The BUCKSHEE woodshop Story
In December 2019, Derek Hardy and his girlfriend were faced with a dilemma: find a bigger place to accommodate all their belongings or downsize and embrace minimalism. They chose the latter and began purging their home of unnecessary items. This process created much more space in their apartment, instilling a sense of serenity and mental clarity. Through this experience an idea sparked in Derek's mind – to help others feel the same way.
Derek grew up in Coquitlam, BC and started working in construction right after high school. Unsatisfied with the monotony of his work, he attended trade school and began a three-year apprenticeship in tile and stonesetting. He eventually earned a Red Seal and worked as a tile/stonesetter before transitioning to residential carpentry.
Years later, Derek and his friend Dan started building furniture as a hobby for friends and family. The name Buckshee is slang for something free, which reflected the company's humble beginnings as a side project. The business officially registered in January 2020, with Derek now operating Buckshee alone, and it has since matured with a focus on serving a minimalist clientele. Derek lives in Vancouver but shares shop space with the North Vancouver product design firm Tantalus Design and enjoys being surrounded by other creatives.
Derek's newfound love for less has heavily influenced his work, which he describes as "playful minimalism." Whether it’s a custom piece or something from his existing collection, he focuses on creating uncomplicated yet lively designs that help complete his clients' spaces with fewer, high-quality pieces that reflect their personal style. Derek combines traditional joinery practices with ultra-modern techniques, often employing the MAYA principle, which walks the line between familiar and novel. He draws inspiration from various sources, such as the raw simplicity of 18th-century stick furniture and the tactile radiused corners of space age design.
Driven by his purpose to inspire minimalism through his designs, Derek is motivated to create furniture that embodies this philosophy. By focusing on his why, he cultivates a stronger connection with his work, allowing him to align his craft with his values. With this intention top of mind, he creates furniture imbued with deeper meaning and purpose.
Derek wants to break the minimalist mold and prove that minimal design doesn't just have to be cold, harsh and sterile. He infuses his handcrafted designs with a buoyant, unpretentious spirit, making them eccentric yet non-threatening, fun but with an edge. Derek finds designing and building furniture cathartic and energizing, and he describes the creative process as spontaneous and uncovers a childlike playfulness where his imagination is limitless.
Derek’s boundless optimism and unyielding passion for creativity continue to fuel his internal fire, inspiring him to push the boundaries of his craft and drive Buckshee forward. By emphasizing minimalism in his furniture designs, Derek hopes to encourage a more mindful and intentional approach to consumption in a world that often values excess.
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