Between the Layers | Design Guide Series
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Things I Saved Just for the Month of May

There’s something about the month of May that makes you want to press reset—but not in a rushed, dramatic way. It’s more of a gentle shift, a craving for calm mornings, tactile textures, and softer silhouettes. You know, the little moments of brightness you find throughout the home and closet. After the flurry of April for our family with three birthday celebrations, Easter and more, May feels like the first deep breath—the one you take when you open the windows, throw off the heavy layers, and lean into the slow bloom of a new season.

 

A layered and eclectic vignette featuring a large feather print, a vintage-style portrait of a woman in a black frame, a carved wooden horse sculpture on a stand, and a mix of gold-toned twisted candlesticks. The arrangement sits on a white scalloped-edge console table, with an antique wooden trunk placed beneath it and a brass wall sconce to the side. Hydrangeas and greenery peek in from a vase on the right, adding a fresh, organic touch.
Photo: Zee Wendell

The May Edit

This month’s edit is inspired by exactly that: the mood of fresh starts and thoughtful beauty. Each piece was chosen for its ability to make everyday rituals feel a little more refined—like pouring your coffee into a glass that feels special, slipping into a cotton sweater that feels like sunshine, or setting out silverware that elevates even the simplest of meals.

We pulled together items that feel seasonal but not fleeting. Things that invite you to live slower, notice more, and enjoy the in-between moments—whether that’s setting the table on the patio or swapping your perfume for something a little softer and woodsy.

It’s curated with care, and I hope it inspires you to linger a little longer this month.

 

Curated collage titled "The May Edit" featuring a selection of lifestyle and home items. Highlights include a yellow knit sweater, blue gingham apron with ruffled pockets, cream mesh ballet flats, a brass flush mount light, a clam-shaped decorative bowl, vintage glass bottles, a woven basket, a rattan lidded container, terra-cotta toned linen bedding, and a dark wood spindle-leg console table. Sections are labeled with phrases like “style picks I’m living in,” “for the collected home,” “linens with a pop of color,” and “natural textures.” Clouz Houz branding is featured at the top.


For the Home that Feels Collected

There’s something about finding one piece that instantly changes how a space feels—whether it’s a texture, shape, or tone. I love this vintage-inspired bobbin floor mirror for an entryway or bedroom refresh. The rounded beaded trim feels both timeless and playful.

Decorative ivory-hued jar with natural bone inlay and sculptural lid detail.

This bone inlay lidded jar is just stunning. Soft ivory tones, elegant craftsmanship… it’s one of those pieces that instantly elevates a shelf or vanity. I love these pieces for hiding the everyday clutter or stashing something special!

Ornate Moroccan soap dish crafted from hand-etched brass with an upright decorative back and round base.

A recent purchase: this neutral check kitchen towel set. It is a quiet luxury that adds pattern and softness wherever you place them. And, I can’t get enough of this handwoven wall basket with a lid—it’s got a charming, elevated pantry or mudroom feel, and I picture it styled over a console or in a sunlit kitchen corner.  And this Moroccan brass soap dish is a favorite too—functional, sculptural, and feels like something collected on travels.

Dark oak console table with barley twist legs and two drawers, ideal for entryways or living spaces.

This oak tray-top end table also made the list—classic lines, beautiful wood tones, and a piece that brings a sense of history and intention into the room. Also loving this mid-century brass ceiling spot light for a cozy nook or hallway update. It’s subtle but packs so much style punch.


Tabletop & Little Luxuries

Vintage-inspired crystal wine glass with a fluted bowl and short pedestal base.

I have a soft spot for thoughtful objects you’ll actually use daily. These glass canning jars feel European, and intentional for everything from casual breakfasts to weekend hosting. The footed crystal wine glass set brings a little sparkle to your shelves and is perfect for summer spritz season … why not start in May?

Five-piece flatware set with polished silver heads and rich wood grain handles, ideal for a rustic or elevated dining table.

And, I couldn’t skip this Amazon flatware set with dark wood handles—it’s quietly beautiful, and makes even a Tuesday night pasta dinner feel special. 

Oversized decorative resin bowl shaped like a clam shell with a shimmering silver finish.

Also, try styling large oyster bowls to hold fruits, florals, or ice. This silver resin clam bowl has that effortless beach-meets-elegance thing going on.


Style Picks to Live In During the Month of May

Cream mesh ballet flats with a Mary Jane strap and buckle detail, perfect for spring and summer outfits.

These woven mesh ballet flats are on major rotation right now. Love the cream mesh and the strap detail! And, they’re breathable and super versatile. Pair them with everything from wide-leg jeans to linen dresses.

Feminine gingham apron in blue with white lace trim, ruffled pockets, and a bow tie waist.

The ruffled blue gingham apron is another item you’ll love—it brings some whimsy to everyday cooking or baking moments, and makes you feel instantly put-together in the kitchen.

Elegant woven snake chain necklace with a circular medallion pendant, a statement yet timeless accessory.

This woven snake chain medallion necklace is a forever piece. A little shine, a bit of texture, and it layers perfectly with other gold favorites. I’ve always wanted a necklace similar to this style!


Sentimental Touches

Sometimes it’s the quiet details that mean the most. This pewter frame has such a classic weight to it! I picture it holding a black-and-white family photo, or something printed from a recent trip. They make for such great gifts during spring — Father’s Day, Grad gifts, or just because.


Skincare & Small Indulgences

Luxurious skincare balm in a round tin with cobalt blue botanical illustration on the lid.!

Give your skin some love during the month of May with these Bio Collagen Face Masks—an overnight formula that has been a real treat lately. And, if you haven’t tried the Botanical Rescue Barrier Balm yet, it’s one of those miracle products that’s good for cuticles, dry patches, elbows—you name it. It recently sold out, so grab it fast! I’ve even seen it used on the high points of your face for a pretty, dewy look. 

1

For the Collected Home

Handmade Herb Markers
Moroccan Brass Soap Dish
Victory Oak Tray Top End Table
Mid Century Vintage Brass Ceiling Spot Light
Jimena Lidded Jar
Pair of Linen Kitchen Towels – Palma
Faro Floor Mirror
Warren Hand Woven Wall Basket
2

Tabletop & Little Luxuries

Silver Resin Clam Decorative Bowl
40 Piece Wooden Handle Silverware Set
Footed Crystal Wine Glass Set
Tall La Lorraine Canning Jar
3

Spring Picks

Rodni Mesh Ballet Flats
Freda Apron
Fauna Necklace
4

Sentimental Touches

Large Lombardia Rectangle Frame
5

Skincare & Small Indulgences

Botanical Rescue Barrier Balm
Quasi Bio Collagen Face Mask
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People often ask why renovations have always been my favorite. The easy answer is that I love watching a transformation. But if I’m honest, I think it’s something much deeper than that.

Years ago, our family walked through a season that forced us to start over. It wasn’t something I would have chosen, but looking back, it changed the way I see everything. Homes. People. Even myself. I stopped looking at what something was and started paying attention to what it could become. Maybe that’s why fixer-uppers have always felt so familiar to me. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re starting over. I know what it’s like to wonder if something beautiful can come from a season that feels uncertain. That’s why I love renovations. They’re hopeful. Every wall that comes down makes room for something new. Every decision is an act of believing that what’s ahead can be better than what was there before.

The funny thing is... I don’t think this is really about houses. I think all of us have something in our lives that feels unfinished, overlooked, or in need of another chance. I’ve learned that the middle of the story rarely looks like the ending. And sometimes the most beautiful things aren’t built from scratch. They’re simply revealed.
For anyone who’s ever had to start over... I’m rooting for you!
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the little things.
After moving across the country, leaving behind everything we’d known, and living in the middle of a major renovation, I’ve realized that joy isn’t waiting for me on the other side of a finished house.

It’s in the fresh flowers on the counter.
The windows open on a summer morning.
A glass of rosé at the end of the day.
Clipping greenery from the yard.
Lighting a candle just because.

These small rituals have become the way I slow down, stay present, and make this house feel like home-even while it’s still a work in progress.

ICYMI, I wrote all about this in my post “A Home That Feels Like Summer.” It’s a collection of the simple rituals, thoughtful edits, and favorite finds that are helping me embrace this season instead of waiting for the next one.

You can read the full story through the link in our bio.🤍
For a long time, I lived with a “one day” mindset.
One day, when the house is finished...
One day, when life slows down...
One day, when there’s something to celebrate.

But moving across the country, leaving behind everything familiar, and renovating a home while living in it has taught me something I never expected.

If I keep waiting for the perfect moment, I’ll miss the life that’s unfolding right now. So now I set the table on an ordinary Tuesday. I buy the flowers. I light the candles. I pour the wine. Not because everything is perfect. Because it isn’t.

It’s because I’ve learned that every season of life is worth enjoying—even the messy, unfinished, uncertain ones.
Ironically, some of my favorite memories have been made in a home covered in dust, with projects half finished and paint samples still on the walls.

Maybe that’s the real purpose of a home. Not to impress people. But to remind us to slow down, gather together, and find beauty in the season we’re living in.
This is probably the advice I recently give more than anything else: finish one room.

I know... everyone wants to tackle the kitchen, the bathrooms, the furniture, the lighting—all at once. I get it. But I’ve watched so many people get burnt out trying to make hundreds of decisions across five different spaces. At some point, you stop enjoying the process and start second-guessing everything.

One finished room changes that. Not because your house suddenly feels “done” (it doesn’t), but because it gives you confidence.

You start learning what you actually love to live with, and every room after that gets a little easier.

One thing that’s really important to us is taking a holistic approach. Even if we’re only designing one room today, we’re thinking about how it connects to the rest of your home-both now and years from now. Those bigger-picture decisions are what make a home feel collected instead of pieced together.

That’s also why we offer different ways to work together. Maybe you need help getting unstuck in one room. Maybe you’re ready for a complete design plan. Either way, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a project, we’d love to help. You can explore all of our design services through the link in our bio.
This is probably the advice I recently give more than anything else: finish one room.

I know... everyone wants to tackle the kitchen, the bathrooms, the furniture, the lighting—all at once. I get it. But I’ve watched so many people get burnt out trying to make hundreds of decisions across five different spaces. At some point, you stop enjoying the process and start second-guessing everything.

One finished room changes that. Not because your house suddenly feels “done” (it doesn’t), but because it gives you confidence.

You start learning what you actually love to live with, and every room after that gets a little easier.

One thing that’s really important to us is taking a holistic approach. Even if we’re only designing one room today, we’re thinking about how it connects to the rest of your home-both now and years from now. Those bigger-picture decisions are what make a home feel collected instead of pieced together.

That’s also why we offer different ways to work together. Maybe you need help getting unstuck in one room. Maybe you’re ready for a complete design plan. Either way, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a project, we’d love to help. You can explore all of our design services through the link in our bio.