Decorating & Design
Inside Shea McGee’s Kitchen: Recipes, Tips For Setting The Table And More
Updated on November 29, 2024

American designer Shea McGee of Studio McGee, McGee & Co, TV series Dream Home Makeover and YouTube channel Around The Table invites us into her own kitchen to share recipes, styling tips and more. “To me, food is design. Between the color palette, flavor profiles and serving arrangements, I treat my recipes like any other design element,” says Shea.
Go inside Shea McGee’s kitchen below!

House & Home: Why did you focus on food for this new project?
Shea McGee: To me, food is design. Between the color palette, flavor profiles and serving arrangements, I treat my recipes like any other design element. This includes the recipes and how they’re presented. I’m always thinking about how each recipe sits on a serving platter, plate or against the textures at the table. Food is a natural extension of everything we do at Studio McGee and McGee & Co.

H&H: What can we expect from Around The Table?
SM: I love both home and food, and this short-form video series brings the two together for both seasoned home cooks and those new to the kitchen. Whether we’re sharing one of my personal recipes or a recipe from one of my guests, each video includes delicious food alongside dining styling tips. I’ll also share where I’ve sourced my favorite components of each tablescape, whether it’s a napkin or flatware. Plus, I’ll also be bringing guests on every so often who are experts in the industry, like Kelsey Nixon (pictured above, right), who created the Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon (below).

H&H: What are your top tips for creating a beautiful kitchen?
SM: When I’m designing kitchens, I like to think of them as an extension of the rest of the home, rather than a function-first space of utility. I do this by adding touches that could be found elsewhere in the home, such as comfortable seating, art leaned against shelves or on the walls, vintage rugs with loads of texture — and a fun pantry with a visually intriguing paint color.

H&H: What is your favorite element of your kitchen?
SM: I absolutely love my marble counters. They’re the epitome of form meets function. Not only do they provide great prep space when rolling dough or baking with my girls, they are easy to clean and are always cool to the touch. They also make the most beautiful backdrop to everything I cook and style.

H&H: What’s the secret to creating a beautiful tablescape?
SM: It’s amazing how much you can transform a table by adding a tablecloth and your dinnerware. Pattern and color can be layered, mixed-and-matched to create a look that’s both casual for daytime meals and more formal for late-night dinners. Start by establishing your color palette; I like to mix warm and cool colors for a unique feel, and then layer in textiles, like a tablecloth and placemats. I love the classic look of stacked dishware and adding silverware and napkin alongside the place settings, with your drinkware on the top.

H&H: What types of dishes will you be sharing on your show?
SM: My personal recipe philosophy is elevated approachability: delicious food that looks and tastes sophisticated, but is simple enough that even new cooks feel confident to make it.
Keep scrolling for three of Shea’s favorite recipes!

Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken
“My Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken recipe is a go-to weeknight meal. It’s bright and nourishing, balancing the intensity of lemon with the vegetal notes of brussels sprouts and fresh oregano.”
Get the recipe for Shea’s Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken here.

Herby Chicken Meatballs and Rice
“The Herby Chicken Meatballs and Rice is briny, satiating, and herbaceous. What I love about this dish is that you can adjust the flavor by swapping in whatever tender herbs you have on hand. The recipe uses dill, but you could just as easily use basil or mint in its place.”
Get the recipe for Shea’s Herby Chicken Meatballs and Rice here.

Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon
“The Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon recipe from Kelsey Nixon is a nod to classic Caesar salad but dressed up with perfectly cooked salmon and homemade croutons. It’s nutty from the parmesan and wild rice, with plenty of crisp, crunchy texture from a mix of lettuce and kale.”
Get the recipe for Shea and Kelsey’s Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon here.
Photography courtesy of Studio McGee