Designer brings a wealth of experience to the Plateau
By: Carolyn Kemmett
Photo by Clay Nations Photography
“The Plateau” is the moniker for the stunning Cashiers-Highlands area in far southwestern North Carolina, a region of waterfalls and cliffside vistas established 350 million years ago. It’s also a place where people have long built mountain escapes. Dating back to the middle of the nineteenth century, this pursuit is still going strong in 2026.
To cater to the current needs of the region’s homeowners, The Designer’s Market offers everything from high-quality stone and wood flooring to heritage furniture, custom window treatments, bed and bath products, expert design services, and more. At 12,000+ square feet, the facility features a showroom with vignettes assembled by a team of in-house professionals led by owner/founder Susan San Souci.
Styles range from stately and traditional to crisp and modern, although a motif of plushness prevails: think upholstered beds and chairs, custom drapery, bespoke natural wallpapers, and rich patterns.
One of the company’s newest talents is Robyn Mitchell, an interior designer who joined the team a bit over a year-and-a-half ago, relocating from Charleston. “It’s wonderful to be part of this collective,” she says, “because our clients win [from the group approach]. We do, too, since we get the opportunity to take advantage of each other’s expertise — so our work is stronger and we can serve our clients even more fully.”
Mitchell is an accomplished industry leader with a special knowledge of flooring and finishes and twenty-plus years of experience concentrated in both Carolinas. At press time she was busy dreaming up the outdoor-space area for the late-summer Cashiers Designer Showhouse, but she took a break to share why working in The Plateau is unique.
The Plateau is known for a certain look, but your design trajectory has involved many incarnations. Can you give us a sense of your career history?
I’ve been fortunate to have had diverse opportunities come my way. I lived in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary area for a good chunk of time when I was younger and did a bit of commercial design, which offers different challenges. I’ve also really enjoyed my collaborations with architects on projects, and I used to own a furniture store, so working with clients in that capacity was always interesting. Then I moved to Cashiers two years ago from Charleston.
What’s different about working in a collective?
Being able to tap into a creative hive mind is great because we truly feed off each other’s ideas. We as designers have different backgrounds and talents, so when we hear what a client wants, we see things differently but can arrive at a great result for them.
There’s always a good pace with my work here, too. I love being busy, but this area also has a more laidback element.
The Plateau is distinct from other areas of the region. How would you define the culture?
More than other areas, people are building second homes, so sometimes there are different considerations that go into that — how the home will be used, who will visit, and there’s usually a desire for more luxury. These things all impact the vibe and design of a space. These clients also value higher-quality products, and they respect the design profession and our work.
Still, we have to know how to dial it back and do good work for clients who want the look with less investment. I enjoy working with a finite budget, as it requires creativity and resourcefulness.
What’s your recipe for building trust with clients?
I zero in on everything from body language to what they express verbally. I ask many questions, including what’s going on in their lives, how they’re feeling when we meet. Even the time of day we meet can impact a project’s progression. After all, we’re responsible for creating spaces where memories are made.
The Plateau is known for tradition, but what’s new on the design world’s horizon?
I see lots more happening with integrating lighting that’s adjustable and layered into interiors. We’re also shifting back to using more natural materials, getting away from plastics and acrylics … materials like wood, stone, metals, rattan, natural [rug] fibers like wool and sisal. It’s better for durability and sustainability … and for our well being.
You’ve got some news of your own to share, too.
Yes — I’m thrilled to be the new President of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Carolinas and can’t wait to serve the organization and my professional peers. We are also proud to have won Chapter of the Year this year.
The Designer’s Market, 61 Hawks View, Cashiers, 828-743-1400, thedesignersmarket-nc.com, email robyn@thedesignersmarket-nc.com.