Design Philosophy

Guiding the process of creation is the herald that marks the work of Studio Emblem & Co.
Listening is a powerful act and our primary tool. We value a commitment to working collaboratively with our clients to create tailored spaces that honor form and function in equal measure. We extract our clients’ stories, responding to their needs and aspirations, to shape a thoughtful narrative that harnesses a distinctive point of view.

Our work is driven by a conceptual practice. We compose grounded and compelling spaces that channel the essence of our clients’ lives, while elevating their experience through an artistic lens and a design filter of the unexpected and the unique.

We support the craft community through our studio focus on honest materials and meticulous craftsmanship. We are devoted to collaborations with artisans and makers who push the boundaries of ingenuity, innovation and artistry. Anchored in precision and efficiency, buoyed by imagination and rigorous attention to geometry and details that radiate quality and timelessness. The final effect is a sophisticated expression that becomes emblematic of meaning.

About

Founded by Melissa Benham, Studio Emblem & Co. is a full-service design cooperative rooted in the power of intention to guide the process of creation.
Combining the innovation and ingenuity of her Southern California birthright, the reverence for function, integrity and practicality instilled by her Midwestern upbringing, and the restrained polish conferred by her formative years in New York, Benham, embraces a holistic and thoughtful approach to her work.

Melissa began her career in New York designing retail and hospitality spaces for world class brands Ralph Lauren, André Balazs Properties, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Prior to founding Studio Emblem, Melissa was a founding partner of Studio Gild, where she completed residential and hospitality projects across the country.

Benham holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and an Associate of Applied Arts in Interior Design from Parsons School for Design. Prior to receiving her degrees, she studied interior design and photography at Richmond American University London.