Between the Layers | Design Guide Series
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A Gift Guide for your Valentine ♥️

Derrick and I keep things pretty simple for Valentine’s Day. We love to make a yummy dinner and just enjoy the evening together. Now that two of our three kids are out of the house, we mail them each a little gift. Typically, it’s something I know they could use for school, but it’s also fun to give presents that show our love for them but that aren’t necessarily “useful.” If you’re looking for a gift for a loved one, check out the ideas below!

By the way, did you know you can follow us on Like To Know It?? You can find ALL the items featured in this post there on our Like To Know It page. We have an account on LTK where we share all the links of things we’re loving. We hope you’ll check it out and let us know if there’s something you would like to see more of. You can find us here!

 

 

1

Boy Smells Candle

I'll admit, I'm obsessed with Kacey Musgraves ... and this candle collaboration with Boy Smells has me very curious. I'll definitely be repurposing the glass container; it's a beautiful shade of red. I have one in my cart as a little gift for myself!
Kacey Musgraves x Boy Smells
2

Pink Carry-On Luggage

I'm already a fan of bold colors, and this BEIS suitcase will make finding your luggage in baggage claim so much easier! Isn't it cute? I've heard this brand is really really good -- in fact, it's all the rage right now. Our design assistant, Kaylei, took the carry-on version on our trip to Las Vegas Market and loved it!
Carry-On Luggage
3

Le Labo Santal 33

I'm not exaggerating when I say WHENEVER I wear this perfume, someone asks me what it is. And, the coolest thing is that it's unisex! This would make a great gift for your spouse or lover. It smells absolutely heavenly.
Le Labo Santal 33
4

Le Creuset Heart Cocotte

I've wanted a Le Creuset baking dish for sooo long! Although this may not seem super romantic, for the cooks out there -- well, if you know, you know. And this heart shape makes it even sweeter as a loving gesture to the chef in your life.
Heart Cocotte
5

"Loved" Socks

Our daughter is the queen of comfy clothing ... and these socks will go perfectly with her favorite sweats! She's always telling me that she needs cuter socks. Ha! But seriously, these socks make any outfit that much cozier.
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This breakfast nook is a perfect example of why I believe a good design plan can actually help you spend smarter, not more.

We intentionally paired a more affordable lacquer dining table with timeless wicker dining chairs and a statement light fixture. By saving in one area, we were able to invest where it mattered most. The end result still feels layered, custom, and collected because every decision was made with the bigger picture in mind.

That’s one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a designer. People assume we’re here to encourage a bigger budget.

Honestly, we’re here to educate you where to save so you can spend on the things that matter the most.

Knowing where to invest, where to save, and how those decisions work together is what keeps a project feeling intentional—and helps avoid expensive mistakes later.

I think a lot of people assume they need to wait until they have more money, or the entire house figured out before getting started. But I’ve found the opposite is often true. One thoughtful plan for one room creates momentum for everything that follows.

If you’ve been putting off a room because you don’t know where to begin (or you’re worried about making the wrong decisions), we’d love to help.

Comment “PLAN” and I’ll send you the link to schedule a one-hour consultation so we can kick your project off on the right foot.
When we first started designing our primary suite at the Sixth Street Bungalow, these were the images I kept coming back to. A bathroom that feels collected over time. A bedroom that feels quiet and restorative. Spaces with character, warmth, and a sense of permanence.

I’ve always believed that the best design starts there-not with a specific tile or paint color, but with how you want a space to feel when you walk into it.

The funny thing about renovation is that the vision is usually the easy part. The middle is where the work happens. The demolition. The decisions. The samples spread across every surface. The moments when you’re trying to imagine beautiful spaces while standing in a construction zone. We’re still very much in that season.
Choosing flooring. Finalizing cabinetry details. Adjusting lighting plans. Working through tile layouts.

Making hundreds of small decisions that most people will never notice individually, but together create the feeling we’ve been chasing from the beginning.

I’ve learned through the years that beautiful homes are rarely the result of one dramatic design decision.
They’re built through thoughtful choices, made over and over again.

We’re sharing much more of this renovation journey over on Substack-the sourcing, the design decisions. the changes, the lessons learned, and all the behind-the-scenes moments that don’t always make it to Instagram.

I’d love for you to follow along.
Comment “PIN” and I’ll send over tonight’s Design Board when it goes live. Or find it later in Between the Layers through the link in our bio.

I think people assume designers spend all day choosing furniture. The truth is, we spend a lot more time studying why certain rooms stay with us.

Why one staircase feels timeless.
Why a stripe can completely change the feeling of a room.
Why adding one modern piece to a traditional home suddenly makes everything else fee more interesting.

That’s what this month’s Design Board explores. It’s a peek inside the ideas shaping our work long before they become finished rooms. Some may be having a moment. But I have a feeling they’ll be just as beautiful ten years from now. That’s always the goal.

Fair warning: you may leave wanting to tent a room. I can’t be held responsible.
This is your sign to finally create a plan for the room you’ve been avoiding.

I think a lot of people assume they need to wait.
Until they have more time.
More money.
A bigger budget.
The entire house figured out.

But I’ve found the opposite is often true... Sometimes all it takes is creating a vision for one space.

One room that feels calmer.
More functional.
More beautiful.
More like you.

Because a home isn’t transformed all at once. It’s shaped through a series of thoughtful decisions over time.

If you’ve been circling the same room for months and aren’t sure what to do next, comment ‘PLAN” (or visit our website to get started) and I’ll send you the link to schedule a one-hour consultation.
If you’ve been circling the same room for months and aren’t sure what to do next, comment ‘PLAN” (or visit our website) and I’ll send you the link to schedule a one-hour consultation.

This is your sign to finally create a plan for the room you’ve been avoiding.

I think a lot of people assume they need to wait.
Until they have more time.
More money.
A bigger budget.
The entire house figured out.

But I’ve found the opposite is often true... Sometimes all it takes is creating a vision for one space.

One room that feels calmer.
More functional.
More beautiful.
More like you.

Because a home isn’t transformed all at once. It’s shaped through a series of thoughtful decisions over time.