Creating History
IN YOUR HOME WITH BOZEMAN’S NATURAL STONE BOUTIQUE
by Cassidy mantor
“As a supplier, we are privileged to work with a material that has been here for a million years.”
–Dylan Ellsworth, IGS
Second-generation, family business owners, Dylan Ellsworth & Mallory Lefkowitz.
Historic Italian quarries are often owned by the same family and passed on to younger generations over the years. IGS is Bozeman’s own multigenerational boutique natural stone supplier. IGS is a second-generation family business run by Dylan Ellsworth and Mallory Lefkowitz.
Dylan’s parents, Cory and Ruth Ellsworth, founded IGS over 20 years ago in Salt Lake City. Ruth worked in the industry for many years and her background helped her learn about stone and its varying colors. Dylan’s dad was involved in construction and, because of his passion for natural stone, he was put in charge of the stone department. When Cory shared his newfound passion with his wife, the Ellsworths decided they would move back to Utah and become a stone supplier, thus forming IGS.
Growing up, Dylan was always involved in the shop. He worked there over the summers and part-time as he got older. He heard about the projects IGS was working on and, as he got older, he wanted to help expand the family business. Both Mallory and Dylan grew up visiting Montana and shared the common goal of moving here because, as Mallory puts it, “It’s the best place ever.”
In keeping with their vision for expansion, today, IGS proudly brings the tradition and heritage of natural stone to Montana. IGS’s goal is to help fabricators, builders, designers, and homeowners by providing efficient access to a large selection of stone for their projects. Their Bozeman inventory includes hundreds of slabs of hand-picked stone for the whole house. IGS aims to help make the search for the right stone enjoyable and convenient.
A RESOURCE FOR FABRICATORS
As a supplier, IGS does not fabricate or install. They offer customers access to 15 different categories of natural stone in a large variety of colors. Their slabs are stored on-site in Bozeman, and they offer free delivery throughout Montana. Their warehouse is open to the public, and customers are encouraged to browse stones including granite, quartzite, marble, limestone, and other unique options. In the time of COVID-19, coming to IGS’s showroom is also safer than flying to Denver or Seattle to look at stone.
In the rare situation that a customer doesn’t find what they are looking for in the warehouse, IGS will ask for a photo. The team then sources exactly what the client is looking for.
Above all, the IGS warehouse experience provides the opportunity to get an education. Dylan and Mallory willingly share their passion about the raw materials to help clients find the perfect stone.
Dylan explains that one of their goals when a customer comes to the warehouse is to help educate them so they get the right stone and the right finish for the intended use. The goal is to select a stone that will not only stand up to daily use, but that will also be a source of enjoyment and an integral part of the home’s character and history over the years.
How a stone becomes part of your home’s history might start with a discussion about the historic role of marble in Italian culture, and how it’s used for floors there and around the world. It’s not uncommon for a client to come to IGS looking for polished marble for their kitchen and then transition to quartzite after seeing examples and learning that the stone is actually much more durable and may perform better for their lifestyle. What might start as a trip to look for a kitchen countertop frequently inspires clients to expand the natural stone theme to add depth throughout the entire house, such as around the fireplace and in bathrooms around the vanities.
BOUTIQUE EXPERIENCE
The IGS showroom is a relaxed environment. “We try to take the stress away from selecting a large piece that you’ll live with and look at every day of your life,” says Dylan. “It’s more important for us to help customers find the right piece that will work best for them. It’s fun for us because we love stone.”
As a boutique firm, IGS is committed to delivering a solid, knowledge-based experience to its customers. They stock stone in a variety of finishes, including leathered and honed. Depending on the properties of the stone, the finish can reveal additional characteristics and a unique texture.
Dylan says, “We only carry what we’d put in our own homes.” He adds, “You have to be aware of the kinds of things that are going to happen to your stone, its inherent durability, how to maintain it, and how it’s finished.”
“History is embedded in our tradition, from the age of the stone to our long-term relationships with quarries and the knowledge my parents passed down to us. We look forward to helping you develop your home’s history with natural stone.”
–Dylan Ellsworth, IGS
Dylan and Mallory welcome fabricators, designers, and homeowners to come walk around and learn more about their natural stone inventory. IGS is extremely organized and works on a wide range of projects. It keeps detailed notes on file and either has the stone in inventory or can import it. When customers approve materials, fabricators can rely on IGS to have the stone ready to go for the largest of projects.
From granite countertops to a fully marble sink, IGS is an exceptional resource for Montana’s stone needs. “As a supplier, we are privileged to work with a material that has been here for a million years,” says Dylan. “History is embedded in our tradition, from the age of the stone to our long-term relationships with quarries and the knowledge my parents passed down to us. We look forward to helping you develop your home’s history with natural stone.”
