Owning a home these days is all about HOME IMPROVEMENT. HOME DEPOT  and LOWES are a good place to start.  Both offer a multitude of products, design ideas, and price points.  Both also offer free weekly seminars on subjects from tiling and drywall installation to how to execute a professional paintjob. On the subject of DIY, HGTV, the DIY NETWORK and DO IT YOURSELF.COM are founts of practical info for executing almost any home improvement project around.  Remodeling a kitchen or bath?  The NKBA—National Kitchens and Baths Association--offers contacts, advice, and an online remodeling guide.

KITCHENS AND BATHS
...For Faucets & Fixtures, here's the Big Five:
AMERICAN STANDARD
KOHLER
PRICE-PFISTER 
DELTA
MOEN

TILE
FLORIDA TILE  Natural stone, slate, mosaic or glass, plus porcelain and ceramics.
DALTILE Full selection of varieties plus online Design Tools  calculate square footage and design your own look. 
MARAZZI, Tile with a European feel.  Online Layout Pattern shows how to combine different sizes of tile to create timeless designs.

CABINETS
KRAFTMAID , THOMASVILLE CABINETRY and CROWN POINT CABINETRY offer traditional and contemporary designs with non-stratospheric pricing.
 
APPLIANCES
GE  Three brands--GE, Monogram, & Profile--offer full array of design styles.
SUB ZERO The Connaisseur's Icebox.  Vintage modern styling and built-in design makes this brand the Cadillac of Refrigeration.
VIKING  Professional quality appliances with cutting edge style.
ELMIRA STOVE WORKS  Vintage stoveworks offers nostalgic designs coupled with the technology of today.

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DOORS WINDOWS AND FLOORS 
MARVIN WINDOWS AND DOORS Top quality & design.
ANDERSEN  Mass market windows available nationwide.
ARMSTRONG Innovative alternative flooring materials as well as traditional tile and laminate.
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS Wide choice of discount flooring from bamboo and oak to walnut and pine.