apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I wouldn't put much on top of the piano myself, as it's very pretty on it's own, but I would suggest putting a panoramic proportion painting/print simply framed above it. I think a cool graphic textile draped over the bench could be awesome!!!

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like there's some space between the piano and the doorway. If you can, I'd move it away from the short wall a few inches so that it's centered on the longer wall. Right now it sort of looks like the piano is squashed into the corner. But maybe that's just a trick of the camera.

I love the dark red of the dining room drapes, so I'd try to pull out that color for whatever goes above the piano. How about a dark red tall vase? Or a large black and white photograph that's framed with a deep red mat?

http://www.polishposter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1363

i agree with a poster or print over the piano. il y'avait beacoup d'mages chez "polish poster".

http://www.polishposter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=0744
67cm X 97 cm

Paint it.

I could see a big mirror working above the piano. Maybe with some etching or details that could tie into the chandelier somehow?

I think the piano would look better if the table color were darker. The style of the piano is softer and older than that of the table. I would consider covering the table with a tablecloth, perhaps a red and white one, or red and gray to match the chairs and curtains. Or, you could change the table somehow, for a darker, more formal one.

Agree with a painting or even a framed mirror over the piano. You could also consider a piano lamp.

A carpet might also be nice.

I have nearly the same table (Ikea) and I always use a tablecloth. It's great how it can change the whole look of a room. Once you start, though, it's easy to become a tablecloth junkie, like me.

What a gorgeous piano! I like the idea of hanging a work of art over it, especially if you use a separate picture light to bring further emphasis to the area.

Something like this:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60037010

Of course, it seems to me that the best way to highlight the piano is to play it -- often!

Please do NOT paint your piano. Pianos are made out special kinds of woods that help the sound. If you paint them and don't know what you are doing it will affect the sound of your piano.

great piano!

get thee to a store that sells ceramic pieces and find a large urn/vase(not too tall, not too short either, not too wide,and not too fancy)as close to the red of the drapes as possible. hopefully they will also have a large tray/platter in the same color. place the urn on the left side of the piano top and the platter in the center of the dining table. you can occasionally use the platter as a base on which to place a simple floral grouping.

next, store the the piano bench as it is not working with the rest of the room. instead, use one of the wooden side chairs. then place another of the chairs off to the side someplace else in the room, perhaps to the left of the window in the first picture. the other two wooden chairs should go on the long side of the table, opposite one another and then move the suede chairs to the short side of the table. maybe add a deep rich patterned table runner under the platter.

i like the simplicity of the room and leaving the wall behind the piano blank is rather zen-ish. if you must have artwork, a simply framed(the deep red mat idea is good but only a small border of it) black and white print would be my vote.

My piano is very similar as far as style goes, but the color's completely off. It's more like a chestnut.

I love the color of your piano, please please, don't paint it!

When I'm able to move into a real house, I'll be able to take it with me from my parent's place. Right now, they have photo frames sitting on top. But I definitely dig the idea of a mirror above.

Good luck my dear!

Look on ebay for a japanese obi (the wide belt-like fabric worn to hold a kimono in place). They come in such a wide array of colors and designs and you could drape it any way you would like to give the piano some pizzaz. They are approx. 14 inches wide for most, and MANY feet long. They might draw the eye more to the piano.

This one is subtle yet beautiful:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cherry-pie-Vintage-Japanese-Kimono-OBI-Fabric_W0QQitemZ120315256328QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120315256328&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I agree with lurker and monarda. Don't let the piano be so squished in the corner and soften the table a bit. You have the curving forms on the piano, perhaps the table needs to compliment these. Giving the piano a little bit more space as well would be great. is that the original piano bench? I have no idea how much those things run, but it doesn't feel like it belongs.

On a different note, having the piano in the dining room doesn't work for me on a personal level, perhaps it would be better suited in a living room?

Thanks all for your good advices and helpful comments.
Here are some other informations about the piano and the room:

-There isnt much space to move the piano anywhere else, wheter in the same room or in the living room. It is a HUGE piano, and my house is rather small.

-The piano bench, as many could tell, isnt the original one. The original piano bench was unfortunately thrown away many years ago because it was broken beyond repair... This one is a "modern, store-bought, souless" version...

I especially like the horizontal painting/mirror over the piano suggestion. Since I cant find a decent vintage piano bench matching my piano style, I might go with the obi idea and cover the bench top with it and refinish the bench legs in a more "vintagey" look... might work.

As for the table, I adore it, so it's here to stay. But, as suggested, I have a beautiful tablecloth that is being made for me at the moment, in shades of red, orange, corral and bright green.

I recently bought a piano and while the suggestion I'm about to recommend may be a bit uncommon, it has been excellently received by guests.

Remove the front panel covering the hammers and strings and install a several (3 or so) spotlights to the underside of the top panel. I used the three spotlight Grundtal from IKEA, it was fairly easy to install.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60148008

It’s enthralling to watch the hammers and actions in motion...this in combination with the light reflecting off the plate and strings creates a beautiful composition.

While I am sure both painting and removing the front pannel suggestion would be beautiful (I especially like the idea of replacing the wooden front panel by a clear one), my piano is primarly a music instrument. I daily play the piano, and we recently invested a lot to have it restaured and repaired. I wouldn't risk changing the sound quality or the general piano integrity by painting it or by removing a part of it's sound box...

I love your piano - First off, I'd recommend Howard's Restor-A-Finish for your Piano - It's easy to use and will help bring the finish of your instrument back to life - Follow it up with their Feed-and-Wax for a nice polished finish (I was able to get these from my local Ace Hardware store)

Meanwhile I think your Piano is let down by the rest of the room - I'd start searching the vintage furniture stores and Craigslist for a table and set of chairs that would compliment your style. I'd also rehang your drapery rod at the height of the ceiling - and sew a wide contrasting border to the bottoms of your drapery panels so that they touch the floor.

I agree that longer curtains and a tablecloth will help. I think the light fixture above the table is lovely, and that look of crystal with a modern twist plays off dramatically against the solid, almost gothic look of the piano, so I'd look for two table lamps in a similar style to sit on either end of the piano top. Perhaps the Bourgie? http://www.ylighting.com/krt-bourgie.html

One more thing: The paint on the walls looks fresh and recent, so you may not want to hear this, but I don't think the wall color works very well with the floor color and the piano color. I'd consider going for a dramatic, moody chocolate brown. Perfect ambiance for candle-lit dinner parties with piano music!