Type
Residential
Location
Silver Lake, CA
Year
2023
Area
2,800 sq ft
Materials
800 board feet of reclaimed Douglas fir timbers
Timeline
6 weeks (lumber portion)
Budget Range
$35,000 - $50,000
Wood Species Used
- Old-Growth Douglas Fir (structural beams)
- Reclaimed Cedar (exterior soffit)
Finishes Applied
- Light hand-sanding with natural oil
- Exterior-grade UV-resistant clear coat on cedar
Project Story
This new-construction modern home in the Silver Lake hills features a soaring open-plan living space with floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin. The architect's vision called for massive exposed beams that would provide warm, organic contrast to the home's otherwise minimalist palette of glass, steel, and polished concrete.
The architect specified reclaimed Douglas fir timbers for the main structural beams, insisting on old-growth material that would offer the density, scale, and visual warmth that modern plantation-grown lumber simply cannot achieve. Old-growth Douglas fir, harvested from trees that grew for 150 to 300 years, has dramatically tighter growth rings and richer color than contemporary lumber.
We sourced the timbers from a deconstructed warehouse in San Pedro that was being demolished to make way for a new port facility. The warehouse dated to the 1920s and its main structure used massive 8x12 and 10x14 Douglas fir timbers — exactly the scale the architect needed for the 24-foot clear spans in the living room.
Each beam was carefully extracted during deconstruction, then transported to our yard where we removed all fasteners, cleaned the surfaces, and assessed structural integrity. A structural engineer graded each timber, confirming they exceeded the load requirements for the new home.
The timbers were lightly sanded to reveal the rich grain while preserving the subtle character marks — nail holes, slight checking, and oxidation patina — that tell the wood's story. We applied a natural oil finish that enhanced the warm reddish-brown tone of the old-growth fir without masking its character.
The exterior soffits of the home were clad in reclaimed cedar, providing a visual connection between the interior beams and the outdoor living spaces. The cedar was finished with a UV-resistant clear coat to protect against sun exposure while maintaining its natural silver-gray weathered appearance.
The architect later told us that the reclaimed beams became the defining element of the entire home — the feature that visitors notice first and remember longest. The juxtaposition of century-old timber against crisp modern architecture creates a tension that makes the space feel both timeless and contemporary.
Before & After
BBefore
Before our involvement, the construction site was a new-build in the framing stage with engineered lumber and steel structural elements. The architect's original drawings called for laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams — functional but visually generic. The switch to reclaimed timbers required structural redesign of the beam connections but no changes to the foundation or overall structure.
AAfter
The completed home is a striking balance of old and new. Four massive reclaimed Douglas fir beams span the 24-foot width of the main living space, their warm reddish-brown tones contrasting beautifully with the polished concrete floor, white walls, and floor-to-ceiling glass. The beams' subtle imperfections — nail holes, grain figure, and gentle checking — add an irreplaceable layer of character that makes the minimalist space feel warm and livable.
Material Specifications
Main Structural Beams
Old-growth Douglas fir, 10x14" nominal, four beams at 24' length each. ~100 years old, sourced from San Pedro warehouse. Natural oil finish.
Secondary Beams
Old-growth Douglas fir, 8x12" nominal, six beams at 12-16' lengths. Same source as main beams. Natural oil finish.
Exterior Soffits
Reclaimed western red cedar, 1x6" T&G, various lengths. UV-resistant exterior clear coat.
Connection Hardware
Custom steel brackets by local fabricator, designed to complement the industrial character of the reclaimed timbers.
Project Timeline
Sourcing & Selection
1 weekIdentified the San Pedro warehouse timbers and coordinated with the demolition contractor for careful extraction of the beams we needed.
Extraction & Transport
1 weekSupervised deconstruction of the warehouse roof structure to ensure beams were removed without damage. Transported 10 timbers to our facility.
Processing & Grading
1 weekDenailed, cleaned, and lightly sanded all timbers. Structural engineer graded each piece and stamped those meeting requirements.
Beam Installation
2 weeksCrane-lifted beams into position. Structural connections made with custom steel brackets. Installation required road closure permits for crane access.
Finishing & Soffit Installation
1 weekApplied natural oil finish to interior beams. Installed reclaimed cedar soffit cladding on exterior overhangs.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge
The largest beam (10x14" x 24') weighed approximately 900 lbs and had to be craned into position through a narrow hillside access road.
Solution
We coordinated with the general contractor to bring in a compact track-mounted crane that could navigate the steep driveway, and obtained temporary road closure permits for the residential street below.
Challenge
Two of the original timber candidates had hidden internal checking that was not visible from the surface but was detected during ultrasonic grading.
Solution
We rejected those two timbers and returned to the San Pedro site to extract two replacement beams from a different section of the warehouse. The replacement timbers graded clean.
Challenge
The architect wanted the beam connections to be both structurally sound and visually minimal — no visible bolts or bulky brackets.
Solution
We worked with a local steel fabricator to design concealed knife plate connections that slide into slots cut into the beam ends, secured with through-bolts hidden behind decorative wood plugs made from matching Douglas fir.
“We designed this home around the idea that warmth comes from materials, not decoration. The reclaimed fir beams accomplished in one gesture what we could not have achieved with any amount of interior design. They are the soul of this house.”
David K.
Architect, DK Studio