Moen

To make your new kitchen or bathroom dazzling, choose Moen Inc., one of the world's leaders in quality plumbing supplies. Moen offers a wide selection of single- and double-handled faucets, and is the largest maker of commercial and residential sinks.

Founded by inventor Al Moen in the late 1930s, the company has earned a reputation for quality and been recognized with Industrial Design Excellence Awards from the Industrial Designers Society of America.

Today, Moen offers more than just simple plumbing products. From the Moen Vertical Spa Set to PureTouch water-filtrating faucets, the company's products are moving the industry ahead.

Customers choose Moen for its products' obvious style and tremendous reputation. And when you buy Moen faucets, you get a limited lifetime warranty. The company is local, too, with its headquarters in North Olmsted and a manufacturing facility in Elyria — in addition to many other fine facilities worldwide. And when you're looking to purchase Moen products, there are many showrooms in Northeast Ohio from which to choose. Go to www.moen.com for more information on where to find Moen products. — Jamie Carracher

Interstate Kitchen Supply

Working with Northeast Ohio homebuilders and their customers, Interstate Kitchen Supply provides hassle-free shopping for those outfitting new or renovated kitchens and laundry rooms.

Whether you're in the market for a gourmet, professional-style cooktop or oven, standard cabinetry or a Personal Valet — a home dry-cleaning system by Whirlpool — Interstate Kitchen is a supplier of choice for the most knowledgeable buyers and those frazzled by the building process.

Based in Cleveland, Interstate Kitchen has two huge showrooms in Cleveland and Akron, staffed by knowledgeable sales associates and kitchen designers.

"We have competitive pricing and we have an extremely wide range of products — something to fit everybody's budget, as well as a sales staff to fit everybody's needs," says Brigette Hofelt, sales and marketing manager for Interstate Kitchen.

Though Interstate Kitchen carries
close to 30 brands, including GE, GE Monogram, Maytag and Amana products, KitchenAid and Whirlpool are its largest appliance lines. Cabinetry selections include everything from a standard stock by Merillat to custom-made pieces by Bremton.

"We have a quite a bit of appliances installed in kitchen settings and we have a live kitchen, so [customers] can get an idea of how it's going to look as a finished product," notes Hofelt.

— Chrissy Kadleck

84 Lumber

With more than 440 stores nationwide and more than $2 billion in sales last year, 84 Lumber is the local and national choice for professional building supplies.

"Our emphasis is on the professional builder," says regional market manager Paul West. Lumber and engineered-wood products such as roof trusses are only a fraction of what this supply giant offers. It also sells customized floor systems, wall panels, windows and doors.

For residential and commercial customers, 84 Lumber has finished products from top brands, such as casings, baseboards, moldings and a variety of interior hardware. West describes the company, an active member of the home builders association, as "a group of common people doing uncommon things."

Outside sales representatives visit clients and assess what products are needed for the project; they also view blueprints, deliver materials and offer labor. "We supply services that make your business successful," says West.

In any 84 Lumber store, you will find knowledgeable professionals who can offer advice on what will complete and complement your home or building. Associates even load purchases before customers pay.

84 Lumber will soon expand its services by opening 25 more stores nationwide. — Genie Ogletree

Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae, America's second-largest financial service company and one of its oldest, is undertaking trillion-dollar initiatives to make homeownership more than just a dream.

The nation's largest provider of funds for home mortgages, Fannie Mae was chartered by the federal government in the 1930s, and is now a private, shareholder-owned company. Instead of lending money directly to homebuyers, Fannie Mae works with lenders to make sure that they have enough mortgage funds. It purchases mortgages from lenders to place in a mortgage portfolio. The lenders use this money to make more mortgages available. This connection between the lender and Fannie Mae is a guarantee that money will be available to homebuyers in any economic situation.

The Fannie Mae American Dream Commitment, which just expanded last January, is one such program. Fannie Mae is pledging to help 6 million families, including 1.8 million minority families, become first-time homeowners over the next decade, and decrease the gap between minority and non-minority groups. In 10 years, Fannie Mae has provided more than $3 trillion in funds for more than 28 million underserved families.

"There are so many mortgage financing opportunities," says LaVaughn M. Henry, Fannie Mae's Midwest director of communications. "It's important to know your credit and learn what is available." — Marina Takahashi