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A Sanctuary for the Soul

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WHERE METAL MEETS MASTERY

The manifold nature of home.

Exhausted after a long work trip, I stretch my legs as far as they’ll (respectfully) go in my economy seat. Bing. The pilot’s satisfyingly deep voice comes on the intercom and announces—could it be?—an early arrival into Glacier Park International.

From my coveted window seat, I peer across the horizon and am greeted by blinding vistas of Flathead Lake. My eyes adjust and I take a second look. We’re now soaring over the Rockies, and I can almost see past them into the Hungry Horse Reservoir. The houses are somewhat scattered. Not at all like the cramped cityscape I left just a few hours ago. The view alone is rest for my weary traveler’s soul.

When I see that grizzly bear roaring at me as I take my final step through the security checkpoint, I know I’m halfway home. It’s not until I feel my daughters’ arms around my neck and we collapse into a flood of cuddles that I am fully home.

For me, home is manifold. It is both the panorama of endless woods and ridges, and the people we hold tightly. It is both our community, and it is our actual abode, whatever that looks like.

This issue will touch on each of these spaces that make up “home”—from the families in our communities to the interior and exterior designs of the houses themselves. And just as I was welcomed home by that bluebird afternoon, I welcome you, reader, to this celebration of locality. May these pages of familiar faces and sprawling ranch views remind us why we're lucky to live here.

SUMMER ZALESKY, EDITOR

March 2026

PUBLISHER

Greig Fahnlander

Greig.Fahnlander@CityLifestyle.com

EDITOR

Summer Zalesky

Summer.Zalesky@CityLifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Chelsea Agro | Chelsea.Agro@CityLifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Nicole Macias | Hello.NikityNak@Gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sydney Ludden, Kelsie Ring, Julie Schnieders, Summer Zalesky

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Beck, Clint Ekern, Copper Creek Welding, Gibeon Photography, Longview Studios, Nikity Nak Creatives

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Go West, Young Homeowner

city scene

1: “Gathered with intention. Served with grace” is the motto of Herb & Omni’s beautiful event space. 2: An intimate wedding with elevated dining at Herb & Omni. 3: Whether you’re hosting some friends or a wedding reception, Herb & Omni has space for you. 7: Rooftop views of Glacier guaranteed at Herb & Omni’s rooftop space: The Belvedere.

business monthly

We Are Hiring Writers

Looking for a rewarding and community-facing job? We are looking for passionate writers to join our team. If you are interested, please send a resume and writing sample to Summer.Zalesky@CityLifestyle.com.

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New Doctor at Northern Roots Chiropractic

Please welcome Dr. Liv Gilman to the Northern Roots Chiropractic team! Certified in the Webster Maternity Technique and Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Liv brings a gentle approach to nervous-system-centered care. Schedule your next appointment and come meet this vibrant gal!

Chef Earl James Reynolds Honored by James Beard Foundation

We are thrilled to share that Chef Earl James Reynolds of Herb & Omni has been named a semifinalist for "Best Chef in the Mountain Region" by the James Beard Foundation. A James Beard Award is the highest honor in the American food industry. Finalists will be announced on March 31st. Join us in rooting for Chef Earl as he represents our region and pushes to bring home the win!

GO WEST, YOUNG HOMEOWNER

ARTICLE BY JULIE SCHNIEDERS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN BECK AND CLINT EKERN

How Westcraft Homes is steering the future of residential development

Passing the threshold of our homes. We do it everyday, and yet, we take the significance of the event for granted. A roof over our heads, hardwood floors, and a sunset in peace. And this feeling is amplified times 100 when you’re not just a renter. This is YOUR home.

But let’s be real: finding that feeling in the Flathead Valley lately has been tough. Here’s the “elephant in the valley”. The average first-time buyer is now 38 years old (the highest it’s ever been) and some reports are claiming that number is actually 40. So if you feel like buying a home has become a “later in life” goal, you aren’t imagining it. Between low inventory and rising costs, the “American Dream” feels more like a nightmare.

That’s where Westcraft Homes comes in. Since 2004, they’ve built over 350 homes here. They are developers, yes, but they’re also a team of locals who understand that the only way to make the valley affordable and livable is to actually build more roofs for neighbors to live under.

Take Lonnie and Caty Collinsworth, for example. They were looking for a hub for their blended family of six older kids. They ended up at the Parade of Homes, fell in love with a kitchen that won awards, and decided they wanted to win too.

Now, they live in Stillwater Estates, where mornings are spent with a view of Whitefish Mountain, afternoons with a stroll by the Stillwater River, and evenings hosting Young Life gatherings.

As Caty says, the Westcraft team didn’t just disappear after the papers were signed. They were “detailed and responsive” right up to the moment they handed over the keys.

Andrea Cameron, marketing and design director at Westcraft says the entire team is goal driven. These are folks who are crazy about building distinctive Montana homes that combine creative design, exceptional quality, and lasting value.

“Every home is delivered with care by our award-winning production, design, and customer service teams, ensuring an exceptional experience from start to finish,” she says. “A home provides comfort, and a sense of pride. It’s where memories are made, communities are formed, and lifestyles are supported.”

Whether you want a classic vibe at Silverbrook, Northland, and Buffalo Mountain or you prefer mountain modern at Northview and The Meadows, or you just want to go totally custom, Westcraft has carved out some of the best spots in the valley.

This isn’t just about floor plans for Westcraft. It’s about giving their neighbors the ability to host Sunday brunches, acquiring a secure locked-in mortgage, and accessing a front-row seat to the best scenery (and people) in the world.

Growing Home

ARTICLE BY SYDNEY LUDDEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE MACIAS

The Sunflowers of Life with Saenz Family Farms

Amanda Saenz didn’t grow up homesteading. Sure, she grew up in Spokane, connected to animals and nature, but it was nothing like what her life would become. Her husband was born and raised in Montana. His parents had a small farm and the whole family did 4-H. When the two married, they bought five acres in Columbia Falls with a few horses and a vegetable garden. Pretty normal, Amanda says.

Then, in March 2020, everything stopped.

Amanda’s journey through a full-term pregnancy ended in devastating silence with the loss of her son. All while she was grieving, the world shut down around her. “My personal life stopped and also the world stopped,” she tells me. “I was home for months and really depressed.”

One day, something shifted. “I just felt like God was telling me to go be outside.”

So she did. She started planting tomatoes for her kids. Sunflowers, because they reminded her of her son and made her happy. Her parents, trying to help, offered to buy her a greenhouse as a sympathy gift. “I was resolved to go out in the garden and find something that wasn’t ugly,” Amanda recalls.

Her kids were doing remote learning at the time. They spent hours outside together. It snowballed from there.

Gardening led Amanda to herbalism— figuring out what to do if you have a bad cut and the world is crazy and you need to handle it on your own. She walked their property with an app on her phone, learning about the plants growing wild there and what they could be used for. “I became obsessed with how to use our land and our property to supplement our living.”

By the end of 2020, she’d taken herbalism classes and started making homemade products. At first, she had to order

CONTINUED >

I became obsessed with how to use our land and our property to supplement our living.

herbs online. For example, lavender from China for Epsom salts. Last spring, Amanda planted her own. Then calendula. “Probably my favorite to grow here in Montana,” she says. It kept going from there.

Today, Saenz Family Farms sells eggs (their biggest product which they source from almost 400 birds), dried herbs, sourdough bread and baked goods, fire cider, coffee, tea, tinctures, honey, bath salts, dog treats, and so much more.

“I make really humble, simple products,” Amanda explains. “And the reason it’s worked is because people simply care.”

She started selling at the farmers’ market in Columbia Falls in May 2024. She was nervous, but the people loved her products. A friend taught her to make sourdough, so she incorporated that. “Now I’m so humbled that little old me is doing all of this because people care! I source my own seeds, grow things locally and organically, and it’s becoming a substantial source of income for the farm.”

In a couple years, the family will likely be completely self-sufficient. They’re constantly investing back into the land from implements, tools, and a new shed. Amanda’s goal is to become a local source for bulk ingredients that people usually have to order online. “There are so many people in the Flathead Valley who care about ingredients and want natural things.”

They’re also expanding their chicken operation. Amanda wants to raise purebred chickens to sell, especially rare breeds you can’t find locally. Lavender Brahmas, for instance. And if she can make it happen this spring, she’ll separate her roosters and hens, incubate, hatch, and sell the chicks.

Amanda also runs the Lakeside Farmers’ Market, which she started two years ago on a friend’s property. It operated eight weeks in 2024, seventeen weeks in 2025. Now it’s the only standing farmers’ market that’s ever existed in Lakeside. Every Saturday, hundreds of local craftspeople, makers, and growers show up—people with regular full-time jobs and side hobbies, doing what Amanda’s doing.

“What’s really cool is the community of people I’ve gotten from homesteading,” she says. “Thousands of people come through each weekend, from all over the world.”

People often ask Amanda how she does it all with seven kids (ages 15, 12, 9, 7, 4, and 2—and one who would’ve been 6). Her husband has a regular full-time job. He drops the kids off at school, she picks them up. They collaborate. Winter is easier to manage. Summer is busier—the kids are home, the garden is blooming, the farmers’ market is in full swing.

“We just prioritize this way of life, and this is how we spend our time with our kids,” Amanda says. “We don’t go on

vacation much; our families are close to us. You have to make a plan and set reasonable goals.”

Her kids are hearty. They’re not afraid of bugs or dirt or dead animals. They collect eggs, clean nesting boxes, wash and carton them. They help pull weeds, prune, and harvest fruit trees (there are over 20 on the property). Amanda’s 12-yearold daughter knows how to identify and harvest calendula and how to store the herbs properly.

“They are learning both sides—how to run a business but also the very real world of growing and cultivating things,” Amanda explains. “They know where their meat and vegetables come from.”

This spring, starting in March, Amanda and her kids are growing tomato plant starts together. They’ll plant a few thousand from their own plants, take them to market, and sell them. Whatever they earn will be their pocket money. “It’s fun,” Amanda says. “They don’t always think so… but in the end I think they will realize it was a meaningful way to grow up.”

For Amanda, there’s no higher value than raising smart, competent, reliable people. “For them to know what it looks like to sacrifice is important.”

When they lost her son, their life priorities drastically changed. They realized how much time they really have. “We were in the rat race,” she says. Now she can make her kids breakfast, do chores, send them to school, do her computer work, then tackle farm chores together. “Our whole life is the business that we run out of the homestead.”

Her advice to others curious about homesteading? “It’s not that intimidating, I promise.”

Start small. Learn to make mozzarella. Make your own yogurt. Amanda and her husband started with cereal when they looked at the ingredients on the back one day and decided ‘No.’

“You don’t have to do it all right away. Start with just a few products.”

And you can’t do it all alone. “That’s why you have to have a community,” Amanda says. She doesn’t make sauerkraut, for example, she buys from her friend Vanessa’s local business, Farmented. “Let others who create things you love do that and focus on what interests you the most.”

It all ties back to that moment in 2020, standing in her garden, deciding to go outside, and taking one step after faithful step. It was the intentionality and determination to grow something and to build a life rooted in the land beneath her feet and the people around her table.

Home, it turns out, is something you can grow.

What's really cool is the community of people I've gotten from homesteading. Thousands of people come through each weekend, from all over the world.

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The Steel That Forges a Home

The spirit of structure at Copper Creek Welding

The winding of a staircase banister, the glow of a custom light fixture, or the silhouette of a balcony against a pink and orange mountain sunset—these are the imaginative visions that turn a soulless structure into a dream home.

Koby Green, owner of Copper Creek Welding, knows this well. He is a craftsman who understands both the significance of structure and the soul of details. Forged by fire, iron, and a dream, Koby got his start with a humble $300 welder before he was even a teenager.

“My father bought me a welder at 11 years old,” he said.

His path was set before him and he left the Flathead to achieve certificates for welding at Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona. Upon returning to the valley with his wife by his side, he founded Copper Creek Welding in the winter of 2025. Since that day, he has been turning cold steel into the warm heart of the home.

Giving life to metal is no small feat, and in a land of towering evergreens and jagged peaks, his clients are visionaries. It is a standard of

ARTICLE BY KELSIE RING PHOTOGRAPHY BY COPPER CREEK WELDING

which Koby has surpassed expectations time and again—from custom moose antler key holders to mono stringer staircases with cable railings and custom security doors.

“The guy was into hunting so I had lasered out a moose and had bent the antlers out and welded it to a base plate where he could then hang his keys off the antlers,” Koby shared.

Other services include custom railings to guard the hearth and home, unique signage to welcome kin, and sturdy flatbeds and mobile welding for other tenacious business owners in the valley, plus an array of custom creations that are only limited by imagination.

When people settle down to build a long-term house, potentially their forever home, the little details like that make all the difference. Being able to tailor that dream is Copper Creek’s entire

goal when undertaking any project. The overall process is extremely hands-on and communicative from start to finish. With frequent updates, extensive attention to detail, and clear communication in planning, Copper Creek makes every client’s process an exciting one.

“We treat every job the same, whether it’s a small one that takes a day or a big job that takes a couple of months. We always communicate the same and treat it the same as everything else,” Koby said.

Koby enjoys working in the Flathead because of the people and the way business is done around here.

He placed tremendous emphasis on local support and the friendly manner of communication with clients and urged that business in the Flathead is more than just a transaction.

“The customer base and how everyone treats each other… It’s more like family,” he said.

A well-built home will likely stand for a hundred years, maybe even lasting for the next few generations, a legacy that is passed down to your children. Every home tells of its occupants—a family’s passions and their stories— and every detail is treated with that kind of reverence at Copper Creek Welding.

ELEVATED CARE

LOCALLY OWNED

A SOOTHING ENVIRONMENT

Hunter & Company's Style Guide

Your essential interior design blueprint for 2026 and beyond

ARTICLE BY SUMMER ZALESKY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GIBEON PHOTOGRAPHY AND LONGVIEW STUDIOS

Sometimes I have an interior design idea in my head. I act on it. And I instantly regret it. Thank goodness for second-generation designer Hunter Dominick and her team at Hunter & Co for these practical tips! As a member of both the American Society of Interior Designers and the Green Building Council, Hunter shares an experienced outlook on what she’s seeing define the year and how to implement that within your own home.

WHAT ARE SOME EASY WAYS TO REFRESH A SPACE WITHOUT A FULL REDESIGN?

Paint, rugs, and pillows are the most impactful ways to refresh your home. The biggest impact comes from color: don’t shy away from it. Rich hues, deep greens, warm tones—these shades make you feel something when you walk into a room. A fresh accent wall, bold textured pillows, or a vintage rug can completely shift the energy of your space. These choices aren’t just decorative; they’re what make your home feel personal and alive.

WHAT’S AN UNDERRATED DESIGN DETAIL THAT MAKES A BIG IMPACT?

Decorative lighting is one of the most underrated elements in design. Sconces, pendants, lamps, and chandeliers can completely transform any room. Lighting sets the mood and creates layers that make a room feel intentional and complete. A beautiful chandelier becomes a focal point, sconces add warmth and dimension to walls, and the right lamp

can make a corner feel cozy and inviting. People often overlook lighting and gravitate toward furniture or paint, but lighting is one of the most powerful tools. Good lighting doesn’t just illuminate; it elevates the entire atmosphere of your home.

HOW CAN HOMEOWNERS USE ART TO ANCHOR A SPACE?

Art is one of the best anchors you can use in a room. Whether it’s a nostalgic piece that reflects your story or something bold that you simply love, art brings personality and weight to a space. The key is scale and placement; make sure the piece is the right size for the wall and positioned where it can be seen and appreciated. When the scale is right, the whole room suddenly makes sense. It’s not just decoration; it’s what makes your home feel complete. When you walk in and see something that speaks to you, that’s when a home comes alive.

IF YOU HAD TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS JUST ONE DESIGN RULE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Make sure the scale is right. Whether it’s furniture, accent pieces, or artwork, proportion really matters. A massive sofa in a small room feels suffocating, and tiny art on a large wall just gets lost. When the scale is off, even beautiful pieces don’t work together. Look to see how things relate to each other and to the room itself. Cohesion comes from balance; when your furniture, decor, and art are all in harmony with the space, everything clicks. It’s one of the most important factors in making a room feel intentional and complete.

HOW IS TECHNOLOGY INFLUENCING MODERN HOME DESIGN?

It is, and it is not! Technology has become a seamless part of how we design homes. Anything that makes life easier, we add in. Window treatments that open or close with a button or lighting systems controlled from a single panel—it all adds convenience without sacrificing style. We’re also integrating speaker systems and surround sound in ways that keep them completely hidden while maintaining incredible function. TVs are built into walls, sound flows through rooms without visible equipment, and everything can be programmed to work exactly how you want it. The goal is to make technology feel effortless and invisible, enhancing your daily life without cluttering your space or disrupting the design.

However, I also believe technology is not the only influence, because we are creating many rooms and spaces where people can decompress without technology.

Cohesion comes from balance; when your furniture, decor, and art are all in harmony with the space, everything clicks. It's one of the most important factors in making a room feel intentional and complete.

People are yearning for human interaction by adding game tables in their entertainment rooms and quiet spaces to read a book.

WHAT COLOR PALETTES DO YOU EXPECT TO DOMINATE THE NEXT FEW YEARS?

We’re seeing a bold shift toward color. Fun, vibrant hues that brighten and warm spaces are taking over. Deep greens, warm oranges, rich blues—colors that feel unique but still blend seamlessly with the rest of the room. We’re also seeing natural stones with large, dramatic veining become a major factor. These bold patterns in stone add movement and character without competing with any color palettes. Together, they create spaces that feel dynamic and full of personality.

WHAT DESIGN TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING EMERGE FOR 2026?

Vintage items, found pieces, and things that have character and imperfection are taking over. People are embracing authenticity in their homes. A vintage chair with history, an asymmetrical gallery wall, or a one-of-a-kind find from a local shop—pieces that feel collected over time rather than bought all at once— this is what makes a space feel personal. It’s about telling your story through what you bring into your home. Rooms don’t need to be perfectly symmetrical anymore. This approach makes spaces feel more honest, inviting, and real.

Fine Jewelry

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

MARCH 1ST

Montana Sportsman’s Expo

Flathead County Fairgrounds | 10:00 AM

An event for the whole family to enjoy! While the kids enjoy archery and facepainting, the adults can access and learn about some of the most cutting edge and highest quality outdoor equipment in the nation.

MARCH 4TH

World Ballet Company: Cinderella

Walchholz College Center | 7:00 PM

Performed by a world class ballet company, this performance promises 40 international dancers, 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, hand-crafted sets, and genius choreography that coalesce for an evening of fairytale enchantment.

MARCH 7TH

Free the Seeds 2026: Growing Together

Flathead Valley Community College Arts and Technology Building | 9:00 AM

Self-sufficiency starts with study. Find out how to start, expand, and maintain your food systems for generations to come with interactive workshops and seed giveaways. Put on by Land to Hand Montana, this event safeguards connections between gardeners and some of the brightest minds in horticulture, permaculture, and beyond.

MARCH 7TH

Bigfork Brewfest

Downtown Bigfork | 1:00 PM

With 12.8 craft breweries per capita, Montana ranks third in brewery density across the nation and churns out award-winning beers year after year, according to the Brewer's Association. The Bigfork Brewfest gives these local makers the chance to shine and show off their hard-earned stripes.

MARCH 15TH

Rising Appalachia

Wachholz College Center | 7:00 PM

A leader in the "Slow Music Movement", this American Appalachian folk music sister duo supports sustainable touring practices. Fans use the term "honey-hued" to describe their vocal and musical style, promising a night of both reflection and celebration.

MARCH 24TH

Movie Night at the Museum: Matilda

Northwest Montana History Museum | 7:00 PM

Host and educator Jacob Thomas provides prescreening remarks about this beloved classic. With free admission and popcorn, and the coziness of the company of friends, how could you say no?