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before 

shea and syd mcgee

After several years of running my design business from the spare bedroom of our home, my husband and I decided to take a big leap of faith and go into business together.
Best. Decision. Ever.

We immediately began hunting for a studio. I would check Craigslist every morning for that perfect downtown loft space I’d been dreaming about. Unfortunately, it was cubicle city and fluorescent lights everywhere we turned. One day, our luck changed. I stumbled upon two drafty old rooms with lots of potential on the top floor of a century-old brick building.

The space needed major freshening, so we painted everything (including the floors) “Super White” by Benjamin Moore. We swapped out the track lighting for brass fixtures and created a space plan that makes it easy for both rooms to do some serious multitasking. On any given day, our conference room will serve as a place for meetings, storage, drafting or photoshoots.

I always tell clients to mix budget items with a few splurges, so I listened to my own advice and did just that. 

We paired Ikea and vintage finds with several designer items I had been eyeing for months. By layering lots of white with soft textiles, collected art, and natural wood tones, the space feels like a second home.