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struction with our own team of subcontrac- tors and craftsmen. We found this made things much easier for our clients. Our de- signs were carried out the way we intended, and the projects were more cost effective.” In 2017, L&M opened a showroom in downtown Auburn to showcase cabinetry, countertops, lighting, furniture, and other furnishings, so clients wouldn’t have to travel all over town to make selections. “This allows us to offer the highest quality products to our clients all in one place at a great price,” Lashley said. Last year they also started offering custom new construction. Murphree said, “We’ve seen the need for the same services we offer in renovations in custom homebuilding.” While their projects are most frequently in the Auburn and Lake Martin area, Murphree added, “Our reno- vations take place all over the state. We travel wherever the project takes us.” Murphree said kitchen renovations are the most requested. She noted, “Kitchens and bathrooms should be renovated first if some- one is remodeling to sell. They are the rooms that sell a house.” One of the hottest trends over the last several years is an open- concept renovation. “I think the open concept is here to stay for now,” Lashley said. “Families want to be together, and having the family room open to the kitchen is a functional way for families to stay connected when they’re all home.” She also said, “Color is back, and can be used in a big way or as an accent. Blues and greens are very hot right now.” As far as the do-it-yourself trend goes, Murphree said, “DIY looks so easy on TV! Our job looks like it’s just selecting pretty things and installing them the next day, but it’s actually very tech- nical. Selecting the pretty things is the easy part. It’s making them actually work together and function that takes experience. Most people make a lot of costly mistakes that can be avoided by hiring a professional who knows good design and can handle installations, too.” Clients appreciate L&M’s expertise and the relationship formed throughout the project. “We care about their home and work with them from the beginning to the end, on every detail,” Murphree said. “They don’t have one company for design, another for con- struction, and a lot of different vendors to work with along the way. We guide them through every step and make the process really fun and easy.” n Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter JUNE 2019 41