U.S. Reclaimed

Vintage Lumber & Wood Works

by Veronica Badzey

Ben Bonin spent 15 years as a contractor before opening U.S. Reclaimed Vintage Lumber and Wood Works in Laguna Niguel. Traveling throughout the U.S., from Mississippi to New York, Ben and his team repurpose pre-1900s barns, houses and old buildings, saving them from being demolished, burned down or winding up in landfills. Ben’s passion for reusing timeworn materials and artifacts in contemporary ways is expressed in the creative designs, quality products and one-of-a-kind treasures he creates.

Ben’s vision for starting his own company was inspired by his experiences with other reclaimed wood companies. “I wanted a store that was super customer friendly,” Ben says, “where people could walk in, find what they were looking for and talk with an expert without getting the run around.” Ben’s commitment to his customers is paramount and he often develops personal, lasting relationships with many of them.

Ben loves the process and outcomes of working with reclaimed wood because of its beauty, history, and superior quality. In the beginning, Ben and his wife, Bethany, hunted for wooden gems themselves; now they receive calls on a weekly basis from owners who have heard of U.S. Reclaimed and want to sell their old structures. These unique pieces of history are built using, as Ben says, “just about every kind of hardwood that grew in America.” As Ben explains, “The wood we retrieve is first generation lumber from some of the first trees cut down in America. It’s just solid, good wood. Today, everything is farmed, and the trees have lost the natural defenses that keep out bugs and diseases that cause rot.”

Recycled materials from deconstructed buildings provide a seemingly inexhaustible supply of high quality lumber. Newer lumber from farmed trees can’t compare to the beauty and quality of reclaimed wood. “It’s a joy to work with,” states Ben. “It’s more beautiful; you don’t get the same grains, density, and colors from farmed trees that have been cut down six or seven times since the country has started logging.”

U.S. Reclaimed Vintage Lumber offers a design store, lumber yard, and woodworking shop all in one, providing clients with design services, construction, and raw materials for any DIY project. The company has created everything from furniture to flooring, wall paneling, ceiling beams, fireplace mantles and tabletops – even shelving, frames, and sliding barn doors. Ben’s expertise and the shop’s wide range of unique, raw materials ensure that every customer walks away with a truly one-of-a-kind piece no matter the scope of the project.

Many customers will even research the back-story behind their lumber, discovering details of American history from the time when the structure was originally built. “My favorite part of this business,” says Ben, “is traveling and meeting the characters from all these different towns in areas of the U.S. where people don’t normally want to go. Jumping into their way of life for a couple of days is fun and then I get to bring a piece of that back with me.”

Some of his more memorable projects include historical renovations, like the old grain mill tower on Alicia Parkway that was constructed in the early 1900s, or rebuilding the floors of a 19th century church in Santa Ana. Projects like these often require Ben to use the relationships he’s developed to source out reclaimed materials that match those used in the initial construction. He has also designed and outfitted many popular businesses around town. The Cellar restaurant in San Clemente, for example, commissioned Ben to build its bar from reclaimed wine barrels and to create custom wine racks. His newest project, Water Grill in Costa Mesa, features impressive wood beamed ceilings, pillars, and a stunning herringbone patterned floor.

To customize your own unique piece of history, stop by U.S. Reclaimed Vintage Lumber &
Wood Works, located on Camino Capistrano in Laguna Niguel, just off Avery Parkway and the 5 Freeway. For a glimpse of U.S. Reclaimed’s extensive gallery of work, visit USreclaimed.com.

U.S. Reclaimed Vintage Lumber & Wood Works
28052 Camino Capistrano Ste. 103, Laguna Niguel
(949) 364-1207 • USreclaimed.com