Backfield Woodworking Co.

Backfield Woodworking Co. is a Canadian furniture business and local Ontario shop based in Bowmanville. Ryan, the owner and creator, makes a mix of made in Canada furniture, decor, and products for your home.

Scroll down to learn more about Backfield Woodworking Co. and what inspired Ryan to get started in business.

What inspired you to start your business?

I had several different moments of inspiration for my business but ultimately it was because I wanted to have a direct impact in my community and do something that I felt has meaning, purpose and that I felt connected to.

My grandfather was a carpenter by trade, and my dad was a skilled woodworker so I grew up around creative people who liked to work with their hands. That passion grew in me as a child starting with LEGO and continued through high school woodshop class. After post-secondary and working in the corporate world in Toronto for a few years, my now wife and I moved back to Bowmanville with the purchase of our home and with that I reconnected with woodworking – renovating our house and building furniture pieces myself. My shop grew and others began asking me to build pieces for them, and that lead me to formally start a business and begin putting myself out there.

Lastly, I grew up in Courtice, Ontario – a neighbouring town to where I live now in Bowmanville – and I grew up exploring the open fields there, spending all down out in the fields building forts from scrap wood, biking, climbing and most importantly connected with nature. We called it the backfield. Those fields are all housing subdivisions now and that is what truly inspired my business and business name. As a way to pay homage to those moments and places that raised me and to bring back that nature in a way that adds beauty to the places we call home.

I feel extremely lucky to be able to provide a valued service to people in the Toronto/Durham region area and across Canada.

How would you describe your business?

My business focuses on building quality pieces of furniture and home wares using sustainably and domestically sourced materials – primarily Canadian hardwoods. We offer our own furniture collections, home wares as well as take in custom commissions.

I believe that handmade furniture should be more than something that’s nice to look at, you should feel connected to it, and live with it.

I find inspiration from places that I’ve travelled to and the styles and patterns that are unique to that place.

I employ traditional and modern woodworking techniques focused on quality craftsmanship and simple yet timeless designs.

Woodworking is a regenerative practice and my business supports that process by planting trees with One Tree Planted, an organization that supports reforestation initiatives around the world including in Canada. Through the support of our customers we’re able to have an even greater impact on giving back to the natural world that supplies us such beautiful materials.

What are your bestselling products?

The Narrows Pizza Wheel and The Stand

Why do you think they’re so popular?

Our The Narrows collection is inspired by the sandstone walls of Zion National Park and people have felt really excited about that connection to a beautiful and unique landscape. The pizza wheel is a very decorative yet practical piece that enhances the aesthetic of any room while also bringing some elegance to the moments and places we connect with each other… like over pizza! The contrast of the walnut wood with the white oak makes for an eye pleasing piece of homeware and the striped pattern ads character.

The Stand was the first homeware product we offered. Like all of our products, it’s a simple yet practical piece made for holding a meaningful book or photo album. Many of our customers use it in their kitchen to hold their favourite cookbook, especially as The Stand will also hold the book open for the moments our hands are messy from cooking. It pairs well with The Holder which is a small stand of similar design with meant for holding napkins or even mail, Christmas cards or anything else you might want to display. It’s a nice combo to have the cookbook in The Stand on the kitchen countertop and The Holder beside it filled with napkins that can easier be moved to the table.

The Stand is made from using mitre cuts (every joint is a 45 degree matching cut) which displays a flowing grain matter throughout the stand which adds quality details and aesthetics.

What’s your personal favourite product?

Well I have two. First is our shelving unit called The Rise, which is a twin free standing ladder-type shelving unit. It’s grand yet simple and can make a statement in a room and not take up too much attention at the same time.

Second is our The Narrows Pizza Wheel because I love cooking pizza in our pizza oven and having a nice tray to serve our pizza to friends and family is something i’m proud of.

What I’m really excited about is a new addition coming to our shop soon. A tea tray with recessed handles and a contrasting inlay on the corners that adds an extra mark of design elegance and sturdiness to its structure. The tray can be used as a traditional tea tray or, because of its size, a nice decorative pieces for any coffee or dining table. This will be launching in August 2025 and is already a personal favourite of mine.

What’s your favourite local Ontario business?

I have two: Roam Coffee and The Tilted Glass