About Us

Susan San Souci

Susan San Souci is an ASID practitioner of design and owner of The Designer’s Market, Inc. Having first visited the Highlands/Cashiers area in 1997, she and her husband Jim made the decision to purchase a vacation home in the area in 2001, and by 2009, they became full-time residents. Once here, it wasn’t long before Susan began to realize her aspirations to leave the successful career she had cultivated in the corporate world to fill an untapped niche in the local market. That dream became a reality in 2007 when she opened a referral based, by appointment only design business.
Since the company’s early beginnings, The Designer’s Market has evolved into the area’s largest design center, catering to remodels and new construction of both residential and commercial spaces. The 12,000sq ft design facility features mid to high end wall coverings, floor coverings, fabrics, draperies, paint, area rugs and cabinetry to meet every need and every budget.
Susan and her team of hand-picked professionals are committed to providing each client and showroom visitor with the utmost care and attention. Listening, building relationships, supporting clients through the design phase and on through the construction process is what we do. The end result: transforming ideas into a beautiful reality that our clients can take pleasure in for years to come.

Skylar Lanson

Skylar Lanson joined the Designer’s Market in 2016 and quickly found his place as an essential member of the family.
Skylar grew up working alongside his father in the family’s construction business. He had a natural propensity for the detailed work; framing, laying hardwood floors, decking, and finished trim work. Skylar brings the strength of precision to his installation projects. Having that educated eye for specificity is key when installing window coverings, drapery and cabinetry.
Skylar is also a certified race car driving instructor on a team in Charlotte, NC. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, kayaking and spending quality time with his 3 children.

Matthew Sarvis

Matthew Sarvis is our very knowledgeable and experienced installer of drapery, window coverings and cabinetry. With the Designer’s Market since 2013, Matt received his certification in Hunter Douglas Window Coverings which lead him to his current designation as Certified Master Shutter Installer.
Growing up surrounded by tradesmen and working for many years in the service industry has helped Matt become the accomplished individual he is today. His relaxed, intrinsic manner also makes him the perfect liaison for our clients. When not at work, Matt enjoys fishing, hunting, riding dirt bikes and spending time with his wife and daughter at their home in Franklin, NC.

Laura Paap

Laura Paap first joined the Designer’s Market in 2011 after graduating from Western Carolina University, where she received a degree in Interior Design and a minor in Art.
Laura prides herself in her ability to communicate and listen to each client’s wants and needs to find the right solution for every project. Her favorite aspects of design are color and texture, so it is no surprise that she is often found pulling samples in our extensive fabric library.
After five years with The Designer’s Market, Laura moved to Charlotte with her fiancé Blair. In April of 2019 Laura and Blair were given the opportunity to return to the mountains, at which time Laura immediately rejoined the team at The Designer’s Market.
These days you can still find her in the fabric library, as well as contributing to multiteam based projects, selecting finishes throughout the home.

Tony Weikle

A native of August Georgia, Tony’s family relocated to Transylvania County where he grew up and lived most of his adult life.
Tony built his career in management/sales. His experience maintaining productive operations coupled with excellent organization skills and customer service afford him an opportunity to collaborate on a daily basis with designers, vendors and clients alike. He describes himself as a people person and loves interacting with individuals from all walks of life.

Tony, his wife, and their four daughters moved to Walhalla, SC three years ago to be closer to family and friends. Together they appreciate spending time at the lake as a family fishing and swimming and like everyone else fortunate enough to live in these beautiful mountains, just enjoying life in the great outdoors.

Rebecca Anderson

Rebecca Anderson grew up in North Carolina and moved to Cashiers to join the Designers Market in 2022. Graduating from Appalachian State University with a degree in Interior Design, she has always had a passion for design, architecture, and using her creativity wherever she goes. She was involved in the Design Club serving as an ambassador, providing incoming students with the information they needed about the design program.

With a background of retail, she hopes to use her skill set to assist customers with great service and to help tie finishing touches into their projects. During her free time, Rebecca enjoys being outside, reading books, and catching up on the latest food trends.

Sara Minton

Sara Minton is the newest member of the team here at The Designer’s Market. She is on board with her varied experience to support the company’s marketing efforts and assist in day to day operations. Having extensive experience in both real estate and retail sales, Sara’s diverse background, attention to detail, excellent customer service skills and strong work ethic add another layer of distinction to the creative elements at The Designer’s Market.

In her down time, she enjoys reading a good book, traveling, and spending quality time with her husband and daughter.

Bethany Wiggins

Bethany Wiggins joined The Designer’s Market in the fall of 2022. Designing has always intrigued her, and she is excited to be part of such a dynamic team. Her experience in many fields will aide in assisting with the many facets of The Designer’s Market. She moved from the beaches of St. Simons Island, GA to the mountains of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau in 2013 thinking she would always be a coastal girl. After falling in love with the beauty and peace the mountains offer, she quickly became a mountain girl. She enjoys spending time with her family outdoors, hiking and cooking out, and loves getting lost in a good book!

TJ Brown

Born in Conyers, GA, TJ moved to the mountains in 2001. TJ was an all-conference football and baseball player throughout high school. He spent 6 years training as a pro boxer. He has always enjoyed being a musician and writing music, having grown up in a musical family with a history and background in it. TJ has always had a passion for everything art and always brought the life of art into all his work.  He has 12 years in flooring experience where he has learned all the ins and outs involving installation, quality, design, etc.  TJ enjoys playing music, anything outdoors, and spending time with his kids.

Maggie Wicht

Maggie Wicht was raised in the Plateau, and after moving away to experience big city life and receive her master’s in design from Pratt Institute in New York, moved back in 2020 to be closer to the natural beauty and family that she loves.

She has a background in furniture design and after moving back to NC spent several years as a Design Consultant in Highlands expanding her knowledge of all aspects of interior design and creating high-end interiors of all sizes and styles throughout the area.

Maggie is passionate about color, fabrics, and helping people bring all the details together and create spaces that they love.

In her spare time, she can be found exploring the woods and water with her daughter and dog!

Sarah

Sarah is new to The Designer’s Market and to NC. Originally from Alaska, Sarah earned her BA degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Art from the University of Washington in Seattle. This led her to some graduate work in Textile Design followed by a career in home furnishings. She has worked coast to coast in NYC, Portland, OR and Philadelphia. She brings to us almost two decades of experience as a design consultant for window coverings and furniture.

Out of the showroom, she enjoys long-distance running and hiking, sewing, traveling, and checking out local breweries.

Kathleen

Kathleen Stratton is the newest member of The Designer's Market team! Originally hailing from Atlanta, GA, and having grown up in Orlando, FL, Kathleen has called Sapphire, NC home since 2020 after spending summers here since 2004. With a diverse background in accounting, photography, and design, she brings a wealth of experience to our team. Kathleen also owns a charming candle studio in Brevard, NC, where she crafts unique creations. When she's not immersed in her work, she's exploring the great outdoors-whether biking, hiking, or running through the woods. Kathleen also has a passion for cooking new meals and traveling to national parks. Fun fact: she's a wildland firefighter, adding an adventurous edge to her impressive skill set.