Best of 2015 and 2016 Project List

I know my blog has been lacking lately, and I've been behind on the 2015 recap. So here it is, better late than never right? After 5 years of major renovations, in the past two years I was able to focus on finishing touches and style refinement throughout the house. Decor projects are really fun and enjoyable. 

For reference purpose, the following are the #2015bestnine voted by my Instagram followers. 

In 2016, I have lined up quite a few projects including fixing up an old house we bought as an investment property. Here is a quick list as of now:

• Remove popcorn ceiling in some rooms in our primary residence (can you believe I still have stucco ceilings in my current house?!).
• Living room: 
• Replace the coffee table in my living room, with something like this, a two-tiered brass and glass number. 
• Replace those blue drapes with something moodier like this Schumacher Pyne Hollyhock fabric. This is going to cost a ton but I think I am ready to take a break from those blue drapes. I don't want the first impression of my living room to be "blue". Remember "eclectic" should always be the goals. :)
• Replace the chandelier, add a ceiling medallion. 
• Master Bedroom and Ensuite: 
• Replace the chandelier in my master bedroom with this. 
• Replace the mirrors in my master ensuite bathroom. I am thinking Venetian, or minimalist with thin black metal frames. 
• Renovate a guest ensuite bathroom. 
• Foyer: 
• Replace the foyer floor with black, white, and grey marble tiles, similar to what Christine used in her Piano Room project. This project is a maybe for now because I still like the existing Crema Marfil porcelain tiles.
• Paint the walls above the wainscoting in the same shade of white; or extend the wainscoting to full walls and paint them in white. 
• Laundry room:
• Tile the walls around sink and cabinets with white subway tiles. 
• Paint the rest of the walls - colour to be determined. 
• Last but not least, a master flip of an old house in the Leaside neighbourhood! I can't wait to get my hands on it. 

Now onto the food department. My future sister-in-law baked the most delicious cookies for us every Christmas. This year she upped the game and opted for something completely professional like this - the polka dot turquoise box was too pretty to open up! 

I had to put it next to my KitchenAid stand mixer and took a picture of the colour match. 

Last week on a whim I decided to make a fancy lattice apple pie. It was my first attempt at the lattice-top crust and it turned out nicely. Although the silicon pie crust shield I used was an epic fail - not only did it not prevent the crust from burning, it also crashed part of my perfectly fluted crust. I will switch back to my good 'ol aluminum foil in the future. 

Do you use Himalayan pink salt? I am obsessed with it and have been using it in everything I cooked. It makes seafood taste so much better. White marble bowl with brass spoon is from Indigo.