Sep 25, 2025

Cheers to 35 Years

Dan Dilworth reflects on how Dilworth’s Custom Design earned a stellar reputation as it grew from a solo effort to a well-respected contractor employing a variety of individuals dedicated to incredible client experiences and results.

When Dan Dilworth’s love of woodworking first nudged him toward a career in cabinetry and had him renting out his father’s garage as a workspace, he never imagined he’d stumbled upon what would become Dilworth’s Custom Design.

As the one-stop shop for kitchens, bathrooms and more celebrates its 35th year, its owner and CEO is grateful for the journey so far.

“I grew up in a large family with eight boys and a girl, and my father was a pastor at a very small church,” Dilworth recalls. “As a kid, I didn’t realize that you can actually hire contractors to do things because we just did it all. Dad taught us a lot—especially a very strong work ethic that I am so grateful for—and I realized pretty early on that I loved woodworking. In high school, I figured out that I wanted to be a cabinetmaker … And was fortunate enough to have a cabinet-maker next door willing to hire me to work and learn for a few years.”

Dilworth then replied to a want ad for custom-built bookshelves, which led to a life-changing moment of clarity: “It’s time to start a business.” 

From there, the nascent Dilworth’s Custom Design began its upward trajectory, “and kept on growing and growing.”  Today, with almost 40 employees comprising a team that designs, builds and installs more than 80 interior projects a year, the company occupies an office, showroom and cabinet shop in Phoenixville. And while Dil-worth’s commitment to custom craftsmanship and well-nurtured relationships remained the same, the company has evolved over the years—and so have its capabilities, thanks to the collective team’s drive to learn as much as they can. 

“I named it ‘Dilworth’s Custom Design’ because I didn’t want to pigeon-hole myself,” he begins. “I like building, so when I was starting out, I was a little desperate, a little hungry and a lot curious. I wasn’t afraid to tackle anything: I was doing all kinds of crazy stuff, from kitchen cabinets to concrete work, from custom furniture to office work surfaces. I had to learn how to do some plumbing because every kitchen has a sink, and electrical to hook up the appliances.”

He’s quick to credit a hard-working, exhaustively trained team for Dilworth’s ongoing success. Whether it’s his own brothers Dave and Ben joining him early in the company’s formation and remaining mainstays who quickly took ownership of their roles, or the office staff and hands-on craftspeople dedicated to both upholding and continually furthering the company’s reputation, Dilworth eagerly sings the praises of an “awesome team” contributing to the company’s longevity.

And it’s not just because they bring the electric, plumbing, and all the other installation skills that elevate Dilworth’s in-house, turnkey services. 

“The teams that I have are amazing, and they want to learn,” he starts. “The office team here is very creative, very pas-sionate about what they do helping bring the clients dreams to reality … Not everyone came with experience in the field, whether it was in the office, the road team or in the shop, so we really take an ‘If you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime’ kind of approach here.” 

He continues: “You can get your kitchen and bath done by anybody but when you can make it an amazing experience, that’s truly what it’s all about. It’s not just the things we do but it’s how we treat people and how we talk to them, and we try to have fun on the way, too: We want our clients to trust the process and we want them to enjoy it.”

Those “clients who have become friends” are among Dilworth’s most vocal champions. A list comprising hundreds of them is provided at sales presentations so potential clients can hear directly from others about how happy they are with their results. 

“Referrals are huge for us—most of our new clients are referred by our previous clients because they really do get excited to talk about their experience with us, and they’re proud of what we’ve put in their home,” Dilworth says. “Some clients invite people into their home. And other clients have mentioned Dilworth’s Custom Design in the listings when selling the home we renovated and then call us again when they settled on a new home.

Dilworth has countless stories about all the clients who have referred his company to their loved ones, returned again and again for an array of renovation and design projects, and even admitted that they miss the affable company of on-site craftspeople once their job is over.

“I’ve heard so many clients at the end of the job say, ‘Hey, I’m glad the work is done but I kind of miss having the guys around every day, and so do the dog and the kids,’” he affirms. “It’s cool how these guys become part of the family after being there for a few weeks because they are just really nice guys.”

As he looks ahead, Dilworth has found that sharing everything he’s learned with the next generation is just as rewarding as a job well done.

“I love being able to bring in someone with minimal to no experience and teach them a trade that turns into their career,” he says. “We have connected with high school Vo-techs and trade schools to hire the best from their classes to further expand our business, and through these connections we get to develop young men and women into really great people in their communities.”

Dilworth freely admits that he’s not completely sure what the future holds, but his faith in God and confidence in his team are why he’s sure that whatever comes next will be something great. 

“One of my main focuses is making this sustainable and profitable for the next generation so we can keep growing,” he says. “I’m excited about the future and am curious about what’s next. I’ve been blessed and, Lord willing, I plan to keep impacting more employees and more clients.”