On East Lewis Street in Livingston, a block off Main Street, Becca Skinner is breathing new life into what it means to be an antique shop.
If antique shop conjures images of cobwebs or dark, dingy, overstuffed corners, that store is not Kithship. Bluegrass music plays softly in the background; the space feels warm and light—almost familiar, or lived in. And in a sense, it is. Each of the pieces Skinner offers has lived a life on the land. Orchard ladders lean against the walls; a tobacco dryer drapes in the store-front window; leather benches, wooden stools, and ceramic pitchers sit as if in conversation with each other.
Skinner describes the shop as “the confluence of design, land, and community.” A farmer and photographer who grew up antiquing with her parents, she explains how “it started clicking for me that agriculture and design could be so close together. I just love the idea that these pieces, most of which were born out of necessity and function, could still be living life in a new way and could be the center of someone’s house.”
In a way, antiquing feels like good stewardship. The energy, time, and resources have already gone into production, so the footprint to find pieces and bring them back to the community is smaller than creating something new.
And for Skinner, that community aspect is important. The name for her shop, Kithship, means “people who share a common affinity of land or landscape.” That definition aligned with her mission of connecting people back to the landscape with things that serve some purpose on the land.
In addition to offering pieces for sale, the shop hosts workshops, like natural dye or sauerkraut making.
Skinner talks about the process of making a place home. “Being curious about the places that we are in and paying attention to the small things … is part of what farming has done for me. The same thing happens when I’m out looking for pieces. Knowing what this piece is makes me feel so much more connected to it. That knowing and familiarity with whatever we’re surrounded with is so joyous—it’s a whole level of depth and connectedness that’s easy to skip over in the quickness of life.”
“What are you surrounding yourself with that makes you feel grounded and at peace, and that has story and depth?” Skinner asks. Kithship feels like a response to that question—an invitation into intentional living.
For monthly hours and workshop offerings, follow the store on Instagram @kith.ship. To book an appointment or sign up for emails, visit kith-ship.com.
