This is every paint color that Shea McGee used in her most recent remodel – including the best neutrals from Sherwin-Willams, Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball

From earthy greens to timeless warm whites, this home is filled with the most calming colors

green and white bedroom, warm white kitchen, bathroom with gray cabinets and white tiled wall
(Image credit: Studio McGee)

When it comes to timeless interiors that strike the perfect balance between modern and rustic, Studio McGee never fails to nail the aesthetic. Known for creating cozy, classic, and comfortable spaces that feel organic and full of texture, Shea McGee's interior projects always serve as inspiration.

In the design studio's latest project, Tahoe Pines, Studio McGee embodies its celebrated decorating style in every room, and one of the many elements that stand out is the dreamy array of paint colors used throughout. Inspired by the property's idyllic lakeside surroundings, the paint colors are neutral and earthy, creating a calming backdrop in every room.

Here, we take a deep dive into the standout paint colors used throughout the Tahoe Pines project. From warm white living spaces to the dark olive green home office, there are endless room color ideas to draw inspiration from.

1. Westhighland White, Sherwin-Williams

neutral living room with modern decor, white walls and large windows with wood sloped ceiling

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Westhighland White by Sherwin-Williams is a bright white paint that has a subtle creamy quality, making it the perfect pared-back backdrop paint color for all types of rooms and decorating styles.

In the Tahoe Pines project, this white paint was used across the walls in various rooms, including the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

2. Creamy White, Benjamin Moore

warm white kitchen with built-in cabinets, black window frames and modern rustic decor

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Another popular white paint that was used in this project is Benjamin Moore's Creamy White, a warm white paint that provides just enough warmth to create a soft and cozy look; a great alternative to stark whites.

In this kitchen, Creamy White is used across the kitchen cabinets, complementing the room's natural wood tones and organic decor.

3. Flint, Benjamin Moore

white kitchen leading into pantry with dark gray-blue walls and built-in shelving

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

The pantry steps away from light neutrals with Benjamin Moore's Flint, a cool-toned charcoal that provides contrast to the kitchen's warm white color scheme.

If you want to venture toward the trending world of dark paints, Flint makes a great choice. It has a slightly muted quality which makes it liveable while providing a touch of drama to your color schemes.

4. In the Navy, Portola Paints

powder room with dark navy walls, wood door and sink, arched mirror with modern glass wall sconce

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Continuing the theme of dark paint colors, Portola Paints' In the Navy with a Roman Clay finish was chosen for this powder room.

While colors as dark as this can seem daunting to decorate with, the key is to fully embrace them in small rooms with color-drenching ideas, covering the walls and the ceiling. This will result in a dramatic yet cozy and cohesive space that avoids the harsh breakups that would be apparent if certain walls or the ceiling were painted white.

5. Dark Olive, Benjamin Moore

moody home office with dark olive green walls and built-in storage, modern wooden desk and gold ceiling light

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Benjamin Moore's Dark Olive was selected for this moody and sophisticated home office, used across the walls and the cabinetry as well as the ceiling.

A dark shade of green with a muted quality, Dark Olive is a timeless paint color that works to create a bold look, while its earth tones ensure it's comfortable to live with.

6. Nature Lover, Benjamin Moore

calming bedroom with twin beds, white panelled walls, sage green ceiling and woven ceiling lights

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Another green paint that's not quite so dark is Benjamin Moore's Nature Lover, which was used in this twin bedroom. An unexpected way of decorating with paint, the gentle green hue is used across the ceiling, creating a calming space paired with the white walls.

7. Retreat, Sherwin-Williams

bathroom with green panelled lower walls and white upper half, wooden vanity unit and rectangular mirror

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Sherwin-Williams Retreat is a muted green paint with undertones of blue and gray, giving it a restful feel. In this guest bedroom bathroom, this interesting paint color was used across the lower paneled walls, paired with light wood tones throughout the room which further help create a soothing feel.

8. Sandy Hook Gray, Benjamin Moore

bathroom with gray vanity unit, brass accents, rectangular wall mirror and white wall tiles

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

The bathroom cabinets in this guest room were painted with Benjamin Moore's Sandy Hook Gray, a warm-toned greige that makes for a timeless neutral color choice.

Paint colors such as this are a great choice if you don't want to decorate with color but want to add more interest than classic whites; warming up the room and adding more depth.

9. Pigeon, Farrow & Ball

bathroom with white walls, gray-blue cabinets and double sink and wall mirrors

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

A blend of blue and gray tones that's described as a 'chameleon' paint color, Farrow & Ball's Pigeon, was used on these bathroom cabinets.

Again, this in-between hue is an effective way to add interest to neutral color palettes, while maintaining a calming look that feels inspired by the natural world.

There are lots of ways to decorate with Farrow & Ball's Pigeon, whether you use it to color drench or as an accent color.

10. Night Train, Benjamin Moore

laundry room with dark green cabinets, light gray wallpapered walls and rustic details

Tahoe Pines

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Lastly, Benjamin Moore's Night Train is a cool dark gray-green that was used across the cabinets in this laundry room.

Similar to the bathrooms and pantry of this home, we're seeing plenty of dark, moody paint colors used in small rooms, and for good reason. These moody shades work so well in these hardworking rooms, providing an unexpected color moment where you wouldn't typically expect it.


These earthy and calming paint colors will no doubt have you dreaming of your next home decor project – whether that's refreshing a white kitchen or adding a bolder shade to a home office or pantry.

Paint & Color Editor

Emily is H&G's Paint & Color Editor, covering all things color across interior design and home decor. She joined the team in the summer of 2023, having studied Fashion Communication at university before working in various creative roles ahead of making the leap into interiors. She lives in Glasgow where she loves admiring the city's architecture, frequenting her favorite coffee spots, and sourcing vintage furniture for her tenement apartment. Emily's interior style is inspired by the simplicity of midcentury design, mixed with more playful modern pieces that inject small (but bold) doses of color.