Few kitchens have become quite as recognisable as the kitchen inside the McGee family home. Designed by Studio McGee, the space combines the considered detailing of a traditional English kitchen with the functionality required of a modern family home.
Warm putty-toned cabinetry sits alongside stained timber, marble and unlacquered brass, while symmetry, traditional joinery and collected vintage pieces give the room its distinctive character.
Armac Martin worked with Studio McGee to select the cabinet hardware for the kitchen, with pieces from our Cotswold and Queslett collections specified in Polished Brass Unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
Inside the McGee home kitchen
Designed by Studio McGee as the heart of Shea and Syd McGee's family home, the kitchen balances English-inspired design with modern functionality.
Traditional references including detailed cabinetry, brass hardware and a statement range are combined with an open layout and generous island designed for everyday family life.
Rather than relying on one defining feature, the character comes from layering. Painted cabinetry, stained timber, marble, brass and vintage accessories introduce different textures while remaining within a restrained, warm palette.
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob 32mm, Cotswold Cupboard Latch 54mm and Queslett Cup Pull 96mm, all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
Studio McGee kitchen at a glance
Who designed the McGee home kitchen?
The kitchen
The kitchen
The McGee home kitchen was designed by Studio McGee, led by interior designer Shea McGee.
What style is the Studio McGee kitchen?
The kitchen is English-inspired, combining traditional detailing and natural materials with the functionality of a contemporary family kitchen.
The kitchen
The kitchen
The kitchen
The kitchen
The kitchen
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob 32mm, Cotswold Cupboard Latch 54mm and Queslett Cup Pull 96mm, all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
What cabinet hardware is used in the Studio McGee kitchen?
What finish is the cabinet hardware?
What are the key materials?
Warm neutral painted cabinetry, stained timber, marble and unlacquered brass form the foundation of the scheme.
The kitchen
What inspired the Studio McGee kitchen?
When designing her own kitchen, Shea McGee wanted to create an English-inspired kitchen with modern functionality.
The traditional influence can be seen particularly in the cabinetry. Tall cupboards, inset detailing, custom beading and carefully considered hardware give the joinery an architectural quality, while the open layout, island and considered storage ensure the kitchen works for contemporary family life.
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob 32mm and Queslett Cup Pull 96mm, all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
This balance is central to the room's appeal. Rather than recreating a traditional English kitchen, Studio McGee takes familiar elements and interprets them for a modern home.
Symmetry also plays an important role. The range forms a focal point framed by tall cabinetry, creating a sense of order against which more characterful materials such as veined marble, timber and living brass can stand out.
Vintage artwork and collected objects add a final layer, preventing the space from feeling overly new or formal.
Studio McGee kitchen cabinets
The Studio McGee kitchen cabinets are one of the defining features of the space, combining putty-toned painted cabinetry with a contrasting stained timber island.
The soft putty colour gives the perimeter cabinetry warmth while providing a subtle backdrop for the Polished Brass Unlacquered (PBUL) hardware. At the centre of the room, stained timber anchors the island and introduces greater depth and natural texture.
Mixing painted and timber cabinetry helps the kitchen feel collected rather than uniform, while keeping both within a warm tonal palette creates cohesion.
Tall cabinets framing the cooking area strengthen the room's symmetry and architectural character. Custom beading and traditional joinery details further reinforce the English influence without making the kitchen feel like a reproduction of a period space.
Hardware is an important part of this detailing. Knobs, pulls, cupboard latches and visible hinges become part of the cabinetry's design language rather than simply functional additions.
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob 32mm in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
What hardware does Studio McGee use in their kitchen?
The cabinet hardware used in the Studio McGee kitchen is by Armac Martin. We worked with Studio McGee to select solid brass pieces from our Cotswold and Queslett collections, finished in Polished Brass Unlacquered (PBUL).
Different forms of hardware are used according to the cabinetry rather than specifying one handle throughout the entire kitchen.
Cotswold Bun Cabinet Knobs provide a traditional detail on cupboard doors, while Queslett Cup Pulls complement drawers and larger cabinetry. Cotswold Cupboard Latches and traditional butt hinges introduce further classic cabinetmaking details.
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob 32mm and Cotswold Cupboard Latch 54mm all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
Using a mixture of knobs, pulls and latches creates variety, while the consistent brass finish brings the different pieces together.
Against the putty-painted cabinetry, unlacquered brass provides warmth and contrast. On the stained timber island, the same finish takes on a richer, more tonal appearance.
For the complete product specification, explore our Get the Look: Studio McGee page.
Why unlacquered brass works in the Studio McGee kitchen
Brass appears throughout the Studio McGee kitchen, allowing the cabinet hardware to connect naturally with other fixtures and details in the room.
Armac Martin's Polished Brass Unlacquered (PBUL) is a living finish. Unlike lacquered brass, the surface is not sealed from its environment, so it gradually reacts to air, moisture and handling to develop a natural patina.
When newly installed, the polished brass provides a brighter golden highlight against the soft cabinetry. As it ages, the finish becomes deeper and more characterful, complementing the stained timber, marble and vintage elements throughout the space.
This evolving quality is particularly suited to a kitchen designed to feel established rather than pristine.
For homeowners considering a living finish, our guide to how to clean and care for brass hardware explains how unlacquered brass develops and how best to maintain it.
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob 32mm and Cotswold Cupboard Latch 54mm all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
How to get the Studio McGee kitchen look
The appeal of the Studio McGee kitchen comes from the relationship between its materials and details rather than one particular product. To introduce a similar feeling into your own kitchen, consider these six design principles:
1. Start with warm neutrals - soft putty, cream and warm white provide a timeless backdrop for timber, stone and brass.
2. Mix painted cabinetry with natural timber - using timber on an island or standalone cabinet adds depth and prevents a larger kitchen from feeling overly uniform.
3. Introduce traditional detailing - beaded joinery, cupboard latches and traditional hinges can give contemporary cabinetry a more established character.
4. Create balance through symmetry - establish a natural focal point around a range cooker, sink or feature island and use the surrounding cabinetry to create visual balance.
5. Add unlacquered brass hardware - polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish brings warmth to both painted and timber cabinetry, while using knobs, pulls and latches in the same finish creates cohesion.
6. Layer vintage pieces - artwork, ceramics, timber boards and collected objects soften the architectural elements of a kitchen and make the space feel personal.
The aim is not to copy the McGee Home exactly, but to take individual principles from its design and interpret them to suit the architecture and character of your own home.
Explore the Studio McGee mudroom
Design by Studio McGee | Features our Cotswold Cupboard Latch 54mm, Queslett Cup Pull 96mm and Washwood Cabinet Handle 224mm, all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
The design story continues into the adjoining Studio McGee mudroom, where Armac Martin hardware again creates a connection between the two spaces.
While the kitchen combines warm neutral cabinetry, stained timber and marble, the mudroom introduces much darker cabinetry and practical locker-style storage. Repeating the unlacquered brass hardware creates cohesion without requiring the two rooms to share the same colour palette.
Explore our Studio McGee mudroom to discover the cabinetry, storage ideas and Armac Martin hardware used throughout.