To say that Studio McGee has made its mark on the design world over the past decade would be an understatement. Indeed, the interior design studio founded in 2014 by husband and wife Syd and Shea McGee has evolved greatly to become a go-to destination for its coveted modern-meets-rustic style.
Epitomizing the ‘modern heritage’ aesthetic, Studio McGee’s design projects are equally balanced between contemporary and classic, boasting timeless appeal through rich neutral color schemes and a relaxed feel for modern living.
To celebrate ten whole years of the design studio, we sat down with Shea to discuss all things Studio McGee, and how her design style has evolved since the beginning of her career as an interior designer.
‘I started my business in my early twenties,’ Shea tells me. ‘Between starting Studio McGee and now, I have had the opportunity to start with smaller projects, and as they’ve grown, I’ve learned with every single one of them.’
While Shea’s approach to designing homes has naturally evolved in several ways over the past ten years – thanks to the breadth of projects she’s worked across – how she decorates with color stands out as perhaps the most significant.
Cast your mind back to 2014, and images of high-contrast schemes are quickly conjured up for most of us. Indeed, decorating with neutrals has come a long way in recent years, and for Shea, it’s seen a noticeable shift from bright whites to softer, warmer tones.
‘When I first started, my style was a lot brighter in the bright white family,’ she explains. ‘I love a neutral, but I think that it’s become a bit warmer over the years. I think I probably use a little less strong black and white than I did in the earlier parts of my career.’
‘I also appreciate more depth of color than I did in the beginning,’ the designer adds.
(Image credit: Studio McGee)
Shea’s approach to decorating with color has become an inspiration source for many, with projects often channeling nuanced neutrals that strike the perfect balance between light and airy and cozy and welcoming. For example, the design studio’s recent Tahoe Pines project channeled a host of warm neutral paint colors, much like Benjamin Moore’s Creamy White used on the kitchen cabinets.
Beyond her focus on color in interior projects, there’s another prominent shift Shea observes, and that’s her approach to interior design trends, or more specifically, her confidence to pass on trends that don’t resonate with her.
‘Over time, you get more confident in your style,’ Shea comments. ‘I know what trends that I want to embrace and which ones I will just kind of skip over.’
This speaks to the core appeal of many Studio McGee projects: succeeding in maintaining a timeless quality by transcending quickly passing trends. ‘When you’re running a design firm, you’re thinking of the clients themselves and what is going to be a true reflection of them,’ adds Shea.
‘If something is trending that really reflects their personal style, regardless of the trend, I’m only going to do it if I think it’s a trend that still has some staying power.’
‘At the end of the day, there are a lot of things that I still love that I did in the early days,’ concludes Shea. ‘I’ve always loved spaces that feel really airy, and I still love that to this day.’
Shea’s latest book, The Art of Home, helps you create your own functional and beautiful home with helpful guides for each room.
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