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“M“The home office perfectly balances creativity and order,” says interior designer Shea McGee, co-founder of Studio McGee and McGee & Co. A master of combining high-end design with accessible, comfortable living, McGee wanted to create a beautiful, functional space where creativity could flourish.
“I love beautiful things, but they also have to serve a purpose,” she says. “My office has a large open work table and inspiration boards, but also hidden storage for samples and documents. The design is inviting, with comfortable furniture and layered textures, but is also extremely functional. It reflects the same philosophy I bring to interior design: thoughtful, accessible design.”
Below, the entrepreneur takes us into her home office in Salt Lake City, where many of her best design ideas come from.
The vision: An “attic conversion” with character
“[My husband] “Syd and I both work from home quite often, so we both have our own office spaces,” says McGee. “His office is right next to the entrance, surrounded by custom oak French doors and a dark navy tone, overlooking the front yard. My office is more of a studio above the garage – a light-filled space with a work table where I can lay out samples and design boards. It's a space that feels creative and inspiring and fits the way I work perfectly.
“When we built our house, I wanted my office to feel like a charming loft makeover—something that felt more discovered than newly built. We tucked it into the roofline to expose the collar ties and take advantage of the quirky ceiling angles that give it so much character.”
“Natural light is one of my greatest sources of inspiration, so I made sure the space captured it beautifully. It's truly a work studio: a revolving door of creativity where design ideas take shape. The walls are lined with wide floorboards and the light oak floors provide a neutral backdrop to the endless stream of samples, catalogs and product mockups that I look at every day.”
How the space inspires her work
“I wear many different hats in my role, and the design of my studio truly reflects this. Each area was created with a different type of work – and a different type of energy – in mind. I want my studio to be an area of focus and creativity.
“The computer area is where I do my most focused work. I can't sit in the middle of the room when I need to concentrate – my eyes immediately go to all the things I could tweak or redesign – so this area faces a wall or window so I can stay focused and productive. The Arthur desk gives me a grounded, elegant workspace with enough surface area to keep both my computer work and my design notes organized. My chair supports long stretches of concentration Work while still looking beautiful, and the leather desk pad provides a stable, elegant workspace with a soft, warm surface to work on.
“The creative and pattern area is right at the heart of the room. This is where I lay out books, touch materials, and play with colors and textures. I love being awake and moving during this part of the process; it feels tactile and exploratory, and the openness of this zone invites the flow of ideas.”
“The board is my visual brain where concepts come together. My boards act as a visual north star, helping me see concepts, colors and ideas in one place so I can make creative decisions aligned with the vision.
“The sitting and snuggling area is actually the most personal space – it's where my kids sit when they walk in after school. They paint or do homework while I finish work.”
What your home office days look like
“When I'm not on site touring projects, checking products in our warehouse, or leading photo shoots, I'm in my studio on Zoom calls with designers and clients, going over product sketches, or discussing basic operations. After getting up and training at 5:30 a.m., Syd and I get the kids ready and head to school, and I'm in my office by 9 a.m
“What I wear absolutely influences the way I think – when I feel elegant yet comfortable, I feel more confident and creative throughout the day. My work-from-home wardrobe is all about soft fabrics: I usually wear baggy trousers, a cashmere sweater and some great jewelry to dress it up. I need to have shoes on to concentrate, and that can range from ballet flats to loafers or tennis shoes.”
“For efficiency, I stack all my morning and afternoon meetings back to back and usually eat snacks at my desk because there's really no downtime. My planner keeps my days structured and clear, and I always reach for a simple black marker because it makes even quick notes feel intentional. This is where I write down every single little to-do and mental note.
“When I have dedicated creative work to do, I block off hours in my calendar with specific tasks – if I don't protect that time, everything else takes over. Once my meetings are over, I spend the last part of my work day reviewing samples, sketching concepts, and brainstorming upcoming projects and collections. I usually finish around 3:30 p.m., when the kids get home, and switch into family mode.”
How she balances order and fantasy
“My office really comes to life when my bulletin boards are full and the work table is messy – they represent whatever's on my mind, and that's what makes the space unique. My favorite piece in my office is an antique cabinet I found at Round Top a few years ago. It has the most beautiful patina and gives the room a sense of history. I use it to store samples and design books, so it's both functional and full of character.
“Storage may not sound particularly glamorous, but samples come and go all the time, so accessible storage is essential to keep the space feeling calm and not (most of the time) chaotic.
“I thrive in a tidy space, but design projects can get a little chaotic: fabric swatches, paint swatches, and sketches often take over. As long as the rest of my home is tidy and clean, I usually thrive in the clutter of patterns hidden behind a closed door in my studio that I leave at the end of each day. Order and a beautiful clutter help me feel calm and creative at the same time.”