Todd Kendall and Erik Renstrom. Photos: Chris Emeott
Local furniture design and manufacturing business turns locally sourced lumber into heirloom pieces.
Years before Todd Kendall became the creative force behind Fillory Design Company, a White Bear Lake furniture design and manufacturing business, he was a curious 10-year-old with a saw, a loathsome wall and no supervision. “There was a wall in my bedroom I just didn’t like. So one summer, while my mom was at work, I borrowed my uncle’s saw and cut the wall out,” Kendall says.
While most kids might rearrange their toys, Kendall remodeled his room. His mother, while initially horrified, eventually admitted the space felt better. The experience lit a spark that has yet to fade.
After graduating from White Bear Lake Area High School in 1990, Kendall dove into every aspect of carpentry and building—even trying out tiling and roofing. A few decades in, he decided it was time to use his knowledge to pursue roles in design and project management. “I kind of ran the entire construction gambit. I could build a house basically from the ground up and design the interior and now build the furniture inside of it,” Kendall says.
But it wasn’t until he met Erik Renstrom, owner of Renstrom Tree Service, that he discovered a way to bring together his skills and experience in a meaningful way. Along with tree removal, Renstrom salvages quality wood, then mills and dries lumber to sell out of his garage.
Kendall was sourcing wood slabs for a countertop when he met Renstrom for the first time. During their initial interaction, Kendall told Renstrom he should have his own furniture company. “I saw the quality of the wood, and I was just blown away,” Kendall says.
After Renstrom got to know Kendall and saw some of his finished pieces, he suggested they go into business together. “I was looking for the right person to work with,” Renstrom says. “There was something different about him.”
Wood fountain pens are Erik Renstrom’s specialty.
The duo co-founded Fillory Design Company in 2022—a space where wood is given a second life as heirloom-quality furniture. The Fillory showroom in downtown White Bear Lake displays everything from live-edge tables and benches to small items, like cutting boards and Renstrom’s specialty: wood fountain pens and cigar humidors.
“Most woodworkers aren’t necessarily salespeople or designers,” Kendall says. “They just want to make the wooden thing. I think that is what makes what we do here unique. I am all of those people. I am the one doing the selling, designing and fabricating. I love it all.”
Fillory is also home to nearly 1,000 wood slabs, waiting to be given new life. Clients are invited to explore shapes and wood types to find the perfect fit for their project, from tables and cabinets to mantels and headboards. “I’m always hoping that these pieces we create become heirlooms, and they’ll be passed down,” Kendall says.
Along with goods like cutting boards and cigar humidors, Fillory Design Company is home to 1,000 wood slabs waiting to be given new life.
Kendall remembers a client who approached him with wood from their great-grandparents’ property and a request to build a bench in honor of a young girl who passed away from cancer. “It was really personal, and I poured everything into that piece,” Kendall says.
Fillory isn’t filled with mass-produced items but with high-quality creations that are shaped by Kendall’s hand and heart. “Every step, through learning all these different things, has really come to a head with [Fillory],” Kendall says. “It’s great, and I love that it’s in my hometown.”
Fillory Design Company
2193 Fourth St.; 763.218.1136
Facebook: Fillory Design Co.
Instagram: @fillorydesigncompany
