In this episode of the ROCC Pod, we welcome Lindsey Collins, the founder of LMC Interiors, as we explore her journey in the interior design industry and her insights on emerging trends. Lindsey shares how her business began in 2005 after encouragement from her first job to launch a side business. With a degree in interior design from Kendall College of Art and Design and a background in graphic design and art history, Lindsey built a referral-based business specializing in kitchen and bath design.
We discuss the significance of kitchens as the heart of the home. Lindsey explains how open concepts, larger islands, and furniture-like cabinetry are revolutionizing kitchen design. She also highlights current trends, including bold colors like deep greens and burgundies, natural materials such as rift-cut white oak and walnut, and combinations of metal, glass, and stone. Lindsey shares her preference for using advanced software like Chief Architect, SketchUp, and 2020 to create 3D renderings that help clients visualize their designs.
Lindsey describes her client-focused approach, starting with consultations to understand needs, timelines, and budgets. While she doesn’t maintain a showroom, she partners with the Michigan Design Center and other resources to provide access to the latest materials and trends.
On a personal note, Lindsey reveals her love for travel, boating on Lake St. Clair, and her new Shichon puppies, Sydney and Sophie. She emphasizes the importance of blending lifestyle, materials, and creativity in her designs, as reflected in her business name, LMC Interiors.
More:
LMC Interiors Website: https://www.lmcinteriorsllc.com/
Phone: 269.598.1935
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMCDesigns2005
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmcinteriorsllc
ROCC Pod - LMC Interiors
Speakers: Lisa Bibbee, Jon Gay, & Lindsey Collins
Lisa Bibbee (00:00):
So, what new trends are you seeing starting to come out especially in kitchens?
Lindsey Collins (00:04):
A lot of bold colors. Deeper greens, burgundies, the rift cut white oak, walnut, black, and then a lot of mixed elements such as metal and glass and stone.
[Music Playing]
Jon Gay (00:26):
Welcome into the ROCC Pod produced for the Royal Oak Michigan Chamber of Commerce, I'm Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts.
Lisa Bibbee (00:32):
And I'm Lisa Bibbee with CENTURY 21 Northland.
Jon Gay (00:34):
Today, we have with us Lindsey Collins from LMC Interiors, welcome to the podcast.
Lindsey Collins (00:39):
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Jon Gay (00:42):
We have a number of things to talk to you about, but first, I understand that you love to travel, Lisa and I both love to travel as well. Tell me about this, going somewhere new every year with your husband on Thanksgiving.
Lisa Bibbee (00:53):
I love this idea by the way.
Lindsey Collins (00:56):
Well, recently we went to Madrid and Barcelona and Spain and we'd love to go back next year and check out Portugal.
Jon Gay (01:04):
Very cool.
Lisa Bibbee (01:05):
I think everybody should do more traveling, so just if you don't have a New Year's resolution or if you've already quit on yours (laughs), you might want to create this new one.
Jon Gay (01:15):
You can go to the gym anytime, spend more time traveling.
Lisa Bibbee (01:18):
Yes (laughs). Well, it sounds like we should be besties Lindsey because we share a lot of the same passions including photography, art history, fashionista, and a foodie. So, you mentioned that you're also into boating. Are you a sailor or a power boat?
Lindsey Collins (01:35):
Power boat. My husband and I both just purchased a boat and a cottage last year, so it keeps our summers very busy. We love to host our friends and family.
Lisa Bibbee (01:47):
Nice. Where's your cottage at?
Lindsey Collins (01:47):
Out on Lake St. Clair.
Lisa Bibbee (01:51):
Ooh, I've got a friend that lives on Lake St. Clair. It is absolutely an amazing place to go boating.
Lindsey Collins (01:55):
Absolutely.
Jon Gay (01:57):
Okay, before we get to the business stuff, I do have to ask: two new puppies?
Lindsey Collins (02:02):
Two new puppies, we had a big year. They're sisters, Sydney and Sophie.
Jon Gay (02:06):
What kind of dogs are they?
Lindsey Collins (02:08):
They’re Shichons. (Barking in background).
Jon Gay (02:09):
Right on cue!
Lindsey Collins (02:11):
Right on cue, yes!
Lisa Bibbee (02:13):
I love it (laughs).
Jon Gay (02:16):
They'll have to meet Lisa's new puppy, Mocha.
Lindsey Collins (02:18):
So cute.
Lisa Bibbee (02:19):
Yes, we have to have puppy play dates.
Lindsey Collins (02:21):
How fun.
Lisa Bibbee (02:21):
So, Lindsey, congratulations are in order, we hear you are celebrating 20 years this year in 2025. So, tell us a little bit more about how you started your company.
Lindsey Collins (02:32):
Well, I started in May of 2005. It was a year after graduating college and it was my first job out of school and they really encouraged me, the designers in general, to have their own side business and establishing kitchen and bath with tile and stone selections.
It grew to paint selections, doing home consultations, space planning, using AutoCAD or the latest and greatest software programs, and then it led to building my clientele and it's a huge referral business.
Jon Gay (03:14):
So, what was your degree in, Lindsey?
Lindsey Collins (03:17):
My degree was in interior design. So, I have a bachelor's from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids.
Lisa Bibbee (03:23):
Oh my gosh, I went there! How bizarre is this?
Jon Gay (03:26):
Oh, my goodness, you two are besties! (Laughter)
Lindsey Collins (03:31):
That's awesome. Yeah, I started out actually at Western Michigan University in graphic design and changed majors and transferred. But I took the knowledge of graphic design and I ended up minoring in art history, and did interior design through Kendall, and I really enjoyed both schools.
Western was known for their business aspect, marketing, accounting, and so I gained again that knowledge. And then Kendall was more hands-on, a lot of the professors were in the field as well. It was a lot more trendy, edgy, and a design school.
Jon Gay (04:07):
I want to come back to something you said a moment ago, Lindsey. You said that you were in your first job out of school and they encouraged you to kind of start your own business and do your own thing. I feel like that's a little bit unique. I feel like a lot of other industries, they would say, “No, no, no, there's no moonlighting here.” But it is interesting to me how they would encourage you to do something like that.
Lindsey Collins (04:24):
It was really unique, but it grew both the relationship with the company and my side business.
Jon Gay (04:33):
So, I got to say LMC Interiors, you have actually something in common with me. It's not just you and Lisa in this podcast; I'm not going to be left out. We both named our businesses after our initials, but there's more to LMC than just your initials, right?
Lindsey Collins (04:45):
Right. So, Lindsey M. Collins, and it really stands for lifestyle + materials + creativity. Everyone's lifestyle is incorporated into their personal home and easy materials, textures, different finishes along with creativity.
Jon Gay (05:06):
That's way better than mine because they told me that JAG also just stood for “just another guy.”
(Laughter)
Lisa Bibbee (05:13):
Oh, Jon, but we love you. It's not just another guy.
Jon Gay (05:16):
Okay, good.
Lisa Bibbee (05:17):
Nothing to tell them – it's just not just another guy.
(Laughter)
Lisa Bibbee (05:21):
So, Lindsey, what scope of projects do you take on? Anything from like small remodeling projects all the way up to new construction? Talk to us a little bit more about that.
Lindsey Collins (05:30):
Yes, I can do anything from a small-scale remodel, smaller budget, staying with a smaller scope of work and a tighter timeline, to a larger scale, new construction, working with builders, other trades or doing an addition.
Lisa Bibbee (05:48):
Well, I am absolutely obsessed with watching all these videos of interiors of homes as a realtor, I guess you kind of assume that. But what is your favorite area of the home to design?
Lindsey Collins (06:00):
I really honestly enjoy kitchens. The last several years have been a kitchen and bath focus. The tile and stone background that I started with along with the cabinetry component, married the two together, and kitchens are the heart of the home. I believe clients, whether they like to entertain or not, their family gathers in the kitchen.
And they've really changed the working triangle that was originally part of the space planning challenge has sort of gone away and it's become this open concept, larger islands – seating at the island, maybe not even having a table in the space and really looking more like pieces of furniture as a wow factor.
Lisa Bibbee (06:48):
Yeah, we love that. I mean who doesn't want to hang out in the kitchen while somebody's making amazing food? So, it's definitely more of a social environment now. And I was curious, do you also have a showroom?
Because I know when you're doing things such as kitchens and bathrooms, there are so much variety to choose from. Everything from countertops, tile, plumbing, lighting. So, do you have a showroom or how are people able to pick out all of those finishing touches?
Lindsey Collins (07:15):
I don't have a showroom. I work with the Michigan Design Center in Troy.
Lisa Bibbee (07:19):
Oh my gosh, that place is amazing.
Lindsey Collins (07:22):
Yeah, there's a multitude of different design showrooms there. I used to have a materials library out of my home office and it just was challenging to stay up to date. So, the latest and greatest products are at the showroom.
I meet my clients there, and I meet typically at the client's home or another showroom depending on where I'm getting the cabinetry from or countertops, flooring – so a multitude of different locations.
Jon Gay (07:51):
So, you mentioned the latest and greatest, Lisa and I are both big fans of technology. Talk about some of the tech that you're using in your business.
Lindsey Collins (07:59):
Primarily, I use Chief Architect. I find that very helpful for not only floor plans, elevations, but 3D perspective drawings. It really gives the clients an opportunity to visualize what the space is going to look like before ordering materials. In addition to SketchUp and 2020, I think all three are a good blend.
Jon Gay (08:23):
I can relate in my podcast industry, I have different tools that do the same things, but some are a little bit better at this and some are a little bit better at that, and some are a little bit better at that, so totally understand you there.
Lisa Bibbee (08:32):
3D renderings are literally revolutionizing this industry because so many people when you talk to them, they can't visualize that space. So, being able to have something that they can see visually is absolutely a game changer. And even when selling homes, its kitchens and bathrooms are the biggest selling feature, and I love that you can come in and create that warming space.
Jon Gay (08:57):
So, if I'm a client and I'm coming in to work with you, Lindsey, kind of walk me through the process of how you would take me through everything that you do.
Lindsey Collins (09:05):
Well, typically, I'll get a phone call or an email inquiry through my website or a referral, and I start with asking several questions – the room or several rooms that they're working on, their timeline, their budget, and walking through my steps, which I start with typically a home consultation.
Before the home consultation, I gather a lot more information such as photos of the space, some basic dimensions, overall length and width and ceiling height of the space.
Clients are a little nervous to measure their own area and they always reinforce that I will be the one measuring. But just to get started, so I have a general idea of what we're working with or for new construction, they would be sending over architectural blueprints.
So, once I have a chance to review the scope of work and kind of highlight the rooms that we're focusing on, prioritizing, then we would schedule a consultation and then I put together an estimate of how much the project's going to cost.
This can vary based on rooms and budget, and then I dive into the design process before collecting a retainer and doing drawings or finished selections depending on what the client is going for.
Lisa Bibbee (10:34):
And just as a pro tip, if you are purchasing a home and wanting to hire somebody like Lindsey to come in and help you renovate it, I know now we've got a lot of floor plan drawings out there – just as a heads up, those measurements are not always accurate so do not give those to Lindsey, make sure you get those custom measured. We're using all kinds of AI software and so sometimes, there's inaccuracies in those measurements.
Jon Gay (10:58):
Wait, you're saying AI can make mistakes, Lisa?
Lisa Bibbee (11:00):
(Laughs) Oh my gosh, AI, I love it, and I hate it all in one. It's mostly amazing but yeah, just a couple mistakes.
Jon Gay (11:07):
My rule of thumb with AI is AI can make your life a lot easier, but anything AI does, you need to check with a human eye and ear.
Lisa Bibbee (11:14):
Oh, triple check that stuff.
(Laughter)
Lisa Bibbee (11:17)
Otherwise, you might have like three hands coming out of your face and you might be saying really funny things (laughs), and your measurements might be off, but otherwise it's cool.
So, we're always paying attention to what new trends are coming into place and especially people who are looking to sell down the road from now. So, what new trends are you seeing starting to come out especially in kitchens?
Lindsey Collins (11:37):
A lot of bold colors. Deeper greens, burgundies, the rift cut white oak, walnut, black, and then a lot of mixed elements such as metal and glass and stone.
Lisa Bibbee (11:54):
I've always been a fan of that, those mixed elements. Like when you bring in wood and stone, it's kind of like goes back to the basic elements: water, air, earth, and fire, you bring all those in and you've got the wood elements and the stone, it looks really amazing.
Jon Gay (12:09):
Alright, well, now, we are going to shift gears and ask you our fishbowl question of today, Lindsey, where we ask a totally random question for you. Lisa, would you please pull and ask Lindsey our fishbowl question?
Lisa Bibbee (12:20):
Yes. Alright, Lindsey, what is your favorite type of cheese?
Lindsey Collins (12:27):
Oh, Parmesan Reggiano.
Jon Gay (12:30):
Okay.
Lindsey Collins (12:32):
I'm thinking of the Trader Joe's Parmesan cheese with rosemary.
Lisa Bibbee (12:38):
I have not had that one yet and I'm a big fan of Trader Joe's. So, they make a Parmesan with rosemary, oh my gosh.
Jon Gay (12:46):
I'm thinking this Thanksgiving you're going to be in Italy and getting the real thing – chef. Alright, Lindsey, if folks want to reach out to you at LMC Interiors, what are the best ways to find you?
Lindsey Collins (12:55):
My phone number, which is (269) 598-1935. mM website, lmcinteriorsllc.com, and I'm on social, both Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Lisa Bibbee (13:09):
Thank you, Lindsey, for coming on and we're excited to see all these new kitchens and bathrooms that you'll be designing. My name is Lisa Bibbee and I'm a realtor with CENTURY 21 Northland. I put the real back in realtor. And if you have a space that you don't love and you'd like to sell instead we can help you find the perfect home.
Questions about buying or selling your home, call my cell at (248) 981-3610 and my website is soldbylisab.com. You can find me on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram @soldbylisab. Let's connect.
Jon Gay (13:44):
And I'm Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts, I'm the podcast guy. If you have any questions about podcasts or a New Year's resolution to start a podcast, you can find me at jagindetroit.comor on social at JAG in Detroit.
[Music Playing]
Thank you for listening to this episode of the ROCC Pod produced for the Royal Oak Michigan Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the chamber or chamber events, you can go to royaloakchamber.com. Thanks, everyone.