PORTLAND, Ore. (September 7, 2023) – ANN SACKS has collaborated with renowned tastemaker, and interior and product designer, Shea McGee, on Canyon Lake by Studio McGee, one of three new tile collections that reflect her refreshingly original – and extremely relatable – approach to design. The collections feature singular core pieces that pay homage to classic design and impart the timeless, livable luxury McGee has brought to her interiors for almost a decade. In addition to the Canyon Lake, Novah, and Willow Heights designs, two additional collections will be unveiled in 2024.
Canyon Lake by Studio McGee draws inspiration from the textures and movements of Old World tile yet designed for the ease of everyday living. Reminiscent of the beauty of Moroccan tile and McGee’s love of the Zellige artform, Canyon Lake hails from Spain, the dry pressed designs exhibiting a gentle, undulating surface, its visual effect heightened by an expressive palette of glazes adding to its dimensional depth. In-stock and competitively priced to appeal to a wide-ranging audience, with the understated sophistication to speak to myriad tastes and lifestyles, Canyon Lake is also comprised of 51 percent recyclable content making it an ecologically thoughtful choice.
“From hand-carving to kiln-firing over olive branches, the authentic process of Old World tile delivers each piece its own individual texture, coloring, and rustic edges,” said McGee. “It's those unique characteristics from tile to tile that make them so special and what makes them so beautiful displayed together. I was inspired by this visual migration of the eye, when the light bounces off hand-formed tile’s texture and years of client feedback requesting softer edges and subtler variation. The Canyon Lake collection bridges organic, textural movement with a streamlined perspective.”
McGee’s meaningful and deeply personal approach to interior design is based upon her own experiences and life’s journey that has resonated with consumers in a truly authentic way. Her tile designs are one example of how she weaves design elements with storytelling to bring forward realistic, achievable ways to create spaces that speak to personal preferences. Through her expansive body of work, McGee has created a toolbox of choices from which consumers can develop rooms of sophistication with confidence.
“One of the perks of my job as a designer is that I spend a lot of time shopping and hearing feedback from clients about what they like and do not like about the selections for their homes,” continued McGee. “I make mental notes about gaps in the market or what products transition well between design aesthetics. I’m often tasked with bridging the Studio McGee style with the wants and lifestyle choices of the client. I use those experiences to inform the product design process and imagine the many ways our tiles could be applied across a wide spectrum of styles.”
Canyon Lake is available in 2”x6” and 4”x4” field tiles and a 1”x8” quarter round trim to professionally finish any room. McGee also selected six matte and gloss shades for the collection. “The individual color names, Antique White, Dusty Rose, Midnight, Mist, Sea Salt, and Stone, say a lot about my inspiration for the palette and what they will bring to a home,” continued McGee. “For longevity, I think it is best to embrace a color palette that can be found in elements of nature. When conceptualizing this collection, it was important to me that the tiles could be easily mixed and matched across styles for a collected look. I also love to mix colorways in the field tiles to make a bold statement – a few ways to mix the field tiles are through accent stripe, soldier course, or a checkerboard pattern. There are limitless possibilities because of the range of colors. Each colorway is offered in two sizes and finishes making it a natural fit for everything from a kitchen backsplash to a mudroom floor or even in outdoor spaces.”
Having worked on projects with Shea McGee for years, ANN SACKS found a kindred spirit in McGee, the partnership an easy next step for the brand and this innovative, forward-thinking designer. A passionate student at heart, McGee saw in tile a unique medium to expand upon her talents and creative curiosity, ultimately finding a place within McGee’s impressive product portfolio. In McGee, ANN SACKS saw the same entrepreneurial spirit that still drives the brand today.
“I’m always up for a new challenge, whether it’s developing new furniture designs for McGee & Co. or collaborating in genres outside of my norm,” concluded McGee. “After nearly a decade of designing custom homes, I have learned that tile is one of those things that can make or break a space. I can select with intentionality to blend seamlessly for a cohesive look or to stand out as a statement. From the tile options themselves, to the layout and grout, I love the flexibility tile provides. I enjoy the product design process as much as the homes where the products belong. It is so exciting to create a versatile collection that reflects the Studio McGee aesthetic while also enabling others to dream of the possibilities in their own homes.”