Tickling the Ivories
Remember I said there was a surprise coming with my parents’ furniture? Ta da:
It’s an antique baby grand player piano that’s been in my family since I was a kid. There are these beautiful paper rolls that you feed into and it plays sweet, sweet music.
Neighbors used to be really impressed with music coming from our house. We just let them think it was one of us. Why shatter the dream, right?
My mom plays and I actually used to play as a kid but I can barely play the scales now. It’s so sad. For all the money my parents spent on lessons, they could have bought several more pianos!
Anyway, before it arrived, I looked around the web to get some ideas for decorating around a piano. There’s a great post at Things that Inspire where I found the two photos above and also more recently at Houzz. Here are also a couple of pics from Skona Hem with pianos that I really like:
In our house, there’s really only one place it fits – in the living room in the bay window – so that part was easy. Learning to play it again is going to be the hard part!
Have a great weekend, everyone! Thanks for all of your input and suggestions this week for lighting and wallpaper!
What a nice addition to your new home.
Have a great weekend!
xo,
cristin
.-= cristin @ simplified bee´s last post ..Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010: Design Trends and My Favorite =-.
Make friends with a talented pianist and invite him or her to ALL of your parties.
.-= Raina´s last post ..Why hasn't this happened sooner? =-.
wow-it's a beauty!
Hi Ally -I love it- you will have to have a 'Great Room' to accomodate this. Check out the House that AM Built she has one. We actually have a piano alcove in one of our living rooms. Not used sadly!! One day we might buy one. What else did you get from your parents? How exciting! xoxo
.-= Jane´s last post ..Hidden Houses in Melbourne =-.
That's pretty cool! I like the last photo.
Oh that is wonderful, we're inheriting one very soon from my mother-in-law. It is currently being tuned and I have just the perfect place in my house for it.
Happy Weekend
Engracia
Lucky you! We have never had room for one by I imagine the cats would spend more time on it than we would!
.-= mlle paradis´s last post ..Transporting Spaces =-.
How nice! When I went home in October I learned that my parents had sold our piano (that they had promised would be mine!!) I was brokenhearted but, then again, it's not like I have space for it here.
I'm happy that you're able to accommodate yours though!!
.-= Jane Flanagan´s last post ..Friday! =-.
oh sweet! i've always daydreamed about learning to play the piano. that and the violin.
.-= Down and Out Chic´s last post ..Giveaway: Hot Digital Dog pet portraits =-.
That's a pretty wonderful surprise! It's going to look (and sound) gorgeous in the new house.
.-= Nate @ LaurelStreet´s last post ..On the road to decor victory! =-.
I know. It's sad how much I hated lessons as a kid, and now i'd give anything to play.
.-= christina´s last post ..Ghost of Sundance Past =-.
I can't play a piano, and yet I'd love to have one in my house someday!
.-= Jessica´s last post ..Friday Finds under $50 =-.
It is beautiful, and even better that it is a player piano! A few years ago we were finally able to get a piano for me, I love playing! When we moved it caused me the most concern regarding which house to buy and how to move it. It all ended up being worry for nothing.
I look forward to how you incorporate it into your decor.
Janell
What a nice surprise…there's something so special and lovely about piano music. Can't wait to see your piano in its new setting, and good luck with the lessons!
Have a great weekend!
.-= Keri´s last post ..Abracadabra! =-.
Oh wow, I'm so jealous of that piano! As a classically trained pianist, what I wouldn't give to have one! Playing my keyboard in a storage closet just doesn't bring the same joy.
.-= Krissy´s last post ..Bookworm =-.
What a nice addition to the room. That's fantastic. And so great for parties…
.-= Lesley @ TheDesignFile´s last post ..Last days to vote on bedroom for budget redo =-.
Oh, I loved that post on pianos – I always, always notice when there is a piano in a house. Incorporating a piano into a house plan or decor is no easy task, so you are very lucky to have a ready made spot for yours!
If you ever need the name of a great piano tuner, just let me know.
Congratulations on the newest arrival to the Right Bank!
.-= Things That Inspire´s last post ..Five Beautiful Houses =-.
Hi! I used to have lessons too as a child which I hated! Now I'd love to take up piano playing once again – though I don't have a piano any more! Ah, the ironies of life!
Hope you're having a great weekend!
Mwah!
LOLA:)
.-= nora johnson´s last post ..WHAT LOLA LOVES: ALLURE! =-.
I cannot believe this is my first visit to your fabulous blog! I'm not sure where I've been!
Must say, you'll definitely love having the piano in your home. My parents gifted us with a baby grand as an engagement present and it completely makes the living room. I can't wait to see how your room turns out!
Hope that you are liking Atl. That's my former home!
.-= Ms. Bright´s last post ..Weekend Wishes and a milestone… =-.
Wow, that looks so impressive. Enjoy
.-= Lorna´s last post ..Becky on Garrendenny Farm =-.
this made me laugh thinking about your neighbors… but it also warmed my heart because we grew up with a player piano and we just loved it… have a wonderful weekend x pam
A baby grand – always worth having! I hope you'll let us see where you finally decide to put it!
.-= Sanity Fair´s last post ..Home Sale at Gilt Group! =-.
Hi there, well it is not everyday I end up on a blog about houses, furniture’s and interior design, to be honest this is actually my first visit ever to a blog like this. So how did I end here, well you had one thing which draw my attention from the commentLuv page, and that was your logo, the only furniture which, I currently don't have, but really want to own one day – the EGG.
Why the Egg, well I don't know maybe because I am Danish and Arne Jacobsen also have had a high status as a designer in Denmark. Is there a special reason why you picked the egg for your logo?
Kindest regards
Morten
Jane F: I would have been crushed too! That's the problem with pianos – it takes a pretty big space to accommodate them!
Ms. Bright: Welcome!
Morten: I love chairs and am a collector of sorts. I adore all of Arne Jacobsen's designs (we have his Series 7 chairs in our kitchen) and the Egg, along with the Swan, is one of my all time favorites so that's how I chose it. I plan on owning one one day! Thanks for stopping by!
Oooooh I love a good piano…I don't love a not so good one. Which we are graced with…which I am contemplating moving to the barn.
It'll be so fun for you to fill the house with tinkling ivories again…..and this new house of yours seems to beg for it!
.-= linda@LimeintheCoconut´s last post ..And…since we didn’t win the lottery… =-.
so exciting! we too are getting a piano, a 1940's looker.
.-= paula´s last post ..Learning to Simplify =-.
You have brought back so many memories for me.
When I was quite young, my friend had a pianola and we would wheel it out to the front garden and play the rolls. All the passers by thought that we were brilliant pianists !!
We also had a baby grand piano on which I took lessons. I messed about too much and am not that good.
Yours is going to look lovely in your new home. XXXX
.-= Jacqueline´s last post ..TRYING TO MAKE A GREY DAY PRETTY ………. =-.
Oh, you are so lucky. My parents sold our player piano while I was in college. It was so fun…and amazing to watch. I do have a baby grand but it has to rely on my pecking.
Thanks for leaving comments on my blog…I love getting feedback and connecting with new people.
.-= Rita´s last post ..I Know Why Bears Hibernate =-.
Congrats on your piano. My husband and I just purchased one. It's added to our quality of life so much. Plus, he's classically trained and it helps him relieve stress from a long day of computer engineering.
.-= Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last post ..Visual Relish or Le Porte-Couteau =-.
Oh my goodness! It's beautiful! Lucky you to have something so special and have the room to use it
.-= PS~Erin´s last post ..My Painted Floor =-.
I am so thrilled for you that your parents presented you with your families baby-grand. I have to admit though, I harbor great jealously. It's been a dream of mine to own one. I use to love playing the piano and I haven't owned a piano for over a decade now. Nothing compares to piano music in your home. I only get to hear it now if I'm shopping @ a Nordstrom (how sad?!!) Some day, some day….
xx
.-= Deborah Milne´s last post ..Designing Women =-.
@Ally, then we seam to have similar taste, I also have the 7 series together with the elipse table from Piet Hein, do you know that one?
.-= Morten Croatia´s last post ..Pula sights to see =-.
Morten: Of course I know that table! Our chairs are with the Kartell Glossy Table – kind of similar!
Great article, thank you for a nice read!