It depends. Where are you located? Are you paying someone to do this? Are there structural beams, plumbing, HVAC, or electrical running through those soffits? (Don't bet the farm that there isn't!) What's above that ceiling? Attic space or a second floor? If there's nothing running through the soffits and you have easily accessed attic space above and you can DIY, then the expense could be as little as $500-$700 for the materials and a few tools. If everything goes against you, and you live in a place like the Bay area in CA and there are major system in the soffits that have to be dealth with as well as structural issues and there is a second floor above with no real room to easily run the electric, then the project could cost 5-10K or so. No real way to know until you cut a couple of holes in the soffits and have a look and then have an electrician take a look at the ceiling framing.

Here's one point about vacuuming extra fine construction dust that no one has made yet & it's key. When I went to buy a new brush attachment at the vacuum store to clean up our construction dust, the staff person educated me about a couple of things. Since the bag in our vacuum was paper, the ultra fine dust will flow right through it. Why didn't I think of that! Even with a thick, cloth HEPA vacuum filter bag, we run the risk of burning out our vacuum because anything that goes into the bag goes through the motor. Once that fine dust hits the motor, it doesn't take long for it to kill it. A Dyson being bagless won't work either, it just coats the inside of the vacuum, clogs & kills it. Here's further info. on that: http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?4407 He added that he's seen a brand new Kirby vacuum cleaner motor burned out after just TWO DAYS when it was used on construction dust. Kirby owners be forewarned! The suggestion of using a Rainbow vacuum is a good one because of the water filer. Of course they cost a small fortune, so I'm wondering if maybe a local rental store might rent them. It's not ideal, but neither is dropping $2K on a top end vacuum cleaner. And Mr. Rings, hopefully it goes without saying that a leaf blower is a horrible idea, unless your goal is to simply spread the dust around. ;-) I'm still figuring out how to clean up our mess, but hopefully the info. I've shared will save some from ruining their vacuum cleaners & causing undue added expense & frustration. Happy cleaning & good luck to all!

How about this? Get some totes (or boxes). Put the clothes in these totes. Seal them. Date them, say, 60 days, 90 days, 120 days hence, etc. Agree that if he hasn't unsealed a tote by the date, you can donate the contents. I was going to suggest the same thing. I've done it for myself -- and I wasn't sorry. Maybe you can't get rid of these excess clothes, but you can pack them away neatly. Personally, about a year ago I went through my closet and got rid of about 60% of my clothes -- and I am thrilled with the result. I can't even remember specific garments I "lost", but I love that everything in my closet fits, everything is a complete outfit, and everything fits into the closet without stuffing. When I retire (in another year), I can't wait to ditch the khaki pants and unflattering polo shirts that I am occasionally required to wear to school -- I've come to resent "junk" in my closet. An unexpected benefit: I have become very discriminating about what I buy (not that this has been a big shopping year anyway). I find myself asking, "Does this deserve a space in my life?" and "Would I really wear this often enough to justify spending on it?" Honestly, the only thing I've really bought in the last year is a pair of red dress shoes -- and I really need another pair of jeans. This is maybe easier for me, given that I'm so close to retirement, because I've also vowed not to buy anything I can't imagine wearing in my retirement years. My DH is a slob. He was a slob when I married him (46 years ago) and he is still a slob. He will never change. His mother was a slob too. I have had to adjust to his ways as I’m a neatnick and OCD too. Pick your battles. Do you want to die on this hill? I could say the same; well, except that I never knew his mother -- she died when he was a teenager. When I want to kill him because of his slovenly ways, I force myself to think about all the things he does well: he's a good provider, a wonderful father, he always lets me drive the new car, he takes my car out every Sunday and fills it with gas, he supports me in my career, he and I share so many hobbies -- so many things. I can get angry about his slovenly ways, start a fight, and end up doing the cleaning myself anyway -- or I can do it myself and remember that he contributes in other ways. Tupelo: If your boyfriend is unwilling to change, then you must ask yourself if this is the future you want for yourself and your future children: a significant other who doesn't care about how you want to live, or perhaps is chronically overwhelmed by life or is simply lazy? Not taking care of one's intimate belongings for an extended period of time is a sign of issues that will impact your future and not in a good way, these are bad habits that interfere with the development of the individual and also a couple. Good point. The OP isn't formally connected to this guy yet -- and she can still choose just how big an impediment this is.

The first thing I'd do today is get new bulbs for your recessed lights. what you currently have are so dim and yellow, I don't even know how you can work in there! get bulbs that are a 4000K temp. that alone will make a huge difference in the yellow tones in that space. Next: Choose your countertop first. Then your cabinet color. Easier to pick a color to match the countertop than vice versa. wall color and backsplash are last. Are you happy with everything else in the kitchen, layout-wise? what about the micro? would you rather have a nicer vent and move a diff micro to a built-in portion somewhere? Is that door your pantry area? if yes, have you thought about doing a diff type of door? Here is a similar layout like yours, (minus the pantry or garage door) before And the after What is the budget for all these changes? I ask because getting those professionally painted is a big job. expect to spend 5K or so. another 3-5K for countertops. (look into pre-fab countertops) backsplash could be 800-1800, depending on what you choose and who is doing it. I would trim out the backside of you peninsula so that it has more of a finished look you could do something easy like these your drybar area. going to be hard to match what you have because of the type of trim work you have on your doors. here's what I did w/mine. I had custom built wood cabs that were 16 years old. still in good shape, but the finish was done. I hated the rope trim, the fluted stuff and the corbels. Also hated the micro above the stove top, and wanted it moved to below the wall oven. I have an island w/open shelving, I wanted large drawers instead. My kitchen cabinet guy said he could get me all new doors/drawers (solid wood w/MDF center panels) for only 2K more. I have 3x the cabs you do. So I did it. And that's something you can do. If you reface, then you get matching cabs for you beverage bar area. here's mine so you can see how it look. look at the doors and the top drawers. they don't match Refaced. ugly trim removed. micro below oven, new vent hood, drawers in my island, new tile/countertops. I did a shade brighter than BM Simply White. (do not go through big box stores if you want to reface. check yelp for local cabinet painters (not house painters) and only pick the 5 star ratings. have them come out for an estimate. find out EXACTLY what they do to prep and prime. have him list all of the steps. This is what makes or breaks a cabinet painting. If you get a cheap estimate, you'll know they won't be doing any of the proper prepwork and your painting will chip within months. ) pantry area with a coffee bar. You could do open shelving, or get some uppers. Simply White. I'd use this one for your cabs. It's the perfect white. not too yellow, not too blue. SW Dover White SW Alabaster If you plan on keeping the Travertine flooring for awhile, you'll have to work w/those taupe/soft white/warm gray tones. So, keep that in mind.