The Untold Truth Of Dream Home Makeover

Shea and Syd McGee might look like they were destined for television, with their flashy white smiles and well-tended bodies, but the couple didn't always have small screen aspirations. In fact, the McGees only started their renovation business in 2014, while each of them were in different professions. But when Shea started documenting her home redesign on Instagram, her following blew up. "Shea was able to understand what was needed to make her audience react and to grow," Syd explained in an interview with The New York Times. "She was an early adapter to Instagram." Once again, the power of social media becomes evident.

After that, the McGees realized they had a lucrative business on their hands, so they threw themselves wholeheartedly into it. They established McGee & Co., an online home furnishing enterprise, published a book entitled "Make Life Beautiful," and eventually ventured into reality television with "Dream Home Makeover." Oh, and they also have a line at Target, too!

With Syd as the CEO and Shea as interior designer extraordinaire, it looks like the McGees are only rising higher with each passing day.

After Syd and Shea McGee had a bad experience with the first production company they worked with, having a TV show seemed like a far-off prospect. But eventually, they took matters into their own hands, this time creating the audition tape on their own. "We made our own 'Sizzle Reel' to send in that ended up landing us the show for our initial meeting," they wrote on their blog. They added that it's super fun to look back at the sizzle real to see how they've grown and developed, both in their design choices and skateboarding skills.

After meeting with Netflix and successfully pitching "Dream Home Makeover," Netflix gave them the green light — all the way back in 2018! "We've had to keep the secret of 'Dream Home Makeover' for quite some time," they continued. "It's hard to believe that after a few years of planning and filming, it's finally released!" Congrats, you two!

While Syd and Shea McGee are the stars, viewers also get to see their children (two young daughters, Ivy and Wren) on the show as well. Of course, that's something that's intentional, as the McGees want you to get to know them as a family. "We wanted it to be true to us," Shea told The Salt Lake Tribune. "And our business is very intertwined with our family life." Isn't everyone's these days?

When the McGees first started filming, the children were distracted by the cameras, as any kids would be. But it didn't take long for the girls to get acclimated and go back to being themselves. "Within a couple of days, they just did not even notice that we were filming a day at the park or in our backyard or cooking together," Shea continued. She added that they made sure filming didn't interfere with what Ivy and Wren were doing, so what you see on TV is the real deal. 

Viewers know that Shea and Syd McGee call Utah home, which is where they work on many of the homes you see on the show. And while they had connections to the area (Shea went to college there, and that's where her parents retired to), that's not where they were based when they started their business. "We were living in Southern California, and everyone knows that it's a little bit more of an expensive place to live," she revealed in a chat with The Salt Lake Tribune. "And by a little, I mean a ton."

To that end, Syd and Shea knew that they should relocate in order to grow their design firm. "We just decided, hey, if we're going to go in on this we've got to give it the best shot that we can," she continued. So the McGees waved goodbye to sunny SoCal, sold their home, and headed for the Beehive State.

While the McGees admit to missing the City of Angels, they say they've "fallen in love" with their new home. "We really love the mountains," Shea added.

There are a ton of home renovation shows out there to choose from. You can watch Chip and Joanna Gaines work their magic on "Fixer Upper," see Hilary Farr and David Visentin compete on "Love It or List It," or enjoy Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead's work on "Flip or Flop," to name just a few. But no matter where you get your demo-and-reno fix, one thing about all of these shows is the same: They all have to work within a budget.

Of course, that's the case for "Dream Home Makeover" as well, though one of the things that viewers may notice is that the McGees' clients have some pretty deep pockets. But according to Shea, the estimates you see on their show aren't as different from others as you might think. "The budgets don't sound like other TV budgets, but it's also because we are being more truthful," she told The Salt Lake Tribune. Well, it's entirely possible!

While "Dream Home Makeover" can provide viewers with some great escapist television, some folks might feel envious of the people that they see on the show. After all, not everyone has $30,000 to renovate a single room!

However, that's not lost on Shea and Syd McGee. In fact, Shea hopes that viewers come away from the series with ideas for their own home, no matter where they live and what they're working with. "We know that like not everybody's in the same situation," she confessed in an interview with Us Weekly. "You can incorporate [my techniques] in any situation that you're in."

Even if you live in a one-room studio apartment, Shea wants you to learn from her. "It does not matter the size of your home, you can incorporate design principles that we're using at any scale," she continued. She added that one of her best tips is to clear out excess stuff, à la Marie Kondo's method, and invest in baskets.

In order to be a successful reality television star, you have to be the kind of person that viewers want to look at. That's certainly the case for Chip and Joanna Gaines or Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead, who are arguably competition for "Dream Home Makeover." Both of those couples are quite good looking!

Of course, both Syd and Shea McGee are easy on the eyes as well, with their contemporary fashion, well-kept hairstyles, and healthy physiques. To that end, you might wonder just how many doughnuts Syd really eats, as it's clear on "Dream Home Makeover" that he's a fan of the confection. However, Syd wants you to know that he's "not eating a donut every day," but "when it's game time, it's game time — and I'll go hard," he explained to The Wrap. Apparently doughnuts are serious business!

In October of 2020, after a rousing first season, Syd and Shea McGee published their first book, "Make Life Beautiful." They undertook the project in addition to working with their clients, having a successful Netflix show, posting on social media, and being parents — which had to be a lot!

So just why did the McGees add completing a book to their to-do list? "This was a big decision for me because, of course, I love images and creating visuals, but we do that every day — we share photos and videos and we talk about design," Shea explained in an interview with Parade. "But there's so much that goes on behind the scenes that we don't share, and we felt like this was an opportunity to lift the curtain a bit on working together." She added that it would also give fans more of an insight into what Syd does, as he tends to be a little more behind scenes. Not surprisingly, the book became a bestseller for The New York Times.

While Syd and Shea McGee are certainly sitting pretty now, with a booming business, a successful brand, and reality TV stardom, that wasn't always the case. In fact, there was a time early in Shea's design business that they were seriously struggling to get by, as Syd's company had recently been acquired and soon he wasn't working. "We canceled cable. We canceled gym memberships. We stopped going out to eat," Syd wrote in their book "Make Life Beautiful." "We cut out everything that wasn't mortgage or food." And even then, they still had a rough time making ends meet at the grocery store.

That's why Syd began selling off everything he could, from bikes to surfboards to furniture. "It came down to the question: Could we live without it? If we could, we sold it," Syd continued (via People). "We were losing ground quickly, making my lack of contribution even worse." It was only after Syd figured out his role in their fledgling business that things began to fall into place; once he realized he could run the business while Shea did the design, their problems abated (via KPMG Spark).

Understandably, issues that Syd and Shea McGee were dealing with spilled into their marriage, as Syd hadn't yet figured out what direction he was going in with his career. That's something with which Shea really struggled. "I wanted to support Syd, but some days I felt like too much was placed on my shoulders," Shea wrote in their memoir (via People). "I began to feel resentful he'd put us in this position." 

Fortunately, Syd and Shea didn't wind up divorcing, or giving up on each other. Rather, they rallied and got through it together, which is why they're so prosperous today. "We soon realized that our skill-sets complemented each other really well and that he could run the business and allow me to focus solely on the design," Shea revealed in an interview with KPMG Spark. "We sold our home in Southern California and moved to Utah to start our design firm in a more business-friendly state."

Fans will tell you that some of the most endearing scenes on the show are when you get to see Syd and Shea McGee's kids; Wren and Ivy are both adorable and have their own distinct personalities. Additionally, like their mama, both of the girls enjoy making their spaces beautiful. "They love decorating their rooms," Shea told O, the Oprah Magazine. 

What should come as a shock to absolutely no one is that the older daughter is already following in her mother's footsteps. "Our daughter brought home this little notebook that they write in at school every day," Shea continued. "It had a career page. She wrote, 'When I grow up, I want to be a designer.'" Naturally, Shea was absolutely thrilled about the prospect, as she said that her heart "exploded."

Hopefully there will be enough seasons that fans can see what Wren and Ivy become when they grow up! 

Anyone whose seen just one episode can tell you that Shea McGee's design skills really are impressive. Her appreciation of natural light, colors and contrast, and high-quality materials has helped her transform even the smallest and darkest of spaces. 

Of course, Shea has evolved as a designer over the years, allowing her to appreciate the finer points of her trade. "When I first started, maybe I wasn't experienced enough to pay attention to texture — really mix rough and smooth textures and tumbled stone, for instance," she revealed in a chat with Parade. She added that budget constraints were a factor as well, which absolutely makes sense.

Additionally, Shea has always adored vintage furniture, but earlier in her career, her clients weren't especially fond of pre-loved pieces themselves. "As I've gotten more experienced, our clients trust me to incorporate more antiques into their homes," she continued. 

To say that "Dream Home Makeover" made a splash is an understatement — its one-two drop on Netflix was more like a home renovation tidal wave, and viewers couldn't get enough of the designs or the wonderful Shea and Syd McGee. The news of a Season 3 should come with plenty of excitement — fans can expect the next installment to drop on the streaming platform on July 27 of this year!

Speaking of the latest season, Shea and Syd came to their website with the good news, saying that the featured designs are some of the best yet. "There are so many fun projects this season we can hardly contain our excitement," the dynamic duo wrote.

So what can fans expect to see unfold on-screen? The McGees have kept the details fairly tight as of right now, but People got an exclusive clip from the season featuring a special project and an even more special couple.

Clients Cindy and Rob turned to the McGees to renovate their dream home after Rob suffered "a near-death experience." Of the final result, Cindy said to the reno-pair, "I feel so blessed that we were able to have you come and make our space so beautiful."

Before their television fame, Syd and Shea McGee started their business like anyone else: They had a dream, an office, and a desire to grow. Well grow they have, because the couple announced on their website that a whole new office space was required due to their expanding business. So, starting with "a completely empty space," the couple turned the open floor plan into a beautiful, multi-functional space with a "really cool industrial feel."

"When you walk in, you're greeted by a great office assistant, and a beautiful desk and seating area. It doesn't feel too 'office-y,' it feels more like a home!" the couple wrote. "There's a really cool sideboard behind the desk we use to store office supplies. It's topped with pretty abstract art and decor pieces."

Shea and Syd went on to detail the large conference room space — featuring a custom table and helpful USB access — and the space's use as a furniture testing area. Bonus! The couple gave some insight into their shared office (a first for them). "We centered the space with a table in the same shape as a surfboard, and there's drapes to make it feel cozy and textured," they detailed.

If you've found yourself rewatching "Dream Home Makeover" over and over again and have already gone to your local Target and raided the McGee-Threshold section, but are still craving more McGee magic, try hitting up the couple's website. In between seasons, this is a perfect place to go and get inspired for your makeover projects — it also allows for a window into Syd and Shea McGee's lives together.

For instance, the couple shared some sweet tips in a website post about creating the best summer date night — a treat that all romantic duos should engage in more often (or if you're a single gal just out here living your best life, take yourself on a date)! What's more, if you ever find yourself in a bind around a holiday and need some inspiration for what to buy someone, how to make the most out of the big day, or want to see how the McGees are doing it, the "Dream Home Makeover" dream team posts fairly regularly. With details about great Mother's Day ideas, gift recommendations for Father's Day, and a hosting how-to for Easter, the McGee website should be your one-stop web search for all the inspiration you need.