Studio McGee’s Founder Brings Her Distinct Style of Livable Luxury to Summer Entertaining
In her new book Around the Table: Tables and Traditions for Gathering Shea McGee reveals her approach to beautiful, layered tablescapes
As the founder of Studio McGee and McGee & Co., Shea McGee has cultivated a lifestyle brand of livable luxury—an aesthetic that stretches across interiors and design collaborations with companies such as Ann Sacks, Kohler, and The Shade Store. Recently, she debuted Around the Table: Tables and Traditions for Gathering (Harper Horizon), a volume dedicated to her idea of seasonal entertaining, encompassing everything from alfresco lunches to decadent holiday meals.
“To me, designing a table is no different than designing a room,” says McGee. “You’re creating an atmosphere where people feel welcomed and cared for.”
Here, the designer offers suggestions for cultivating a delightful event, from the food to the flowers, orchestrating a dreamy gathering guests will be reminiscing about long after the last course is served.
Tablescape
“The table is usually the first thing people notice when they walk in, so it naturally sets the tone for the entire gathering,” says McGee. “I usually start with one detail that inspires me, whether it’s a color, a floral, a fabric, or even the meal itself, and then I build everything outward from there.”
Soft blues and light greens with unfussy florals create a perfect atmosphere for a spring gathering while an all-white tablescape set with candles and a loosely arranged bouquet cultivate a Mediterranean vibe fit for an outdoor meal. However, for an event like a seafood boil, tables need be both playful and practical–think a red-and-white checkered cloth layered with kraft paper.
“I always want the table to complement the food rather than compete with it,” she says. “The styling should support the experience, creating mood, warmth, and a sense of occasion. When everything works together, even subtly, guests feel it the second they sit down.”
Centerpieces
“I’m always drawn to centerpieces that feel organic and a little unexpected rather than overly formal,” suggests McGee, who has added everything from garden arrangements to thoughtful groupings of food, such as baguette and dipping oils or an artfully presented cake, to the center of a table. “I tend to keep arrangements lower so people can actually see and talk to each other across the table.”
However, centerpieces need not be overly complicated to be picture perfect. “I love lining tiny potted plants or bud vases down the center of the table because they bring this effortless, collected feeling without blocking the conversation,” says the designer, who is known to use lilies of the valley in silver vessels for spring or candles paired with lush florals in deep burgundy with hints of evergreen during the holidays.
“When I’m working with florals, I like arrangements to feel slightly asymmetrical and a little undone, almost like they could’ve been gathered from a garden,” she says. “Mixing textures is important too. Something soft and delicate paired with foraged greenery or branches keeps everything feeling relaxed and natural. Honestly, even a few clippings from your backyard can make a table feel special.”
Place Cards
Whether or not to use place cards depends on the occasion. “I love place cards when the gathering calls for them because they instantly make guests feel considered,” says McGee, who thinks about how her guests will interact and what will keep the conversation flowing when assigning seating. “Even something very simple—handwritten cards tucked into greenery or resting on a napkin—adds a layer of intention to the evening.”
However, not all gatherings require the formality of a seating chart. “Some of my favorite dinners are the really relaxed ones where everyone grabs a plate and settles in naturally,” she says. “For casual outdoor meals or family-style dinners, I actually prefer keeping things easy and approachable—maybe utensils in a caddy, shared serving pieces, and seating that feels flexible or allows guests to move around.”
Glassware
Whether utilizing statement-making tumblers or classic crystal goblets, glassware can quietly change the entire mood of the table by how it filters candlelight or reflects color. “I’m usually drawn to pieces with a little character like etched crystal, vintage coupes, colored stemware—anything that feels collected rather than overly uniform,” says McGee. “I love mixing shapes and finishes the same way I mix materials throughout a room. Sometimes it’s delicate crystal paired with something more rustic or relaxed, and that contrast is what keeps the table interesting.”
Serving Courses
Some parties are meant to feel casual and communal, others more formal. The type of event generally informs the food, setting, and rhythm. McGee likes to bring her guests into the action as soon as they arrive. “I love when guests gather in the kitchen, snack on something simple, pour a drink, and naturally settle into conversation,” she says. “Guests tend to relax more quickly when there’s movement and something easy to gather around.”
For more convivial gatherings, the designer tends to lean into self-serve or family-style meals like a seafood boil spread across the table, a charcuterie board stretching across the kitchen island, or deserts set out for grazing. Prepping early eases the stress of hosting a more formal dinner, with the serving ware, place settings, and flower arrangements all laid out the night before.
“At the end of the day, I think the best gatherings feel designed but never stiff,” suggests McGee. “Thoughtfulness matters much more than perfection. People remember how a night felt, not whether everything went exactly according to plan.”