A Design Firm’s New Storefront Creates A Sensory Experience

Jeremiah Young, owner of Kibler & Kirch, relaxes after the store’s successful opening. | Photo: Brittany Smith

When Jeremiah Young was in high school, he fell in love with Kibler & Kirch interior design firm and retail store in Red Lodge, Montana. In 2010, he purchased the business, and became its principal and creative director—expanding to a second location in Billings, Montana. When an opportunity to purchase a historic building downtown came his way, Young bought it—then discovered the original architectural plans from 1904 in the archives at Montana State University.

The building had been designed by J.G. Link, a key figure behind many of Montana’s landmark structures. Young began restoring the building to its original glory, recreating details like the original trim and flooring, and opening his design studio on the second floor in 2015. His meticulous efforts pay homage to the brick commercial building’s 120-year history. Young reluctantly closed the Red Lodge location in 2020—always with a vision to open a new retail space.

“Rez Hat” by artist Judd Thompson takes center stage beside a Ralph Lauren Halifax lamp in black ceramic by Visual Comfort. | Photo: Brittany Smith

His efforts were rewarded last year when he opened the doors to his new two-story, 14,000-square-foot retail store, complete with original details like the staircase replicated from the 1904 version as well as modern updates like an elevator capable of safely transporting large pieces of furniture. Young admires many facets of traditional style concepts regarding finishes. “I like the logic of material use; it makes sense to use plaster on a wall that’s never touched, but areas with a lot of foot traffic need to be more robust,” he says. “We used pine beadboard inside the elevator car, which is already marked and gives it character.”

Young stocked the store with a curated collection of tried-and-tested Kibler & Kirch staple furnishings along with contemporary finds. He believes shopping for the home should be a tactile experience. “We want someone to be able to sit in a chair and see how it feels,” he says. The new location has been welcomed by clients who frequented the company’s Red Lodge location, and local residents as well as out-of-town clients— who are invited to stay in an adjacent studio.

The 30-year-old firm synonymous with timeless design took years to meticulously renovate the property to its original state, based on plans from archives at Montana State University. | Photo: Brittany Smith

The store reflects Kibler & Kirch’s Western roots with rich leather and antique furnishings, Navajo rugs with interwoven meanings, and artwork often depicting the faces and places of the locale. Traditional styling favorites like Santa Rosa beeswax candles are intermixed with luxurious accessories and newfound treasures, which Young hopes will resonate with clients who can appreciate the store’s fundamental intent to inspire. “Design is not just visual; it should be a sensory experience,” he says, “And you can’t get that online.”

INTERIOR DESIGN – Kibler & Kirch

As seen in ML’s May/June 2025 issue

Intricate silver accessories and embellished trinket boxes by Dallas-based J. Alexander Silver dot a tabletop. | Photo: Brittany Smith

A Carlson ottoman and cluster of Webster chairs in Roundup Cocoa by Wesley Hall offer an inviting spot to sit. | Photo: Brittany Smith

Traditional white bead board panel walls line the staircase, which is illuminated by a chandelier made by Colorado-based The Peak Antler Company. | Photo: Brittany Smith

The canopied entrance and refinished red brick facade of the entryway invite customers into an original 1904 property. | Photo: Brittany Smith

A circa 1890 painting found by the design team and an antique display cabinet bring old and new together next to a Ralph Lauren Holloway floor lamp in natural oak by Visual Comfort. | Photo: Brittany Smith