Dream Home Makeover Season 3 Story:-
Much like recognizing a distinctive style in pornography, Studio McGee interiors are instantly recognizable. Shea McGee, the mastermind behind the brand, famously launched her company after gaining a following for sharing her first home’s renovation journey on Instagram. Her preferred palette consists of various shades of white, complemented by neutrals and natural materials. Color is sparingly used, with occasional appearances of dark gray, black, or deep navy, and evergreen tones. Ceilings are often left white, accentuated with reclaimed wood beams, and if space permits, they are vaulted. The McGees have a penchant for ceramics, rustic wood, and sheepskin rugs. While cohesive, their aesthetic tends to lack distinction, particularly in the vast interiors of the large new builds they frequently work on, where the entire home serves as a canvas for Shea’s meticulous design vision.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | July 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Reality |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Cast | Shea McGee, Syd McGee |
| Music | Matt Kierscht |
| Production | Netflix Studios |
| Certificate | 7+ |
Welcome to Home Watching, a column delving into the captivating world of renovation television, written by a self-professed expert in the genre.
This is evident in the home of Liz and Neil, featured in the third episode of Netflix’s Dream Home Makeover, now in its third season. The couple, repeat clients of the McGees, enlisted their expertise for their second home in Southern California, mirroring the grandeur of their Park City residence. Liz and Neil, with three children, possess considerable wealth, although their source of income remains undisclosed. In this setting, the McGees aim for an “upscale Napa farmhouse” aesthetic, a descriptor that leans more towards marketing jargon than genuine design intent.
In practice, this translates to grand architectural elements that exude opulence—vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and living room, a “wine room” featuring floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves, and other lavish details that reflect the couple’s affluent lifestyle. While Studio McGee’s design choices are not inherently displeasing, their signature style leans towards understated elegance, falling between the boldness of the Property Brothers and the rustic charm of Chip and Joanna Gaines. However, the meticulously staged spaces designed by Studio McGee often lack individuality. Children’s bedrooms are outfitted with oversized beds, and kitchens invariably feature expansive islands, regardless of necessity. Recognizing the distinction between a desirable design element and unnecessary excess is crucial, especially in the context of interior design.
I don’t find Studio McGee’s most luxurious designs particularly intriguing. (I much prefer their Target line, like this lovely quilt.) However, despite this, I’ve watched every episode of their show available, usually in one go. What’s intriguing about the third season, which recently began streaming, is that the McGees have reached a specific milestone in the world of home renovation reality TV. They are now sought out by viewers who have witnessed their work on TV and desire it for themselves. This shift adds an extra layer of interest to the show; observing individuals embrace their roles as commodities is always fascinating. Shea and her husband Syd aspire to become personalities akin to Ben and Erin Napier or Chip and Joanna Gaines, but since Netflix lacks the impact of HGTV, they have more room to experiment with their public personas, given the lower stakes.
Fortunately, their dynamic as a couple and business partners still retains a bit of edge, likely due to being on Netflix rather than HGTV. Syd McGee, the husband, often wears an expression in the confessionals that suggests he’s reluctantly going along with things but is somewhat content. His exact role in the company bearing his name is unclear, but one assumes it’s significant and necessary. (In fact, he’s the CEO.) While Shea is deeply involved in every aspect of the business, and the renovations consistently reflect her vision, Syd dreams of a life in Southern California, by the beach, with early morning surf sessions and sunset bonfires. Instead, the show jests, he is tethered to his wife’s side, indispensable in a way that’s never explicitly defined.
Yet, like any good home design show, the true protagonist is not the couple performing the renovations but the final outcomes. Throughout the two years I’ve followed this program, I’ve struggled to pinpoint what one might label as its aesthetic—both specific and generic, resembling every high-end Airbnb listing or a sterile boutique hotel priding itself on design. However, midway through this season, one of the McGees’ clients perfectly summed it up. “It’s upscale-looking,” a woman remarks about her newly-renovated basement, divided into three distinct “zones” for various leisure activities. It’s not entirely upscale but rather hints at it, representing a different kind of nouveau riche aesthetic. Given the choice between Studio McGee’s all-white paradise and a massive McMansion fit for a Real Housewife of New Jersey, I’d opt for gold bathroom fixtures and Travertine tile any day. At the very least, it’s entertaining.
