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Kibler & Kirch
Kibler & Kirch is both a talented interior design firm and an extraordinary shopping experience. Since 1990, we’ve called charming downtown Red Lodge, Montana our home. Our mission is simple: enrich our customers’ lives through their homes with quality products and unexpected service. Our experienced interior design staff and dedicated retail team work together seamlessly to create interior environments that closely match the needs and desires of clients. We stock an eclectic collection of American-made furnishings, artwork, accessories, handmade rugs, lighting, bedding, and gifts. We specialize in comfortable and timeless designs across a spectrum of styles–rustic, traditional, and modern. We will inspire you to create a fuller, better sense of home.
Please visit one of two locations–our store on your next trip to Red Lodge or our stunning new design studio in Billings. With deeper resources than any interior design firm in Montana, we have the knowledge (and products) to serve the most discerning clients. Please call us for a complimentary consultation. Here’s what we do for you:
We are mobile! Maybe you’ve seen our designers racing around to appointments in these cute vans. You would be amazed at how much great stuff we can pack into these things: fabric and wood samples, artwork, rugs, pottery, paint, antiques, furniture, teams of elves to hang pictures or re-organize your collections–just about anything our team needs to make a difference in your life.
In a three part series of short films intended to be both beautiful and informative, filmmaker Brian Murnion captures a behind the scenes look at Kibler & Kirch.
The Design Studio goes inside our stunning design studio and gives a peek into their refined process. Timeless luxury and creativity–an inspiring space for clients and designers alike.
In Part 2, The Home, watch as a young family’s house gets remodeled & transformed into something beautiful. Color, comfort, and inspiration. (See above)
Coming Soon!
Lovingly printed and packed with expertly curated products, in-depth features on things in our store, interior design advice, and projects to inspire you, you’ll look to forward to every copy! Sign up here to receive one by mail or click on past covers below for an archive of great design inspiration!
We are honored to say that our wonderful Billings Design Studio was recently photographed by Audrey Hall and published in The Big Sky Journal’s Home Issue. We hope to share it with you. Please feel free to stop by for a quick tour and see how we can service your design needs.
This paining by Rob Akey is a stunner in our great room.
A more open studio and library allows our design coordinator to keep an eye on all the happenings.
A small kitchen with a huge style and function, this space serves like most kitchen—the social zone.
Escalante rugs, one perfect thing we offer.
Our design library hosts team and client meetings.
Shelves of inspiration line the great room.
Our stunning powder room features a double pedestal sink from around 1900.
Mood boards take on a life of their own when their this massive and covered in rich brown.
There are thousands of customizable options in our library.
A luxury take on the classic antler chandelier.
Using history to guide us.
A giant runner, spanning multiple rooms, connects the dots.
It’s all in the details.
A round table in our creative director’s office is perfect for collaborating.
The rustic details on this piece distract you from the fact that it keeps our office supplies tidy.
Curated looks from the finest inspiration.
Our butler’s pantry is the perfect party pantry.
To read the full article please click here.
If you’ve visited our store in Red Lodge lately, you’ve probably noticed our updated look. If not, come check it out! Kacey Jones, lead designer on the remodel, takes you on a photo tour below.
Q: The store looks great! How long did this take? Was a hard to do a remodel while still maintaining the store?
A: We planned well ahead so we could have minimal disruptions! It took about three months of planning and another three months of strategic construction. Luckily we’re designers and we’ve done this a time or two! We disrupted the flow a little bit in the store, but for the most part people were good sports about it. It kind of became this adventure to come into the store and see what was going on. One day we had half of the store empty because we were laying down carpet. It was like a treasure hunt that people kind of enjoyed. Our customers got to watch our redesign process.
Q: What were some of the challenges you ran into?
A: When you change the space that people work in you have to navigate with sensitivity yet still get the job done. Sure, it would have been easier to just barge in and loudly remodel as you see fit, but our staff still had to work! Since everyone’s space was changing and getting disrupted we had to make sure that the changes were worth it and really worked for our team. At the same time, our design library had to fit into the larger scheme of our retail business. I knew we could pull it off but I was amazed at how well everyone adjusted and made it work. As designers we have a lot of samples and resources that we need and we use. Figuring out how to reorganize those materials in a new space full of functionality was a fun challenge. People were so surprised that we fit it all in there—and it works well!
Q: That is pretty impressive! There have to have been some hiccups. Do tell!
Well, we’re still getting used to a few things. There were five of us over in the old design building and we all had pretty separate spaces. But we just have new systems now. We know that we need to give people space when they are with a client or on an important call. Open offices are actually great for most of our work. Kim (our Design Manager) and Kelsey (our Business Manager) share an office but they have separate doors and works areas. When they need to chat they are together now instead of across the street. It’s a plus!
Q: What are some other benefits of the remodel you’ve noticed?
A: I’ve noticed clients either know us as a design resource or as a retail store. Now people are realizing we’re both! Retail shoppers see how easy it is to customize one of our pieces with the exact fabric they want or that they can special order a piece if the one we have on the floor isn’t exactly what they were looking for. In the past, one of our design clients might have been in the store but we wouldn’t have any idea because we were in a different building. So now, clients we haven’t seen in a couple years can walk in the door and we get to chat and catch up. We get that connection we didn’t necessarily have before.
Q: What are your favorite things about the new look?
A: Moving the front desk and reimagining some of our colors has been really fun. You see people right as they walk in the door. It’s more engaging. Jeremiah wanted to tie Red Lodge and Billings together. While they are their own separate entities, it’s all Kibler & Kirch! We brought it together by using the same sophisticated contrasting our Billings Studio has with Navajo White and Cavier Black, both soft tones that are cozy to shop in. When we showcase fabric, furniture and art it looks great with the soft white background. The black is really elegant. It’s great to work in such a beautiful spot.
Since 1990, we’ve made it our mission to enrich our customers’ lives though quality, Made-in-America furniture. Today, over 80% of the furniture we sell has been crafted with pride in the United States–something our competitors simply cannot match.
We are proud to represent these fine companies. If you see something you like, please call or email us at info@kiblerandkirch.com for a prompt response.
This slice of a larger remodel pays tribute to the home’s 30-year history while hitting refresh. Timeless neutrals and plaids pop with the right dose of color. Check out our short film to see more on this revamp.
Textured blue chair-backs are a welcome surprise.
This photo of Grand Prismatic Springs by Chris Boyer adds an interesting color dimension.
A masculine plaid pairs well with neutral and salmon throw pillows.
Leather wing-backs circled for conversation.
PHOTOS BY RENATA HAIDLE
Continuing the legacy of their parents at Jade Palace, Kalvin and Ken Tang recently opened JP Kitchen—a distinct, modern take on Chinese food. We used a high dose of black with red accents to create a mellow space for sharing a few dishes with family and friends. Come check out their mom’s famous potstickers, bacon fried rice or the classic orange zest chicken—using only the finest ingredients.
Check out these pictures recently published in the Big Sky Journal HOME. It was our great fortune to design the interior of this lovely and dramatic mountain home. Both comfortable and modern, open to spectacular views and yet cozy. This is a case study in creating a warm place for family and art. Please click on the images to see a higher resolution gallery.
We were lucky enough to work on the Triple B Ranch, which was featured in Big Sky Journal HOME. Distinctly Western and full of design details our team helped execute to the highest standard, we are very proud to share this mountain home. Dramatically situated near Red Lodge, MT and sure to age gracefully, we hope this project inspires you to let us help create your dream residence–regardless of the size or budget.
We sat down with our creative director, Jeremiah, to talk about the commercial design…
Q: Kibler & Kirch seems to be doing a lot of commercial work these days. Is that new?
A: Throughout the history of Kibler & Kirch we have always done some commercial work, but it definitely has become more of a focus as people have asked us to help them with to take a commercial environment and give it some extra layers of thoughtfulness. It’s something that we are seeing more and more. People want to have work–and play–spaces that are every bit as comfortable as home.
Q: You just finished the remodel of The Petroleum Club. Tell us more about that project.
The Petroleum Club is a great example of a home away from home. We renovated 8700 square feet of space. We took the best of the architectural elements that existed and used a lot of black and white. We moved the bar to the North to maximize the views. We opened it up to accommodate parties of 300 plus while still keeping quaint areas that house small groups. We are particularly proud of the library, which is a beautiful conversation area surrounding a fireplace. We addressed every surface, used fabulous mosaic tile, beautiful brass lighting and touches throughout the space. It’s both a beautiful place for a wedding or convention as well as a gourmet dinner or cocktails after work. It’s both fresh and hip but completely timeless. You can’t tell when it was created. We tried to by sympathetic to the sense of history and tradition that came with the Petroleum Club.
Q: What other commercial projects have you been working on?
Joy of Living, Big Dipper, JP Kitchen, Carbon County Steakhouse. We are getting ready to do a bakery and Red Lodge Pizza Company. Our own studio is a perfect example of the kind of commercial work we can do. We really encourage people to come and see what can be done in a commercial space.
Q: How does your residential and commercial work vary?
We have formulas and ways of working that we use to make homes comfortable and those carry over but the commercial world allows us to flex a little different area of the brain and our creativity in new ways every time. We get to use different materials and sources. There are new ways to think about what an inviting space means. What’s fun about commercial is you get to share that with so many more people.
Any place can feel like home. A lot of commercial projects are designed by interior designers who work for architecture firms who don’t have the resources that we do who aren’t practiced in making an interior comfortable. It’s a completely different skill set. We think of a person’s experience in that place first.
Our design studio works on a variety of projects both commercial and residential; we relish the opportunity to create something beautiful at every turn. Recently we were asked to re-conceive the funishings in a local mall owned by Starwood. We combined some our favorite companies’ work into a coffee table in the shape of Montana. The bottom is a tapered, lightweight concrete form made by our long-time favorite Zachary A Designs of Chicago; while the top is a thick slab of wood crafted by our friends at the Old Wood Company in Asheville, NC. We even inset a buffalo nickel to designate the location of the Rimrock Mall project. It’s a study in contrast and a marriage of materials both unexpected and durable.
Using the history of the Stapleton for context, we designed the Big Dipper to radiate fun while keeping with the spirit of the building. Elements from the original Big Dipper in Missoula made their way into the decor as well, from the neon “Oh Boy!” sign to the glossy photo of patrons waiting in line under the stars. We couldn’t be more excited to share the Stapleton with such a tasty local business.
Photography by Lynn Donaldson
We’re called on for all manner of interior design work. These snapshots are from the home of a dear friend and client who needed help downsizing. She moved from a large home filled with a collection of original art, navajo rugs, and great furniture (purchased through the years in our retail store, of course!). The challenge was to make all the things she loved fit into a new construction shell–and to give it that all important sense of soul. It’s not everyday that we get the chance to play house with such a great Western objects, so we relished the opportunity. Our team spent a day arranging furniture, hanging amazing art, layering and making a truly comfortable home that, by virtue of the things she kept, transformed into a comfortable home worth sharing with everyone!
Our designers worked hand-in-hand with the homeowners and architect Jeff Robertson to create this masterpiece of Prairie Architecture–meeting weekly for a year, working seamlessly and contributing to even the smallest decisions: door handles, stains, material specifications, fabrics, colors. Everything belongs together. The furnishings perfectly compliment the architecture and we are so happy to have the chance to make this warm, luxurious, and subtle home a reality. Check out the images recently published in the Big Sky Journal.
Photos courtesy of Roger Wade
Q: How did you end up at Kibler & Kirch?
A: I started as an intern during college when Rosina and Erica owned Kibler & Kirch, then the next year I interned again for Jeremiah and his family. That was five years ago. I’ve worked here five years! It helped me so much to start from the bottom. I learned everything there was to know in the library (our library of fabrics, samples and looks from each company) before I even started designing. I was really fortunate to get this job right after school I couldn’t have found a better fit. We all say it, but Kibler & Kirch is truly like a family (and not just because her sister Kelsey is our Business Manager).
Q: How did you know you wanted to be a designer?
A: Of course as a little girl I had dolls, but I didn’t really “play dolls” with them as much as I made houses for them. My mom had a bookshelf she let me paint. I painted the levels in different colors and pretended each level was a different room in my dolls’ house. I created a separate space for each mood and activity they were doing at the time. When it came time to go to college, I made sure I went somewhere with a great interior program that focused on both the art and technical skill of design.
Q: What type of design work would you consider your specialty?
A: I love residential work, creating spaces that make our clients feel at home. While I actually really enjoy the beginning stages of designing a home, picking out fabrics and figuring out a furniture plan, I also work with our retail side (Kacey does a majority of our store merchandising) that I’ve become really great at putting on the final layer. That’s why I enjoy Design-for-a-Days so much too. I love working with the bones of what people have or have ordered from us for a remodel and then using just tiny details and accents to really pull the look together and take it to the next level. Art and accessories makes a home so comfortable to live in and are a great way to show off our clients’ personalities. Room wise, I like decorating bedrooms and living rooms. It’s so easy to play with bedding and change up the feel of a room. And living rooms there is almost an endless amount of options in furniture to create a look that is both fun and functional.
Q: What would you own dream space look like?
A: I don’t know if this is common with all designers or just me, but because I’m around so many options of fabrics and colors all day I’m really drawn to neutrals in my own home. Partly because there are so many fabrics I love that if I had to pick just a few for my own house, I’d go mad. I remember Rosina (our founder) saying one time she needed help picking out her sofa fabric. I mean, it’s Rosina, she’s been doing this for so many years, but you still want another professional’s help. It’s much easier for me to take myself out of it and choose things that will make my clients happy.
We start almost every project the same way: hand sketches in black ink that allow us to quickly communicate concepts to our clients. Only after we’ve worked through a handful of concepts and sifted through the most powerful ideas do we turn to digital renderings and floor plans. The computer can’t keep up with a flurry of ideas like the drawing hand can. Here’s a perfect example of how some sketches became reality. In this case, it’s an event venue in rural Montana that we hope stands for generations.
What was surprisingly hard about starting Kibler & Kirch?
R: We felt like we had a tiger by the tail from day one.
E: We learned everything the hard way. It would have been nice to have more business knowledge. We learned a lot along the way, but it would have been nice to know all of those things upfront. We were coming from our heart, our dreams and our passion. The business side we had to learn real quick.
R: We didn’t start out, particularly, as business women. The hardest part of starting a business: Being under capitalized, never having enough money. We were growing really fast and didn’t have the money to keep up. We grew faster than we could afford to.
What is like to run a business as such good friends?
R: A partnership is like a marriage and anyone who thinks it’s not is crazy. We all were friends when we became partners. Being partners can really test a friendship; you have to communicate. I honestly would say we worked harder at our partnerships than we did our marriages.
Did you think Kibler & Kirch would still be here today, when you opened the doors 25 years ago?
E: We didn’t know we were going to live this long [laughs]. We wanted Kibler & Kirch to move on without us. We didn’t know how that was going to happen, we knew our children didn’t want to work there for the rest of their lives.
R: Which is why Jeremiah coming in at the perfect time is just such an amazing story.
E: When that happened, we went to market with Jeremiah and the economy was so low, furniture stores were closing; no one was buying furniture that market. And there we were. The old furniture guys thought we were crazy. We told them we had sold the business and they were like, “And you didn’t go buy a lottery ticket that same day?!” But we had already won!
R: It still takes my breath away how that all worked out. We were retiring, in the stores final days and in walks Jeremiah. Right after he found out the news, he ran into his father-in-law on the street and said, “Kibler & Kirch is going to close and we can’t let that happen.” It’s pretty much a miracle. What a blessing it was to be able to keep it going.
25 Years is a long time to be tastemakers. How did you buy the right things for the store?
R: We tried to buy things that were timeless, had soul, had a story or that just felt more hand-made—done with more thought than something that just came off a conveyer belt. Which is why Jeremiah is such a good fit. We were always looking for something no one else had, trying to figure out what the next big thing was. We sought out start ups, and temporary vendors at market. A lot of our vendors that we use today started when we did. We believed in them, saw what they were doing, encouraged them and grew with them, supported them.
If there is a Kibler & Kirch look, what is it?
E: Everyone has always asked that … I don’t know.
R: In terms of design we design for the client. I don’t want people to walk in and know that we did it. In terms of buying for retailing, it’s about timeless pieces, a bit more masculine, things that look collected, that you’ve traveled the world and are interested in all kinds of things, that you are well-rounded. We would throw in a Chinese piece or something from India, give off a collector vibe. Things that are hand-made by real people.
E: When you see the hand work that goes into furniture it is unbelievable. If people saw what it takes to make a quality piece of furniture they would not have qualms paying good money for it. It’s a bargain really.
R: We were told over and over again, “This store could be anywhere in the world.” Such a compliment.
When we put the finishing touches on a living room, we like to style the coffee table (and other surfaces) with a little soul–really tell a story of who lives in the house, what they collect, and where they came from. It’s no different for you. Tell a story about yourself and how you live. Your coffee table is great place to do this because it sits in front of your guests and begs them to look closely at what they see.
Here are a few simple rules to get you started:
1. Use some form of low, medium, and high. In the pictures here, you’ll see that we have a flat picture album, a slightly taller bowl and container, and a large horn that provides height. Books are great items because they can be whatever height you need simply by adding more to the stack. In the store, we use books more than any other object to provide interest to table tops.
2. Use objects that have soul—something personal or collected. We like to use things that have been crafted by human hands. In this case, we used a intricately inlaid Japanese box, which must have taken a very long time to make. We also like to intrigue guests with something that they need to know the story behind. The rodeo picture never fails to strike up a conversation.
3. Use objects that function. In this case, both the Japanese metal box and the horn bowl can serve a purpose. Though we didn’t do this, we should have placed candy or a small collection of items in the bowl. The metal container could have held matches for the fireplace. The point is to make sure that nearly every surface in your home has the ability to function. That makes it feel authentic and alive.
4. Use something natural. Here we have two things gathered from nature. Flowers are always a great idea, too, but require that they be fresh at all times. That’s why we didn’t include them. A good substitute would be a bunch of sticks in a vase—or bound with twine and placed sideways on the table.
5. Use objects that are big enough to make an impact on your coffee table—but not too big. Here we covered about half the total surface of the table, which is enough to make it feel full but still allow someone to set down their coffee cup or wineglass. There’s nothing more intimidating to your guests than the prospect that they will have to move your things to make room—or risk spilling something because space is tight.
Follow these rules and we’re sure you’ll find it much easier to put a little personality into your coffee table. Happy styling!
We are particularly pleased with our efforts in this mountain home that we designed from beginning to end. One of our favorite aspects of their home is the custom kitchen. We snapped a few pictures to provide a starting point for discussion about successful kitchen design.
Despite the fact that the some contains some grand spaces, the kitchen is first and foremost a functional design–not overdone and a wise use of space. We are always looking to bring comfort and warmth to our clients’ spaces, which is achieved here by lower ceiling heights than the majority of the common spaces throughout the house. The kitchen adjoins, and is open to, the dining and living areas but feels intimate, a great cozy space to hold a conversation late at night in front of the stove. Soft, dimmable, under-cabinet lighting and task light above the island avoid the need for large overhead fixtures. Custom painted white cabinetry with special hand glazing brightens what could otherwise become a dark room given the unfinished timber and ceiling. Levels of contrast are important to any space and illustrated well here.
American-made appliances by Dacor integrate seamlessly into the cabinet work, while a hammered copper farmhouse sink sits such that one can look out to the dining room and beyond to mountain views–a lovely place to work while attending to those seated at the bar that forms the backside of the kitchen island.
Counters are topped with stone, river washed Uba Tuba granite, and a ventilation hood is tucked behind a mantle decorated with some of the Smette’s collection of artwork and bronzes. Integrating art into their home is very important and we took every opportunity to do so here. The room has perfect balance, symmetry, and function. To keep the design symmetrical, a stained wood, stand alone “hutch” was built into the space alongside the fridge. This keeps special glassware handy to the dining room. And, of course, no Kibler & Kirch room would be complete without a handmade rug to grace the floor. In all, we think this kitchen is timeless, workable, cheerful, and a perfect example of quality over excessive size.
There has never been a better focal point in any room–ever–than a good mantle. It’s the very first thing your guests will see when they enter your space. Make it count with these simple tricks.
1. Try a lamp. Add a little glow and mimic the positive effects of a fire–those warming, glowing embers–even in Summer. We suggest a small lamp or two, but this effect can be achieved with candles as well.
2. Your mantel really should be ever changing. From season to season, rotating your most beloved objects. While mantels often beg for symmetry, an arrangement of an uneven number of small objects in the middle can be very nice.
3. Try one large focal point layered with smaller ones. We’ve used a large mirror here with a framed botanical pressing–both leaned against the wall rather than nailed into place. This allows us to easily swap items as our collection grows.
4. Use a few special objects that encourage someone to walk all the way up to the fireplace and pick them up; books that you’d want to read the spine of, a small box you want to open.
5. Don’t forget about what’s in front of the whole fireplace. Is there anything more inviting than comfy chair and book to read by the fire?
Kacey Jones, Senior Interior Designer
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
I interned at Kibler & Kirch when I was in college. I’m from Red Lodge and grew up going to the store. I started working here full time when I graduated from the University of Idaho with an interior design degree, minor in architecture and became an Allied ASID Designer.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
I would be a desk! A place to sit down and let the creative juices flow and accomplish things that need to be done.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
I’m never getting rid of my grandmother’s turquoise ring. I fought my sisters for that one since we were little and playing dress up. I’ll give them anything else but that ring means the world to me.
What is your favorite design style?
I like different parts of every style, which helps me relate to whatever look my clients want. Every style has something intriguing about it. Personally, I combine them for an eclectic feel.
Kimberly Wynia, Project Manager
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
Growing up, my mother loved houses. I spent many Sunday afternoons going with her to open houses, looking at floor plans, and analyzing natural light and overall design. I grew to love being able to take a house and turn it into a beautiful home. I have also grown to love picking up a tool and helping a vision come to life as my DIY skills have increased. I come from a background in HR and Business Management but I wanted a job that would let me stimulate my creativity sufficiently to keep me happy and interested in my job for long term. I knew that what I really wanted was a job that would let me use my creativity, organizational skills, and people skills all in one. When I saw the job posting for a design coordinator at Kibler & Kirch I knew that it was the perfect fit. I am surrounded by amazing people with incredible skill and I love that I get to be a part of creating beautiful spaces.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
I would most definitely be a lamp/light. Nothing is better than good lighting. I love it when people let their personalities shine and I strive to do that every day. Lamps also come in an endless variety just like people. You have to LOVE a good lamp or light fixture! They are like the icing on the cake!
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
Scrapbooks! There was a time when scrapbooking was my creative outlet. All of the way back to my high school years I kept a scrapbook to remember homecomings, proms, and general teenage shenanigans. As the years went on my husband and I grew our family to include four children. Much of their early years are chronicled in handmade scrapbooks that I spent endless hours on. Not only do I love looking back at them but so do my children.
What is your favorite design style?
I have to say that I am probably somewhere between eclectic and transitional. As someone with a large family I feel that things need to function first but that beauty comes in a very close second. I gravitate towards spaces that have great architecture, lots of light, and that are welcoming and warm.
Dominique Paulus, Retail Associate & Artist-in-Residence
Dominique, one of the longest standing Kibler & Kirch employees, lives immersed in nature on a daily basis. She does surveys and wildlife counts for Cornell, Audubon, and the US Forest Service as she searches for inspirations for her work. For us, she specializes in furniture repair, faux painting, and making things more perfect.
When Dominique heard that her painting was selected to be shown at the prestigious Birds in Art exhibit at the Woodson Art Museum, she knew it was equivalent to winning a gold medal for wildlife artists. Her piece, “Communications,” will be on view in the Wausau, WI museum alongside other masterworks of bird art before joining an international exhibition.
“Communications” was sparked by a trip to the Post Office, though. As she walked the alley behind our store, she saw the myriad of telephone poles, satellite dishes, cables, and TV antennas that become nesting points for ravens, who adapt to changes in technology and environment as easily as humans. Over one year later, she completed her work that, she says, expresses the communication between and amongst nature–even in town. Way to go, Dom!
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
My husband and I moved from Northern New Hampshire to Red Lodge after years of coming to the area on backpacking trips. Being a wildlife artist, Montana is heaven … but we arrived without jobs. I was a former art teacher and librarian but could not find work in those fields, so I did sheet rocking. An artist friend told me about an opening at K&K, where I began as a retail person. My job description continuously grew, as I added ore artistic tasks to my list. After 17 years, my presence on the floor is much less, doing shipping/receiving, painting, faux painting, refinishing and repairing, etc. Having an art degree has always been an asset in design and color, and art history in combining styles and periods.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
I would be a painting easel, always have a part of creating, always changing with splatter and drips layering the history of my interactions in nature’s ways.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
My 97′ Toyota 4-runner. It has a manual tansmission, 4-wheel drive, crank windows, four cylinders. It’s the perfect vehicle to haul art supplies and artwork, and to camp in.
What is your favorite design style?
Contemporary rustic with its clean lines, uncluttered in natural warm materials.
Jeremiah Young, Creative Director / Senior Designer
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
I feel like I was always a part of Kibler & Kirch–from the moment I walked though the doors when I was in high school. Fate brought me the opportunity to run this amazing company many years later. I have big shoulders to stand on and many amazing people at my side. If I said “I’m living the dream,” would it be cliché?
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
A wingback chair in a proper menswear fabric. I’d be timeless and outlast the other things in your home.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
A folding wooden ruler that was passed down from my great grandfather to my grandfather–and then to me. It’s worn smooth and inspires me to do work they’d be proud of. It always makes me think hard about quality.
What is your favorite decor style?
I like a subtly Western experience. It has to look gathered and collected, though. There are so many beautiful furniture pieces in the world that it’s impossible to stick to one style. I find ways to put things together you wouldn’t expect.
Kim Ferguson, Design Manager
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
I have known Rosina forever. I had been a secretary at my church for seven years part-time, and when our oldest was going to college I decided to get a full-time job. Rosina came to me and we stayed up until midnight talking about me working for her. I started two weeks later. I always felt like it was a God thing.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
I would be a cozy chair that you could curl up in and feel like you were home.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
Nothing material, just my family!
What is your favorite design style?
I love a lot of different styles, but I always gravitate to vintage and cottage charm.
Aileen Anderson, Retail Associate
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
In 1990, I was working with one of the original founders of K&K in Red Lodge. She was excited about a new venture that was to be Kibler & Kirch, but since the original gals had full time jobs they didn’t know how they were going to manage the store seven days a week. I said I’d work a couple Sundays a month if they needed me too. That was 25 years ago! When I retired from my full-time job five years ago, I asked Erica and Rosina if I might be able to work more. Now I do and I get to meet new people from all the world! The rest of the week, my husband Jim and I tend to the flock of sheep and our chickens, garden, play with our two grown daughters, son-in-laws, grandsons and grand-dogs. Life is good!
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
I would be a nice swivel rocker with a down back pillow. After a long day of work or play its owner could come in, relax and read good book. I have a chair like this from K&K and love it for that exact reason.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
My sheep wagon!
What is your favorite design style?
Out with the new and in with the old.
Aubrey Soares, Interior Designer
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
I recently graduated from the Interior Design Program in Bozeman, Montana, and looked for the perfect job that would set my design career in motion when I ran across Kibler & Kirch. I researched the company and fell in love with the way they make architecturally stunning spaces feel comfortably lived in.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
A coffee table. When my family gets together, we usually end up in the living room. Many wonderful conversations have happened around my parent’s coffee table. I love being surrounded by all my loved ones.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
My great grandfather’s sofa. My parents had it in their bedroom ever since I can remember – and my siblings and I would sleep on it when we were sick. I just inherited it and can’t wait to have it refurbished for my house! I hope it will become a statement piece that is flexible enough to carry from house to house.
What is your favorite design style?
I love using multiple different styles. No two spaces are ever the same! I feel that you get a sense of which styles your client connects with most. Combining different styles for each client is what makes the job so interesting.
Rosina Kastelitz, Founder
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
I am an original member of the family. Kibler & Kirch was a dream inside my head before it was a store. I remember going to market in Highpoint with a family friend and seeing this vendor’s booth that had been set up like someone lived in it. There was popcorn in the bowls, magazines folded over like someone just stepped away from reading it—it even smelled like a home. That stuck in my head until we opened Kibler & Kirch 25 years ago. We made the store feel like you could just buy the whole room and transport it into your home. I never did see that showroom again. It’s like it was there just to inspire me. I had wonderful partners who rallied behind Kibler & Kirch and we built the company together.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be?
A bookshelf, because I love all of my books and wish I had all the knowledge on the shelf inside my head.
What do you own that you would never get rid of?
I have a little brown pitcher from my great grandmother that she got when she was a girl from an older neighbor when she passed. She told my great grandmother to keep it and fill it with wildflowers before requesting that my great grandmother open the window to let her soul fly free when she died. I’ll eventually pass it to one of my granchildren.
What is your favorite decor style?
Artful and soulful.
As our handmade rug expert, Mike has helped countless homeowners and designers through the process of selecting the perfect rug.
Kelsey Jones, Project / Business Manager
How did you join the Kibler & Kirch design family?
I began working for Kibler & Kirch during high school and continued through college on my breaks helping both in the summer and during year end. I joined the team full time shortly after obtaining a dual degree in Marketing and Management with a minor in Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno.
If you were a piece of furniture what would you be and why?
A rug—I would like to think that I am a stabilizing member of the Kibler & Kirch team. One of the many building blocks to help make our clients and customers experience more enjoyable.
What one thing do you own that you would never get rid of?
My great grandparent’s wooden antique bed. With its unique carvings and intricate details it is surely a one of a kind piece that has been in our family since my great grandparent’s wedding, given to them as a gift, around the 1890’s.
What is your favorite home decor style?
I am attracted to a variety of styles. I find it enjoyable to mix different components to create my very own space.
The king of sofas, a chesterfield is known for it’s deep tufting and low-slung height. It has the kind of plush comfort you sit in rather than on–providing the sophisticated seating every homeowner yearns for. We love the weight and drama it adds to any room. Despite it’s 18th century roots, the chesterfield adapts to many different interior styles, staying timeless in a variety of colors, fabrics and of course, supple leathers. 
1. DEEP TUFTS
A sign of true refinement. The deeper the better. More difficult to construct than shallow tufting, these demonstrate true craftsmanship.
2. NAILHEADS
Emphasizing the overall shape, adding visual strength, and holding the whole thing together.
3. LOW ARMS & BACK
Equally stunning from all angles, but also perfect in social situations as an impromptu extra seat.
4. GENEROUS DEPTH
Nothing quite matches this cozy depth, which encourages true relaxation or, dare we suggest, napping.
5. ROLLED ARMS
Large and comfortable but never out of scale. Always tufted but never too high for your arm to rest easily with a beverage.
Originally used in churches, missions and cathedrals, Santa Rosa candles are still lovingly produced in Mexico and handmade by bathing layer after layer of high grade paraffin—a centuries-old method. This time consuming process creates rings akin to the rings of a tree, which are seen on bottom of the candle.
We’ve proudly carried these candles for over 15 years.
The factory employs mostly disabled workers and Charlie, an American who inherited the company from his mother, recently gave a TED talk on his own disability. “Everyone has a disability, some are more obvious than others,” he said in his speech. He was born with severe birth defects and inspires us with his can-do attitude. His work and his company amaze us. We couldn’t be happier to carry a perfect product from such a soulful company.
1. NATURAL AMBER COLOR
The warm rich color is achieved by adding melted amber into the wax–a golden glow that looks beautiful when lit.
2. SCENTLESS
An odorless candle is essential when showcasing candles of this quality and work perfectly in large doses. We suggest a table set with a variety of sizes as shown above, which is only possible without scenting.
3. LONG LASTING
Great candles like these will last for years to come–with sizes ranging from two inches to nearly two feet
4. A GOOD WICK
Quality wicks make for clean burning. Trimming your wick to ⅛” before each burn stretches the candle’s life much further.
5. THE SANTA ROSA STAMP
Each candle comes with a golden “Santa Rosa” elegantly embossed onto the side. A symbol to trust.
We used over 50 Santa Rosa candles in our award-winning dining room at the Western Design Conference.
Using centuries-old techniques, the Zapotec weavers of Oaxaca Valley handcraft these beautiful rugs. Each new design starts at the color pot, developing and testing dyes, creating the perfect hue combinations. Local hand-spun yarns are then dyed over weeks before being handed over to master weavers at the loom.
TIMELESS A classic in Western design, these rugs stand the test of time. Rich colors and bold patterns translate into a variety of styles from traditional to contemporary, from shabby chic to structured.
INCREDIBLY DURABLE Zapotec textiles can be woven of 100% wool or in mohair/wool blend. Both are incredibly strong fivers. Combined with expert weaving, Escalante provides long lasting, heirloom quality rugs that will be passed down for generations.
CUSTOMIZABLE Need a bigger rug or have a certain color scheme in mind? Escalante provides a custom option, working with our designers to create the perfect piece. It’s possible to add a ranch brand or logo to an existing rug or start from scratch.
VERSATILE Equally great on the wall as art as they are on the floor for utility—layered and lovely. We hung Navajo rugs on the wall of our design studio, giving us a cozy look along with a dose of creative inspiration.
Timeless, delicate, and yet very robust design from Hickory Chair. Years of hard use will patina this chair beautifully. You will love it more as the years pass. The Gunnison Chair sits comfortably in rooms across a spectrum of styles–from modern to traditional to rustic. Chameleon-like and a true expression of style we are proud to place in any home or office.
1. Angular metal frame with exposed leather stitching inspired by French designer Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941). Sumptuous, yet minimalist.
2. In addition, Natural variations in leather give each chair a one-of-a-kind appeal.
3. Unfinished leather exposed on back and side for subtle contrast.
4. Rolled leather arms and slung back prove exceptionally comfortable over long sits.
5. The Gunnison chair is equally stunning as an accent, living room, bedroom, or (our favorite!) as a dining table chair.
Our first upholstery company is also our most Earth friendly.
Over the last 20+ years, we’ve sold thousands of Lee Industries sofas, chairs, ottomans, and beds. We have re-upholstered many of them for clients two or three times. As the very first upholstery company we ever used, Lee always contributed heavily to the Kibler & Kirch look. The infinite range of possibilities available through their selection of frames, fabrics, leather, welts, nail heads, stitching, sizes, and cushion options allow us to do our very best work creating interiors that reflect the personality of our customers. We love selling Lee products because we know they will faithfully serve the needs of generations. We’ve always thought that the most environmentally sound choice is to begin with an eye for quality and to invest in furniture that will provide product longevity to our customers–something that Lee helps us achieve every day.
As such, each one-of-a-kind Lee piece is handcrafted in Newton, NC by a team of craftsmen that are experts in their field and take pride in their workmanship. Add this to top quality, uncompromised materials and you have products that go beyond a piece of furniture to become pieces of art able to handle slumber parties and afternoon naps. They combine the style and quality that we take seriously. All Lee sofas and chairs are made with double-doweled frames that are corner blocked from kiln-dried hardwoods. All seats are constructed with 8-way hand tied springs and frames are padded for extra comfort. They are, without question, the most well-constructed products available for the price.As a third generation company, the youngest members of the Lee family are committed to making environmentally responsible choices at every level of production. Sustainability initiatives for Lee began in 1969–decades before it became the status quo. Today, sustainability for the company means certified sustainable frames, soy-based cushions, recycled metals and fibers, low VOC and water-based finishes, and a partnership with American Forests, planting trees for their Global Relief Projects. This helps reduce the amount of Co2 in the air while their FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and SFI (Sustainability Forestry Initiative) certifications allow Lee to manage the chain of custody for hardwoods used to build furniture frames. Add these responsible practices to paper-less communications, judicious internal recycling and energy conservation and you see why Lee is a leader among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.
An American Manufacturing Renaissance
We recently accepted an invitation to attend Hickory Chair University–in the small town of Hickory, North Carolina–for an intensive and inspiring peek into a 101 year old company charting the way forward for American manufacturing.
Hickory Chair invited our design staff to their facility completely confident that we’d never seen anything like it. This isn’t an assembly line in a faraway country with tired-looking faces turning out thousands of the same sofa, this is a team of 500 people whose passion and ingenuity we count on to create heirlooms for our customers and clients. This is a workroom of skill, attention to detail, and craft learned through many years of refinement and practice. This is a place where creativity is turned into tomorrow’s antiques. The pictures you see here are from our time at Hickory Chair University.
The company’s slogan in the early 1900s was “Chairs Made Better Than Seems Necessary,” which could easily be their motto today. As both an upholstery and a wood products company, they make any kind of furniture our designers can dream up: tables, dressers, beds, desks, sofas, and of course spectacular, iconic chairs. We are completely confident in their ability to deliver what they promise: the best furniture in your home. We are also completely confident that every Hickory Chair item is a testament to how an American business can embrace innovation and still adhere to the traditional principles that made it great in the first place. Hickory Chair employees have probably forgotten more about making furniture than most companies will ever learn. That’s why old companies are cultural treasures that deserve our support.
Several years ago they switched to a lean manufacturing concept made famous by Toyota—where employees are charged with suggesting and implementing refinements in the way things are done. Hickory Chair calls this EDGE (Employees Dedicated to Growth and Excellence). They don’t have a traditional factory anymore; they have a “workroom” that’s completely focused on continuous improvement in the art of fine furniture. Company president Jay Reardon and his team took three days from their busy schedule to educate us on how all great furniture is “crafted” not “manufactured” in this way. We witnessed first hand the focus and collaboration that workers put into each piece. We also witnessed excitement in their eyes as they worked on pieces in the line that a customer had customized in some unexpected way–a challenge they rise to every day.
This may seem simple, but furniture companies just don’t operate this way; they have set methods for doing things and don’t deviate. Hickory Chair makes certain that employees’ minds are used as much as their bodies to produce furniture that is still “better than necessary.” Because their craftspeople completely understand the ins and outs of the production, they are uniquely able to understand how to execute a design modification our designers suggest to them. They approach each piece as a new work of art and are thrilled to make it a reality.
We came away from our stay in Hickory impressed with the culture of continuous improvement that pervades the staff-improving outcomes in tiny ways while keeping cost down. Hickory Chair hasn’t raised prices in over 5 years because of the savings they’ve found through elimination of waste, recycling, reduced energy and labor, better safety, etc. The company’s products are not inexpensive, but they become a better value and better quality every day. That’s the way forward for American companies. Kibler & Kirch shares that core philosophy with Hickory Chair: to engage our customers with the highest quality for the money, the most creativity and attention to detail possible, and the hope that our customers will understand the value of American made goods.”
Text and Photos by Jeremiah Young
Generations of Style and Craft
Great rooms begin with great rugs. As a foundation to build upon, we often take clients through a selection and education process about the virtues of authentic, handmade rugs in the beginning of design projects. Always preferring something made by humans rather than manufactured by machines, we layer textiles and furniture over a quality rug to give a sense of craft and permanence. As the lead pattern and source of color inspiration (rugs sometimes have 10, 12, or 15 colors), we work closely with clients to choose rugs they respond to emotionally. We won’t let you buy it unless you completely love it. Some say that the “soul” of any room is in the rug. We agree and want your rug to speak to your soul.
Handmade rugs are a naturally “green” product in the sense that they are not full of petroleum-based substances as found in machine-made carpet. They don’t expel toxic gases and are made from renewable, recyclable wool and cotton Most rugs mix vegetable and synthetic dyes depending on the kind of color saturation required. With minimal maintenance, rugs will provide generations of use while gaining character and beauty through the years. They are the single best way to alter the tone of a room. After all, when one enters a space our eyes usually look at the floor covering first and then work up to furnishings and walls.
Our rugs are unique–taking months or even years to construct–and we take great pride in knowing that these rugs are produced in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India by workers skilled in an art form that goes back many hundreds of years. Our buyer travels to the Middle East regularly to employ widows with families in the rug making-trade. Knowing the conditions and the supply chain of our merchandise is important to many of our customers. We are comfortable saying that these rugs are not made with child labor in any ethically compromised manner.
Kibler & Kirch is the only place to purchase these kinds of rugs in our area. We would be happy to show you our selection, guide you through the process, and let you try a rug in your home for a day or two. We have styles to suit every taste and work in any interior. We have florals, geometrics, and contemporary pieces. Rugs are essential in our climate and an investment in your home that you’ll be glad you made.
This handsome stunner is one of our all-time favorite chairs. Easily customizable, we can create a look that fits any home. Classic Leather’s attention to detail and quality design mean this chair will last a lifetime. Made right here in the USA.
Customizable and luxurious in any fabric or shade, Daniel Stuart produces top-of-the-line textiles. In rich colors and unique textures, every detail is thought through. With bedding as fine as this, it’s easy to transform the place you lay your head into a cozy retreat.
We are SO thrilled and humbled to have our work placed alongside some of the best interior designers and architects in the country. This publication of hundreds of pages highlighted us as the best-of-the-best in our region. What an honor to be considered! They even used our tipi image as the inside back cover!
This annual compendium of great design is made by the publishers of LUXE.
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