When you’re as well-known as Shea McGee is, it can be easy to fall into the trap of everyone expecting the same thing from you. The Studio McGee founder has built her now-iconic aesthetic ecosystem from the ground up, but that doesn’t mean she rests on her laurels when it comes to the projects that come across her desk. Sure, they have to feel threaded with the McGee DNA, but she believes they should also be one-of-one, with every new home granting her the opportunity to push her eye, and her audience, further.
When it came to this new-build cottage outside of Park City, Utah, McGee had a very specific calibration in mind: just the right amount of grandma. Not grandmotherly, per se—and certainly not old-fashioned—but rather the sort of house where floral upholstery feels at home alongside dark-stained wood and inherited dishes earn pride of place on a custom plate rack. “They love pattern, a mix of subtle colors, and anything that feels cozy and collected with a little nostalgia built in,” McGee says of the homeowners. “But they’re also a young, energetic family, so it couldn’t tip into precious.”
That key distinction came naturally to McGee, partly because she had known her client for two decades, sharing a history that meant the pair could skip the usual get-to-know-you formalities and dive straight into the good stuff. From the start, the goal was to create what McGee calls a “new old cottage”—a four-bedroom home for a family of five (and their dog) that could convey the romance of a bygone era without requiring its inhabitants to live as if they belonged to one. “Every decision had to work for real life,” McGee explains. “Cozy spaces, a kitchen built for a crowd, rooms that feel special but never precious.”
In the entry, antique stone flooring establishes a sense of patina from the first step. The living room pairs vintage beams with a scene-stealing floral sofa, while the dining room, surrounded by windows, boasts enveloping wallpaper and a charming display of family dishes. Even the kitchen riffs on tradition: An unexpected pocket of extra space became a lowered baking counter designed specifically for the kids. It’s a house that rewards wandering and, more importantly, resists easy replication. “You couldn’t pick this house up and drop it into someone else’s life and have it feel right,” McGee says.
And therein lies the most convincing trick of this brand-new home: It doesn’t feel like a house designed to look old so much as one designed to become old—a place for the family to collect stories, scuffs, celebrations, and another generation’s worth of dishware until all that imagined history becomes the real thing.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Shea McGee, Studio McGee
Architect: Clayton Vance Architecture
Builder: KB Builders
Location: Midway, Utah
The Space: A four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom new build home
OFFICE
Saturated denim blue covers the walls and ceiling for an immersive, cozy experience.
A masterclass in multipurpose design, McGee devised this office-meets-music-room-meets-homework-space to suit a bevy of needs. “The layout supports fluidity; a desk sits behind the sofa, and a custom cabinetry system wraps around an upright piano, integrating it thoughtfully into the room rather than letting it dominate,” she adds. Portola Paint’s Newberry Port Blue covers the walls and ceiling, contrasting beautifully with the warm stone fireplace.
LIVING ROOM
A custom floral sofa in Jasper fabric adds a touch of grandma.
Anchoring the heart of the home, McGee designed the living room to embody everything her clients are about as a family. “It's dressed up yet relaxed, old mixed with new, and collected over time,” she says.
Vintage beams running overhead add a touch of patina, while the lower ceiling height—an intentional choice—makes the room feel cozy and intimate rather than grand. “The living room doesn't try to be formal or perfect. Instead, it invites you to sit down, curl up, and actually live in it,” McGee adds.
KITCHEN
A counter-to-ceiling tile backsplash adds functionality and shine.
Full of many of McGee’s go-to materials—including Calacatta marble, cream cabinets, and dark-stained woods—the kitchen is ideal for a family who loves to cook and entertain.
“We shifted the floor plan to create a true closed pantry with interior windows, and added sidelights and a transom between the living and dining rooms,” McGee says of the room’s layout. “It's actually something I have in my own home, and I love what it does: the spaces feel connected, but each one still gets to hold its own moment. It's a small architectural move that makes a big difference in how a home actually lives.”
BUTLER’S PANTRY
A skirted sink brings that classic country-inspired charm.
“Throughout this home, closed concept spaces create jewel box moments of bold color and personality, and the pantry is one of them,” says McGee. Inside, dark brown paint and wood counters create richness and depth that feels like the opposite of the bright, airy kitchen just beyond.
DINING ROOM
With windows on all three sides, this entertaining space trades wall space for natural light.
Because the dining room is surrounded by windows, McGee could lean into richness and warmth without skewing too moody. “All that light gave us the freedom to pull a color from the viney wallpaper's dark background and carry it across the ceiling and trim. It's a bold choice that works because the windows balance it,” the designer says.
The one available wall is put to good use, housing a custom plate rack that displays the clients’ collected dishes gathered from family over the years. “It's functional and personal, turning a constraint into a highlight,” she adds.
POWDER ROOM
Bold details and modern shapes lend a contemporary touch.
Bold and unapologetic, the powder room is a gutsy statement whose origin hinges on the verdant House of Hackney wallpaper. “Our client has a deep love of fashion and style, and it was love at first sight,” McGee says of the pick. “It's a space that celebrates an injection of modernity in a classic home.”
DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM
McGee carried the wallpaper up the ceiling to accentuate the room’s height.
“When we designed this bedroom for the family’s youngest daughter, we wanted to create a space that reflects her vibrant personality and feels like a world of its own,” says McGee. “We wrapped her room in pomegranate paint and paisley wallpaper, even onto the ceiling, so she’s completely enveloped. It's proof that you don't have to choose between bold and peaceful; when you're intentional about how you layer color and pattern, you can have both.”
PRIMARY SUITE
A vestibule designed for reading caters to the household bookworm.
Early on in the design process for the primary suite, McGee’s friend and client requested an entryway vestibule designed to act as a quiet sanctuary where she could read. “The vestibule becomes a lovely transition, a moment of pause and discovery before you step fully into the bedroom,” McGee adds. “It's an unexpected gem that honors how she actually wants to live.”
In the bedroom itself, the vestibule accent color gets the star treatment, blanketing the walls and ceiling like a cozy cocoon. “It's one of my favorite colors because it shifts with the light; it’s moody and calm all at once,” adds McGee.
Accessories sprinkled throughout—including brass urn lamps, vintage art, and an antique Japanese panel on the wall—feel like pieces the clients have collected over years, even though the room was all designed at once.
PRIMARY BATHROOM
A crackle brown tile brings both color and functionality to the walls.
If McGee had to choose a “hero” feature in the primary en suite, it’d have to be the chocolate crackle tile from Complete Tile. “We carried it halfway up the walls and into the shower, creating a rich, enveloping backdrop,” she adds. “Rather than contrast it, we matched the cabinetry to the walls, letting the color do the work. The result is a cohesive, sophisticated space where everything feels intentional.”
SON’S BEDROOM
Playful accents nod to his many flourishing hobbies.
Designed for a boy on the cusp of his teenage years, McGee wanted to create a room that could grow alongside its occupant. “Blues, plaids, and wools create a youthful, collected feel while providing a backdrop to showcase his interests: soccer, Legos, whatever project he's working on,” says McGee. “The beauty is in the flexibility. With just a few small switches down the road, this room will seamlessly evolve into his teenage years without a complete redesign. It's a space that celebrates who he is right now while respecting who he's becoming.”
OFFICE
Custom pin boards grant plenty of room for visual inspiration.
“This small nook off the lounge proves that function doesn't require space,” says McGee. She enclosed this intimate nook in interior glass to maximize natural light while still allowing sightlines to the kids at play, making it a smart solution for a working parent. “Everything—the walls, ceiling, trim, and cabinetry—is wrapped in a soft green-gray that feels both soothing and inspiring, while William Morris patterns in the textiles add character and warmth without overwhelming the small footprint,” she adds. “It's a quiet, purposeful space that works beautifully.”
DAUGHTER’S BATHROOM
Layers of feminine pink create maximum impact.
Located off the bedroom of the family’s eldest daughter, this rosy pink bathroom is feminine and tranquil, with a tight palette that relies on texture to feel layered and dynamic. “Layering the pinks creates impact, and the juxtaposition of the Carrara marble on the counters and floors allows you to focus on the use of color in the space. It's fun and unexpected without sacrificing elegance,” says McGee.
About the Designer
Founded in 2014 by Syd and Shea McGee, Studio McGee is a multidisciplinary design house based in Salt Lake City, Utah. What began at a $70 Craigslist desk has shaped the way millions of people think about their homes, delivering design experiences that are as intentional as they are enduring. From full-service interior design and home furnishings to partnerships with the world's leading design brands, a Netflix series, and best-selling books, everything we do is guided by a single mission: Make Life Beautiful. Shea is the creative visionary behind Studio McGee. With an innate eye for design and a passion for creating beautiful, livable spaces, she leads the creative direction of every project.
