HOMES WE LOVE Three unique homeowners from around the world showcase their beautiful homes.

HOMES WE love

The Style Influencer

Cover star, Shea McGee, hit our screens in 2020 in the Netflix show Dream Home Makeover. From that moment, Shea has never looked back, becoming a powerhouse design influencer. ele HOME chats to Shea about her career trajectory, family and design. Words: Katie Skinner Images: Supplied

During lock down in October 2020, I stumbled upon a new show on Netflix called Dream Home Makeover. It was everything I needed at that moment, escapist television filled with beautiful but attainable design, led by two warm and down to earth stars, Shea and Syd McGee. The series went on to be a huge juggernaut for Netflix and along with their successful homewares label, McGee & Co and design studio, Studio McGee, this couple have become design superstars.

Shea and Syd’s story to stardom is what dreams are made of. Looking at the couple, you would think they were made for television but it was not a clear path to becoming television stars. Shea graduated with a degree in public relations but soon found that her love of interior design was where her true passion lay. Shea started giving family and friends design advice which led to her first “real” paid project which was styling built-ins for a client. Syd and Shea then bought their first home in California which was in need of renovation. Shea began documenting the process on Instagram and from there things really took off.

As Shea’s online popularity grew, the couple were approached by other networks about making a show, but none of them ever felt like the right fit. ‘They always wanted Syd to be the contractor and he’s the CEO, so it didn’t feel authentic. We got a call from Netflix and actually created our own sizzle reel and presented it to them during our first meeting and the format was developed from there. They didn’t want to change who we are and what we do, so it was a very natural fit.’

The William Morris wallpaper in ‘Pimpernel’ packs a punch in Ivy’s ensuite. The colour of the green vanity is pulled directly from the wallpaper and is finished with a mix of polished nickel and gold hardware.

One other nice thing about having a curved sofa in this spot is that you walk behind this sofa and it’s beautiful from all sides.”

It is well known that the couple nearly went broke building their business. Money, or lack of, placed major stress on their marriage as they tried to get their business off the ground. A decision to move from California to Utah and lower their cost of living, saw the business slowly start to build, but it was a hard slog. But the couple persevered, working all hours to build a successful business. One of Shea’s favourite features of this open plan living room are the bifold doors which open up to the undercover patio, bringing the outside in.

The rest is history. Dream Home Makeover has gone on to be a worldwide success and the McGee design studio has flourished. Those early days of Shea documenting her home on Instagram honed Shea’s ability to understand her audience. This acute knowledge of the McGee buyer has seen the couple successfully launch a multi-year collaboration with Target, publish a book ‘Make Life Beautiful’, and sign on for season three of Dream Home Makeover.

Personally, the family added daughter number three to the mix in 2021, with the birth of Margot, who joins big sisters, Wren and Ivy. When asked what Shea has taken away from the last few years of running a successful business during a pandemic and adding to her family she says ‘I’ve learned that so much of my happiness in life comes from the people I’m surrounded by and I’m so lucky to have my family by my side every day! The pandemic definitely made us slow down, appreciate our home and made me think about new ways of designing multi-use spaces!’ We can’t wait to see more from this design duo when season three of Dream Home Makeover hits Australian screens in 2022.

Shea is a firm believer that master bedrooms should never be an afterthought and she put this ethos into play to create her and Syd’s sanctuary. The room features vaulted ceilings, lots of natural light and a fireplace. Shea has layered with lots of texture in the window treatments, bed linen, and the shiplap ceiling to create a luxurious, warm feel. How did you begin your career in design? I took a more unconventional route to being a designer. I initially graduated with a degree in Public Relations, but soon found that I had a love for designing after Syd and I moved into our first apartment. From there, I started giving friends and family design advice, but my first “real” paid project was styling some built-ins for a client. After that, Syd and I bought our first home in California and it needed some updating. I went to work designing our home and documented the process on Instagram – bookshelves turned into rooms which turned into full home projects!

How would you describe your signature style? Our signature look is all about mixing styles – juxtaposing modern and traditional, old and new, and layering lots of textures.

Your best interior design tip? Trust your gut!

What designers inspire you? While I love to look at other designers’ work, I actually find a lot of inspiration through traveling and spending time outside.

What do you love about your work? I love that I get to create beautiful spaces that families can live in and create memories in for years to come!

Greatest budget buy or budget decorating tip? Adding foraged branches to a vintage jar easily elevates your space, adding both personality and a lived-in feel!

Your show, Dream Home Makeover, is incredibly popular in Australia. What do you think it is about your style that appeals to such a varied audience? I think our style mixes aspirational design and approachability which really resonates with people. I’m all about balancing beauty and comfort in the homes we design.

What’s your family’s favourite way to spend a day? We love to get outside! Whether it’s swimming, playing on the beach or skiing, we love finding inspiration in nature and getting some good exercise in at the same time.

What’s your favourite project to date? That’s such a tough question! Every project holds a special place in my heart, but I’d have to say my favourite is my own home! After years of renting, I’m so happy to finally have a space that I can truly make my own and that we can make memories as a family in for years to come!

@studiomcgee @mcgeeandco studio-mcgee.com mcgeeandco.com

The hallway is painted in a creamy white (Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore - three quarter strength) and Shea carried the painted white brick from outside in through to the entry. This brings an added texture to a small space.

Ivy’s bedroom features a canopy bed from McGee & Co. with colour brought into the room via textiles and art. Mix n match nightstands, vintage artwork and various patterns and textures bring personality to this whimsical bedroom.

Our signature look is all about mixing styles – juxtaposing modern and traditional, old and new, and layering lots of textures."

Syd’s dream office is dark and moody with the walls, shiplap on the ceiling, and built-ins painted in Green Black by Sherwin Williams. Given the rest of the home is white, the office space is quite dramatic when you first walk in. The McGee & Co. art piece and console are layered with personal touches, such as the lost winds pendant which is from Syd’s favourite surf spot in San Clemente, California.

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Get the McGee Look

Get Shea’s modern traditional look with these curated pieces

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1.The Montauk Lighting Co. Launceston Ring Chandelier Antique Burnished Brass POA / 2. Ewe Care Night Cream and Raku Day Ceramic $180 / 3. Miss Amara Sadie Coral Peach Turkish Style Distressed Rug from $195 / 4. Oz Design Sanur Chair Natural Rattan $749 / 5. Temple & Webster Black Sabi Terracotta Table Lamp $179 / 6. James Lane Hanoi Basket Large $39.95 / 7. Make Life Beautiful Hardcover Book by Syd and Shea McGee $39.99 / 8. Fenton & Fenton Caribbean Bar Cabinet $1,800

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Amongst the Irish Evergreens

Caroline and Brian Hassett’s stately modern farmhouse, tucked away in rural Tipperary, blends seamlessly into its picturesque surroundings as though it has always stood there. Words: Katy Holliday Images: Supplied

I love going to bed at night and seeing the moon behind the tall trees and waking in the morning to the beautiful views. It really never grows old”

I love drawing nature into our home”

The walls are lime-rendered inside and out, with rounded corners throughout. The slates on the roof are all reclaimed local slates. The stone used to support the porch was salvaged from the rubble of a dilapidated shed once erected on the property.

For Caroline Hassett, building in the Irish countryside was not just a dream but a return to her roots. Growing up, she lived just three miles across the road from her mother’s childhood home, which is where she and Brian have now built their own beautiful abode.

“My mother was born and raised in the little stone cottage at the bottom of our garden. I spent my childhood coming over here and even though I moved away aged 17, I always knew this is where

I eventually wanted to settle down and rear my own family one day,” she says.

Caroline’s vision came true in 2015, when she and Brian moved onto the property and began what would become a two-year build to create their masterpiece and a home for their four young children Charlie, Esmée, Milo, and Henry.

“As you can imagine, life is fairly hectic but it’s lovely,” she says.

“The house is surrounded by fields and trees where the children can run around and play.”

The couple embarked on a direct labour build, project-managing it themselves while engaging the help of a local architect to navigate Tipperary planning requirements.

Honouring the rich local history of her family, the Hassett’s kept the existing stone cottage, stable and old hay barn, and adjusted their build to suit the aesthetic. “We wanted the house to be in keeping with its surroundings, so we went for a traditional farmhouse style build, albeit with a more modern interior.”

“The walls are lime-rendered inside and out, with rounded cor-“The walls are lime-rendered inside and out, with rounded cor ners throughout. We have sliding sash windows and the slates on our roof are all reclaimed local slates.” Brian painstakingly added holes to every single slate by hand during the build, a mammoth task which the couple feels paid off in the end.

Using natural materials in abundance, such as reclaimed brick, stone and wood, accentuated by vaulted ceilings and exposed wooden beams, there is plenty of warmth and texture throughout the home. The front cottage-style half door and the back door were both handcrafted by a local joiner.

The home also boasts a boot room for those wet, muddy Irish days, a spacious laundry room, and a playful nursery for the youngsters to enjoy.

While the inside of the house is deliciously inviting, the couple didn’t miss a beat ensuring their design truly appreciated the beauty of its natural setting. The large arched windows in the lounge and master bedroom beckon idle hours spent gazing out upon the row of trees Caroline’s granduncle Jack once planted on the property nearly 90 years ago.

“We are so lucky where we live that we have incredible views all round. I love going to bed at night and seeing the moon behind the tall trees and waking in the morning to the beautiful views. It really never grows old,” she says.

The open plan kitchen and living area is the hub of the home with an amply sized solid ash kitchen unit painted in rich Farrow and Ball Hague Blue and complemented by quartz benchtops. Above the stove is a reclaimed wooden beam hundreds of years old, rescued from Balbriggan Church.

“I love coming down in the morning and switching on the coffee machine and just looking out our kitchen window or pottering around the kitchen while the kids sit at the island bench.”

The couple spent months tirelessly saving for the kitchen. They lived in their home for seven months before the installation was complete. “We hadn’t even a sink and Charlie used to whizz round and round the empty space on his balance bike at the time,” Caroline says. “We even managed to host a Christmas dinner for both our families with nothing but an oven and a kitchen table.”

In the main bathroom, a cast iron clawfoot bathtub claims centre stage and exudes luxury, while the dark woodeffect tiles heighten the serenity. Both the tub and the custom-made washstand are painted in the home’s signature highlight Hague Blue, adding an extra layer of sophistication. The wallpaper mural is from Graham and Brown – Deep Sky Balloon Race.

Great storage is a must in kid’s bedroom and playrooms. Caroline has used some clever IKEA storage ideas.

The cast iron bath from Wilsons Yard in County Down was an investment buy that the couple saved up for. The bathroom’s dark and moody colours evoke a romantic feel.

COLOUR INSPIRATION

“Our home is quite traditional in ways with a dark shaker kitchen, panelling and wainscotting adding a contrast to the neutral painted walls.” Caroline lightens it up with bohemian touches in the textiles, house plants and the decor she hand selects.

“I love drawing nature into our home, and I definitely have a slight houseplant obsession!” she laughs.

When it comes to interior styling advice, Caroline says it’s best not to over complicate the process. “Simple things like a floor lamp in a corner, a throw, a piece of art or a few lanterns are all an area needs. Don’t buy things just for the sake of it. Wait, and only buy items you are really drawn to or that have meaning to you.”

While plenty of furnishings have been sourced locally, Caroline spent years collecting trinkets and wares on her travels. “I would spend my days wandering through the old parts of cities, taking photographs of the buildings, and traipsing through flea markets, picking up textiles and ceramics. It’s something I’m passionate about.”

“I have always loved interiors and architecture, especially old buildings. I have a slight obsession with old Irish cottages and their history.”

Caroline has not failed to overlook her family’s own history in the finer details. Knick-knacks like an old horse and carriage number plate that belonged to her great-great-grandfather are proudly displayed, while the stone used to support the porch was salvaged from the rubble of a dilapidated shed once erected on the property.

Taking time off from her work as a teacher to enjoy raising her children on the land her family has occupied for centuries is a nourishing experience for Caroline. “Every morning I make a black coffee and just step outside for a few minutes in the fresh air to listen to the sounds of the countryside. It really does wonders for the soul.”

@ahousebythetrees

Designers that inspire you?

There are so many amazing designers out there, but I think Studio McGee and Leclair Decor are two that just jump out at me.

What do you love doing in your region?

Whether it’s just for a walk, a hike or to the local park, we love to get outdoors with the kids with no phone and no distractions. Then, finishing up with a nice lunch or coffee and cakes in a little cafe.

Favourite pieces in your home?

The irreplaceable things, like my kids’ clay foot and handprints, the old wireless radio which came out of the old cottage here and still works, the alpaca throw we picked up on our honeymoon in Peru, and my family photographs. I have photographs framed everywhere!

Greatest budget styling tip?

DIY. It’s amazing what you can do once you give it a go. I think sometimes people are afraid they can’t do something, but it’s not that they can't, it’s just that they have never tried. Take your time and live in your space first to get a feel for the place and what you want before rushing into anything.