ALMetro360 June 19

L&M Design, Build, Furnish One Stop For All Design and Building Projects – Two Female Leaders in the Industry T EXT BY K RISTI G ATES C RYSTAL L ASHLEY AND M EAGAN M URPHREE OPENED L&M D ESIGN , B UILD , F URNISH IN A UBURN IN 2006. “I T ’ S INTERESTING BEING WOMEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD ,” SAID M URPHREE . “W E DON ’ T LOOK LIKE THE TYPICAL CONTRACTORS , AND YOU ’ LL OFTEN FIND US ON A JOB SITE CHANGING OUT OF OUR HEELS AND INTO WORK BOOTS . I T ’ S AN EXCITING TIME , AND WE ’ RE SEEING MORE WOMEN ENTER THIS FIELD .” ashley and Murphree met while undergraduates in the interior de- sign program at Auburn Univer- sity. After graduation, they moved away to separate cities, but kept in touch. They reunited when they returned to Auburn to live after passing the National Cer- tification for Interior Designers exam. Seeing the need for interior design firms in the East Alabama area, they decided to form a part- nership. Originally, they offered design consulting for remodels and new construction and sold furniture, drapery, rugs and accessories. “We quickly saw the disconnect between designers and contractors, and the need for a firm who handled everything for renovations,” Murphree said. “We knew there was a better way, and we had handled so many projects we were very versed in construction. We became licensed contractors and began handling all of the con- 40 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com L