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28 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | August 2015 Designer Profle By Kim Berndtson T he year was 2008. Most ev- eryone who was in the kitchen and bath design industry at the time will likely remember what was happening and how the Great Recession afected their businesses. For Cathy Winslow and her husband, DeForest, it was an especially memo- rable time because, in January of that year, they opened their new kitchen and bath showroom, Splash Kitchens & Baths, in LaGrange, GA. Both were involved in the industry previously. He was a residential con- tractor and she worked as an interior designer, helping his clients select the perfect fnishes for their new spaces. Before meeting her husband, Cathy was also in the design industry, work- ing in the retail apparel business as a color buyer, where she traveled in and out of New York City and served on various color boards. Ironically, this company's ofce building sits right next to the Splash showroom. "I've done a 360 and I'm back in the same parking lot!" she remarks. Years before opening the show- room, the couple had discussed the idea because she often had to take clients to multiple showrooms to make fnish selections. "That can be a daunting task, especially for people doing kitchen and bath spaces, be- cause there are so many selections that have to be made," she says. "We had often toyed with the idea of bringing everything in house. When the market fat lined, it was the per- fect time to make the transition. Our clients were forced to change direc- tion, and so were we." Rethinking their business also allowed the Winslows to retain em- ployees. "We were able to keep our people through the recession," she says, noting that some tile setters have been with the frm for 27 years. "That's great for our business, because people know they are part of our team." NOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE Splash – so named because water is a common element to both kitchens and baths, and "who doesn't like a Design Firm Makes a Splash Splash Kitchens & Baths specializes in all design styles, including traditional to contemporary…although most southerners prefer to call contemporary "traditional with an edge," says Cathy Winslow. "Due to the depth of our team, we can handle a broad scope of projects, including whole house remodels and additions." AT A GLANCE SPLASH KITCHENS & BATHS LLC Principals: Cathy and DeForest Winslow Location: LaGrange, GA Showroom: 3,200 square feet, including main showroom and design/ selection studio; additional 2,500 square foot warehouse Areas served: LaGrange, Columbus, Newnan, Atlanta No. of Employees: 11 (including designers and feld crew) Business philosophy: "Treat clients and their property respectfully. Listen intently to their wishes and needs to design a space that meets the form and function they desire while executing the project on time and in budget." á â Photos: Tom Harper Photography Photo: Marc Marcellini