Kait Rapp: Living Tiny, Dreaming Big

Kait Rapp: Living Tiny, Dreaming Big
Story by Claire Sandow
Photography by Leidy Lester
Kait Rapp lives a life fueled by creativity in Effingham County. As manager of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, she sees inspiration for DIY projects every day.
She first arrived in Savannah as a transplant from Michigan looking to get away from the cold and snow. After Hurricane Matthew damaged her first home, she moved inland to Effingham County.
Kait worked in retail management until COVID layoffs forced her to pivot to a new role. While scrolling through listings, a job posting for the ReStore caught her eye.
“I always wanted to work in a nonprofit and I thought it was a good opportunity,” says Kait. “I have a lot of creative freedom and I like my staff and my boss.”
When she first took over, Kait faced the challenge of revitalizing the ReStore and making it into the community resource that it is today.
“The store was full of a lot of junk that was unsellable. We took about 7-8 dumpster loads of stuff out of the store when I started,” says Kait. “I rebuilt the staff and the clientele, got a new online donation system and took the store out of a financial hole.”
The ReStore’s Offerings
Under Kait’s leadership, the ReStore offers household goods at all price points. Popular items include utility sheds, toolboxes and patio furniture, but there are also affordable appliances, home décor and furniture available based on the donations they receive.
Although giving gently used items new life is a big focus, the ReStore also stocks some brand-new items like energy efficient light bulbs, custom cabinets, area rugs, flooring and paint.
Kait has a small staff that is supplemented by volunteers from the community. Anyone can volunteer to work a shift at the ReStore, assisting with tasks like organizing and restocking the shelves and general administrative support.
“We’ve been here for more than 15 years and I’m still getting people who come in and don’t know who we are and what we do,” says Kait. “Outreach is one of the most challenging parts of my job.”
The ReStore is an ideal place to start to furnish a first home or apartment on a budget, but it’s also a gold mine for those who have an eye for upcycling.
“We have some customers that upcycle all the time,” says Kait. “For example, some people like to buy different colors of flooring and stagger it throughout the house so it’s more blended in.”
Many customers have purchased furniture to repaint or reupholster, but other ways that customers have upcycled ReStore merchandise include converting a window into wall art, an end table into a pet bed and a sewing machine table into a bar cart.
Kait emphasizes that every dollar spent at the ReStore is a form of upcycling because the revenue goes back into the community by funding Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County’s building projects.
Tiny House, Big Ideas
When you’re surrounded by building supplies and secondhand furniture, it’s only natural to be inspired. Recently Kait decided to downsize from her three-bedroom home and embrace tiny living.
“It was just me living in my house and it was a lot of space. During COVID, everything started to go up and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to afford it anymore,” says Kait. “So I sold my house while the market was high and used the profit to buy a tiny house, remodel it, buy my land, buy a car and pay them all off.”
Tiny houses have been rising in popularity over the years, but the process to have one is not straightforward. As the first tiny home in Effingham County, there were questions about how to handle a structure that didn’t fit into a previously defined category.
“It was a long process getting the permits. I had to apply for a variance because there was a square foot minimum that my house didn’t meet,” says Kait. “I had to go to some city council meetings, make sure all the neighbors didn’t care that I would be moving into a tiny house and get a special request to have the house moved into the county.”
After going through all the permitting processes, her tiny house was registered as a mobile home and she was able to connect to local utilities and move in last year. Her efforts have paved the way for a more streamlined process for future residents who want to pursue minimalist living.
“Tiny homes are a great option for people like me who are living by themselves or with their pets who don’t want a big house and a big bill,” says Kait.
Kait’s home is an example that small spaces can have a big impact. Her home is under 400 square feet and she’s decorated it to match her style. The walls are filled with artwork, hanging shelves are filled with verdant plants and she has a modern living, kitchen and dining space that she shares with two dogs and a cat.
The ReStore was a huge resource for her as she remodeled her new home. “Almost everything came from the ReStore. I ordered custom cabinets, I did the paint, the flooring, the light fixtures and my appliances. I think the only thing I didn’t get there was my countertop.”
A Heart for Animals
Kait’s home shows that it’s possible to have pets and a small living space at the same time.
“The dogs have the bedroom and I sleep in the loft,” says Kait. “I enjoy the unconditional love that animals give.”
Kait is passionate about animal rescue, and all of her pets are rescues. Her pitbull Roo was about to be euthanized before she intervened, and Pup Pup was adopted from an owner who could no longer care for him due to declining health. Her cat Cypress was a foster who found a permanent home with Kait: “I took him in–not even liking cats at the time–and fell in love with him.”
She volunteers with One Love Animal Rescue when she is able and has helped coordinate transfers out of shelters and into forever homes.
From Financial Freedom to Future Goals
Living in a tiny house has allowed Kait the financial freedom to follow her dreams. She can balance pursuing further education as an esthetician with her job at the ReStore without a mortgage or debt looming over her head.
“I’ve always enjoyed skin care, so I decided while I was working at the ReStore that I could go to school at night. I would leave work at 4 and drive to South Carolina and be in school until 9 or so, then turn around and do it again,” say Kait.
Balancing the two wasn’t always easy, but Kait’s efforts paid off as she is now dual licensed in Georgia and South Carolina to do esthetics, providing her a new skillset and income stream. Her next goal is to earn a certification in lashes, which she enjoys because of its detail-oriented nature.
Get to Know Kait
Visit Kait at the ReStore Thursday-Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to shop for supplies for your home while supporting upcycling and attainable housing.
Take it a step further by volunteering to work a shift at the ReStore: sign up at habitatec.org.