McGee & Co. is the direct-to-consumer home furnishings brand offering Shea McGee’s timeless, high-quality, and curated pieces, while Studio McGee is the overarching interior design firm and lifestyle hub that also includes wildly popular, more accessible collaborations with retailers like Target. While both share the same signature aesthetic, McGee & Co. is positioned as a premium, investment-focused retailer, whereas the Studio McGee brand makes that popular style available to a much broader audience.
Let's break down everything you need to know to understand the difference between the two - and decide which is right for your home and budget.
McGee & Co.: The Timeless, Curated Home Brand
McGee & Co. is the retail destination founded by Shea McGee to sell the furniture, decor, and textiles that embody her signature design style. The brand is known for its curated collections that feel timeless, sophisticated, and warm, appealing to homeowners who want to invest in high-quality pieces that will last for years. It's the place to find the exact statement pieces and enduring basics seen in Studio McGee's high-end design projects.
- Product mix: A comprehensive selection of home furnishings, including sofas, beds, dining tables, chairs, lighting, rugs, pillows, and decorative accessories. It functions as a complete, one-stop shop for a classic, curated home.
- Style/vibe: Classic, refined, and timeless with a modern sensibility. The aesthetic emphasizes neutral palettes, natural textures like linen and wool, and elegant silhouettes that feel both sophisticated and livable.
- Price point: Mid-range to high-end. Sofas typically start around $1,200, dining chairs can be $300–$600 each, and decorative items often range from $100–$500.
- Quality: A strong emphasis on quality craftsmanship and premium materials. Expect solid woods, kiln-dried hardwood frames on upholstery, performance fabrics, and natural fibers in textiles.
- Shopping Experience: Sales are primarily through the brand’s beautiful, easy-to-navigate website, which offers a seamless online shopping experience that feels like a high-end boutique.
McGee & Co. is for the discerning shopper who wants to create an elegant, layered space with pieces that feel like long-term investments.
Shop McGee & Co.: mcgeeandco.com
Studio McGee: The Approachable Design & Lifestyle Hub
Studio McGee is the original full-service interior design firm and lifestyle brand founded by Shea and Syd McGee. It's the engine behind their popular Netflix show "Dream Home Makeover" and the creative source of the entire brand's aesthetic. In addition to client work, the Studio McGee name is used for hugely successful collaborations, most notably with Target, making their signature look accessible to a much wider market at more affordable prices.
- Product mix: Offers full-service interior design from the firm itself. The product line is a curated collection of home goods available through retail collaborations with major stores like Target (Threshold designed with Studio McGee) and Wayfair.
- Style/vibe: Bright, airy, and approachable. It expertly blends modern simplicity with classic elegance, often featuring notes of farmhouse, coastal, and transitional styles. The look is fresh, welcoming, and highly versatile.
- Price point: Mid-range for their own collection, but highly accessible through retail partnerships. Sofas can start around $1,300, while accent furniture and decor in their Target collection can range from $50–$300.
- Quality: Well-made and durable for its price point, with a focus on style and accessibility. To keep costs down, some pieces may use engineered wood or composite materials alongside solid wood and quality textiles.
- Shopping Experience: The Studio McGee website is a hub for design inspiration, blog posts, and portfolio work. Most product shopping takes place on the websites of its retail partners, like Target.com.
The Studio McGee brand brings a designer aesthetic to the masses, focusing on fresh, stylish, and wallet-friendly options.
Shop Studio McGee: studiomcgee.com
McGee & Co. vs. Studio McGee Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a clear price difference between the two entities. McGee & Co. is the premium offering, with higher price points that reflect its use of high-end materials and detailed craftsmanship. Pieces from McGee & Co. are positioned as long-term investments for the home decorator willing to spend more for superior quality and a more exclusive design.
The Studio McGee brand, particularly through its collaborations, offers a far more accessible entry point. The 'Threshold designed with Studio McGee' collection at Target is known for its excellent style-to-price ratio, allowing fans of the look to decorate their homes beautifully on a much stricter budget. While their main collection mirrors McGee & Co.'s pricing, the collaborations make the aesthetic truly mainstream.
Style & Aesthetic
While both stem from the same design DNA, there are subtle differences in their aesthetics. McGee & Co. leans more classic, refined, and timeless. Its pieces are designed to be the foundational elements of a sophisticated home, avoiding fleeting trends in favor of enduring silhouettes and materials.
The Studio McGee accessible collections are slightly more keyed into current trends, masterfully blending trend-aware touches with a classic base. The vibe is consistently bright, airy, and approachable, with elements of modern farmhouse and light-filled coastal charm that appeal to a very broad audience. It's the perfect execution of a livable, family-friendly, yet exceptionally stylish look.
Quality & Construction
Quality is a primary differentiator. McGee & Co. prides itself on investment-grade construction. This means a focus on details like solid hardwood, dovetail joinery, natural stone, and hand-applied finishes. The upholstery often features performance fabrics and down-blend fills, designed for legacy use.
Studio McGee's collaborative product lines are designed to offer the best possible quality for their price point. Construction is solid and meant for everyday living, but achieving affordability may involve using materials like veneers over solid wood, engineered wood for structural components, and standard polyester-fill cushions. The quality is excellent for the price, but it isn't intended to compete with the heirloom-level construction of McGee & Co.
Shopping Experience
The shopping journeys are entirely different. Shopping at McGee & Co. is a curated, boutique e-commerce experience. The website is polished, filled with professional imagery, detailed product information, and a focus on building a complete, high-end look from one source.
Shopping the Studio McGee brand often means visiting a mass-market retailer like Target. You can browse pieces in-store and online, enjoying the convenience, frequent sales, and easy return policies of a major retailer. The Studio McGee website serves as the inspirational hub, offering blog posts and portfolio photos that guide you on how to pull the look together using their more accessible products.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends entirely on your budget, style goals, and quality priorities.
Choose McGee & Co. if:
- You are looking for foundational "forever" furniture and investment pieces.
- You prioritize premium materials like solid wood, natural fibers, and high-end textiles.
- Your personal style leans more classic, traditional, and refined.
- You have a larger budget and prefer to shop from a single, curated upscale retailer.
Choose collections from the Studio McGee world if:
- You love Shea McGee's style but are working with a more modest budget.
- Your aesthetic is bright, airy, and welcoming with a modern farmhouse or coastal flair.
- You want stylish, trend-aware pieces to refresh your space without a huge financial commitment.
- You enjoy the convenience of shopping at major retailers like Target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are McGee & Co. and Studio McGee the same company?
They were both founded by Shea and Syd McGee, but serve different functions. Studio McGee is the interior design firm and the umbrella brand for high-profile collaborations. McGee & Co. is their distinct, upscale retail brand selling furniture and decor directly to consumers.
Is McGee & Co. more expensive than Studio McGee products at Target?
Yes, significantly. McGee & Co. is a premium home furnishings brand with prices reflecting higher-end materials and construction. The Studio McGee for Threshold collection at Target is designed to be affordable and accessible for a mass-market audience.
Where can I buy Studio McGee products?
Some curated pieces are available via McGee & Co., but the brand’s most well-known product lines are sold through collaborations. The largest and most popular is "Threshold designed with Studio McGee," available exclusively at Target.
Which brand has better quality?
McGee & Co. offers better, higher-end quality. Its furniture is made with investment-grade materials designed to last for decades. The Studio McGee collaborations offer excellent quality for their affordable price point, providing impressive style and durability for the cost.
What is the Studio McGee style?
The Studio McGee style is characterized by bright, light-filled rooms that feel both cozy and refined. It masterfully blends modern and traditional elements, often using neutral color palettes, layered natural textures, and a comfortable, livable arrangement of furniture.
Does Studio McGee still offer interior design services?
Yes. The professional design firm at the heart of the brand, Studio McGee, offers full-service interior design for clients nationwide.
Can you find McGee & Co. items at Target?
No. The products sold at Target are part of the separate "Threshold designed with Studio McGee" collection. McGee & Co.'s exclusive products are only sold on their own website, mcgeeandco.com.
Is one brand better for families?
Both brands prioritize creating livable spaces. McGee & Co. often offers performance fabric options on their upholstery, making them very durable. However, the lower price point and easy replaceability of the Studio McGee collaborative pieces at retailers like Target often make them a practical, less stressful choice for families with young children or pets.
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