If I were you I would take your layout and get some more quotes before purchasing anything. Go to a big box store, another local cabinet place, ect and price it out several different times. Each time you will learn something new and you will also learn for sure if that quote is too high which IMHO it is. We got medallion cabinets, (not all wood doors or plywood boxes - I'm gonna guess they were of similar quality to what you priced out.) Just to give you an idea, we paid $4800 + tax and installation. We have 18 cabinets-two of them are drawer bases, two are super susans,and our kitchen is 13 x 10. The uppers are all 42" high, the drawers are all full extension, and soft close.

Well… if nothing else, you all can understand why I’ve struggled to find a solution that is aesthetically pleasing, and practical, and doesn’t require committing to a massive, expensive project… The ceiling is a lot of things… and yes, the angles are wild. Right now it has beaded wood (like beadboard, but larger)… which looks crazy, and separates at the seams in the winter months. We’re planning to sheet rock the ceiling, but not flatten it off. I DO think flattening it would be calmer, but I really like a higher ceiling no matter what, even if it means strange angles. I actually really like that half wall idea, or curving it so is less stark… both are something I never thought of. Even just looking at it with the photoshopped half wall makes me look at the room differently. I should say my husband is dead set against keeping the bath… and does not care at all about long-term value. I haven’t decided whether that’s a battle I feel so strongly about that I decide to take it on. I guess part of me is tempted by the challenge of “cute-ning” it up. Which I do think could be done, but also think it will never be as clean, as if we took it out. As far as the idea of swapping spaces… we considered some version of that, and also considered moving the bathroom to where the refrigerator is now… but that would require building a whole other wall that would still butt out into the room, plus, the dining room entrance is cut on an angle, so the wall would need to accommodate that… we had laid tape out on the floor, looking at other layout options, and none of seemed much better than what we have now! Thank you all so much for taking the time to think about ways this can be better... I REALLY appreciate it!! p.s.- Jen, we kind of hoped our neighbors might start chipping in for the repairs… since it benefitted them, as much as us!

I have 'heard' that it can even be spread by using as fireplace wood - I am not an expert, I don't remember who reported that either, most folks don't expect to prune or 'maintain' oak trees here in Texas. When they are small you might cut off some lower branches, when they are big if a branch hanging down and interferes with anyone walking or mowing underneath it, you might prune. That is about the most the majority of folks here do regarding pruning oaks. Will you find another property you like as well, with the same or better amenities, and what about price? Will you have the same issue with oaks on other properties?

5-7 years seems long now, but does go by quickly! I lived with a nasty family bathroom for 10 years before we’d saved for the gut renovation. I’m so glad we waited rather than waste even $500 on a temporary vanity. Get some new hand towels in the meantime and hang them to cover your cabinets. Or even try contact paper for a few doors to punch it up. Less expensive than painting them!