Charette: Live from Women of Construction Summit 2026
In this charette, we sit down with Emily Cox and Michelle Suddeth, co-founders of Onyx Design Collaborative, to talk about design, collaboration, and the values behind the studio they’ve built together. This was all recorded live during a session at the Women of Construction Summit in Charleston, SC.
Emily Cox is an award-winning designer with more than 15 years of experience creating thoughtful, highly customized residential and hospitality spaces. With a background spanning both architecture and interiors, Emily approaches design with the belief that every space should be a reflection of the people who inhabit it. Her collaborative process, attention to detail, and architectural expertise have helped bring more than $35 million in custom projects to life. Inspired by history, art, and travel, she blends timeless design with a fresh, modern perspective. A Clemson University graduate, Emily now calls Charleston home—when she isn’t dreaming about her next adventure abroad.
Michelle Suddeth is an accomplished interior designer known for creating spaces guided by what her clients love rather than passing trends. With more than a decade of experience in residential and hospitality design, Michelle has developed a signature approach that pairs timeless antiques and vintage pieces with modern, colorful touches to create warm, layered interiors. A University of Tennessee graduate, she draws inspiration from Charleston’s rich history, the Lowcountry landscape, travel, art, and her love of vintage design.
Together, Emily and Michelle founded Onyx Design Collaborative in 2017 with a vision to redefine the interior design experience through trust, transparency, and meaningful client relationships. At the heart of their practice is the “Onyx Standard,” an approach rooted in honesty, reliability, and collaboration that guides clients confidently from concept through completion.
Today, Onyx transforms residential spaces throughout the Lowcountry and beyond while cultivating a collaborative, all-female creative studio. Through their work, Emily and Michelle demonstrate how strong relationships, complementary expertise, and a shared commitment to thoughtful design can create something greater than either discipline alone.
Caryatid: Marie Flanigan and Deanna Van Buren
Marie Flanigan
Deanna Van Buren
Follow Onyx Design Collaborative!
Check out their website: https://www.onyxdesign.com/
She Builds Charettes is where we have mini-episodes that are different from our more traditional episodes. In these charettes or mini-episodes, we will conduct interviews, hold deep-dive discussions, make announcements, and more! Have an idea for a charette? Be sure to email us at shebuildspodcast@gmail.com
