I'm Harry, and I run Debrus from a workshop in Guisborough, North Yorkshire. It's a small, personal thing, mostly just me and Gracie the whippet, who supervises from her bed in the corner, with my partner's support behind it all.
Debrus started as a passion project, and if I'm honest that's still what it is. I spend my days in a full-time job, and Debrus gets the evenings, the weekends, and whatever time, space and money I can give it. I've always been drawn to hands-on work, designing something, making it properly, and seeing it end up in someone's home rather than on a production line. That's the part I love, and it's the part I'm slowly trying to build into something I can do full-time.
Some pieces I make by hand myself. Others I design here and make with skilled craftspeople around the UK, people who know their material better than anyone and help bring the more involved pieces to life. Either way, every piece is designed here, made properly, and held to the same standard.
I work mostly in solid hardwoods, oak, walnut, and whatever timber best suits the piece. I like the weight of it, the grain, the way no two pieces ever come out the same. Wherever I can I use FSC-certified timber, which means it comes from woodland that's looked after and replanted, and I finish each piece to last for years, not to be thrown away and replaced.
The look comes from my background in design, clean lines, nothing fussy, things that are good to use as well as good to look at. The rest comes from here: the moorland, the woods, the quiet of a Yorkshire winter.
There's no big factory and no faceless brand. It's a small setup, made with care by people who take pride in the work. When you buy something, it was designed by one person, made properly, and sent out with care.
It's early days, and I'm grateful to everyone who's part of it. Thanks for being here.
Harry
