{Before & After}–Refinished Piano

This was one of the most intimidating projects I have taken on.  I never had a piano, never really “inspected” one and didn’t really have a clue as to what was goin on inside of one.  Until now – now I’m good to go on some more piano painting!!  It was actually kinda fun getting to know the “innards” of a piano :)

I started with this cool old upright piano that hadn’t been getting any use, this thing was almost a hundred years old!!  My client had her mom (the sweetest lady!) deliver the piano to me so it could be prettied up and then my clients husband drove all the way from another state to pick it up and take it home with them!! 

Anyways – the piano was in good shape, but kinda plain.  We got it all sanded down and ready for paint.

IMAG0564

I bought these wooden appliques from Lowes, put the biggest one in the middle, and then a little one on each corner.  I also framed out the large applique with some decorative molding.

IMAG0565

IMAG0566

Then I started disassembling the piano to paint it.   I thought I got pics of it taken apart but I guess I didn’t it.  I took off the back part (where the molding is), then I took off the little sidebars where the back part hooks in, the key cover, and the keys.  There was no way that I could just tape around it to paint it, the whole thing had to come apart.  That’s where I used to be intimidated, but not anymore!!  I started just taking out piece by piece and it was pretty easy.

Then I taped up the guts of the piano so I didn’t get that painted and started spraying it.

IMAG0584

After a coat of primer, 2 coats of paint, a little distressing and a clear coat, I reassembled everything and got it all back in the right spot – pheww!!  Luckily the keys were numbered so all those just went back in order.

DSC_0002

Then after it was all done – it turned out like this.  I love it!!  How fun is this color too?!

DSC_0019

DSC_0020

DSC_0026

DSC_0028

DSC_0033

I so want a piano now!!  My daughter loved having it at the shop and was so sad to see it go – she got a keyboard for Christmas and has learned a couple songs, so it was fun seeing her play her new tunes on a “real” piano :)  Plus they just look so cute!!

the 411 = color is Calico by Sherwin Williams in a satin finish.  Poly I used is a gloss finish by SW Wood Classics (water based).

Anyone refinished a piano?  I would love to see it!!!