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The August Edit: Linger Longer

Embracing the Present

The summer months are such precious days, aren’t they? We have limited time to spend the days lounging outside on patio furniture, BBQing with friends and family, and experiencing nature blooming along with our spirits. This season can feel so chaotic at times, always trying to jam the most trips in, that we often get carried away. I have to constantly remind myself to stay in the moment and embrace the time that I am currently in. And honestly, a staycation can be just as relaxing if you’re intentional with how you spend your time in the comfort of your own home.

Furniture That Encourages Relaxation

And with that comes home furniture and lifestyle items that support that goal and make it enjoyable to linger in a memory longer. August is all for those special pieces that evoke emotions, start conversations, and inspire. We’re taking it back to the basics, with neutral and soft color palettes of a calm summer day, and with pops of exciting colors and patterns sprinkled throughout.

Pieces Inspiring My Designs

In August, it’s all about those light and airy styles that feel organic to summertime, while bringing a breath of life and fresh twists into the equation at the same time. And, what better way to understand the vision than to include Kelly Wearstler’s book, “Kelly Wearstler: Evocative Style.” Everyone should pick up this book, the designs inside are just so uniquely stunning! Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon perusing her pages chocked full of inspiration.

Source: Geremia
Geremia Design 2022 photographed by Laure Joliet

Color of the Month

Benjamin Moore’s ‘Coral Spice’ has a nice punch of color while also being mellowed with a hint of brown tones. I chose a pinky coral for August because there are so many different hues you can pick from, but it feels refreshing for summer.

I also came across this black & white tile and knew I needed to include it in this month’s roundup. This is from a local company, Kibak Tile in Sisters, Oregon, and I just love the colors and patterns of their designs. The contrasting colors feel like such a nice and refreshing contrast to the rest of this edit’s color palette. And, the floral motifs give it a variety of characters. I’d love to use this in a bathroom, beach home, or as a backsplash.


What I’m Wearing: Slow Living Essentials

I want to emphasize the importance of slow living being our lifestyle, and handpicked a few things that give that vibe while still making me feel fresh+seasonal yet relaxed.

  • Raffia Clutch with Ruffles: A subtle accent for any outfit, this clutch is the material of the season.
  • Essential Tote: MASSIVE and perfect for carrying work materials or stocking up at the farmer’s market. The durable canvas is easy to clean. Kaylei was so sweet and surprised us with Clouz Houz totes for travel and site visits. We load them up with samples, plans, etc. You can customize them with your initials, logo or name. So so cute!
  • Seersucker Linen Pants: These pinstriped linen pants elevate any basic outfit. Pair them with a white tee or a graphic one for an effortless, breathable, and flowy look.


What I’m Using to Style My Home

This month is all about the little accessories that make a house a home.

  • Fun and Retro Print Pillows: Perfect for jazzing up a couch or adding a fun accent to a chair or bed. Summer is the time to pick playful designs!

  • Porcelain Lighting: Inspired by our primary bedroom in Tumalo, this statement fixture adds a stylish touch.


Lifestyle Favorites

  • Oyster Plate: A Clouz Houz staple for the season. We love our oysters, and this plate is both functional and beyond aesthetic.

Linger Longer

August is about those special pieces that evoke emotions, start conversations, and inspire. It’s about understanding the intent behind each item and relating to where some of us might be at this point in the summer. Relish the good times, embrace the soon to be end to the season and linger longer outside, in the comfort of your home with loved ones. Life is short. Make it Beautiful…. however it brings you joy. 

Cheers to a season of joy, inspiration, and unforgettable moments! 😜

***

I case you missed last month’s posts…

Pro’s and Con’s of Quartzite Counters

Grilled Peach Smash Cocktail Recipe

Our Fave Sofa and Coffee Table Combos

Shop the High Desert Tumalo Ranch Living Room

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Ok here’s the truth- I have a lot of favorite whites- but this may be my new fave for cabinetry! 
Here’s the part no one tells you:
Most “bad” white cabinets aren’t bad colors… they’re bad context. White fails when it’s chosen in isolation. Paint chips are judged under fluorescent store lighting, held next to nothing, and decided before cabinets, counters, floors, or hardware are even finalized. Then that same white gets wrapped around an entire kitchen and suddenly feels gray at noon, yellow at night, or weirdly dull no matter how much light you have.
That’s why we chose Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams for our kitchen cabinets this time around.
Not because it’s trendy.
Not because it photographs well.
But because it behaves.
Shoji White has a soft warmth that doesn’t show up on a chip, but does show up when it’s next to real materials. It stays steady throughout the day, doesn’t compete with natural wood or stone, and doesn’t turn chalky once it’s covering full-height cabinetry. That consistency is what actually makes a white “safe” — not how popular it is.
Designer truth:
If a white only looks good at one time of day, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If it needs perfect lighting to work, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If paint decisions make you spiral, it’s not because you’re bad at this (it’s because white is reactive, and no one teaches you how to test it properly).
Our blog goes live today at 3:00pm PST, where I break down how to evaluate whites in your actual space and share a few other cabinet whites we consider truly “safe” — the ones we use repeatedly for clients because they hold up in real life, not just in photos.
Save this if you’re choosing cabinets soon.
When I turned 50, I thought my story was already written.
Turns out, I was just getting to the good part.
I’ve rebuilt homes—and rebuilt a life.
Left what was familiar. Started over more than once.
Turned a lifelong love for design into a business alongside my husband, creating intentional homes for people all over the country.
I believe spaces should hold real life… the messy, meaningful, beautiful moments.
And I’ve always looked at older homes and thought, look at the potential.  Maybe that’s why starting over has never scared me, because I see life the same way. Not as finished, but as full of possibility.
How about you? Are you in the middle part of life and just getting going??? I want to hear! And, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want some advice on how to get started- I’m realizing we are all in this together. 🤍
Life is short. Make it beautiful.
January, already?!
This month’s edit ended up being a mix of things I naturally reached for: cozy knits, everyday staples that don’t try too hard, little home upgrades that make winter feel more intentional. A few things for staying in, a few things for stepping out, and a few things that just make the house feel good again after the holiday rush.
It’s that in-between season where comfort wins, neutrals feel right, and anything with warmth or texture just makes sense. Simple, useful, grounding.
Here’s what’s on my radar as we settle into the new year. Comment “edit” for all my monthly picks! (Live on the blog at 3:00pm PST).
Hi 🤍 if you’re new here—my husband and I are the founders of Clouz Houz.
Three months ago, we packed up our life and moved across the country to follow a dream: expanding our design business in new ways and planting roots in a place completely unfamiliar to us. 
We bought a house in Middle Tennessee to renovate and call home… in a community where we knew no one.
It’s been scary. And humbling.
But we’re doing it.
While we haven’t gotten as far as we hoped on this first project, we are making progress—little by little. New hardwood floors. New electrical. Kitchen and laundry demo complete. A bathroom fully replumbed and rebuilt. 
And still… so much more ahead.
Living in the middle of a renovation while starting over at the same time has been overwhelming in ways we didn’t anticipate. This isn’t our first remodel, but this season feels different. It’s stretching us. Asking for patience. For trust. For presence.
And maybe that’s the point.
Progress doesn’t equal perfection. Sometimes it just looks like staying in it, even when the path feels uncertain. Learning a new place. Meeting new people. Believing that what you’re building—slowly—will be worth it.
This house is testing us, yes. 
Follow along as we restore this 1930s bungalow and build a new chapter, one step at a time.
2026, we can’t wait to see all that you have in store for us. 🤍