Our Story

Oak & Iron started with a simple idea. Build things that last.

What began as small projects in a garage turned into something bigger. Tables for family. Benches for friends. Pieces built with care and meant to be used every day. Word spread. More people started asking for work. The shop grew from there.

At its core, Oak & Iron is about honest materials and honest work. Live edge oak. Solid steel. Nothing fake. Nothing rushed. Every piece is built with intention and designed to live in real spaces.

This is not mass production. It is craftsmanship.

The goal has always been the same. Create furniture that feels grounded, holds up over time, and becomes part of the life built around it.

Rooted in White Bear Lake, Oak & Iron is more than a shop. It is a place to gather, learn, and stay connected to the work and the community behind it.

Close-up photograph of a cross-section of a tree trunk showing growth rings and natural cracks.
A wooden dining table with a natural, live-edge finish, decorated with a center arrangement of various potted succulents and small flowers, placed inside a long, narrow, rectangular wooden planting box. The table is set with four empty wine glasses, a tray with a bottle of wine, and a digital photo frame. In the background, there are shelves with wood pieces and a wall with wooden planks.

Who We Are

  • We start with the material.

    Every slab of oak has its own shape, grain, and character. We do not force it into something it is not. We work with it. Steel is added for strength and structure. Clean. Simple. Built to support the wood, not compete with it.

    The goal is balance. Natural and refined. Warm and strong.

    Every piece is designed for real use. Not just to look good, but to hold up over time.

  • DO IT RIGHT
    No shortcuts. If it is not built well, it does not leave the shop.

    USE REAL MATERIALS
    Solid wood. Real steel. Nothing fake. Nothing disposable.

    KEEP IT SIMPLE
    Good design does not need to be overcomplicated.

    BUILD FOR PEOPLE
    These pieces live in homes. They should feel like they belong there.

    STAY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY
    We are proud to build in White Bear Lake and serve the community around us.

  • 1. Start With A Conversation
    We learn what you need, how you will use the piece, and where it will live.

    2. Select The Material
    You choose from available slabs or we source the right piece of wood for your project.

    3. Design The Piece
    We shape the layout, size, and base so everything works together.

    4. Build It Right
    Every cut, weld, and finish is done with care. No rushed work.

    5. Deliver And Install
    We bring the piece into your space and make sure it is exactly right.

  • We build pieces that are meant to be used every day.

    Dining tables. Coffee tables. Benches. Shelving. Statement pieces that anchor a room. Smaller pieces that support it.

    Some projects are fully custom. Others are built from slabs we have in the shop and made available as finished pieces.

    No matter the size, the goal is the same.

    Build something that fits the space, holds up over time, and feels like it belongs there.

  • Everything starts with the material.

    We work primarily with live edge oak. Each slab is different. Grain, shape, movement. The character is already there. Our job is to bring it out, not cover it up.

    Steel is used for structure. Clean lines. Strong support. Built to last.

    Every piece is cut, shaped, and finished by hand. No shortcuts. No rushed work.

    You can feel the difference.

  • Oak & Iron is built in White Bear Lake.

    This is home. It is where the work is made and where most of it stays.

    We believe good work should be shared. That is why the shop is more than a workspace. It is a place where people can see the process, ask questions, and learn.

    Workshops and community events are part of that.

    Because this is not just about building furniture.

    It is about staying connected to the people who use it.

  • We offer both custom work and ready-made pieces.

    Custom projects are built around your space. You choose the slab, the size, and the details. We handle the rest.

    We also build pieces from select slabs in the shop. These are available as finished work or can be reserved and customized.

    If you are not sure where to start, we will walk you through it.

Schedule Your Design Consultation

Meet the Founder

Todd Kendall

A man with a bald head and a long gray beard is standing with his arms crossed, smiling, in front of a wooden wall.

Todd’s path into furniture didn’t start in a shop. It started in his childhood bedroom.

At ten years old, he decided he didn’t like a wall in his room. So while his mom was at work, he borrowed his uncle’s saw and cut it out. Most kids rearrange furniture. Todd rebuilt the space. His mom was not thrilled at first, but she admitted it felt better when it was done. That moment stuck.

After graduating from White Bear Lake Area High School in 1990, Todd went all in on building. Carpentry. Tiling. Roofing. Framing. He worked through every part of the process and learned how a structure comes together from the ground up.

Over time, he moved into design and project management. Not just building spaces, but thinking through how they function and feel. Years of hands-on work gave him a full understanding of both sides. He can build a house and design what goes inside it.

Furniture became the natural next step.

While sourcing wood for a project, Todd came across high-quality slabs that changed the way he looked at materials. The grain. The shape. The character already built into the wood. It shifted his focus from building structures to building pieces that people live with every day.

That is where Oak & Iron took shape.

Todd brings all of it into his work. He designs. He builds. He works directly with clients. He sees every piece through from start to finish. That is what makes the work different.

There is a reason behind every piece.

Some are built from locally sourced slabs. Some are built from wood that carries personal history. He once built a bench from wood taken from a family property in honor of a young girl who passed away. That kind of work stays with you. It raises the standard.

Todd does not chase trends. He builds pieces that are meant to last and meant to be passed down.

And he is still doing it in the same place where it all started.

Ready To Build Something That Lasts?

Ready To Build Something That Lasts?

We’re here to help you bring a custom piece from idea to reality. Whether it’s a table for your family or built-ins for your cabin, each project starts with a straightforward conversation about what you need and how we work. Reach out and let’s get started.

A large natural wood table with a rough, uneven edge, displaying prominent natural grain and knots. The table is set in a room with a wooden wall on the left and a white slat wall on the right. Decor includes a black chain-like sculpture on the table, a green houseplant in a gray pot on the left, a smaller plant with pointed leaves, a patterned vase with white flowers on a shelf, and framed black-and-white artwork on the wall. There are black wooden chairs with armrests around the table.
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