John Reese Wilkins, a home remodeling innovator and design pioneer, founded Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins, Inc. in 1950.

Originally from Idaho, John's family moved to Oakland during the depression in search of work. While serving as a fireman, John took on side jobs as a carpenter in the post World War II San Francisco Bay Area housing boom. He quickly recognized a growing potential for kitchen & bathroom specialization and his talent for designing and building homes, so he left his job at the fire department to start Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins Inc.

In the 1950's, there were no real standards for kitchen and bathroom design for the modern era. Many homes had features common to Midwestern life where seasonal food storage & preparation revolved around farming. John observed that families were using the kitchen as gathering place for family and friends. John began removing walls to expanded kitchen spaces to meet this changing lifestyle. His designs included the first dishwashers, garbage disposers, microwaves, built-in refrigerator and proper ventilation. John recognized the need for more privacy for mom and dad in the bathroom area. He helped his clients expand their homes to create the "Master Bedroom Suite" with separate tub and shower areas, walk-in closets and dressing areas with proper lighting.

In 1958, out of desperation for innovative cabinetry, John started his own cabinet shop where he built features never seen before in kitchen and bath design. It was a success and the word spread. By the end of the 1960's, Custom Kitchens had become a household name in the San Francisco Bay area. The company then became nationally recognized with projects featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset and Architectural Digest. In 1990, John sold the company to his son Jerry Wilkins and retired to the family ranch in Idaho.