Living Room Redo- Board and Batten DIY

So for my birthday this year I requested a little spruce up of the living room/kitchen where I spend most of my time and where there are some things we have been wanting to change and add since we have been living here.  We did board and batten in the living room then decided to use the leftover pieces and get some more to do the bathrooms while we were at it.  It made such a huge difference and after doing that I changed out a few accessories and felt like I had a whole new house!  I also touched up the white paint in my whole house (baseboards, cabinets, dresser, etc) so that made a huge difference too.  I was able to complete the whole house revamp for under $700- here is the breakdown:

Fave Things Friday

I figured I haven't done a Favorite Things Friday in FOREVER and wanted to share some of my favorite new things!

1. Favorite New App:

Keepy- an excellent app for storing your kids' artwork, crafts, milestones, cute things they say (recorded) etc.  I LOVE this because Allie makes new crafts and artwork everyday and I don't have the room for it, Macsen is always saying such cute and funny things and now I can record it, and Jensen's milestones are SO hard for me to keep track of!  All 3 problems solved!  Plus, it has a super great layout and I can easily share all of these things with their grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Master Bath Before and After

So, I have to say first of all that my bathroom is nothing special, but I did want to share the changes I made in every room of our new home, so I am sharing it anyway.

The main change we made was painting the vanity white.  We also painted the walls the same tan as the master bedroom.  Lastly, I added new hardware to the cabinet and also new towel and tp holders.

Keri Russell I Want Your House

via: Elle Decor

Dream House: Kitchen

My dream kitchen is a little bit hazy right now...I am not much of a cook (AT ALL) and so I don't have any strong opinions on appliances and layout.  I like little nooks with a bench seat like in these pictures:

via www.aroomsomewhere.net

I love the stone on the walls of this kitchen and the way it ties in the oven area.  Not really sure where the sink is in this kitchen...that could be a problem.

This is the kind of island I want.  I also love the tall ceilings and windows:

I love thick, rustic tables like this next one:

I love the big island with the sink in this one:

Arden Stephenson Designer

I have a husband that hates white/cream cabinetry so that is something we are going to have to compromise on.  I was thinking something like this next image where the bottom cabinets are dark and top are light.  I also like kitchens with the island being a different color cabinetry than the rest of the kitchen.

via Bloom

Vinewood Kitchen

LOVE the windows in this kitchen.  Also that table, although it is a little bit too big...

via Inspired Design & Charolette Romance

via mydreamplace

via House and Home Canada

I love photo collages on the shelf like the image below.  I also love white chair covers around the dining table:

Yoldanda Sanchez Designer

There are generally Macys coupons available for all kinds of dining room sets.

Victoria Pearson Photography

I definitely would love my appliances to either be stainless steel or look like the cabinetry in my kitchen (the more expensive option.)  So, those of you who ARE cooks; what things does your dream kitchen HAVE to have?