Two paths that crossed during the pandemic and ended up creating furniture with history

When the pandemic paralyzed the gastronomic activity, Laureano Rioseco saw how the work he had performed 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 specializing in the manufacture of furniture and structures with 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 postpone the workers. We were left with the minimum," Laureano recalls about the difficult days that marked the beginning of this new stage.

Unexpected beginning

The idea arose from observing the staves used in wine barrels, a material abundant in the area and 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 relates.

The success was immediate. First came the orders for planters, then trays, decorative boxes and other items. What began as an improvised activity was transformed into a craft learned through trial, observation and daily work.

Over time, the small workshop expanded its capabilities and its products. "Now we are already into furniture, complete kitchens," comments Laureano, proud of an evolution that took them from decorative objects to larger-scale projects.

Today they manufacture doors, tables, console tables, mirrors, kitchen islands and structures for quinchos, always working on order and adapting to the needs of each client.

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 areas of the country.

Shared passion

In this adventure, Guido Díaz became a key partner. Both met while working in gastronomy and today they share the same passion for wood. "We like working in this. Working with wood really appeals to us," affirms Guido.

For him, the true value of each piece lies in the care for details and the time invested in each project. "We really like details. We try to make everything look really nice, so it doesn't look ugly," he explains.

Second chance

One of the aspects that distinguishes LR Art Muebles is the use of recovered materials. A large part of their creations are born from woods coming from demolitions, old train sleepers, beams and structures that otherwise would end up turned into waste. "All our works are made with recyclable material," highlights Laureano.

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 fills you up. That people see the works and find them beautiful is something that makes us very happy," points out Laureano.

From Acoforag we value experiences like that of Laureano Rioseco and Guido Díaz, which demonstrate how wood can have multiple lives when it is reused in a creative and responsible way. 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.