17 Gorgeous Studio McGee Kitchens that Prove Why Shea McGee is Queen
Studio McGee kitchens are the stuff of dreams. They’re usually the perfect mix of modern and traditional, blending materials and colors in a way that feels both classic and fresh.
It’s no wonder Shea McGee’s aesthetic landed her both a Netflix show and a Target home decor line. The girl is good.
Luckily, there is no shortage of Studio Mcgee kitchen photos and home inspiration to swoon over on the Internet. Between the firm’s Instagram and blog, there’s a Studio McGee kitchen out there for everyone.
If you’re looking for kitchen inspo, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of Studio McGee kitchens to come up with my favorite designs. Here are seventeen (and counting!) of the loveliest I’ve found. And while you’re at it, check out my favorite Studio McGee bathrooms, too!
My favorite Studio McGee Kitchens
Shop Studio McGe kitchen favorites:
1. This modern green beauty
I have a thing for green kitchens, and if my own hadn’t been renovated only a few years before we moved into our home, I’d probably gut it and put a green kitchen in its place. I also love how the intricate light fixture contrasts the simplicity of the cabinets.
2. A white kitchen with all the details
White kitchens are timeless, but they can also be a bit boring if they don’t have some sort of unique perspective. There are a few things that make this one stand out to me: The dark wood-toned island, which adds some contrast and depth to the room, the oversized plaster range hood, which feels almost sculptural, and the taupe-and-brass lighting above the island, which ties into the brass hardware, but is just unexpected enough.
This one is actually Shea McGee’s personal kitchen.
3. This rustic Cotswalds-esque kitchen
This kitchen is a beautiful example of modern-meets-traditional design. The architecture of the room could be out of an English cottage, and the kitchen honors that, while still bringing in modern touches, like the barstools and zellige tile backplash (a big kitchen backsplash trend), that make it feel updated and current.
Shop Studio McGee’s Target Picks
4. A slate blue gentleman’s kitchen
So I’m not totally sure if this kitchen does, indeed, belong to a gentleman, but it sure looks like it does. The combination of the slate blue with the caramel leather barstools and black pendant lights gives elegant-meets-masculine vibes that I’m here for.
5. A bright and cheerful Studio McGee kitchen
This one feels like a classic Studio McGee kitchen to me. It’s bright and clean, with a timeless design that’s packed with modern touches (the barstools, lighting, and open shelving). I also love the white zelige tile, which is one of my favorite kitchen backsplash trends of the moment.
6. A kitchen with an antique-inspired range hood
The range hood in this cozy kitchen looks like an updated version of an antique that might appear in an old French country kitchen. I love how the range hood informs design decisions throughout the rest of the space (see: the barstools), too.
7. A coastal California kitchen
This one screams California coast. It’s sort of like the Studio McGee take on the Serena & Lily look. It’s got all of the sandy tans and airy blues and rattan elements of Serena & Lily, with the modern touches that a McGee & Co. design brings, like the more contemporary coastal barstools and clean-lined living area furniture.
8. A kitchen with a statement range
A La Cornue range is certainly an investment, but one that takes any white kitchen (actually, any kitchen, period) up a notch. (Also a statement: The stone slab backsplash. Stunning.)
9. And the most perfect pantry door
This kitchen is actually the same one as the kitchen with the La Cornue range. As much as I love the range, I might love this arched pantry door more. Also, note the storage that looks like a built-in cane dresser.
10. A clean and classic kitchen
This space is one of Studio McGee’s older designs, but it proves that simplicity = timelessness. White kitchen cabinets and countertops are a little ubiquitous, sure, but they’re also not something that’ll be out of style in a few years. The kitchen can always be freshened up a bit with a new color on the island, different cabinet hardware, and new lighting.
This has to be one of the prettiest kitchen cabinet and countertop combos I’ve ever seen. The green undertones in the navy paint color pick up the greens in the marble perfectly. The hardware is also a beautiful choice, since I think if it were polished nickel or stainless steel the space would have felt a bit cold. This kitchen also shows off one of my favorite kitchen cabinet trends, of placing the cabinets directly atop the counters.
12. A dark green classic kitchen
The traditional-style cabinets in this kitchen go from “nice” to show-stopping thanks to that bold green paint color. That’s one of the best parts about a Studio McGee kitchen – there is always a fresh take on timeless design elements, combining kitchen trends and more classic ideas.
13. A super subtle subway tile
We have seen a lot of subway tile in recent years, but using them for a subtle kitchen niche install, à la Studio McGee, makes way for more timeless elegance. The form brings subtle texture, and the gloss adds key dimension to help this white kitchen space live out its most chic and lively existence.
14. Raw and natural materials
Contrary to last but still very iconic in its own right, I love the natural finish and craftsmanship detail in Studio McGee’s kitchen from their Water’s Edge project. Shea actually says this is her favorite room of the home, and I can totally see why. They brought a little of the outside in by using the same stone found on the exterior of the house, alongside plaster, brass, honed granite, and reclaimed timber for a cohesive finish that is unexpected, but delicious all the same.
15. Contrasting textiles? Check.
The Home of the Bay project, California has layers of goodness. Beyond the sleek island, range, and plank floors, I love how the vintage rug and fabric roman shades are so opposing in pattern, yet finely connected via that navy hue. The play on form sparks interest and gives the entire space a little more personality and playfulness almost.
16. Cool, creamy hues
From the tan wrap leather barstools (the Greeley), to the brass kitchenware – this is one cool kitchen. The Cottonwood kitchen’s vibe is polished yet laid back, minimal but welcoming, and, helped by a blend of ivory hues and soft gray, punctuated with shinier finishes in the pendant lighting and reflective fixtures. Honestly, I could stare all day.
17. Complete with a carved out coffee nook
This beauty was posted in 2022, and alongside ‘luxury moments’ like the marble slab, steel windows, and vintage pocket pantry door Shea included in this design, I love the open shelving-cum-coffee nook carved within the cabinetry. It is super elegant, and feels like a natural extension of the island, making the space even more functional and beautiful.
How to design a kitchen like Studio McGee
If you’re taking inspiration from Studio McGee for your own kitchen remodel, there are a few things to learn from the design firm’s style.
First, blend the bold with the traditional.
Studio McGee kitchens are typically largely traditional spaces with a few unique or unexpected modern elements that elevate them. For example, choosing a classic cabinet style but choosing a trendier kitchen cabinet paint color. Or choosing classic white cabinets but adding a unique island, range, or lighting. Go for a mix of about 70% traditional and 30% unique or modern.
Keep the color palette earthy
Studio McGee almost exclusively uses neutral colors and earth tone hues. Think: Greens, blues, whites, tans/taupes, and wood tones. Most of their designs are some combination of the above.
Choose pale wood floors
Again, most Studio McGee projects feature pale oak flooring. In fact, you could even go so far as to say the firm is responsible for the pale oak flooring trend. If you want the Studio McGee kitchen look, a pale-toned wood floor is a must.
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