River Valley Merchant is collection of vintage décor, furniture, and well-made home goods, founded and curated by Emma Kennedy. Every piece is chosen for its character — the kind that comes only from craftsmanship, history, and a life already lived.
We work closely with local shops, markets, and craftspeople across Lancaster County and the surrounding region to ensure each item carries a sense of place. Our hope is that something in the collection feels acquired, not purchased — a piece that seems as if it has always belonged with you.
The curated collection is available through booths at Strasburg Antique Market (Strasburg, PA) and Murphy’s Mercantile (Columbia, PA), as well as local pickup via Facebook Marketplace.
ABOUT
MEET EMMA
Emma Kennedy is the founder and curator of River Valley Merchant, a retail brand rooted in her lifelong love for antique shops, river towns, craftsmanship, and the quiet magic of well-worn objects.
Known for her thoughtful, layered approach to styling — blending natural textures, historic details, and organic, earthy elements — Emma brings a warm, collected aesthetic to every space. Her eye gravitates toward pieces with patina and provenance, and her background in design-forward retail and the home décor world informs her ability to create welcoming, character-rich environments.
Emma’s passion for found objects, architectural salvage, and timeless materials is brought to life through River Valley Merchant, where she shares a curated blend of antiques, vintage goods, and artisanal homewares with customers throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.
REVERENCE FOR THE WELL-LOVED
Discover curated items meant to last far beyond a single season: pieces to be repurposed, refinished, reimagined, and cherished. From architectural salvage to farmhouse furnishings, French porcelain to hand-thrown pottery, the collection is built around the belief that objects with soul make a home feel instantly grounded.
Where nature and nostalgia intertwined in every season, a seed sprouted from humble beginnings. The bungalow in the woods, with timeworn surface, and imperfect symmetry. Where chipped paint and raw materials told stories more vivid than any new finish. The old barn, where summer sunlight filtered softly through the cracks in weathered boards, catching in dust that hangs in the air. Inside, time feels suspended—artifacts layered in quiet endurance. Copper, iron, stained glass; patina and softened edges become marks of resilience, proof that true craftsmanship and honest materials don’t just withstand the years—they evolve through them, gaining character with every season.
The river’s edge, long walks along the shoreline meant scouring for washed-up lures; geese calling overhead marked the rhythm of the year. Sunsets mirrored across the river painted the surface in colors that changed with the seasons—rust and ochre, pewter and slate, ice and gold—a gentle reminder that beauty is cyclical, and that nature’s palette is the truest guide to timeless design.
Quiet afternoons spent wandering dusty junk shops. The unmistakable scent of aged wood, mingling with the dim glow of hanging bulbs that revealed treasures tucked into every corner. Each visit felt like stepping into a place of worship—hushed rows of patiently waiting relics, whispering fragments of their past. I learned that every piece holds a history, and that the secret is to listen for the soft call that speaks just to you.
Those moments shaped a lifelong instinct for finding beauty in the overlooked and giving voice to stories waiting to be told. That early exposure shaped my love of architecture, honest craftsmanship, and organic patina, that breathes with history.
- Emma Kennedy
