LR Friends
Making Life Beautiful With Shea McGee
It’s easy to feel at home with Shea McGee — it’s been her specialty for a decade, now. After pivoting from a college degree in communications to follow her passion for interior design, Shea founded Studio McGee in 2014 with her husband, Syd. Three kids, ten years, and two New York Times best-sellers later, Shea’s singular ethos and aesthetic have made her an incomparable force of inspiration, far beyond four walls. This fall, we had the joy of sharing in Shea’s decor philosophies, personal style signatures, and her keys to the perfect dinner party, celebrating the launch of our exclusive collaboration. Explore the full collection of home goods now, only on McGee & Co.
Jessie wears our Cecelia Dress & Emilia Heel. Shea wears our Jo Dress and Fae Heel.
On Inspiration
"It’s so easy to get inspired by the world around you if you’re looking. For shapes and color palettes, I’m always taking cues from nature. We have four distinct seasons in Utah and with the Wasatch Mountains as the backdrop to Salt Lake City, the cyclical change is on full display. You’ll find a lot of browns, creams, and greens in my McGee & Co. designs, and I don’t think it’s happenstance that those shades are top of mind considering the earthtones I’m surrounded by.
"Travel is another major driver of inspiration. In every collection there’s at least one piece that was drawn from something I saw abroad—whether it be an intricate tile from Spain or simple tennis stripes while at Wimbledon."
Shea wears our Gillian Dress and Kayla Espadrille.
On Personal Style
"I think there is an inherent drive in someone who lives for design that also draws them to fashion. In my closet, I find myself reaching for pieces that are beautiful in not only a classic styling way but also their quality. I want to be able to continue to reach for that piece years from now. In both fashion and design, I love little details that bring a piece to life, whether it be delicate embroidery, like in the Viola Skirt or reeded glass in an oak hutch."
On Setting The Perfect Table
"I start off by letting the occasion be the guide—if it’s a more formal, sit-down dinner around a fully styled dining table or something more casual like a taco bar in the backyard. I always consider what’s on the menu. If it’s a spread that’s presented in tabletop bowls for family-style serving, that will affect the spacing of the rest of the styling. It also helps with picking that grounding piece, like a tablecloth or platter. From there, florals are what can really bring the look together, setting the color palette and overall vibe. It can be light and whimsical with things like wild grasses and straw flowers, like what we used in the shoot for this collaboration, or a more saturated look for the holidays with shades of crimson and midnight blue.
"One of my favorite elements of designing a tablescape is picking one of the millions of ways to style and fold a napkin, with or without a napkin ring. It’s a great way to set the tone for the meal and elevate your styling."
Jessie wears our Laney Dress and Ginger Mary Jane.
On Ten Years Of Studio McGee
"Looking back, just being where we are today, with our team around us, is my proudest accomplishment. With that said, there are a few things that linger in my mind and make me feel so proud of the work we’ve put in. Syd, my team, and I have written and published two books, both of which made it onto the New York Times bestsellers list. A dream come true! Launching our e-commerce brand, McGee & Co., in 2016 was a major feat and designing our exclusive pieces for that is still something I consider a perk of my job. Our partnership with Target and our show on Netflix, Dream Home Makeover, were both highlights. And this year we finished our first international design project, Cabo Dos Vistas."
Jessie wears our Callista Vest, Viola Skirt, and Heidi Boot. Shea wears our Jessa Dress and Fae Heel.
On Making Life Beautiful
"For me, I’m starting to feel comfortable enough on the business side of life that I can begin to enjoy the hard work we’ve put in in the past ten years. We just finished some updates to our backyard that didn’t make the cut when we were building it, and my family and I have been taking full advantage of our grill, garden, and pool. I have always loved to cook and it’s such a joy to be able to go pick fresh herbs and vegetables for dinner. Syd and I are both firm believers in the notion that surrounding yourself with beauty is one of the easiest ways to live a life full of happiness, love, and laughter. Whether it’s taking the time to plate and set the table for a weeknight spaghetti dish you’ve made a hundred times already or changing your welcome wreath out as the weather turns, there’s something truly special about romanticizing the smallest, most mundane moments, celebrating the changing seasons, and creating memories that linger long past their occurrence. I believe that when you start to make life beautiful, that’s when you truly start living."
On Following Your Gut
"Looking back, in a way it isn’t surprising to me that we made it this far because we were so determined that there really wasn’t any other option other than to make it. We poured our hearts and souls, and our savings, into Studio McGee. My advice would be just that, go for it as if you have no other option."
