Monday, June 30, 2014

Blanket Chest Built From Piano Parts

I am continuing my quest to repurpose many of the parts and wood from my Grandma’s old upright piano. My latest project was a blanket chest. It turned out very well.

blanket chest from piano parts Almost all of the wood came from this old piano that my son helped me disassemble.  If you look closely at the top part of the piano you will recognize the wood for the front of the chest.

Grandma's piano

I also used the bottom part just above the pedals and the very top of the piano. All three of these large parts come off very easily without breaking down the actual piano.

top and bottom openings of piano

For the sides of the chest, I actually used one of the sides of the piano and cut the length needed for two sides of the blanket chest.

assembled box 1

Because the two big parts were so large and they were not the same size, I did cut them down a little before using wood screws to assemble a simple box. I pre-drilled holes for the screws so that I could use “buttons” to cover the screws. I used a scrap piece of plywood for the bottom.

assembled box 2

The photo above is another view of the assembled box.

adding bun feet

I added bun feet that I picked up at a thrift store for 50 cents each.

before adding trim

I also purchased a piece of decorative trim to use on the ends.

trim added to each end

Slowly taking shape. You can see in the photo below that I added the top using the original screw holes and added the buttons to cover all of the screws.

box with top attached

I did not like the dark crackled finish so I used citrus stripper to take the finish off. Next I added a very light coat of stain to provide a uniform color and added a thin coat of satin polyurethane. The actual building of the chest was very quick and easy. The refinishing was quite an ordeal waiting for the stripper to work and waiting for various coats of material to dry. I think it was worth all of the effort.

blanket chest from piano parts

blanket chest close up side 1

The photo below shows the other side which used the bottom part of the piano.

blanket chest side 2

blanket chest end

I left the original label on the inside of the top.

original label

I did not take a picture of the inside but I did line it with felt since some of the wood was  a little rough.

You may enjoy seeing the other projects I have completed using other parts of the piano. Click on the picture to see the complete post.

table from piano parts 

                  Entry  Table

piano headboard 1

                      Headboard

upholstered headboard 1

                              Upholstered Headboard

towel bar 2

                Towel Bar

I am having a fun and productive summer!

Looking forward to the 4th of July and then the Haven conference!

a signature

I am linking to Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life, to The Scoop at Worthing Court and to Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style.

11 comments:

Stacey said...

Pat, that piano lives on in so many beautiful ways! Your chest is gorgeous.

Vel Criste said...

Very well? That chest is fantastic Lydia!!!! You are just so creative and talented!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Now that is really being creative. I love it. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me.

Wild Oak Designs said...

You are so inventive and creative!! What an amazing transformation and execution of parts into something else useful.....truly inspiring!
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

Decor To Adore said...

What an amazing repurpose! Well done.

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Sue in Texas said...

Absolutely beautiful! What wonderful and crafty repurposing! Nice to see the upright reused.

GranthamLynn said...

Amazing redo. Great repurposing those piano parts! All really cool! I came by from A Stroll. I linked too. Have a good week.
Sherry

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh Pat - that is incredible!
I just love it........xoxo

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

Wow. quite a few projects from that piano. love the table and the chest.

Ward Fisk said...

Hello Pat
Thanks for the inspiration to do this project. I am going to attempt this with an old piano and salvage the wood. How did you attached the bottom as it appears flush with both sides the back and front? Appreciate your insight.

Pat@Life At Lydias House said...

After building the "box" with the front, back and 2 sides, I attached a piece of scrap wood along the bottom edge of each end. This scrap wood was inset the thickness of the plywood bottom. I then screwed the plywood bottom to the two pieces of scrap wood on each end.