Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Phoenixville kitchen experts on display
Dilworth’s Custom Design among shining stars at Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits
Dilworth’s Custom Design is one of the stars at Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits.
The kitchen of choice by the producers of the Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits, which is running through the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia through today — was none other than a Dilworth’s Custom Design original.
Since the Phoenixville-based experts at designing, building and installing kitchens have been making the average cook feel like a culinary star for more than two decades, they were the logical craftsmen to create the cooking space that will be used by the likes of Paula Deen, Nicholas Elmi, Nicole Gaffney and other well-known celebrity chefs.
The family-owned Dilworth’s has been setting up makeshift model kitchens at home shows for years, but this is the first time it’s been called upon to construct a fully working kitchen display where chefs are working their magic, noted Dave Dilworth, director of sales and design.
“They contacted us and asked if we’d be interested in providing the main stage for the event. The casino is right in our backyard, four miles from the shop, so we thought, let’s try it.”
For the aesthetics that will complement the ongoing food preparation, Dilworth decided on traditional cherry cabinetry, accented by an island painted in “Rushing River” blue.
“We went with traditional style because that is the most popular, but that is just one of the many options we have.”
At the massive Dilworth’s showroom at 175 N. Whitehorse Road, Phoenixville, visitors will find a stunning array of model kitchens, from Old World to contemporary, as well as visual cues in the company’s other area of expertise, baths.
“Besides kitchens and baths, we also do entertainment centers, bars, staircases, anything for the interior of the home,” Dilworth said of the company founded 25 years ago by his brother, CEO Dan Dilworth, who oversees all installations.
“We’re a little bit unique in that we design, build, deliver and install ... the whole process. Many companies offer a piece of that. They may be a design firm or they build cabinets only. In our case, we have a full design staff.”
Dilworth’s turnkey renovation process takes clients through every detail of the remodeling process, with design and craftsmanship all taking place all under one roof.
A third brother, Ben Dilworth, is the “actual guy in the shop, building the cabinetry,” Dilworth said.
The Dilworth’s transformative touch can be found in homes that are roughly within an hour’s “rush hour driving” distance from the shop, he added.
At any given time, five crews of experienced installers are all working on five installation jobs, including plumbing, electrical, drywall, countertops, tiling, even windows.
“Whatever the room requires, we’ve got it covered,” said Dilworth, who will be at the casino event, handing out business cards at the Dilworth’s booth.
While home shows and festivals have become a reliable source of business, the vast majority of clients seek out Dilworth’s know-how through referrals.
“It’s working for us for sure ... 25 years family-owned and -operated, which is something people love,” Dilworth said. “They like to know we’re not just another big box store selling a product.”
"They contacted us and asked if we’d be interested in providing the main stage for the event. The casino is right in our backyard, four miles from the shop, so we thought, let’s try it." — Dave Dilworth, director of sales and design at Dilworth’s Custom Design of Phoenixville