Those who walk into Jubilee Cottage are greeted with the smell of a cozy pumpkin candle as they stroll through colorful displays of decor. Owner Kris Shiesl said that with 30 years of experience, she knows exactly how to mix the old with the new.

“I have to always make order [of the merchandise.] Because I can collect all this pretty stuff, but we got to make sure it looks pleasing to the eye,” she said.  

Opening in downtown Kalispell just in time for fall, Shiesl's new store has been a labor of love. She hopes Jubilee Cottage will be a place where women throughout the community can stop by and relax while looking for their next treasure or buying a gift for a loved one.  

“I'm retired and just thought that I need to give myself something to do because I really enjoy decorating and interacting with people and learning people's stories,” Shiesl said.  

Jubilee Cottage is not Shiesl’s first rodeo — she has decades of experience running similar stores, also doing some interior design work throughout the years. For her, picking out new items from longtime vendors or finding something special at an estate sale never gets old. 

The store has a selection of antique, new and handmade items from local artists. Though Shiesl doesn’t prefer to put too many labels on her decor style, much of what she has displayed falls somewhere between a warm, nostalgic farmhouse and a cozy cabin. She finds various styles of antique kitchenware, rustic furniture and classic knick-knacks to bring this together. Along with furniture and decor, she also carries some apparel and accessories.  

Creating a warm, inviting space is something she’s loved about working in antique stores since she started her journey in Wasilla, Alaska, in the 1990s. Shiesl credits much of what she knows to Ina and Merlyn, two older women who ran a store called Sunflowers. She started working with them when she was 34 years old.  

“They would let me work there for $5 an hour in store credit. They would go out on the weekends and hunt for merchandise, and I would just be in my absolute heaven rearranging their whole little cabin,” Shiesl said. 

Over the next six years, Shiesl garnered a collection of items with the intent to open up her own store. It took a while to find a proper storefront, and she went into business with two friends, Liz and Deb, who continued to expose her to new vendors and products that she still carries in her store.  

“I always think of Deb when I order those candles or any other of the lavender scents that I have back there,” she said.  

Eventually, most of Shiesl’s children settled in the Flathead Valley. Over the last several years, she’s been working toward opening another store for her collection. Reflecting on recent blessings in her life, she wanted her faith to be the centerpiece of this new business. 

“I actually wanted to honor God in this. This is his deal,” Shiesl said.  

She’s implored the help of some family members, both her children and grandchildren, to prepare for this new chapter of her life. Eventually, she hopes to one day pass down the store. She said her 22-year-old granddaughter Hannah, who also helps her run social media for the store, seems interested in interior design.  

“She loves this stuff. She loves decorating and she's so dang cute. One time she came here to visit me, and I just saw her standing in the back, just looking. I asked ‘What are you doing?’ And she goes. ‘I just I want to sit here and soak it up.’ And I'm like, ‘I know! That's what I do.’ So, I think she's got the flair,” Shiesl said.  

Shiesl is already gearing up for Christmas and preparing for a big seasonal switchover. She is planning to stay open beyond normal business hours during November and December so those who work can stop by after 5 p.m. There will be events associated with the holiday season, too.  

Jubilee Cottage is located at 4 First St. E., Suite 100 in Kalispell. It’s across the street from the Kalispell Grand Hotel, near the Bookshelf. For more information about the store or upcoming events, visit their Facebook page. 

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.  

    Earrings and jewelry pieces for sale at Jubilee Cottage in Kalispell on Tuesday, Sept. 22. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Decor at Jubilee Cottage in Kalispell on Tuesday, Sept. 22. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider