From Humble Beginnings to an Iconic Kentucky Retail Destination

Rita Craigmyle founded Rita’s Furniture & Décor in 1990, starting out in her garage with a dream and a passion for creating beautiful spaces. In 1998, she transformed an old tobacco barn and part of a dairy barn into stunning furniture showrooms. The old stripping room, where Rita once worked alongside her husband, F.D., and son, Monty, now serves as a workshop for what has become one of the most unique furniture stores in Kentucky.

Through hard work and dedication, Rita built a thriving business from the ground up. She was beloved by customers near and far, known not only for her eye for design but also for her kindness. Customers fondly remember how Rita decorated their homes, prayed with them during their visits, or offered them a second chance when they needed it most.

Although Rita passed away in 2012, her legacy lives on through her family, who remain committed to continuing her vision. In 2018, Rita’s daughter-in-law, Shauna, joined the store, bringing fresh energy while honoring the traditions and values that made Rita’s Furniture & Décor a cherished destination for so many.

Welcome to Rita’s Furniture & Décor

By wisdom, a house is built, and through understanding, it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

Hi, I’m Shauna, daughter-in-law of Rita Craigmyle. Although I never had the chance to meet Rita, we share a love for decorating, shopping, cooking, family, and faith. According to F.D. and Monty, Rita and I would have been kindred spirits, especially when it came to shopping together!

Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of continuing Rita’s vision while adding a few creative touches of my own. I’ve enjoyed renovating showrooms and homes and helping the business grow in exciting ways. In honor of what Rita built, we adopted Rita’s own signature as our logo. We have expanded our reach by developing our website, which showcases our full inventory, and growing our social media presence. Today, Rita’s ships products across the globe, even as far as Transylvania, Romania.

When you visit Rita’s Furniture & Décor, you’ll quickly see that we’re not what you’d expect from a renovated barn in the countryside. We’re passionate about what we do and are proud to offer affordable home furnishings, exceptional customer service, and a truly unique shopping experience.

From floor to ceiling, we’ve got you covered. Our collection includes beautiful lighting, quality furniture, unique accessories, and stylish rugs to suit every taste—at competitive prices. We can’t wait to help you create a home you love!

The 5th Generation Craigmyle Family Farm

Nestled in the rolling hills of Owenton, Kentucky, the Craigmyle Family Farm is a proud 5th-generation family farm with deep roots and a rich history. Our story begins in the late 1800s when our ancestors, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, and Missouri, settled here. Since then, the Craigmyle family has lived and worked on this land, preserving its legacy for future generations.

In 1928, the farm became part of the Craigmyle family when John “Suter” Craigmyle married Ethel Samford, who received the land as her dowry from her father, John Samford. Before farming, Suter operated Craigmyle Garage in Owenton, offering general repairs and wrecker services in the late 1920s. By 1939, Suter had expanded into agriculture, opening a hammer mill to provide cornmeal, flour, and livestock feed to local residents.

F.D. Craigmyle

The family’s dedication to farming only grew stronger. F.D. Craigmyle, the eldest son of Suter and Ethel, began working alongside his father at the hammer mill as a young boy. Later, F.D. and his brother Johnny operated a successful Grade A dairy farm and grew tobacco until 1997.

Rita Craigmyle

In 1990, F.D.’s wife, Rita, added a new chapter to the family story by opening Rita’s Furniture & Décor in her garage. By 1998, she had transformed the family’s old tobacco and dairy barns into stunning furniture showrooms, creating one of the most unique stores in Kentucky. Rita’s vision, dedication, and creativity left an indelible mark on the family legacy.

Monty Craigmyle

Meanwhile, Monty Craigmyle, son of F.D. and Rita, grew up immersed in the family’s farming tradition. From a young age, Monty worked alongside his father and uncle, cultivating a love for farming and machinery. By the age of 14, with help from his father and uncle to get started, Monty had founded his own business, Craigmyle Farm Equipment, which has grown into a thriving enterprise now celebrating 34 years of selling farm and construction equipment. Monty also carries on the family’s passion for truck and tractor pulling, competing in the 4.1 Hot Semi class—a hobby they first financed by buying and selling tractors.

Today, Monty and his wife, Shauna, are the 5th generation of Craigmyles to live and work on this land. Together, they raise hay, operate their family businesses, and welcome visitors from across the country. Every day on the farm is a new adventure, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether you’re visiting Rita’s Furniture & Décor or Craigmyle Farm Equipment, Monty and Shauna look forward to meeting you and sharing a piece of their family’s rich history and hard work.

Our desire is to provide a unique shopping experience that our customers will never forget.

This year marks 35 years in business, and we are grateful to our dedicated clientele for continuing to return year after year, and look forward to serving our new clientele for many years to come.

We strive to provide products that are unique and something that appeals to every generation. The store is filled with stylish, contemporary furniture such as farmhouse chic, industrial and mid-century modern styles as well as traditional. We are excited to announce that we now offer outdoor furniture, 3D art, glass art, canvas and textured art. Yes, we continue to carry those gorgeous oil paintings that Rita loved so much!

Rita’s Furniture & Décor is located on US 127, just north of Owenton, Kentucky. The business is still housed in the same barn where Rita, her husband F.D. and their son, Monty, used to hang tobacco. F.D. still lives in the same modest brick house he shared with Rita, next to the store. Their son, Monty, operates his own business, Craigmyle Farm Equipment, on the property, while his wife, Shauna, oversees Rita’s Furniture & Décor’s daily operations.