Shea McGee's Favorite Fall Movie Is Packed With Design Inspiration
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From the big white house that Noah built Allie in The Notebook to the sprawling estate in Downton Abbey, the iconic homes of our favorite films often achieve their own main character status. As we head into cozy, movie marathon season, House Beautiful spoke with designer (and now New York Times bestselling author!) Shea McGee of Studio McGee about the on-screen homes where she finds the most inspiration—plus, the classic fall flicks that she loves to watch with her kids!
“When I’m watching shows like Downton Abbey and analyzing the interiors, I’m typically looking at the finishes,” says the Utah-based designer and author, whose new book, The Art of Home, hit shelves last month. “The furniture will change through the ages, but in an estate like that, those finishes really stay. I’m looking at what materials and details are still relevant now. That’s how I’m drawing inspiration.”
Her favorite director to borrow inspiration from? Nancy Meyers, of course! From the light and bright kitchen in It’s Complicated to Diane Keaton's famous beach retreat in Something’s Gotta Give, McGee admires Meyers’s personalized approach to outfitting the homes of her characters. “With Nancy Meyers, it’s more than set design,” says McGee. “She’s taking these characters and really getting into their minds and designing homes that feel very interesting and nuanced. The artwork on the walls were not selected as a placeholder but chosen for the character themselves.”
So whether you're drawing interior design inspiration from your favorite blockbuster or poring over the set design from the latest Netflix show, one truth remains: The magic's in the details.
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