Walk into Kiln on any given morning and you'll find a fashion designer reviewing fabric samples at a standing desk, a product engineer deep in CAD files in a quiet focus room, and a design team running a client presentation in the conference room down the hall. What looks like a beautifully designed coworking space is, in practice, Bozeman's most quietly thriving creative hub.
Kiln has become a natural home for the design industry in all its forms — from apparel and brand identity to architecture, interior design, general contracting, and technical product design. The draw isn't just the fast Wi-Fi or the stocked kitchen (though both help). It's a space that was itself designed with intention: custom furniture, deliberate lighting, zones built for different kinds of work. Creatives notice and feel that.
Members have access to a podcast studio, deep work rooms for heads-down focus, and when it's finally time to present to clients, six-plus conference and meeting rooms ready to impress. Monthly complimentary facials, a massage chair, and a full gym round out a membership that treats the whole person, not just the professional.
In a city growing as fast as Bozeman, the design community needs a place to gather, collaborate, and occasionally collide with people outside their discipline. At Kiln, that's not a happy accident — it's the point.
Kiln is located at 219 N 19th Ave, Bozeman. Tours available at kiln.com/communities/bozeman
Chantel Naylor
Awful Nice
Chantel Naylor is a Montana-born designer, founder of Awful Nice, and collector of the kind of things most people walk right past - matchbooks, old signs, passport stamps, and ideas worth chasing. She loves helping businesses figure out what makes them different and turning that into brands people actually remember (and love). Equal parts strategist and design detailist, she's happiest solving messy problems and obsessing over the tiny things people don't realize they notice.
When she's off the clock, you'll find her outside with her husband, toddler, and cattle dog in tow. Summers are for rivers, mountains, wildflowers, hitting the links, and chasing live music. Winters pretty much belong to Bridger Bowl and Teton Pass. She'll happily detour for a small-town rodeo, a one-lift ski hill, a good dive bar, or an old painted sign that's seen a few decades.
Follow along at @awfulnicedesign.
Andrew Brechbuhler
Brechbuhler Architects
Andrew has lived in Bozeman for 28 years, and owns Brechbuhler Architects, a firm that specializes in high end custom residential design focusing on custom single family homes as well as large resort multi-family. His interest in architecture began at a young age, growing up in the mid-west with access to interesting architecture, specifically Frank Lloyd Wright.
When Andrew moved to Montana, he worked in a high end architecture firm and started his own practice in 2008. Over the years, he has had great success with clients across the region. Bozeman has a great energy, and this energy allows for creative people to not only experiment with their craft, but to make a living marketing their products to an appreciative audience.
As his firm made the change to full remote work, Kiln has been fantastic in providing a high quality space that has energy, great amenities, and a graceful sense of fun.
Learn more at brechbuhlerarchitects.com.
Mike Dawkins
Bison & Bear Fine Clothing
Mike has been in the custom clothing industry for over 15 years, and recently decided to branch out and build something of his own. He moved his family from Charleston, South Carolina to Montana to start his company and give his family the kind of life and opportunity this incredible place offers.
Being the youngest of 3 and often getting his brother’s hand me downs, Mike wanted to start working at a young age so he could buy the clothes he wanted and wear the kind of stuff that his friend group was wearing. However, once he achieved that, he realized he didn’t know what to buy or how to really dress well. He started reading GQ magazine in high school just to learn clothing, fashion, etc., and quickly became known for being one of the better dressers in his peer groups. He has loved clothing ever since!
Learn more at bisonandbear.co.
Edgar Rodriguez
TRI-CON BUILD
Edgar is the founder of TRI-CON BUILD, a Bozeman-based design-build company specializing in residential renovations, additions, custom homes, and architectural design. With a background spanning architectural design, mechanical systems, and construction, Edgar is passionate about integrating thoughtful design with quality craftsmanship to simplify the building process for homeowners. Through TRI-CON BUILD, his mission is to design, integrate, and execute projects that are both functional and built to last.
Edgar sees Bozeman as having a unique mix of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation, with a community that appreciates thoughtful design and quality construction. It’s a place where collaboration comes naturally, and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to make a real impact.
Along those lines, Edgar has found Kiln to be a great environment to connect with other entrepreneurs and creative professionals. Being surrounded by people building innovative businesses has created opportunities for collaboration, idea sharing, and growing meaningful relationships within the Bozeman business community.
Learn more at triconbuild.com.
Taylor Wallace
Roly-Poly Coffee Co.
Roly-Poly started with Taylor making espresso out of the back of a rust bucket bullnose ford bronco and eventually landed in our weird warehouse style building on the northeast side of Bozeman. It still kind of feels like you’re getting coffee from an old truck though, you can even buckle in to an old bench seat or two. Our approach is simple: take coffee seriously, be cool about everything else. Our cafes are decorated with vintage ephemera that remind us of our parents and grandparents generations. We like old cars, old bikes, and old music. But also, Roly-Poly is for everyone; we’re an intentionally inclusive space.
Learn more at rolypoly.coffee.
Roly-Poly is for everyone; we’re an intentionally inclusive space.