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U.S. Reclaimed
Vintage Lumber & Woodworks
by Victoria Kertz
Inside the Laguna Niguel headquarters of U.S. Reclaimed, Ben and Bethany Bonin are surrounded by future works of art. Slabs of reclaimed cedar, live oak, walnut and other wood species tower toward the ceiling, while smaller beams are neatly displayed for customers to view. The Bonin’s 40,000 square feet of material is a wonderland of untold treasures for designers, contractors and discerning homeowners to peruse. “Every single piece is hand-selected,” Ben says. But it’s not just a huge selection of lumber that makes U.S. Reclaimed so special, it’s the customer service offered to each person and the unparalleled craftsmanship that goes into every piece.
The Bonins, both born and raised in Orange County, opened the Camino Capistrano location a mere five years ago, and they have already made their mark in the emerging sustainable goods industry. Ben is the lumber artisan whose creations become furniture, flooring and ceiling beams, all 100 percent handmade. Having worked as a finish carpenter 23 years ago, Ben discovered his talent with reclaimed materials. “I fell in love with the product and the story behind it,” he says. “It’s a challenge to work with this type of material. To do things properly, you need experience. Many contractors either don’t know how to or don’t want to work with reclaimed wood,” he says. While he does the actual woodworking on-site, installers in his vast network of contractors do the in-home work. He only refers his clients to installers who are trained in working with reclaimed materials.
Designers visit U.S. Reclaimed when they need a custom, one-of-a-kind creation and when only vintage timber will do. No other retailer in Orange County offers as much inventory of lumber that contains the type of character found in his warehouse. Far from the mass produced, monochromatic beams found at home improvement stores, clients can’t help but be inspired by the sheer beauty of the wood at U.S. Reclaimed.
“Customers will come in,” the Bonins say, “and fall in love with a piece of lumber, but don’t know what to do with it.” Ben takes the time to sit down with them and hand-sketch ideas based on their needs or from an inspiration photo, and then they finalize a design. He’s as comfortable collaborating with a designer on a new project as he is replicating a must-have dream piece for a homeowner.
“We’re happy to walk customers through the entire process, from start to finish,” Bethany says. “They can bring in their own designers or we can work with the homeowner directly. And, whatever material we don’t have, we can get.” Clients can also order metal hardware and stonework to coordinate with a reclaimed wood project at the showroom, so the process is one-stop and convenient.
When they’re not working in the showroom, the Bonins travel the country, collecting pieces and scheduling shipments of large beams from places as far as Michigan. Their lumber typically hails from old, abandoned structures outside of California, although some of it is recycled from the occasional barge or dock. Sports fans can even have a unique piece created from basketball court flooring or bowling alley lanes. No matter the source, every stick has a storied past that can often make the final product an interesting topic of conversation.
In one of their current projects, sections of a Kentucky tobacco farm are getting new life in an Alaskan custom home. Locally, Ben’s masterful work can be found at The Cellar in San Clemente, the historic Chapel in Orange and The Ranch in Laguna Beach. Whether the aesthetic is modern, traditional, coastal or eclectic, his creations possess a timeless quality that give a space new life.
Imagine what vintage ceiling box beams or a new mantle could do for your living room? Wake up a tired room with a one-of-a-kind showstopper. Stop by the showroom with your family, designer, or contractor and let Ben and Bethany transform your idea into reality.
U.S. Reclaimed
Vintage Lumber & Woodworks
28052 Camino Capistrano, #103, Laguna Niguel
949.374.6902 • USreclaimed.com
