AUBURN – Cathy Raynor prides herself on giving customers what they want, whether it’s a solid wood table or an antique desk.

But with fuel prices what they are, she wasn’t giving them heat. Her showroom, situated in a big barn off Turner Street where Morin’s Painting and Antiques has been for more than 30 years, is impossible to heat. So she decided to move.

“It’s cheaper to pay rent than the fuel man,” she said.

Come April 16, the business will have a new name and address, Morin’s Fine Furniture and Antiques at 245 Center St., in the former Roak Mall.

“I was listening to what customers were looking for,” said Raynor, who is the third generation in the family business. “Higher-end pieces, pretty fabrics and a location that was easier to get in and out of.”

The barn was so drafty sand could blow in, jeopardizing the finish on some pieces, Raynor said. In her new space, everything is airtight, on one floor, well-lit and easy to navigate.

And warm.

“It’s really exciting to feel part of something new,” she said. The mall is undergoing extensive renovations since being bought by Dan Thompson last year. Morin’s will occupy about 25,000 square feet of space.

The other part of the family business – painting and furniture refinishing – will relocate to some local industrial space, Raynor said, although exactly where is still undetermined. The company was founded by her grandfather in his home on Drummond Street in the 1930s. The antiques part of the business was started about 30 years ago.

Although officially retired, Raynor’s parents, Jim and Jeannine Betsch, still lend a hand. On Friday her mother was helping with the move, and her dad recently consulted on a refurbishing project at the Cumberland Club.

“He has an enormous amount of knowledge,” said Raynor of her dad, who ran the refinishing part of the business for 50 years.

The business gets its antiques inventory from people who are dealing with family estates and from dealers. Her new furniture comes from Amish craftsmen who custom-make pieces from solid wood. Raynor said the quality is first rate, but the prices are well below other custom-made producers.

As an example, she said a solid cherry table at Morin’s runs about $3,000 while a table from a high-end, custom producer would be closer to $25,000.

Raynor said the Auburn/Amish connection happened almost by accident. Morin’s was selling antiques in Amish country and their delivery trucks were always coming back empty. A dealer suggested she take a few Amish pieces back and display them in her Maine showroom.

Raynor said she balked at first because antique furniture is solid and tested; she didn’t know what to expect with new furniture. But she ordered a few pieces anyway. Now the Amish pieces are strong sellers, especially the Shaker-style pieces in cherry or maple.

“Nothing is mass produced,” she said.

Morin’s will have a grand-opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16. Its phone number, 782-7511, remains the same, but its Web site will change to www.morinsfinefurniture.com.