I'm tolerant of mess, but I try not to live in a pig sty.
I try and keep the house picked up and swept at least, but I generally have a big cleaning session every two weeks or so. Then I'll clean the bathroom thoroughly (as opposed to spot cleaning): scrub sink and toilet, sweep (and sometimes mop), dust, and if I'm really being thorough (or if company's coming), scrub out the tub and clean the glass shower door.
Once I've done the bathroom, it's natural for me to move out of there and sweep the hallway and bedrooms, change the cat's litter box if it's overdue, take any laundry in the bedrooms to the laundry room and otherwise pick up and put stuff away, and I finish by changing my sheets and making up my bed. I usually go on and sweep the living room, but it tends to stay cleaner than the bedrooms and bathroom.
After that, if I've still got energy I'll work on the kitchen, but usually I just have enough oomph left at this point to do laundry, take out trash, and maybe sweep the kitchen.
On the other hand, if I'm going to be cooking, the kitchen HAS to be clean first and I clean up as I go. It's the everyday clutter and mess that I hate cleaning up in the kitchen--dishes especially (no dishwasher)!
I start cleaning at the bathroom because I really hate a dirty bathroom.