When the pandemic brought the restaurant industry to a standstill, Laureano Rioseco watched as the work he had done for more than two decades as a waiter was put on hold. With no experience in carpentry and facing an uncertain scenario, he decided to try his luck with a material that others considered waste.
Six years later, alongside his friend Guido Díaz, he leads LR Art Muebles, a workshop specialized in manufacturing furniture and structures from recycled wood that is growing from Sagrada Familia, in the Maule Region.
"Out of necessity I started in this, because I worked in a restaurant and they had to lay off workers. We were left with the bare minimum," Laureano recalls about the difficult days that marked the beginning of this new chapter.
Unexpected beginning
The idea came from observing the staves used in wine barrels, a material abundant in the area that often ended up being burned or discarded. "It occurred to me to make planters with this, and I started making tiny planters. I began selling them on social media," he recounts.
The success was immediate. First came orders for planters, then trays, decorative boxes, and other items. What began as an improvised activity gradually turned into a craft learned through trial, observation, and daily work.
Over time, the small workshop expanded its capabilities and its products. "Now we're into furniture, full kitchens," says Laureano, proud of an evolution that took them from decorative objects to larger-scale projects.
Today they manufacture doors, tables, sideboards, mirrors, kitchen islands, and structures for outdoor pergolas, always working on commission and adapting to each client's needs.
Social media has been fundamental to their growth. TikTok and Instagram have become the workshop's main showcases, allowing them to reach clients from different parts of the country.
Shared passion
In this adventure, Guido Díaz became a key partner. They met working in the food service industry and today share the same passion for wood. "We love working on this. Working with wood really draws us in," Guido states.
For him, the true value of each piece lies in the attention to detail and the time invested in every project. "We really love details. We try to make everything look really nice, so it doesn't look bad," he explains.
Second chance
One of the aspects that sets LR Art Muebles apart is the use of recovered materials. A large part of their creations come from wood sourced from demolitions, old railway sleepers, beams, and structures that would otherwise end up as waste. "All our work is made with recyclable material," Laureano highlights.
That philosophy of rescue and reuse has allowed them to build their own identity and connect with clients who value rustic and sustainable furniture. "This is fulfilling. Seeing people view the work and find it beautiful is something that makes us very happy," Laureano notes.
At Acoforag, we value experiences like those of Laureano Rioseco and Guido Díaz, which demonstrate how wood can have multiple lives when reused creatively and responsibly. Their work highlights the importance of rescuing, recycling, and revaluing this renewable resource, transforming discarded materials into products with identity, history, and value for people.
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