Northern Lights Design is expanding to meet the needs of an ever-growing Flathead Valley with a new top-of-the-line showroom in Kalispell. 

Owner Will Dillard said it was less than five years ago that he left his former employer, Cost Less Carpet, and saw a hole in the market. There were enough businesses offering more affordable options for the average homeowner, but not that many selling higher-quality or luxury products.  

Following several years of hard work and risk-taking, Northern Lights Design has become a premier destination for flooring, carpet, tile and interior solutions. Dillard has expanded his team to accommodate the new space.  

“These are some of my best friends in the world. I managed to find these skilled individuals to work very specific roles. With God or serendipity, whatever you want to call it and I have faith — but if I told you I did all this myself I’d say no,” Dillard said.  

Northern Lights Design first opened in 2021 out of a small building in Lakeside and has since continued to grow.  

The new showroom is located off U.S. 2 at 141 Alden Loop in Kalispell. The store displays a wide selection of hardwood flooring, luxury vinyl plank, tile and stone, carpet and countertops for clients to choose from.   

Customer service is top priority for the team, as Dillard said he will do whatever it takes to get his clients what they’re looking for. Though he mostly works with builders, architects and designers — they give him a list of what the client wants and it’s Northern Lights Design’s job to fulfill it.  

“I’m a product specialist and procurement house that works with architects and designers. I decided I could be way more successful helping 12 designers than I could being one,” Dillard said. “In the larger markets, they have their own warehouses and forklifts and logistics. But here, they're ordering area rugs, furniture and stuff like that, but they don't delve into the whole thing.” 

When dealing with higher-end products, Dillard said they are not in competition with other businesses in the Valley. Instead, they are up against resources and businesses that their clients have access to in larger cities.  

“A lot of them have homes in Scottsdale, Anaheim or Houston, so a lot of the time, I'm not even competing with my competitors here in the Valley. I'm competing directly with my client because they're like, ‘I can buy this in San Diego,’” Dillard said. “The market is getting more and more cutthroat, but it's one of those things where [good] service is what I've built this on.” 

His dedication to this part of the business has landed him some interesting jobs. While not many companies want to touch projects that deal with historic or old buildings, Dillard said he enjoys working with people who are doing renovations.  

“I provided materials for the 14 bathrooms at the Somers Mansion. I did the basement of the K&M Building. They are a little more pain-inducing, just because of the hurdles you have to deal with. But I enjoy them personally, so I tend to come at them pretty aggressively,” he said.  

The store’s new showroom is a display of the best of what the area has to offer. Collaborations with local artisans, builders and vendors show potential clients what they can incorporate into their home, according to Dillard.  

Leading up to the second floor, there are artful epoxy floors made by a local craftsman.  

There are a few brands that Dillard has been able to secure exclusively for Northern Lights Design, like Z Collection, a high-end tile company out of Seattle and Portland, which hand-selects products from Europe. Dillard said he’s the only business in the Flathead Valley that carries the entire selection.  

Porcelanosa is another luxury ceramics company that is part of the store’s offerings.  

Northern Lights Design is not Dillard’s only business, he also owns Sundry Pro Shop, which specializes in providing the tools and supplies to install flooring and countertops. In addition, he and his wife run Zen Den Wellness Spa in Lakeside.  

Life is busy with multiple businesses and raising two young children, but Dillard said he feels extraordinarily lucky to meet the moment and see the business grow.  

To learn more about Northern Lights Design, visit northernlightsdesign.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.