The Piano – A New Beginning

There’s something special about bringing life back to an old piece. This piano was once worn and forgotten, but with a bit of care, paint, and patience, it now sits proudly in Barnie, our handcrafted American barn on Ōhiwa Harbour.

If you’ve ever wanted to take on a creative project of your own, here’s how this one came together.

Explore the full range of Resene products on their website, and read our feature in the May Habitat Reader Roundup, where you can also discover more inspiring ideas from local artists throughout New Zealand.

Step 1 – Light Clean and Sand

Start with a Pal Sanding Sponge and give the piano a light sand to remove dust and gloss.

Wipe clean with methylated spirits to prepare the surface for sealing.

Step 2 – Apply Surface Sealer

Brush on Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and then be patient. Let it sit for seven days. This product works as a waterborne adhesive primer, perfect for tricky surfaces like varnished timber or melamine - like a piano. It provides strong adhesion and sets the foundation for a smooth, lasting finish.

Step 3 – Add Two Undercoats

After a gentle sand, apply the first undercoat.

Once dry, lightly sand again and add a second coat. Two good undercoats will cover dark tones and reduce how many topcoats you’ll need later.

Step 4 – Apply Topcoat

Finish with Resene Lustacryl Semi-Gloss Waterborne Enamel in Ottoman.

I applied two coats for durability. This piano had a long journey ahead, travelling by tractor down a farm track to reach Barnie.

Step 5 – Add Creative Detail

Using air-dry clay and a IOD Dewdrop Pond mould, I made small ferns and birds. Once dry overnight, I painted them using Resene Flax and a few brown tones I already had, then glued them to the piano with PVA glue. These details add a personal touch and connect the piano to the birdlife that surrounds our glamping haven.

Step 6 – Create an Aged Finish

To mimic natural wear, I used Artisan black wax sparingly along the top of the keyboard cover. It gives the piano the look of being gently opened over time by many hands.

Step 7 – Final Touches

The finishing touches were repurposed photo frames from a local op-shop. The warm timber grains and black-and-white photos add contrast and character - old stories meeting new colour and light.

Piano Before & After Makeover

A first coat of Resene Surface Sealer is applied to the Piano as part of the Piano Makeover for Barnie

Now, the piano rests inside Barnie, for guests to enjoy. The Piano's sound carries through the open barn doors and blends with the birdsong from the harbour.

Seeing this project through has been worth every moment. If you have a piano, guitar, or another instrument tucked away, maybe this will inspire you to bring it back to life. Let your ideas grow, challenge them, and see them through.

Every creative project teaches us something new and keeps our hearts warm and minds creatively abundant.

Inspiration for Your Own Project

This story is more than a restoration, it’s a reminder that creativity can bring new life to old things. Whether it’s a piano, a barn, or a forgotten corner of your imagination, with a little time and care, beauty can be reimagined.

For those inspired to begin their own piano project, here’s what helped bring ours to life:

Pal Sanding Sponge – for a light sand.
Resene Smooth Surface
Sealer – no harsh sanding needed.
Resene Lustacryl Semi-Gloss. Waterborne Enamel tinted in Ottoman or your preferred colour.
IOD Dewdrop Pond IOD Mould.
High Performing Soft Wax - Dark.
Picture frames from a local op shop or reuse your own.
Resene Expertise – visit Summer at Resene Paints Whakatāne for great local advice.

Stay tuned for what’s next in our creative journey.

Top things to do in Whakatane during your stay

Wainui Seaside Glamping Hosts - Tony, Aleisha and Sky near Ōhope Beach.

About Wainui Seaside Glamping

Wainui Seaside Glamping offers two private couples’ retreats on Ōhiwa Harbour, just 15 minutes from Ōhope Beach in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Choose from Barnie, a handcrafted timber glamping barn, or Seaside Escape, a bespoke harbourside hideaway. Both stays are designed for romantic getaways, outdoor baths, native birdsong, sea views, kayaking, and quiet time in nature.

Winter at Seaside Escape NZ

May 19, 2026

A Warm Harbour Retreat for Two Winter has a beautiful way of slowing everything down at Seaside Escape. The light sits lower over Ōhiwa Harbour. The stars feel brighter in the clear evening sky. Inside, the fire crackles quietly in the corner while sun streams through...

Colouring the Country Naturally

Nov 10, 2025

Seaside Escape Reimagined – Colouring the Country, Naturally Hidden in a valley embraced by native trees and the quiet rhythm of Ōhiwa Harbour, Seaside Escape has been re-imagined from a canvas glamping tent into a handcrafted timber retreat - a place where nature,...

Reimagining Seaside Escape

Nov 7, 2025

From a Canvas Tent to a Handcrafted Harbour Haven There’s a quiet kind of magic in reimagining something you already love. Once known as Ataahua Ruru, our original glamping tent was a much-loved stay for couples seeking rest, peace, and harbour views. Its soft canvas...

Bay of Plenty Glamping near Ōhope Beach

Wainui Seaside Glamping is a private couples’ glamping retreat near Ōhope Beach in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Set on Ōhiwa Harbour, it offers two romantic retreats with outdoor baths, sea views, and native birdlife - designed for pure relaxation.