March 13, 2024

During our Editor’s Eye at the DeWils Fine Cabinetry booth at KBIS 2024, showroom manager Cerisse Wilson walked KBB not only through the myriad vignettes showing cabinets in diverse residential settings but also the history of the company.

Founded in 1959, DeWils is a third-generation, family-owned and operated manufacturer and leading innovator in cabinetry. The firm is dedicated to redefining conventional boundaries and bringing creative solutions to cabinetry that seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetics.

DeWils Specialties

Customization is key to this concept. The company’s catalog includes framed, frameless and inset construction, allowing it to cater to various design preferences, from contemporary minimalism to timeless classics. Produced in Vancouver, Wash., just outside of Portland, Ore., all the DeWils Fine Cabinetry boxes use exterior-grade plywood.

“You’re not going to find particle board in our products,” said Wilson, who pointed out that they make their own dovetail drawers to order and hand sand each one.

To emphasize the grain of each of the 10 wood species the company uses, every stain is hand wiped before being finished with furniture-grade glazing.

“Grandpa wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Wilson, a third-generation descendant of the firm’s founder.

KBIS Debuts

At KBIS 2024, DeWils introduced 36 new paint colors, all influenced by nature. The hues were deliberately conceived to complement the wood stain palette.

The concept for the DeWils booth reflected the company’s conviction that cabinetry is for more than just the kitchen and bath; it’s a valuable and versatile asset for the entire home.

“The space is our love letter to design,” said Wilson.

In a large family room environment, open shelves displayed mementos and books. A wall-mounted television was framed by cupboards with decorative metal mesh door panels, with a bank of wide drawers below the screen offering concealed storage.

An intimate entertaining area was imagined with a banquette, whose base was composed of drawers; a similar design appeared in a bedroom set-up, where bookshelves formed the end enclosures of a cozy daybed nook. A bar area featured a vertical stack of small drawers, sized to organize accessories.