Austin returns to the area with passion, knowledge
By Ben Cox
Photos/Ben Cox
Andy Austin has been a prodigal son of sorts to Jacksonville. Austin is a product of Jacksonville’s public schools and a graduate of Illinois College and then spent years away from the city in various careers and locations before returning to Jacksonville in 2023. His return placed him as a designer and salesman for Sablotny Floors, Cabinetry & Design.
Austin says his passion for kitchen and bathroom design began as a child working alongside his father, “We didn’t have a lot of money while I was growing up, so we had to do everything ourselves. And my dad had a background in pretty much building almost anything. So, he knew how to do masonry, metal work, electrical work, plumbing, drywall. And so, I really learned how to do all those things from him and started doing it as well, really before I was a teenager.”
Austin says that after a series of twists and turns career-wise, even owning his own business, life spun him back to Jacksonville to be closer to his family. He says the passion for design always stayed with him as he did DIY projects around his own home or helped his friends with their home projects. With his desire to return back to the Jacksonville area, Austin says he got connected with H.B. and Bryce Sablotny for his current job. He now works in both the Jacksonville and the Springfield location.
Since his youth, Austin says that he’s seen a number of trends come and go regarding how people design their bathrooms and kitchen. “This is really a quality construction kind of market,” Austin says of the materials being used today, “The most popular countertop right now is quartz.”
The changes don’t stop there compared to yesteryear, but he says the ultimate goal is to get the customer what they want with the budget they have. He says that’s something that Sablotny Floors, Cabinetry & Design has always done — making sure the customer is 100% satisfied with how their cabinets and floors operate and look.
Austin says that the design and look in a store can turn out differently once it’s placed into someone’s home, and so the ultimate goal is to always work with the customer to get it right. Austin says that homeowners shouldn’t worry too much about the current tariff issues as Sablotny’s carries a number of American-made products that should not affect pricing or ordering.
“H.B. [Sablotny] has always worked with people to make sure their projects turn out great. That’s one of the things I value working here in Jacksonville — the relationships we make and the value we provide,” Austin says.
He says that Sablotny Floors also does several commercial projects for companies throughout Central Illinois. He says it’s great to know that a family-owned and operated business is trusted by other companies to handle their improvements and renovations.
Austin hopes that people in Central Illinois, whether it’s a small business or a home project, will consider Sablotny Floors, Cabinetry & Design to bring their design dreams a reality. For projects, contact Andy Austin directly at 217-220-1588. Or visit the showroom at 1685 West Morton Ave. in Jacksonville.
