Just Flossing the Teeth I Want to Keep: Domestic Bliss

I HATE my vacuum cleaner.
Yes, I know. "Hate" is a very strong word. And, for the most part, I am just glad to not have had to go out and buy an enormously expensive Irish vacuum cleaner.
But I really hate this one.
Perhaps it's because I am used to my Dyson upright at home. Bagless and otherworldly, no other maching could handle the stress of working in our multi-dog household. You really feel like you have accomplished something when you empty the canister or you watch the dirt previously inhabiting your carpet whirling around. Just mesmerizing.
But not with my current monstrosity. I guess it has sufficient suction--well, let me wait to put in the verdict on that until we get the dogs here. My main problem is that it is a canister vacuum, so it is a MAJOR PAIN to maneuver around the house. The damage to the walls and floorboards from this thing is really mounting up! And the long not-hose thing that connects to the hose and the head ALWAYS falls to pieces. This is a pain under normal circumstances, but now, when my back kills me to bend over (one can only do SO many squats, mind you) it is a REAL pain!!! Last complaint about the vacuum cleaner (I promise): the number of electric outlets per room averages to be less than one. Yes, this would be a problem for any vacuum cleaner--or electric appliance in general--but I am going to blame it on the canister. BOO!
Why this tirade? I vacuumed today, and the house really needed it. I gets pretty bad, pretty quickly here. For example, conversation this morning:
John: It's really dusy here.
Me: Yeah, but it's not as bad as at home.
John: Well, we have the dogs there. Have you seen the dustmites in the downstairs bathroom?
Me: No. Gross!
I guess I had no choice to vacuum today. I left the light off in the bathroom and vacuumed as quickly as I could to avoid any dust mites. I actually had no idea you could see them--I thought they were invisible!
So the house is as clean as it's going to get, and I decided to walk around with the camera. I don't know if any of you reading this is interested to know what the inside of our house looks like, but I'll tell you that I'm damn curious about what's inside yours! (Not a stalker, I promise!)
So the first picture is what you see when you come in the front door. On your right is the entrance to the living room. Straight ahead is the kitchen, with the half-bathroom to your right past the stairs.
Second picture: Looking at the living room from the entry hall. The living room is connected to our dining room by the doors on the left of this picture.

Third picture: View of the living room from the doorway to the dining room. We have nice windows, but it is already 3PM and getting dark so not a lot of sunshine today.