Is board and batten overdone?

[stephm0188]

I'm contemplating it in our kitchen. 

The shape is roughly a big box divided in thirds. 2/3 is the cabinetry area. Then there's an eat in breakfast area with an 8 ft bank of windows.  Between the cabinetry and eat in area is where traffic flows. There are hallways at either end. Cabinetry and trim are all white. The eat in area feels unbalanced, so I'm considering board and batten to even out all the white on the cabinet side of the kitchen.

The pictures are old. The walls are blue and the floors are a hickory color now. It gives you an idea of the space I'm working with.





Or if you have other suggestions, feel free to add them. 

[bunnymendelbaum]

I see what you mean about balance, but I think it will be different once the areas are furnished. I'd try a very large piece of art on the wall or something eye-catching in the EIK first.

IMO, board and batten is a little overdone just because it doesn't suit every style of home, but people have started to use it everywhere.

Is it an optical illusion, or is there a horizontal band running at the level of the switches?

[stephm0188]

The horizontal band was wallpaper border that had been painted over I removed it.

The space has been furnished and still feels off. I'll take updated pictures in the morning.

[dr.girlfriend]

I've never actually seen board-and-batten in real life, just in blogs, so I don't think it's really overdone. How does it match with the style of the rest of the house? I think I'd also want to see pics of how it is currently.

[TBM]

Aug 20, 2014 9:47:19 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I've never actually seen board-and-batten in real life, just in blogs, so I don't think it's really overdone. How does it match with the style of the rest of the house? I think I'd also want to see pics of how it is currently.

I think that is the most important thing.   I have seen a lot done in blogs that made no sense with the style of the house.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Based solely on the style of the kitchen, I'd say not to do it. However, I need to know the style of the house and what the kitchen looks like now before I can say it with any certainty.