LA LumberReclaimed & Renewed

DTLA Restaurant Build-Out with Reclaimed Hardwood Finishes

Commercial | Downtown Los Angeles, CA | 2024

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Type

Commercial

Location

Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Year

2024

Area

3,200 sq ft

Materials

3,500 board feet of mixed reclaimed hardwoods

Timeline

10 weeks

Budget Range

$180,000 - $220,000

Wood Species Used

  • Reclaimed Barn Wood (walls)
  • Reclaimed Maple (flooring)
  • Black Walnut (bar + communal table)

Finishes Applied

  • Matte clear coat on barn wood
  • Oil-based polyurethane on maple floors
  • Hand-rubbed oil on walnut surfaces

Project Story

A chef-driven concept in downtown Los Angeles wanted an interior that felt original to its century-old brick building. Only authentic reclaimed materials would deliver the patina they envisioned.

We supplied weathered barn wood from a Santa Ynez dairy barn for dramatic accent walls, wire-brushed and sealed with a matte clear coat to preserve its silvered surface.

Reclaimed maple from a decommissioned Glendale gym floor became the main dining and bar flooring, chosen for hardness and traffic durability.

A 16-foot black walnut slab was crafted into the communal table, paired with a 22-foot walnut bar top and industrial oak shelving for spirits display.

The build-out used over 3,500 board feet of reclaimed hardwoods, diverting the equivalent of 14 mature trees and earning press in local design publications.

Before & After

BBefore

The raw space had concrete floors, exposed brick, and outdated mechanicals. No finishes existed, and the owners wanted a warm, time-worn look without faux distressing.

AAfter

Today the restaurant features warm barn wood walls, gleaming reclaimed maple floors, and statement walnut slabs that make the space feel storied and welcoming from day one.

Material Specifications

Accent Walls

Reclaimed barn wood, gray patina, wire-brushed, matte clear coat.

Flooring

Reclaimed maple gym planks, sanded and finished with oil-based polyurethane.

Bar & Table

Black walnut slabs, hand-rubbed oil finish, live-edge communal table.

Project Timeline

1

Material Selection

1 week

Owners hand-selected barn wood and walnut slabs at our yard.

2

Floor Milling

2 weeks

Maple gym planks denailed, planed, and milled to T&G for commercial install.

3

Wall & Bar Fabrication

3 weeks

Barn wood pre-finished; walnut slabs flattened and finished; bar shelving built.

4

Installation

3 weeks

Coordinated flooring, wall cladding, and bar install around MEP trades.

5

Finishing Touches

1 week

Final coats, punch list, and acoustics adjustments with fabric panels.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge

Tight downtown loading with alley-only access.

Solution

Used small flatbeds and staged materials nightly to keep the alley clear by morning.

Challenge

Need for durable finish against heavy restaurant traffic.

Solution

Specified commercial-grade oil poly on maple and added extra top coat in high-traffic lanes.

Challenge

Maintaining authentic patina without splinters.

Solution

Wire-brushed and sealed barn wood, keeping color while making surfaces guest-safe.

“Guests assume the space has been here forever. The reclaimed wood gives it soul that new materials just cannot match.”

Chef Lena M.

Owner / Executive Chef

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