Re the size of the room vs size of the piano, I didn't mean whether a >7ft piano would fit or not, but exactly what you're talking about, the bigger the piano, the less room you have for other things in the room.
But now I'm confusing, you mentioned putting a grand in the front room? Is the front room currently your art studio?
The most pressing ambiguity is about when to buy a grand piano. To my ears, my upright sounds very good. The reason I would want a grand would be better sound and the longer keystick length for better touch and best dynamic possibilities.
Hmmm... Given this and your comments about the logistical issues, I don't think you necessarily need to get a grand at this point. I say that because when I got my grand, I absolutely could not wait any longer. I had always wanted a grand. Not for any specific goal or aim, there was no articulating why I wanted a grand. I just did. It was probably more emotional than musical. Although after getting the grand, there are many, many musical reasons why I love having it but that wasn't what motivated my purchase. But my attachment to it doesn't really have much to do with keystick length or dynamics... And although the action is one of the things I like best about this piano, there are uprights with very nice action... But again, I have always want to have a grand piano and that was the primary motive originally.
Given all the logistical concerns you have, I feel like you would have to be very committed to the idea of owning a grand in order to put up with the annoyances of it, the way it might be in the way etc. I could be misunderstanding of course, but that was what I was thinking when reading pour post.
My piano doesn't have very much dynamic range, but it will support my journey for many more years.
There's a lot to be said for this. Another option might be to get a better upright, there are lots of nice ones.
I could get a grand now, but it would mostly be for enjoyment, which isn't nothing, but maybe not enough incentive to make such a big change.
Yeah, that's kind of my concern for you. Enjoyment is important, but something has to make you crazy about the instrument so that you don't just look at it and think about how much space it takes up.
