Rust and Martin

Making the move from 2502 Tanner Drive to their new location at 1610 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau is just another step in the growth and evolution of Rust & Martin Inc.

Since Rust & Martin's establishment of a small re-upholstery shop on North Sprigg St. by founders Wayne and Eva Rust in the spring of 1933, the business has moved five times, seeing two addresses on Broadway and one on South Kingshighway, in addition to Tanner Drive.

But each move has allowed the company to progress to the position in the market it holds today -- the leading interior design and home furnishings business in the area.

Mike Rust, owner of Rust & Martin, said that each time the company relocates, the moves are always motivated by the demands of their clients. In this instance, the business has evolved toward special orders for furniture and accessories as opposed to selecting items from the showroom floor. The new location's 7,000 square feet of floor space allows Rust & Martin a better space to work with their clients on special order items.

"We have moved out here because our business is over 95 percent special order," Rust said. "People would much rather get exactly what they want for their house rather than what someone bought for their showroom."

Rust and Martin

While customers can still come to Rust & Martin for a broad selection of fine furniture, floor coverings, fabrics, lamps, pictures and other accessories, it's the demand for innovative, creative planning and design services that has made Rust & Martin a go-to source for homeowners and contractors while planning residential and commercial spaces.

"We are in business to help a client work through a project full scope," Rust said.

Rust & Martin's professionals not only offer interior design advice, but they can work with you to plan your living or business space, including complete floor plans and scale drawings.

Rust points out that working with one designer from the planning stage through to completion is smart because it avoids miscommunications and mistakes that can wind up costing more time and money than the investment in their services.

"Our job is really to mitigate problems," Rust said. "We make sure [customers] don't make mistakes."

Rust and Martin

Customers can bring their hand drawn plans into the store and Rust & Martin's design professionals will re-draw the entire plan with construction quality drawings.

Another way the business has evolved is that Rust & Martin can plan and support almost anything on a home build or remodel, including landscaping, pools and outdoor patios. The only areas the company doesn't get involved in are heating, cooling, audio and video.

One of the most popular services offered by Rust & Martin is kitchen design. The demand for unique, quality custom cabinetry led to the company opening their own cabinet shop in 2003, Ashley Bailey Custom Cabinetry. Ashley Bailey is on Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau.