Mosaic tiles sourced from Italy or a simple kitchen backsplash — Surface and Stone Tile Co. Owner Kristin Kivela wants to help clients create their dream space, no matter the material they select.  

Pulling from her background in interior design, Kivela opened the shop on Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls in August. She saw an opportunity to cater to the many people building in the Flathead Valley. The store features tiles of all colors, shapes and price points, which customers buy to use in showers, floors, kitchens and other home improvement projects.  

Kivela spent many years in Las Vegas before she and her husband moved to the Flathead Valley in 2023 to be closer to her parents in Bigfork.  

“After being here for a little bit, I kind of sat back and realized that there's a huge need for showrooms in the area. There's a lot of building that's happening, and not a lot of resources for builders, designers and homeowners,” Kivela said. 

Kivela grew up watching her parents renovate homes. They owned several fixer-uppers, and there was always a project they were working on, but she didn’t mind. She liked being around the renovations and in the design world in general. By the time she graduated high school, she knew she wanted to pursue it as a career.  

Facing the challenge of opening a storefront in Northwest Montana, Kivela turned her doubts into prayers. She had been searching for a location for about a month when she asked God if this project was really meant to be.  

“I was crying, and I was like, ‘God, if this is meant to be, help me find the right place.’ And this place popped up and they allowed us to rent it. God has opened this door for us to take this leap of faith and build this business,” Kivela said.  

She wanted to create a showroom that was inviting and didn’t overwhelm her clients — as picking from so many different options can often be stressful. But Surface and Stone Tile Co. feels like a cozy place to have a cup of coffee, and Kivela hears from her customers that they appreciate the way she’s displayed her selection of tile.  

There is a wide array of price points and types of tiles offered at the store, too. Kivela said she wants new customers to know that even though she has historically specialized in more high-end materials, she also keeps more affordable options in the shop.  

Sourcing high-quality tile from around the world is a point of pride for her business.  

“It really, truly does come from everywhere. I mean, I've got stuff from Italy, Spain, Morocco, Australia. Stuff that comes from the United States as well. Everything I do have is in stock within the United States, so you can get your tile fairly quickly if it's in if it's in stock, which is a lot of the items that I do carry. So shockingly, you can have it within two weeks or so,” Kivela said.  

That quick timeline is important for her clients, who are mostly there to pick out tile for new construction. She does get the occasional renovation, too.  

The fun part is helping them make their vision come to life.  

“I take huge pride in their project and in ensuring that it's exactly what they want. I don't want somebody to ever walk in here and feel like they are, you know, left to their own devices and trying to figure out, you know, how their bathrooms are ever going to come together?” Kivela said. 

Though the process of narrowing down choices is different for each client, Kivela said she will often start by asking about other colors in the room, what style is preferred and for photos to determine what would look best in the space.  

“There's definitely plenty of times where people will walk in here and they're like, ‘Oh my gosh, you have saved my marriage,’ just because I've been able to totally help them design their space. I truly enjoy making sure somebody absolutely loves the space that they're pouring money into. I mean, it's not an inexpensive project that they're working on. I don't take that lightly,” Kivela said.  

Surface and Stone Tile Co. is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Kivela is available to open by appointment, particularly on Fridays.  

For more information, visit surfaceandstone.com.   

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

    Owner Kristin Kivela at Surface & Stone Tile Co. in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, March 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Inside the showroom at Surface & Stone Tile Co. in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, March 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Inside the showroom at Surface & Stone Tile Co. in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, March 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Tile samples inside the showroom at Surface & Stone Tile Co. in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, March 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider