LUMBER REBORN

Crafting beauty from reclaimed wood

It seems fitting that wood artisans Zakhar Smirnoff and Don Woodard would first meet as Zak was hauling logs from his minivan in the parking lot of an art collective in North Park. Until then, they had each worked independently on a wide range of fascinating projects. Zak, who immigrated here from Russia, had studied with old masters in the historic center of Moscow. Don was not only a woodworker, but a trained tree surgeon. They were both passionate about their craft.

“The fact that you can imagine an object, then design it, and build it out of wood is amazing,” Zak says. “And even better, it will bring people joy and be useful in their homes. That still thrills me to this day.”

It didn’t take long for Zak and Don to decide to start Old Fashioned Lumber, a business dedicated to creating custom furniture from fallen trees, old buildings, and other reclaimed resources. “It is our belief that by repurposing these natural resources, we help our environment heal and grow,” Don explains. “It’s a sustainable approach to a better future.”

Although they’ve only been operating for a few years, Zak and Don have taken on some very big and unique projects. In one instance, a client walked into their Barrio Logan workshop asking for their help. She explained that she had a giant Monterey pine in her front yard that was the gathering point in her neighborhood. Children would climb on its sturdy branches, and everyone appreciated its beauty. Sadly, the tree was dying and needed to be taken down. She asked if Don could come up with a way to use the wood that would be lasting and meaningful. 

Inspired by the mighty tree’s legacy, Don proposed that they create a giant Thanksgiving table. He, Zak, and their crew took the tree down and salvaged the usable lumber. They fashioned a base and kiln dried giant slabs of the tree’s core to construct their masterpiece. Each Thanksgiving, the massive gathering table is moved to the spot where the tree once stood, and neighbors gather to appreciate the tree in a new way.

In another more recent project, Zak and Don were able to salvage wood from the Hotel del Coronado restoration project. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, this gem is one of the few examples of an American architectural genre: the wooden Victorian beach resort. With meticulous attention to detail, Zak and Don repurposed pieces of wood into furniture for The Del’s beachfront bar and lounge areas. Happily, there is more wood salvaged from The Del stored in the Old Fashioned Lumber workshop, just waiting to become a unique piece of furniture in someone’s home. They also regularly source wood from an avocado orchard owned by Jason Mraz.

“Since we salvage wood, we always have an inventory of material on hand and ready for use. This saves weeks, even months, in the design and construction process,” Don explains.

Old Fashioned Lumber is in Barrio Logan, just around the corner from its popular taquerias. Customers who have a furniture project in mind are always welcome to drop in, but it’s best to call first so Zak or Don are ready to put down their tools and brainstorm with them.

For more info, visit oldfashionedlumber.com