My littles started taking piano last year. While at home, they practiced on my 25 year old keyboard. Seriously. I got this keyboard around the age my oldest is. It was kind of fun to see her play it and remember how much I loved it and learned on it. And the fact that it still was in great condition and worked was a surprise to all of us! The only problem was that it isn't a true piano size keyboard and didn't have the soft touch and pedal etc that pianos have. It was great for beginners, but not advanced players.
My amazing brother knew how much my girls loved playing, and decided to buy them this awesome keyboard for Christmas. The only problem? It didn't come with a stand. My other one didn't have a stand either, but I didn't care about sliding it in and out from underneath the couch a couple of times a week. I wanted a more permanent place for this new one. One that as you walk on by, you just can't help but play it.
I thought about all the spaces in my house that something like this would work, and I only had one option. I actually had plans to turn this hallway into a homework area with a floating desk a couple of years ago. I just never got around to doing it. I knew it would work perfect as a permanent home for this keyboard.
To make this, I used my floating shelf tutorial I used for making my bathroom shelves (tutorial link). I anchored the 2x2 into the studs, knowing how much weight was going to be placed on it. Even with doing so, I quickly realized that it wasn't going to be enough support. I used a 1x12 to hold the keyboard. With it being that deep, it needed something a little more. My vision of having a floating stand went quickly out the door. I had a few ideas to use corbels or brackets for additional support, but those would need to be placed into the studs... which weren't equidistant from the edges. That would have bothered me on the daily. So, I decided to stop by Home Depot and pick up some turned legs.
I already had this stand mounted into the wall at the height I wanted, so I wasn't going to move it. The legs came in 28" inches and I needed 25". So, I cut them! It's funny because I totally figured this would work, and then I asked my husband what he thought. He disagreed and told me good luck, and that I needed to figure out something else. Well...well...well.. I decided to proved him wrong.
First step was to use some pliers and untwist the bolt that comes at the top.
I then cut my 3 inches off the top using a miter saw. I drilled a hole using a drill bit roughly the same size as the bolt right down the middle. I then used the pliers again to twist the bolt into place. Done.
After that, I drilled a hole into the bottom of the stand, 2 inches in from each corner. I then twisted the leg into the hole. With a fresh coat of paint, it looked perfect!
Although I had a different vision for this at first, I absolutely love the legs. Someone mentioned to me that it looked like piano legs and thought I had done it on purpose like that. I'm here to tell you, that no I didn't, but I'll pretend that I did :)
I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to make a storage section. So, instead of connecting the front piece, I used hinges on it instead. Against my plans, I ended up having to have it open from the bottom up. I couldn't find a lock or clasp the size I needed for it to work with the piano on top. Which was fine. I also added three pulls I found from Hobby Lobby onto the front for some character, and of course, to help open it .
I think eventually I'll be switching these hinges to the bottom, and finding a magnet clasp that works on the inside. I just think it would be easier for the little ones.
To keep it pretty, I also painted the inside white. There's essentially three little cubbies that are the perfect size for piano sheets and books.
It's so fun coming up into this hallway now. The storage table I had hear before got to be quite the mess really quick. I have a problem with throwing away my kids artwork. I do throw away a lot of it, but I still keep a lot too. So, that table was just jammed pack full of papers and it was getting to be an eyesore and an anxiety inducer. I have yet to figure out what to do with all the artwork....so, it's actually just hiding behind this picture on the other part of the landing :)
But, for now, I like to just enjoy this little section of simplicity.
As for the extras on this piano stand, I added a hook for the piano bag that holds all the music for piano lessons. I added a little extra light with this cute lamp I found at Hobby Lobby. You couldn't tell from the pics, but this space gets almost no light. It's soooo dark. I had to open up all the windows up here to get some decent lighting for pictures. But, when the windows are closed, and when it's night time, there's a big need for a little more light.
I decided to forgo the music stand that came with the keyboard. In it's place, I tacked up this large paper clip (is that what it's called? haha). It's easy to take on and off and add sheet music, and even music books to also.
As for the wires, I drilled a hole large enough to fit the cords through so I didn't have wires going all over the stand.
As for the height of this table, the bottom of it hits 25 inches off the ground. The piano the girls practice on at their lessons has a keyboard height of 30 and a half. When I measured that on this wall, it felt soooooo short. I know that is just how pianos are. But, I kind of wanted this to work as a piano stand and a possible desk too. Most desks legs are 28". If I had this where it was supposed to be, it would have been about 5 inches shorter than the average desk. The way I see it, if my kids need to sit on a phone book to have it be comfortable until they are tall enough, then so be it :) ....if I can find a phone book nowadays! haha
Can I just tell you how much I love transforming spaces into totally useful ones? This area was seriously the worst. It didn't help with how dark and dingy it used to get.
I have a goal this year to do more DIY projects and builds than last year. Which won't be hard. I feel like I didn't accomplish much last year. By this time next year, I want to look back and see all I did and feel good about the year :) I totally felt the opposite about 2019. I don't know what it was about last year, but my creative juices just weren't flowing! Here's to a productive 2020 :)
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