when I brought a mammoth piano home,
because I *needed* a mantle in my home –
and this piano was going to serve that purpose.
Now, I ask you, is THIS a mantle or what?
Who needs a fireplace mantel? I have ebony, ivory and that stunning brass soundboard inside it!
The wood piece which normally covers the soundboard is gorgeous wood, so I will probably turn it into a shelf.
I found this amazing old mirror at a thrift shop this week and love the “ghost marks” it has. It’s exactly what I needed as the centerpiece for the piano.
My grandma would consider this mantel much too cluttered with stuff. She was a believer in the bare minimum to make dusting easy, but I’m just not a bare minimum type of person. Truthfully, I’m also not a big believer in dusting, so hopefully all my “clutter” will distract the eye from the dust.
Speaking of my grandmother, Anna, there were 2 things I requested when she passed away –
her crochet hooks and one of her head coverings that she wore to church. My grandma had a crown of the
most beautiful creamy white hair. She kept it rolled neatly at the nape of her neck
and her black, lace head covering looked so lovely on her. You can see the head covering resting on the corner of the hymnal.
My grandfather, Alfred, died when I was much younger, but I still have dear memories of
sitting on the rocking chair with him.
The 2 smaller hymnals you see belonged to
him and are the only things
I have that were his.
.jpg)
Truthfully, I think I swiped them
from my mom a long time ago,
but she knows I did it!
Well, I hope she knows or
I’m in trouble now.
My whole little clock family
is all together on this mantel,
with the exception of the
one I keep in my office and
use most often as a prop for my Etsy photos.
.jpg)
This is a recent find and is
the only working clock in my collection.
.jpg)
So there you have it…my mantel.
It’s not the mantle I envisioned having,
but it has all the character I hoped for.
Hope your day is blessed,
and you pass the blessing along!
Wow! That is cool! You sure had vision when you found that piano. I think it’s a great idea! Nice job!
Wow! Wow! Wow! This just maybe the most brilliant idea yet in home decorating. Looks great! This should be featured in a magazine!
Enjoy the weekend,
Kelly
Now this is awesome!
A brilliant idea and beautiful look.
Hugs
love love love your old piano!!!
http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/
I, was one that thought you were going to tear this apart and make it into a faux fireplace which would have been over the top cool for me, but by just setting it there and using the top for a mantel, works too. I enjoy your ‘stuff’ and seeing inside the piano.
Oh and P.S. My grandfather’s name was Alfred too!
Just fabulous!
I also thought you were going to dis “mantel” it, but I love what you’ve done. It’s the perfect place to display all your treasured items and maybe even play a few tunes.
It’s the perfect mantle, Love it all!
That’s such a lovely idea — the innards of a piano are so pretty and interesting! I love the way you have displayed your memories of your grandparents and the clocks are out of this world!! Love it all!
I, too, have added Linky Followers to my blog and hope you’ll stop by and add yourself again!!
This is lovely, Angie, and I knew what you meant from the start because I too use my piano as a mantel. It’s my childhood piano which I sat through plenty of lessons with, and I especially love to decorate it for the holidays. Of course, yours having that extra tall back is simply delightful. We have a faux mantel in the living room as well, but I love my piano top mantel.
Love the shoe molds and clocks.
Stopping by via Cindy Adkins’ page.
Much love!
Wow!!! Dare I say this is even better than a “real” mantel??? (Well other than that “cozy fire” part…haha) But otherwise…I think it has way more character! Love the special pieces you are using to decorate it too 🙂 laurel
I COVET..I CAN SAY NO MORE!!!!!!
Now this is a great idea! You’ll have so much fun staging the ‘mantle’!!
Showing the innards of that piano is excellent. Way to add tons of character.
~Bliss~
I have an old upright piano…I originally bought it, because it reminded me of my grandma that had one similar to it when I was a child…she would let me bang on it, or she would play it while my sister and I sang “How Great thou Art”. Now my grand kids bang on this one. Lately though, I have been wishing to get rid of the thing…it takes up so much room…I thought you were going to tear it apart…and I was waiting to see the results…so I might copy!! I guess I need to look at it differently…as it is…like a beautiful mantel…instead of a pain in my backside…as least until the grand kids lose interest. Thanks for your post.
Sharon
I love your mantel! 🙂 The mirror is to die for…I’ve never heard the term “ghost marks,” but it’s perfect. Lovely work!
Fabulous display! I love everything about it. Never too much stuff!
Mary Alice
How amazing, would never have thought of doing anything like this. Love it!
OMG!! What a beautiful vignette you have created with this beautiful piano! It just tugs at my heart strings!! I laughed when you spoke about dusting. One of my pet peeves is when someone walks in to my home and says “How do you dust all of this?” I usually answer, “Who dusts?” LOL!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Now THAT is a mantel…and then some! I would not have had the heart to disassemble it either. It’s too perfect as is.
What a blessing to have such special pieces of your grandparents, Angie. I just rediscovered an old wicker tray of my grandmother’s yesterday. It had been packed away until I could figure out what to do with it. Hopefully soon it will have it’s pride of place in my little cottage. 😉
Blessings,
Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage
leave it to you, Angie to work your magic and turn a piano into a mantel. Love that you have special pieces to remind you of your grandparents…even if you had to steal to get it. ;0
Those wooden shoes are a really fun touch. Thanks for sharing your creativity at Show & Tell.
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
Love it Angie! What imagination and creativity your have! Thank you for sharing at Potpourri Friday!
Love the mantel/piano…
I also love all of your found treasures that are on it.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
Way more interesting than a traditional fireplace mantel. Everything looks fabulous on it! Step on over and see my recent shoe form find. Yours have more character than mine.
A very interesting grouping here. I have some olden shoe forms….need to work them into a mantel grouping.
This is beautiful! I love the brass peaking through!
Wow, this is very original! I love it. Very eclectic!
very cool and creative! loving it!!