About Me.
I’m Kevin, a mechanical engineer turned woodworking enthusiast. After years of crunching numbers and designing machines, I decided to follow my true passion: creating beautiful, handcrafted wooden furniture and help others build their own.
What began as a hobby soon evolved into a full-fledged passion. Despite almost failing 7th-grade art class, I eventually discovered my true artistic outlet in woodworking. Today, I pour my heart into crafting unique pieces that blend simplicity, functionality, and artistry, ensuring each item is a perfect addition to any space.
My life has been anything but ordinary. From building wooden kayaks with my dad as a kid to guiding kayak trips in Alaska, I've always been drawn to hands-on, adventurous pursuits. In a burst of spontaneity after college, I bought an old VW Vanagon camper van with two friends and embarked on a 10,000-mile road trip across the country. After two months of adventures and a dirtbagging lifestyle (before it was popular again), we ended our journey at the end of Highway 1 in Homer, Alaska—minus the van, which finally gave out in Tok, Alaska.
Though I’ve since moved back home to Michigan, Alaska remains one of my favorite places. When I’m not in the workshop, you can find me on the golf course aspiring to be a double bogey golfer or camping and kayaking in Northern Michigan with my dog, Sammy.
Why Red Canoe?
It all began back in high school when I met a local retired engineer with a passion for crafting wooden kayaks and canoes. He had built over 30 handcrafted boats, each a labor of love for family, friends, or fundraisers. One particular creation captured my heart from the start—the "Little Red Canoe," a simple yet robust solo canoe designed for lightweight agility.
Constructed in his modest basement workshop, every detail of his boats was meticulously crafted. He even made a scale model of his basement workshop including the stairs and kitchen, to ensure each boat could make it out of his shop and through the kitchen window.
During college, my friend and I built 3 of these boats over a winter break and holding with tradition, I also painted mine red. Despite weighing only 20 pounds, the Little Red Canoe boasts remarkable strength, capable of navigating modest rapids with ease and turning on a dime. Its minimal draft meant it could be used in the shallowest sections of rivers even when laden with gear and a paddler.
My woodworking background started by building wooden kayaks and this Little Red Canoe as a way to feed a hobby and has grown into so much more!