. Ann
Judi says
It is yours. If you are just concerned about the value – don’t. If you just love it and enjoy playing it – paint it. Btw I just came across your blog and love it. Saw your little spinet desk and I have one just about like it. Would like to send you a picture but don’t use outlook. Hope to hear from you. ps I love china too (and old silverware).
Rizzi says
I SAY “GO FOR IT.” MANY MANY YEARS AGO MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE MY MOTHER A BEAUTIFUL SET TO PUT ON HER BUREAU, AND AT THE SAME TIME SHE ALSO SAID PUT IT IN YOUR HOPE CHEST SO THE KIDS DON’T TOUCH IT. SHE WAS…………
LET’S NOT GO THERE. WELL, IT ACTUALLY ROTTED AWAY. I THINK YOUR PIANO MEANS SO MUCH TO YOU, AND YOU WANT IT TO LOOK BETTER, GET A BOOK ON PAINTING OVER MAHAGONY, I THINK IT WOULD LOOK GREAT. TAKE CARE, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND….RIZZI
Cheryl says
Claudia, I have always been a traditionalist when it comes to painting antique and vintage pieces with a fine finish. As I looked around now at the pieces I have been dragging around, storing or putting up with just because they are part of my history I have absolutely given this question a lot of thought. You should definitely paint it if that is how you would best enjoy having it in your living space. There are several reasons I give this advice, one, by now your taste in decor is not likely to alter much. You obviously put a lot of thought into the pieces that you bring into your home. Two, your mother and grandmother want you to love this piano. Love it as you will and listen to the beautiful music that will come forth from it. Three, if you had to hand a piece down would you want to give with it conditions? You probably would not. I have already told my daughter that while I would hope she finds some use for the pieces she will inherit they are for enjoyment and I do not want her dragged down by them or their history.
All of the examples you showed us are very pretty.
Jean says
I have that same problem with wood. To paint or not to paint. That is the question.
Ranger 911 says
I would have said NO, until I saw the painted pianos. That last cream colored piano is what I would do. It looks quietly elegant.
Karen says
I think you can honor the past, but that doesn’t mean you have to preserve it under glass. I have a mahogany shelf that belonged to my mom. I love that it was hers, but never cared for the dark wood. I painted it (in fact your little shelf inspired me!) and now I love it. If I hadn’t painted it, it would be stored in the basement.
Cottage and Broome says
Live on the wild side, I say paint it! Give your self permission to do it. I painted my oak dining room set that we bought when we first got married thirty years ago. People thought I was crazy, I just told them I enjoyed it for 25 years as oak and now I am loving the creamy white I painted it. Five years later I still love it! If you get a chance please stop by and visit us, the Mom from Cottage and Broome.
Leann says
I think it’s gorgeous the way it is, but if you would have shown it to me painted, I would probably love it that way too!
Sorry no decisions here
Leann
Createology says
It is YOUR piano now and you should do what makes you happy. Maybe painting the stool first and see how it livens up the space since it sits out further would be a safer leap. New chic fabric too?
Happy weekend…
Privet and Holly says
I hope my someday
granddaughter will
do what makes her
heart sing and not
worry about my opinion.
I say GO for it!
I love the image that
you’ve had for a long
time. The fact that
you’ve held on to it
means it really spoke
to you. Life is too
short for dark furniture
if it isn’t truly YOU.
xx Suzanne
Carolyn says
I say “cream it” ! It would be an even more interesting piece of loved furniture—don’t delay, you look at it everyday and it would make you smile even more!
Donna says
Although I LOVE all those painted pianos you posted pics of, and although I have painted practically every stick of furniture in our house (granted it was cheap dark pine, not mahogany), I would really sleep on it – a LOT – like a Rip Van Winkle sleep before I painted it. I’ve actually had a bit of remorse over a few smallish things I’ve painted white, wishing I had left them wood.
In the end, it is what will make you happy! I am still wishing we had painted our brick fireplace white instead of building a ‘surround’ to place over it. I love the look brick painted white – like your wall! Maybe someday I will convince hubby that we should just paint the brick!
So I’m guessing I wasn’t much help here :) Talk about flip flopping! haha
Donna
Sharon Lovejoy says
YOUR PIANO
YOUR CHOICE
Go for the joyful color and JUST DO IT!!!!
Love the Miss Keyboard chart above the piano too.
Dare!
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green island
Mary says
I go with the painters – hey life is too short for dark wood (although your mahogany piano IS beautiful) – especially in small rooms such as our cottage homes!
May be a big painting project and, if you decide to attack it, wouldn’t start until you are fully healed and have your strength back. Yes, the chalk paint sounds wonderful, if pricey, and it comes in some lovely soft colors – but skip the deep turquoise please!!!!!!! Your beautiful ceramics will stand out more on a creamy white I think.
Wish I was closer – I’d come help you!
Mary X
Sassy Marsha says
If you paint it, I’ll paint my antique dresser!!!! I’m with Carolyn, cream it!!!
Although that light blue is very pretty . . . .
xxoo
Marsha