Between the Layers | Design Guide Series
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Design

How To Make Your Home Uniquely You

When we design for our clients, our approach is deeply rooted in intentionality. Based in Bend, Oregon, we offer many nationwide services personalized to your needs and varying design styles. Understanding how you, our dear clients, navigate your daily routines helps us tailor each element of your home to be both functional and reflective of your individuality. Thoughtful design choices not only enhance the aesthetic appeal, but also ensure that every corner of your living space serves a purpose.

As designers, we believe that a home should be more than just a collection of furniture and décor — it should tell a story. It’s about infusing the essence of those who live there into every design decision. From the layout that facilitates seamless movement to colors that evoke emotion, our goal is to craft environments that feel like an extension of our clients’ identities.

Design: Clouz Houz | Photographer: Zee Wendell

Elevate Your Walls: Personalize with Gallery Walls

Gallery walls are a design feature we absolutely adore for their ability to infuse personality into any space. Mixing artwork, prints, and cherished treasures allows us to create visually captivating displays that reflect our clients’ unique tastes and experiences. 

Whether it’s integrating pieces collected during travels, heirlooms passed down through generations, thrifted finds, or personal mementos, each item adds layers to the narrative of our designs. Embracing variety in sizes, frames, and textures enables us to craft gallery walls that feel curated and deeply personal. Let your walls tell the story of who you are and what matters most — a true reflection of your journey and passions.

Refined Detail Work in Your Home

Detail work like trim, molding, and shiplap is where we get really excited as designers. Shiplap, in particular, holds a special place in our hearts. It fits perfectly into farmhouse vibes, and it can give a sleek modern home a touch of rustic charm. Its clean, classic lines bring sophistication to any space while keeping it cozy and inviting. 

What’s truly magical about shiplap is how effortlessly it adds personality and character. Whether we’re creating a stunning accent wall or transforming an entire room, shiplap brings that crisp, timeless charm.

Design: Clouz Houz
Source: DeVOL

Embracing Wood Ceilings for Warmth and Richness

Wood ceilings are a total game-changer for adding warmth and richness to a room. Unlike walls and floors that get all the attention, ceilings often get overlooked. But let me tell you, a wood ceiling can take your space from basic to beautiful in no time. It’s like bringing a piece of nature indoors, with those natural knots and textures that make you feel instantly cozy.

Think about it — instead of just slapping on a coat of paint, why not go for wood beams, paneling, or shiplap? These materials not only add a touch of rustic charm, but also bring in that earthy vibe that makes a room feel so inviting. Plus, they draw your eye upward, showcasing the architectural beauty of your home’s highest points.

Source: Pinterest

Would You Like Artistic Bathroom Cabinets in Your Home?

Well, imagine scalloped vanities that add a touch of whimsy, or antique dressers repurposed with sleek marble countertops. Opt for a cabinet/vanity that makes a statement! 

Personally, I’m inspired by French history when it comes to bathroom aesthetics — think elegant curves, intricate details, and a touch of vintage charm. Embrace organic shapes and materials to bring a sense of natural beauty into your bathroom.

Below is some cool cabinet inspiration that I hope you’ll see more of in 2024!

Source: @kelseyleighdesignco
Source: Pinterest
Source: Pinterest
Source: Pinterest

As we look ahead to 2024, let’s continue to prioritize design choices that are timeless yet personal. We can celebrate the beauty of craftsmanship and the joy of living in spaces that inspire us every day! Because when your home reflects your style, it becomes more than just a place to live — it becomes a sanctuary filled with memories and meaning. ?

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Our style has always leaned timeless and traditional, but never too polished. There’s always a bit of ease to it. Maybe that comes from our roots in Oregon, or maybe from where we are now in Tennessee, but we’re drawn to spaces that feel warm, deeply personal, and quietly layered. A hint of western influence, but not in a way that defines everything. Just enough to give it an organic and rustic edge.

If that feels like you, we’d love to help bring it to life (link in bio to inquire)!
I’m going to be honest... when I first started in this business even I was intimidated.

I would walk into showrooms and wonder how their pricing worked and if you really must know there was a lot of ambiguity around how designers worked.

I have never wanted our clients to feel that way. We keep our process really streamlined, transparent and unintimidating. It starts with a quick questionnaire: budget, goals, how you live, etc. From there, we hop on a 15-minute discovery call to make sure we’re aligned. We want to be sure both parties are a good fit for each other!

Once everyone is agreed this feels “right” we dive into your first full conceptual design and walk you through layouts, materials, and selections in a way that we think brings the space to life.

You’ll have time for edits, and then from there we finalize everything so you can move forward with confidence. We follow through with executing the vision.

Our goal is always to make the process feel approachable and comprehensive. If you’ve been thinking about working with a designer but didn’t know what to expect... this is your sign.

Link in bio or head to our ‘work with us’ page to get started!
Enjoy a minute and a half walkthrough of the main level of our 6th Street Bungalow project. I’ve been having so much fun finally starting to style some of these finished spaces and wanted to share a little update.

This is also your reminder that life actually happens in our homes. Notice the hallway that still hasn’t been wallpapered, the moving boxes stacked in the corner of the dining room, or the empty shelves in the hutch that have quickly become our family’s catchall. Don’t get me wrong, I love a clean and tidy home, but as things usually get put back by the end of the day, a new mess unfolds the next morning. That’s just the reality of living through a renovation. But the mess is also a good sign. It means things are changing, construction is moving, and we’re getting closer to a home that finally feels like ours without people constantly in and out working.

While it’s fun to share the final reveals, this is your reminder that Instagram is a highlight reel. Try not to compare your home to someone else’s on its best.
This voiceover is from an interview with Ina Garten, and it stopped me in my tracks.

My parents still tell the story how they’d leave for a dinner out while I babysat my little sister and brother, and by the time they got home, the entire living room would be completely reworked. Not asked for.... but I just had to see if it could feel better. I had recruited my sister and brother to help me move the furniture in an entire new layout!

I didn’t know it then, but that instinct was the beginning of everything.

Fast forward 35 years... I went from being a stay-at-home mom to starting my own business, taking on real clients (not just my parents, who truly didn’t sign up for the redesigns😂 and building something that genuinely fills my cup.

There were so many moments of doubt in between, like starting later, wondering if it was too late, if I’d missed my window. But here’s the thing. It’s never too late to start. To pivot. To build something around what you naturally love.

Sometimes the thing you’re meant to do has been quietly following you your whole life.