Direct Kitchen and Bath | Our History

Our History

Family Owned and Operated Since 1982

Dave and Renee Strauss of Direct Kitchen and Bath were both born and raised in the Fullerton section of Whitehall. The two knew each other since second grade and married while attending Kutztown University. In construction all his life, Dave started working summers and after school at his father’s construction company at the age of 13. He has been involved in home improvements – specifically kitchen design, ever since. A former Whitehall teacher, Renee started as a truck driver/delivery person in the company’s early days and is now in charge of marketing and customer relations.

The Strauss’s son, Steve, has been with the Direct Kitchen and Bath since the beginning. He joined the company full-time as a partner with his father after receiving a business degree from Lehigh Carbon Community College in 1990. Since then, the two generations have owned and operated DKD and continue to do so to this day. With many years of experience in the kitchen and bath industry, Steve has been involved in a variety of industry organizations. Steve obtained his certification as an Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD) from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in 2008. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Bath and Kitchen Buying Group (BKBG) in 2007 and served for four years. He has also been part of various committees throughout DKD’s 18 year association with BKBG.

In 1982 Dave, Renee, & Steve started DKD in a model home in the Cementon area of Whitehall, where they rented display space. They built a new showroom and warehouse in 1985 at the present location. In 1988, they doubled the showroom display space and added 3,700 square feet of warehouse space. In 1995, an entirely new building was added with State-Of-The-Art equipment for in-house counter top fabrication, making our Whitehall location a one-stop shop for any kitchen or bathroom renovation, from concept to completion. Displays are constantly updated to show the latest in design trends, finishes, options, and more.

In 2003, we met the needs of our Lehigh Valley customers who were looking for a DIY aspect to Direct Kitchen and Bath and we opened our X-Press store. The X-Press store specializes in the materials that go into your kitchen or bathroom remodel. We offered excellent prices and next-day delivery, setting us apart from any other “cash and carry” retailer in the area. Once again in 2008, we responded to our customer’s requests when we combined all of our services from each store into one location. Our X-Press store speed is now available in our Whitehall location!

While “kitchen” is our middle name, over the years, Direct Kitchen and Bath have added numerous products into the mix. In 2000, we added complete bathroom renovations to our services. In addition, we do closets, entertainment centers, home offices, bar areas, garages, laundry rooms, and many other renovations throughout your home.

In February of 2022 we officially changed our name from Direct Kitchen Distributors to Direct Kitchen and Bath. When we started back in 1982, we only did kitchens. Over the years, our business has evolved to include complete bathroom remodeling as well as kitchens. Several recent years have seen us working in more bathrooms than kitchens, so the time has come to include that in our name. Everything about us; people, products, installation services remains the same; just a new name and logo. We look forward to continuing to serve your kitchen and bath remodeling needs in 2022 and beyond.

Give us a call to schedule a free consultation for your next renovation, or click here to schedule online!