By Clementina Verge

Home decor has changed through the decades, but the importance of quality products and knowledgeable people has remained, and for more than four decades, Modern Supply has prevailed as a “powerful plumbing and heating wholesale company.” 

“Modern Supply was started by my father in the late 1970s,” reminisces Steve Berger, who purchased the family business with his wife, Rose, 15 years ago, when his father retired. “Over the years, it grew and changed with the times. We are a hidden gem just waiting to be explored.”

“We are not a big box store,” Rose explains, “but a design service specializing in plumbing, offering unique products that are domestically-made, many of which are not seen on the Internet. We have extremely knowledgeable staff and a showroom full of constantly evolving displays.” 

A newly remodeled 5,000-square-foot showroom highlights the newest in plumbing and lighting trends. Additionally, a 5,000-square-foot self-service parts counter features parts, pipes, valves, and fittings for contractors and homeowners. 

“The bath and kitchen world has changed a lot for us in the past few years,” Steve reflects. “We have experienced a much larger demand for luxurious fixtures, to which we responded by increasing inventory, updating displays, and hiring more designers for our sales team.”

The inventory features more than 65 award-winning select lines, including Toto, Dornbracht, Rohl faucets, and Julien sinks, to name a few. Expect to find premier decorative lighting, designer faucets, vanities, wall-hung vanities, tubs, steam showers, lighted mirrors, towel dryers, linear shower drains, and recently-added outdoor kitchens to accompany the large line of indoor kitchen fixtures that Modern represents.

“Customers are requesting more black finishes, as well as unlacquered and satin brass finish, toilets with washlets/bidet seats, and more steam showers,” Steve details. “It seems the bath is becoming more spa-like in the home instead of a place to just wash up.”

For anyone who is building or remodeling, options abound, but the Bergers advise allowing additional time to complete orders for your projects since “lead times have increased, and many products are still very difficult to get.”

Additionally, costs have increased this year, making it important to get the exact desired looks. Working with the Modern designers means knowing what items should or should not be omitted or downgraded, and what products most hold their value. For example, Steve encourages “not skimping on the valves that go behind walls” and to choose kitchen faucets that act as statement pieces since they are sought after by buyers looking for a home. More products that offer return on investment include farm sinks, stainless steel (including black stainless) sinks, modern freestanding tubs, and linear shower drains. 

“Our knowledgeable staff can smoothly guide customers through the process and fears of making decisions, educate them, help them navigate options, and avoid costly overruns,” Steve assures. “We are a business that when you call, a real person will answer the phone and be able to help you or get you to someone who can. We have a full service parts department with knowledgeable staff that can help solve a range of issues that come up during remodel or construction.” —modernplumbing.biz