Aged in wood
When looking at wood from the Los Angeles company Timeline, you can’t help but fall for the illusion. You’re not really looking at vintage wood salvaged from an aged barn. Those are newly painted boards covering the f loors and walls of the Timeline showroom downtown — new boards made to look old. ¶ The company handcrafts each one, creating nicks and scratches in the wood to mimic the rough surface of reclaimed lumber. Paint is layered in a manner that plays off other coats as well as the texture of the wood.
Matt Stroud came up with the idea for Timeline while working in furniture restoration. Reclaimed wood continues to grow in popularity, but it’s not an easy material. In f looring, reclaimed wood can cost up to 40% more than new hardwood. Plus, most reclaimed wood must be processed to remove nails, insects, lead paint and other f laws before use. Oftentimes, contractors must send the wood to a third party for cleanup.
For some designers, contractors and fabricators, the problems can outweigh the green benefits.
Convenience aside, customers also simply respond to the Timeline look, said co-owner Shelby Keyser, who applies her experience working for fashion designer Anna Sui and Gwen Stefani’s line, L.A.M.B., to choose the color palettes.
“The wood is finished in a professional way,” she said. “It looks done, and you have the ability to have this custom thing in your home. It’s like a new luxury, an affordable luxury.”
The Timeline boards have already made their way into a number of Los Angeles restaurants and stores, including the Spice Table and SiLo Vodka Bar in downtown L.A. and the Vera Wang store in West Hollywood.
The Los Angeles showroom is open to the public. Wood is available in five widths, two plank lengths and three edge options. Boards are $7 to $11 per square foot, depending on the color and finish. Larger orders may take three to five weeks to produce, but Timeline does have some boards available for immediate purchase.