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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“Why bring in a designer when I could do it on my own?”
You absolutely can. Most people can get a space to look good but does it function and translate over time?
But what you don’t always see is everything happening behind the scenes: the planning, the sequencing, the material decisions, the scale, the problem-solving when something doesn’t quite work.
It’s not just about choosing pieces. It’s about making hundreds of small decisions that all need to relate to each other.
We’ve been doing this for years, we know what to look for (and what to avoid), we have access to resources you won’t find online, and we manage the chaos so you don’t have to.
If you’re ready to take that off your plate, you can inquire through the link in bio!
Because I know I’d be overwhelmed by this list if I wasn’t privy to the industry.
Send this post to someone who is considering hiring a designer!
It gave us a lot of left hooks- but we are still standing. 💪
When I talk about holding our clients hands through projects- I sure wish I had someone holding mine on this one! There were plumbing debacles… we discovered pipes running every which way, structural issues, electrical wires that were a fire hazard, a layout that tested my creativity… the list goes on and on! 
Feeling so grateful for all the trades who helped us get here. 
The window coverings still need to get installed (the prettiest cafe curtain if you can picture it ) but I just couldn’t wait any longer to share with you…
Now tell me, what is your favorite detail? Because I truly can’t decide. And if you could share/like/save… all the things, to show her some love I would appreciate it so much. 🥰
Life is too short to live in a flat, one-note space.
The details that don’t immediately stand out are often the ones doing the most work. This is one of those.
• Satin on trim
• Eggshell on walls
• Flat on the ceiling
Save this for when you’re picking paint... it makes more of a difference than you think.
Nothing makes me happier than getting to reveal our long awaited upstairs guest bath!
Comment ‘BATH’ and I’ll send you everything to get this look.
This was the very first room we demoed at the Sixth Street Bungalow, and easily one of the biggest transformations. What started as a simple update turned into redoing floors, vaulting the ceiling, and completely reworking the plumbing.
Now it actually works for how we live and host. With proper storage, a place for guests to hang clothes, built-in linen space, and a layout that finally makes sense.
At the core of every project for us is this idea: designing for how a space feels and functions, not just how it looks on paper. Every decision here was about creating something that feels lived-in, thoughtful, and quietly layered.
The details are what bring that to life. The custom sink skirts might be my favorite. They’re slightly feminine, but grounded in a way that still feels tailored and not too precious.
A long time coming, but exactly how it was meant to be! Hope you enjoy it:)
Don’t mind the current state of things... it’s a bit of a disaster in here right now. I shared the vision on stories, but I’m such a visual person that I wanted to pull everything together (both for you and honestly for myself) to see how all the elements will work together.
The first things I knew I wanted in this space:
A fun pop of color (Charlotte’s Locks by @Farrow&Ball)
A mosaic floor
An inset mirrored medicine cabinet
I think this is going to be such a fun space for when we have people over. A powder bath is the perfect place to do something a little unexpected (or a few things) and really lean into it.
I’ll share more as we go!