Our Story
1879 Design Co. was named for the year the Town of Silver Cliff was founded, at the height of Colorado’s historic mining boom. Much like the explorers and settlers of the Wet Mountain Valley, we approach our work with optimism and purpose to help you build a lasting legacy.
Our Mission
Our mission at 1879 Design Co. is simple—preserve the quality of the past to strengthen our community.
Our Shop
The 1879 Design Co. shop is more than a place to build—it’s a physical expression of how we work and what we value.
Designed and built from the ground up, our workshop balances precision, durability, and calm order, creating a space where thoughtful design and skilled craftsmanship can thrive. Every element serves a purpose. Natural light floods the room through carefully placed windows and skylights, reducing eye strain and creating an inviting, focused environment. Work surfaces are solid and intentional, tool storage is efficient and visible, and machines are laid out to support a smooth, logical workflow—from rough milling to fine joinery and finishing. The result is a shop that supports accuracy, safety, and pride in every step of the process.
At the same time, the space reflects our belief that function and beauty belong together. Clean lines, warm wood tones, and carefully built cabinetry bring a sense of order and care to daily work. This is not a disposable workspace—it’s built to last, just like the signage and furniture that leave it.
Throughout the shop, jars of century-old, hand-forged square nails collected from around Silver Cliff quietly connect our work to the area’s mining boom history. These artifacts are reminders of the builders who came before us and the enduring value of honest materials and time-tested methods. They ground our modern practice in local history and reinforce our commitment to craftsmanship rooted in place.
This workshop is where ideas become durable, well-made pieces—shaped by attention to detail, respect for materials, and a deep connection to our community and landscape.
Our Team
Kim moved to Custer County with her wife Sarah Scoles in 2021 in search of mountains, community, and opportunity. When not working with clients, she volunteers for Custer County Search & Rescue and operates an Airbnb in Centennial Ranch.
Prior to founding 1879 Design Co., Kim Stone worked for a fine furniture studio, historic home remodeler, boutique architecture firm, and a large construction company.
She honed her mastery of durable design, traditional joinery, hand tools, and finishing techniques—skills she now pairs with modern equipment to create projects with heritage craftsmanship with modern precision.
Kim grew up in the small agricultural town of Brownsville, Oregon. In the summers, she worked long days on local farms, gaining an appreciation of hard work and a “git ‘er done” attitude.
Kim’s exposure to woodworking came at the age of 5 in her Dad’s shop where he taught her to build bird houses. While helping her family build a modest cabin in Summer Lake, Oregon throughout her childhood, she fell in love with the high desert climate - a factor that would later draw her to Colorado.
In her college years, she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity while studying industrial design and marketing at MSU Denver, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. She later studied business at CSU in pursuit of a Master of Business Administration.