Between the Layers | Design Guide Series
SUBSCRIBE
Design

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
Join the Conversation

get inspired
#clouzhouz
follow along
@clouz_houz
Life is too short for a room that doesn’t make you happy. Color is @farrowandball Setting Plaster🩷
POV: You want a home you love... but you don’t have the budget to do it all at once.

And then you find our studio!

I’d rather see you create one room you absolutely love than stretch yourself across an entire house and feel like nothing is ever finished. One finished room gives you momentum. It reminds you why you started. And it gives you a clear vision for everything that comes next.

One of the things we help clients with is deciding where to begin. Together, we create a roadmap that allows your home to evolve thoughtfully over time-without feeling pieced together.

You don’t have to do it all this year. You just have to know what comes first.

If you’re wondering where to start, we’d love to help. Feel free to message me and we can set up a 15 min discovery call!
New project in Bend, Oregon.🤍

We just signed on with the sweetest family, and one of the first things they said was, “We don’t really love our house.” A home can be objectively beautiful and still not feel good to live in.

In this house, the kitchen, dining room and living room are all one big great room. It sounds ideal until you realize the dining table is taking up the exact real estate the living room desperately needs.

Instead of making the kitchen bigger, we’re making it smarter. One move solved several problems at once: more storage, a better dining area, and enough square footage to give the living room the footprint it deserved.

Now we’re moving into one of my favorite phases... layering in materials. This is why I love the conceptual phase. Before a single cabinet is ordered, we’re already changing the way this family will live in their home.

If you’ve been looking around your own home thinking, “I know this could work better, I just don’t know how,” we’d love to help. Whether you’re planning a renovation, reworking your layout, or just need an expert eye before making expensive decisions, that’s exactly what we have to offer!

Check out our services through the link in our bio or send this post to a friend who’s struggling with this exact thing.
While renovations are an investment, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned after years of designing homes is this:
It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about where you spend it.

The homes that feel the most elevated aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones where every decision was made with intention.

That’s the philosophy behind everything we do. We help our clients understand where it’s worth investing, where they can save without sacrificing the overall look, and how to create a home that feels layered, timeless, and beautifully functional. Because a thoughtfully planned home will always feel more luxurious than one filled with expensive choices that don’t work together.

Good design isn’t about spending more.
It’s about making every dollar work harder for you-and creating a home you’ll love living in every single day.

If you’re planning a renovation or a furnishing project, we’d love to help. Learn more through the link in our bio.
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.🤍